July 9, 2025 • 36 mins
This week, Mystics assistant coach Rob Wright joins the podcast to discuss their season and his coaching philosophy heading in to the final regular season round of the ANZ Premiership.
He shares his thoughts on the aggressive nature of the game and the need to clean up some of the play to take the umpires out of the game, and rather showcase the speed, athleticism and skill of the players. Wright suggests it is on the coaches to work on minimising their sides penalty count.
Plus, podcast super-sub and former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering joins Jenny Woods to review Round 9 of the ANZ Premiership and the team make their picks for the final round before the ANZ Premiership play-offs.
Inside Netball is the podcast to get you closer to the game you love!
Former Silver Ferns Adine Wilson and Anna Stanley along with commentator Jenny Woods drill down on the big issues and celebrate the big moments.
Three of the biggest names in netball scrutinise every shot, both on and off the court!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Inside, therefore getting you closer to the game you love.
With Adean Wilson, Anna Stanley and Jenny Woods sowed by
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Zeb talk about Blink and You'll miss it. We are
approaching the final round of this year's A and Z Premiership.
The magazine stars Anna and Adean thereof chasing down every
last copy. I think Anna was last seen in Balley
a dean scene chasing around the streets of Wellington. But
I am here along with super sub again evonn Willering,
(00:31):
and we're going to pick apart what has been a
very interesting well penultiple round of the A and Z Premiership.
Really and I think we should not. Oh and I'll
tell what. Will also be talking to Mystic's assistant coach,
Rob Wright to see how the season is going for him.
We'll talk a little bit of National League Grand Final,
(00:51):
and we might just pay a small tribute to a
fabulous English player who has announced her retirement. So without
further ado, let's get going.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Inside Bedball on iHeart.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Radio, season number five for Rob Wright as assistant coach
with the Mystics. You must love it, otherwise you wouldn't
keep coming back. How do you find it? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:17):
I do. I do love it and I can't believe
it's this is the fair season i've been here. But yeah,
it's a great environment, it's a great place to coach.
I've just really it was like the best decision I've
ever made. So yeah, real thrilled to be here and
hoping to be here more.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah. Now, Rather, it's been interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
I mean we've obviously is in the past, all good ones,
all good ones, but I find it interesting what you
bring to the Mystics. I initially thought you were going
to be their defensive coach, but I believe you're doing
both ends now, Is that correct for a start off?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Yeah, I am doing. I am doing both ends. Like
we we coach both ends during training and we coach
both ends across the season, just so just so it
doesn't get too stale, like I think, even though we're
coaching slightly differently but with the same theme. So I
just think it keeps everyone fresh and.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
That's what you want absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And the other thing adding to that, like, initially coming
from Australia, it was basically one on one defense, but
I have noticed that, you know, it is a little
bit more about I wouldn't say total space marking, but
certainly looking for a ball and flight. And I hear
you often saying ball and flight, And it was interesting
in the last game played right at the end to
(02:41):
your saying get off the body. You know, we want
no penalties right now, and I do believe we are
getting too many penalties in the game. How do you
see the defensive structures without obviously going to secrets.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah, I don't have any secrets, but you know I
have spent a lot of time into you and work
and spending time with you learning, and to me, we
do player as you notice, a hybrid type of defense,
because I think there's room for how the one on
one and some of that more space marking type styles
(03:17):
to actually combine, and there's room and room for both
of them. But I do agree I think that there's two.
There is too many penalties. We really look at penalties
every week as a real to see how we're going.
And we feel like, in particular the last couple of
weeks we've been way too high. So we want to
get off the body. We want it to be clean.
(03:38):
We want clean lines because one when I reckon your
stuff on a body like and I'm talking to the
converted here, like you just can't contest stuff. You can't
run through stuff, you can't you can't get up in
the air, you can't, you can't hedge as well, et cetera,
et cetera. So to me, it's that we want we
need to tidy keep tiding up the game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
In my opinion, are you saying that you you think
the game is getting rougher?
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah? I do. Yeah, I think the uh and ann.
