October 3, 2025 • 6 mins
A young Cantabrian is going places on the league field.
Currently contracted with the Warriors, Isaiah Savea has gained the interest of other clubs after his stunning performance leading the Canterbury U18 team to victory in the National Rugby League tournament.
He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his future in the game.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So do the BEG NRUR final. Who is going to
take it out? Is it going to be the Melbourne Storm?
Is it going to be the Brisbane Broncos. Well let's
go to someone who has tasted huge success recently. I'm
talking about Isaiah Savia. He is the captain of not
only Saint Thomas's but our Canterbury Under eighteen rugby league
team who won the national trophy. Isaiah joins us, good.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Morning, good morning, well.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Very good. Thanks congratulations first up winning that under eighteens.
Tell us how long is it since Cannabury said that title?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
A long time? I don't know the execu year to
be sure, but I know the last national tournament for
the youth grade was thirty one years ago now. So
to have her back home and then won the tournament
when we've got you know, the home grounds is definitely
a big achievement for us and yeah, really proud. So
I guess bring a trophy to Canterbury inhabit at home.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And what was the secret to success?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We spent a lot of time on connection throughout our campaign,
our trainings. We made sure for every session with a
bit of connection. So for example, one thing that we
put together was what we called the hot seat, and
you get a few boys up on three seats and
pretty much ask some questions. A bit of vulnerability in there,
I think was a good part of it. But bit
of a bit of a laugh before training and everything
(01:16):
and that that sort of stuff, I guess brought us
closer off the field so that we can be close
on the field and nothing. That chemistry really translated into
into our performance.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
So the final tell us a little bit about the final.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, big game Akron the Falcons. We hadn't seen them
addle until that game itself, and we year there'd be
a lot of Yeah, it would be a bit of
a dog fight, we called it. A few of us
boys have been through the Warriors system, the pathways. We
knew quite a few of their players and that the
Warriors system too, and yeah, identified those guys. But when
we looked at the whole team, they had a lot
(01:49):
of threats and with a will to shut those down,
I guess. But yeah, our theme sort of thing was, yeah,
staying in the dog fight and trusting in ourselves to
I guess overcome by the into the game. And yeah,
that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
And just tell me a little bit about your under
eighteen coaches. Who were they and what how did they
contribute to the title.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, yep, so head coach Matt Muloo. We had unofficial
and Siso Kuru along with physio Lily Simon's and managers
Liane Savia. Great group, yeah, honestly, great group. Coaching was
underal like that can every team did some really experienced players,
but we had a lot of rugby players too, and
credit to them because they did amazing the league roles
(02:31):
and I guess like the league I too, there's a
lot to catch up on as a team because we
had boys were in experience and that's where we got
more experienced players. And they're sort of you know, in
the huddles, they're the boys talking first, and they're the
boys that are just directing those those rugby players. And
they started at the start of that campaign like months
before we looked into into the tournament, and I think
(02:52):
that really got us going because something that our rugby
boys involved, like they're hard workers and so once they
get an understanding of the game, like we all jail
from that point on, and I think that's that's really
what got us.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And you've been part of the Warriors I saw haven't
you for a couple of years? How has that helped
your game?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah? Massive lots of learnings. I started October twenty twenty three.
Here you learn a lot about yourself as a person
as well as obviously everything on the field. But you
go through a lot in pre season obviously, a lot
of training, a lot of hard work, and it probably
brings out a bit of a bit more of a
(03:29):
character that you don't really see it was out there
training and I think that really shows a bit of
a determination and the discipline and everything that really goes
a long way for full lege obviously, but also like
just as a person, builds a lot of character, and
I think that's really what I just takes us to
the next level.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Fantastic And you want to go all the way clearly
you want to be in the NRL.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's a good dream.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Any any interest from the agents who would have been
at that underage teen tournament, Yeah, there's.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Lots of scouts, There are lots of agents and teams
and everything, and yeah, there's obviously a lot of talent.
We've had a lot of talent within Canbury itself with
for being a national tournament, you get a lot of
interest for lots of boys, which is real cought to
see I think, especially boys that haven't had it in
the past getting it. Definitely deserved by some of the players,
(04:23):
and especially within Canbary. I know quite occlear of our boys,
but I'm sure I have some interest.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So where are you at in terms of securing any
kind of contract? Have you got anything apart from being
part of the Warriors?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, at the moment, I'm still signed with the Warriors
until at the end of October. Yeah, on my last
month at the moment, and then I've got to do
some conversations and some big decisions on where to your
next Right.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
How exciting times in your life?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah? Definitely Yeah, Oh.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Really got you've into That's fantastic. So to the big
NRL final, isaiahs are for you? How do you see
it going?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
To be honest, I've got I've got my money on
the Storm. I like the way they play. I think
they're really real technical and skillful, and I think that's
to be on if I saw a little bit a
little bit and I kind of recide that, you know,
they could probably get off the Storm. There is just
the smart game. I know Broncos have a lot of
love X factor and a lot of they tell them
in their team, and you know they can definitely display
(05:20):
that in the bigger moments. But yeah, I just think
the Storm a bit more technical, a bit more forty
accuras up them, and I think in the final, like
that's definitely sort of things that can pitch you over
the line. So I think that's yeah, where the Storm
will take just as tough mentally as it is physically,
just like an ear League game, but obviously more in
the final. Yeah, both teams obviously will have a lot
(05:41):
of experience and there's sort of mental sides of the game,
of course, but yeah, something about the Storm that I
think I have a bit more trust in with that
sort of side of the game.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Even one will be glued to it, that's for sure
on the side of the tasement and we can't wait
for it. And look, we're going to look forward to
seeing your name and lights in the future as well.