Don't get me wrong. I love a tough contest like
and and that doesn't mean that there's not going to
be some real big challenges a lot that we need
that in the game. But there's some niggle and stuff
that and some just some stuff that I don't think
(04:26):
accentuates or really highlights how good our game is. They're
really good athletes, they're they're quick there, they can get
in the air, they're good across the ground, and to me,
we want to showcase that. And to may, I think
where the umpires are having to get too involved.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so how would you start cleaning the game up?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
To me, I think it just comes back to, well,
on one, the coaches, it's a priority for the coaches
have to go radio. How do we how do we
minimize our penalties? Like, because in reality, teams with higher
penalties lose more than they win. There's always going to
be exceptions to the rule. But to me, like you
(05:07):
just go from our success point of view. Do you
know if we lower our penalties, we're gonna we keep
ourselves in play, we can build pressure, we can we
can look for stuff, and you're no good to anyone
if you're standing out of play. So I think it's
sort of a no brainer. But you know, everyone's different
because every coach is going to play a different style,
and some coaches might want to play real tight on
(05:30):
the body and the look. That's their prerogative, et cetera,
et cetera. Even though I do like my one on one,
even though we play a hybrid, our one on one
is not on the body. It's meant to be off
the body because we want to stay in play and
be able to contest and run stuff and not not
bring the umpire into it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, and it's interesting, Like I guess, well, you also
know it's close to Silver Fern squad selection as well,
and I know that you know the players must have
that in their minds as well, and one thing I
found interesting last week's game against the steel Haul for
your goalkeeper versus stythe their goalkeeper. And obviously you know,
both these players really well. And when we did sort
(06:12):
of stats, not that I'm into stats, but having said that,
like Hall was penalized seventeen times and Stith was, oh no,
Stith twenty one times. And yeah, and I and I say,
both these players are better than that. They are better
than standing beside their opposition, you know. And I look
at that and I go, yeah, we just it just
(06:33):
needs to be tweaked and tidy up. And that's why
I respect it to you for coming out and saying
get off the body, and you say it all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I hear it all the time.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
And I'm with you one hundred percent on that. Like
we think from a penalty count, that's way too high
in my opinion from a keeper, because you're right, like
if you end up just standing out like when when
she's a big menace, and both of them are menaces,
like they don't want to be standing out, like you're
you're giving away some too much free ball or free shots,
and that's what we want to try and limit.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Is there a team that you that your team considers
a dirty team rougher than the others.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Oh no, no, I don't. I just think there's probably
just the nature there's some teams because of the nature
of how they defend, they're obviously going to be much
more low penalty count than some others. But in reality,
I just think across all teams, including ours, sometimes we
just got to go, We've just got to tidy that up.
We've got to be a little bit more disciplined. Sometimes
(07:30):
it's just a discipline thing. We've got to go. You know,
you don't need to go for that. You pull pull
out of that one because you're just gonna you're not
gonna win it. You're gonna you're gonna get ourselves out
of play, and then the pressure comes off. So to me,
it's just about going from a coaching point of view,
how do we tidy up, how do we keep building
that discipline, stay and play and win the ball clean.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Now we see you on the sideline of the Jamaican team,
and we've seen that for the last couple of you know,
big tournaments. Are you still doing work with them?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, that's a good question. It's sort of been. It's
a year by year thing. So at the moment, I
haven't had any contact with Jamaica this season around what's
what moving forward will look like? So who knows it
currently at the moment, I don't. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
May be a country, wouldn't they that you know this
thing where the World Cup is going to every two years,
Well they have the money for that. I mean they
you know, they let us down badly a few years back,
not not being able to get organized. What was your
take on that?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I was. I was furious because I thought nep On
New Zealand were, let's be honest, we're funding a lot
of that, and I felt like we did the wrong thing.
We I think they're expecting obviously that our very best
team that wasn't was never gonna happen, but I don't
(08:59):
think we were maybe upfront and up around what was that?
And so I think we let down ourselves because then
I feel like Netborne New Zealand's going to be very
gunshy to get us back because of that, and they
probably lost a lot of money over that. And I
think they're very diplomatic around how they spoke after that,
(09:22):
but I think it was an absolute shambles from our
point of view from Jamaica's porn of view.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Just with regards to the World Champs and Genny alluded
to it going every two years.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Because I think it's a good idea, because my gut
feel is I'm wondering whether World Netbune is thinking does
that mean that comm Games, the Comwealth Games is under
threat and maybe it's not going to exist anymore, and
so we're looking to make sure that there's something in
that other to that other period. So and if it
(09:59):
goes to every two years and say COMM Games vanishes,
it will probably be a better sequencing of the four
year cycle because clearly at the moment we've got Conwealth
Games one year and then World Champs the very next year.
But I also worry about it. Do World Netball not
think we're going to get in the Olympics, and so
(10:19):
they're trying to also put in a thing to go, oh, well,
we're not. We haven't got any Olympics, but we're going
to go to Worlds every two years. So I don't know.
I think it's a good idea because I don't think
there's enough competition in terms of teams being able to
get exposed enough. I think if you can only get
(10:42):
exposed once every four years, I think we're seeing the
top say eight teams getting further and further away from
maybe the rest of the team. So I'm not quite
sure what the answer to that is, but at the moment,
I think it's a good idea. Money is going to
clearly been should open. Yeah, a number of countries.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, And that's where I look at it, and I'm going,
is it just going to be an elitist competition and
where teams that can afford to participate will participate?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Because already there.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Are some countries and Tonga is an example of that
where they're saying, you know, we're having trouble getting a
team together every four years, how are we.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Going to do it every two years? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And that's a really good it's a really good point,
and that we wouldn't want that to occur because otherwise
and I think it defeats the purpose ye completely. But
do you alwish I knew an answer to that?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Do you think that we should be in the Olympics?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
I do. I think I think we really need to
keep exposing our game to a wider and wider audience.
And I think it that might just be a nice
leverage to audiences that currently don't see it. And my
my thing, my gut feel though, is if it is
in the Olympics, I am imagine it might be more
(12:01):
the fast five game because of numbers, they might want
to keep it down, but I'd prefer it to be
the seven A side game. I even though fast, you know,
fast fives, fast five, but I do love the seven
a side game, and I think that would showcase our
athletes in the very best light. And the thing about it,
(12:22):
it's such a such a great game. My only thing
about netball sometimes I don't think television does it justice.
I always think that the speed of the athleticism sometimes
doesn't come through on the television. When you're there live,
all of a sudden, you go, wow, I look at
these it's flying about it. It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I don't know how often I've been when I've been
commentating that various things around the world, and people were
working on it say I had no idea it was
so fast, And I think that's the wake up call.
You know. I agree with you. But one thing I
do want to ask you is would you like to
see more men coaching. I mean, I think you're the
only bloke coaching on this in the elite you know area.
(13:06):
Would you like to see more men in the game.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I've always been I've always been gun shy around the
men versus women thing, only because I always think you you,
if you're good enough, you should get opportunity. But we
shouldn't just just because I'm a blow it doesn't mean
I should get a gig. I think I have to
prove that I'm good enough and show that I'm good
(13:29):
enough because and if you and if you do that, well,
I don't care if you're a man woman, whatever the opportunity,
if it arises, you should have So Yep, I think
you should earn. I think everything should be earned.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Oh, I am so with you on that one.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Now you were head coach, I think a few years
ago at the Magpies. Would you ever go back to
being a head coach or those days done?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Oh no, I just if the if the right opportunity came. Yeah. Absolutely.
But currently at the moment, like the organization, I'm in
the environment, I'm in the players i'm working with, and
it allows me currently to do the international stuff because
I really did want to get into international netball, and
(14:16):
I felt because I do spend well so far, I've
often been spending say three or four months in Jamaica
a year, and I felt like, if you're a head coach,
I wouldn't be able to do that justice and do
both roles. So that's why I hadn't put my hand
up for any of the head coach role. Because I did.
(14:38):
I want to maintain that. Whether that continues, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Well now I've got to get back on track. Big game. No,
but well no, because I steered you off track. Big
game this Sunday against the Tactics. You're after the three peete.
Can you do it? Can you get the home final? Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Look, if we play really well, yes we can. But
I'm sure Tactics would say exactly the same thing. And
from our point of view, we we haven't been as
consistent as we're like often we you know, we'd get
out to a lead and then we'll let teams back
in rather than going right, we've got a nice lead
(15:21):
and put your foot down and keep extending it, so
we keep letting people back in. So that inconsistency is
the bit that we need to tidy up because if
we're inconsistent against tactics, they'll beat us inconsistent.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
That's what you know to me, that this whole year's
competition has been inconsistent. The scores have been up and
down and all over the place. What would be your
take on that?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, I agree with that, and I'm wondering whether certainly
it was a compressed season. Certainly pre season has been
shorter than normal, but it also appears to have been
a significant rise in injuries, and I think that's affected
teams being able to get all their players either training
(16:07):
or playing together, and that time together clearly is going
to help around that consistency piece. That's a bit that
I'm really interested what what's causing that, because I feel
like across this season there's been a number of times
a number of teams have been out, had a number
of their main line out, And I was thinking, well,
that's interesting, what's what's what's that? What's that about?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Well, look at the Pulse, look at the Stars. You
know they've had a terrible season. Yes, well not the Pulse,
but certainly you.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Know you've got to.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
You know, Timmy Potter Bailey and her first season as
a head coach, nightmare.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Oh so unlucky, like they've just had these injuries that
and sometimes you just you need a bit of luck.