And we've really really appreciative is Ava that you have
come to the phone on your chatting with us, and
wish you all the very best. For more from News
Talk st B, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio
So do the BEG NRUR final. Who is going to
take it out? Is it going to be the Melbourne Storm?
Is it going to be the Brisbane Broncos. Well let's
go to someone who has tasted huge success recently. I'm
talking about Isaiah Savia. He is the captain of not
only Saint Thomas's but our Canterbury Under eighteen rugby league
team who won the national trophy. Isaiah joins us, good.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Morning, good morning, well.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Very good. Thanks congratulations first up winning that under eighteens.
Tell us how long is it since Cannabury said that title?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
A long time? I don't know the execu year to
be sure, but I know the last national tournament for
the youth grade was thirty one years ago now. So
to have her back home and then won the tournament
when we've got you know, the home grounds is definitely
a big achievement for us and yeah, really proud. So
I guess bring a trophy to Canterbury inhabit at home.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And what was the secret to success?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We spent a lot of time on connection throughout our campaign,
our trainings. We made sure for every session with a
bit of connection. So for example, one thing that we
put together was what we called the hot seat, and
you get a few boys up on three seats and
pretty much ask some questions. A bit of vulnerability in there,
I think was a good part of it. But bit
of a bit of a laugh before training and everything
(01:16):
and that that sort of stuff, I guess brought us
closer off the field so that we can be close
on the field and nothing. That chemistry really translated into
into our performance.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
So the final tell us a little bit about the final.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, big game Akron the Falcons. We hadn't seen them
addle until that game itself, and we year there'd be
a lot of Yeah, it would be a bit of
a dog fight, we called it. A few of us
boys have been through the Warriors system, the pathways. We
knew quite a few of their players and that the
Warriors system too, and yeah, identified those guys. But when
we looked at the whole team, they had a lot
(01:49):
of threats and with a will to shut those down,
I guess. But yeah, our theme sort of thing was, yeah,
staying in the dog fight and trusting in ourselves to
I guess overcome by the into the game. And yeah,
that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
And just tell me a little bit about your under
eighteen coaches. Who were they and what how did they
contribute to the title.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, yep, so head coach Matt Muloo. We had unofficial
and Siso Kuru along with physio Lily Simon's and managers
Liane Savia. Great group, yeah, honestly, great group. Coaching was
underal like that can every team did some really experienced players,
but we had a lot of rugby players too, and
credit to them because they did amazing the league roles
(02:31):
and I guess like the league I too, there's a
lot to catch up on as a team because we
had boys were in experience and that's where we got
more experienced players. And they're sort of you know, in
the huddles, they're the boys talking first, and they're the
boys that are just directing those those rugby players. And
they started at the start of that campaign like months
before we looked into into the tournament, and I think
(02:52):
that really got us going because something that our rugby
boys involved, like they're hard workers and so once they
get an understanding of the game, like we all jail
from that point on, and I think that's that's really
what got us.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And you've been part of the Warriors I saw haven't
you for a couple of years? How has that helped
your game?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah? Massive lots of learnings. I started October twenty twenty three.
Here you learn a lot about yourself as a person
as well as obviously everything on the field. But you
go through a lot in pre season obviously, a lot
of training, a lot of hard work, and it probably
brings out a bit of a bit more of a
(03:29):
character that you don't really see it was out there
training and I think that really shows a bit of
a determination and the discipline and everything that really goes
a long way for full lege obviously, but also like
just as a person, builds a lot of character, and
I think that's really what I just takes us to
the next level.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Fantastic And you want to go all the way clearly
you want to be in the NRL.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's a good dream.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Any any interest from the agents who would have been
at that underage teen tournament, Yeah, there's.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Lots of scouts, There are lots of agents and teams
and everything, and yeah, there's obviously a lot of talent.
We've had a lot of talent within Canbury itself with
for being a national tournament, you get a lot of
interest for lots of boys, which is real cought to
see I think, especially boys that haven't had it in
the past getting it. Definitely deserved by some of the players,
(04:23):
and especially within Canbary. I know quite occlear of our boys,
but I'm sure I have some interest.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
So where are you at in terms of securing any
kind of contract? Have you got anything apart from being
part of the Warriors?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, at the moment, I'm still signed with the Warriors
until at the end of October. Yeah, on my last
month at the moment, and then I've got to do
some conversations and some big decisions on where to your
next Right.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
How exciting times in your life?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah? Definitely Yeah, Oh.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Really got you've into That's fantastic. So to the big
NRL final, isaiahs are for you? How do you see
it going?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
To be honest, I've got I've got my money on
the Storm. I like the way they play. I think
they're really real technical and skillful, and I think that's
to be on if I saw a little bit a
little bit and I kind of recide that, you know,
they could probably get off the Storm. There is just
the smart game. I know Broncos have a lot of
love X factor and a lot of they tell them
in their team, and you know they can definitely display
(05:20):
that in the bigger moments. But yeah, I just think
the Storm a bit more technical, a bit more forty
accuras up them, and I think in the final, like
that's definitely sort of things that can pitch you over
the line. So I think that's yeah, where the Storm
will take just as tough mentally as it is physically,
just like an ear League game, but obviously more in
the final. Yeah, both teams obviously will have a lot
(05:41):
of experience and there's sort of mental sides of the game,
of course, but yeah, something about the Storm that I
think I have a bit more trust in with that
sort of side of the game.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Even one will be glued to it, that's for sure
on the side of the tasement and we can't wait
for it. And look, we're going to look forward to
seeing your name and lights in the future as well.
And we've really really appreciative is Ava that you have
come to the phone on your chatting with us, and
wish you all the very best. For more from News
Talk st B, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio
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