I always think you need a bit of luck during
the season and sometimes those injuries can just they can
affect your big time.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
At the end of all our little interviews, we do
a thing called the fast Fire.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Inside Netball's Fast five.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
What would be your go to postgame snack?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
A coke? Well, certainly would be a certainly'd be a
coke on the time. I know it's a drink, but
that would still be my snack.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Now, if you could compete in any other sport other
than netball, what would it be?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
And why I was rubbish and everything? But what I
would love to have been. I would love to have
been like an international cricket umpire. Oh I would love
to have done that. But you know, I went down
a different path like netball took me, which was fantastic.
So but that's what I'll do. I'd be hopeless of
(17:47):
it if I was playing anything.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
If now number three, who in your team is most
likely to get you into trouble and then most likely
to get you out of trouble?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Oh besides yourself?
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Yeah, I get myself in trouble. What it almost might
be the same person. Oh no, no, I'm going to
separate it. So Katie Tiao would be the most likely
to get me into trouble. She's real cheeky, like she's
every session or every training session, she hides my bag
and can never find it. She's hiding stuff. And the
(18:25):
person will probably get me out of trouble is Petter.
She's real clever, so she'll find a way for me
to get out of trouble. So she's always on speed dial.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Okay, one, two to go. If you could take any
three athletes in the world, current or present, dead or
alive with you to dinner, who would you invite?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Oh? I would go. Lebron James is just I think
from his longevity in the sport, like obviously just you know, amazing,
certainly up there with Michael Jordan as one of the
very best players in the world, and what he's done
off court as well, his work away from basketball is real,
(19:12):
real cool. So I would go with that. It's not
necessarily an athlete, but I start from Game of Thrones.
She's the one that killed the king.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
I've never watched game.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Tell me, yeah, she's yeah, she's cool.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Okay, so you've got one more.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Well, I have to go with your co host.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Don't go there.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
I have to like one like the world's best sense
of humor, like obviously knows the game inside out, but
it's like you can have a conversation and you learn
so much, but you'll also have laughed just self silly
in it, So it would be just an amazing experience.
(20:05):
So there's my three.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You're on my Christmas card list.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Okay, last one, best piece of advice anyone has ever
given you.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
This one's an easy one, So I was the best
piece of advice I was given is to be myself,
so not try and and that was from a coaching
point of view, because when I first started coaching, you
see what other people are doing and you try and
mimic them, or you think this is what you should
do rather than you know, be authentic, like if you'll quiet,
(20:38):
be quiet, if you're a bit crazy, be crazy, etcetera, etcetera.
And so I passed it on to everyone. I think
it's the best thing you can do because one I
always think players see through or fraud or if you're
if you're trying to fake it they'll see through it.
You might do it, you might get away with it once,
but it's hard work trying to not belf So that's
(21:01):
the best piece of ice. And I got that, you know,
more than twenty five years ago. But it's stuck with
me forever and.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It's true to it as well, and it's lasted the
test of time. Well, Rob, thank you so much for
your time. Best of luck on Sunday. And look, I'm
sure it'll be a great game.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
I think it'll be a cracker talking all things netball,
Inside Netball, the Inside Netball Podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Now round nine pretty much the finalists are set, you've
got the mystics are there, the tactics are there, but
it's still a bit of a question mark as to
who is there with them. First game of the round
was the Pulse Stars. Now the Pulse are very much
in it, aren't they.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, And this was one round that we probably could
have predicted who was going to win the game, and
that's that's how it worked out. And yeah, but it's
everything is still about the last round because it's not
top position. That's still up for grabs, and that's tactics, mystics.
That'll be an interesting one, and certainly the Pulse absolutely
in it, and in their next game they will have
(22:07):
to win it. And if they don't, still is going
to be smiling because then they're in with a chance.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
But yeah, the Pulse.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Stars game the Stars. You know, I know it's been
a difficult season for them. They were only two points
behind at halftime, and they are only six points behind
it three quarter time, so they were still in it.
And then what happened. Pulse finally came to the equation
must have woken up. They won the last quarter twenty
two to seven. And you know, I looked at it
(22:35):
at the stats in that game as well. I mean,
Pulse won that sixty five forty four. The Scars were
penalized seventy times. And the reason I bring that up
is because Rob Bright spoke about that as well, and
that is far too many penalties against them. And once
again Warmsley very very dominant forty six out of forty nine.
But the Pulse didn't have what i'd call the consistency.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
And boy have we been talking about that all the time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
They didn't have that, and I looked at them, going
is this is a championship team, and at the moment.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
No they're not, but they're noms.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
No, well, let's rite Yvonne. But then they're missing some
of these starters, like what they sooner out with I
think a concussion for Amu Yuani missed another game with illness,
Tiana Maturo illness, So you know, what can you expect?
But I thought it was a rough game, and I
also thought that in that was it halfway through the
(23:28):
second quarter when there was an ugly bit of play
in the Pulse defensive circle, flurry of arms and legs
and what have you. In Paris, Mason just went to
the you know, went to the bottom of the court
and sort of got sat on. I mean, last I heard,
she's fine, she's still having a few tests. But is
(23:48):
the game getting too rough?
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yeah? And I know the incident and yeah, you're right,
Pulse that was totally shuffle on their part and they
still came through absolutely, and don't take that away from them.
But yeah, but there are times, and you know, Rob
alluded to it, sometimes it's also the player's responsibilities, but
somewhere along the line it is also the umpire's responsibility. Yes,
they penalize and I spoke about it. The Stars seventy
(24:14):
penalties that could have been lowered if the umpire had said,
for instance, okay, that's enough, let's just tidy up the game.
And I think that action by an umpire makes a
big difference. It's a bit like a player being sent
off for a couple of minutes. When they come back on,
they're a slightly different person. And that's why sometimes I'm going,
you know, and it's not a particular individual, it's the
(24:35):
game is getting rough, then you know, stamp on. It's
you know, don't just make the calls and keep making
the calls and the same calls. I actually would say, look,
stop baying. This is the way it's got to be.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, you say that, and I agree with you, But
you know, you look across the Tasman to the SSN
and man, I mean, I don't think they've had a
player sent off. I don't think they've had a suspension
or anything. It is full of yeah and well, I know,
I think a few people sort of make a comment, but.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I was going to say they do though they they've
been commenting on the fact that the game is getting
very physical. Appreciate defensively, it's a slightly different style it's
very much and one on one defense, unlike like we
have a bit more what I call space marking or
off for body marking. But yeah, I just find that
there is stuff going that stuff's going down here, that
(25:25):
it's the same stuff, and players aren't making the changes accordingly.
And I'm going you've been penalized for that two or
three times change a whole approach to the game.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah, Now, next game was the game of the round.
I think Mystic Steel so much writing on it. The mystics, Yes,
they are in the finals already, but they were you know,
if you've talked about fighting for a home final, but
the steal, you know, I felt it was all therefore
on the I think at the beginning of that final
quarter they could see it. But fil Devoui and those
(26:00):
super shots, she did them absolutely.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
And it's really interesting because the Steel coach, when you
threw like she say, we've got this, we can do this,
and the belief in the team is unbelievable. And I
believe with about two minutes to go or maybe three,
still had the game for the taking. They missed a
two pointer at that stage and so the ball went
down the other end and just like you said, Vuiye
(26:24):
nailed two two pointers and that is how the game
ended up, and that enabled Mystics to come out on top.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So yeah, really interesting.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And I enjoyed the game, and again probably more sobecause
I like to see that defensive matchup between Hall and Steith,
and I think both of them are in contention. In fact,
I expect to see their names in the SilverFin squad,
not the team in the squad, so that's always going
to be interesting. The thing that I did question in
that game, Georgia Heffman went off at some stage. Now
(26:55):
I don't know if she was injured, sick, or whatever happened.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I can tell you because i'd gotten and coaching decision.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Oh yeah see, and I found that interesting. And yes,
Grace Numana came on.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yes she's played for them in the past, but not
this season, appreciating that to me also was unavailable. And yeah, yeah,
I still was surprised that that Georgia Hefferlin wasn't shooting bad.
And that's why I'm going, Oh, I don't know if
this is an injury or whatever, but to bring someone
that hasn't been in the team, she might have been
a training partner probably has, but and I've indicated that before.
(27:30):
You know, training is totally different than actually on court action.
With that, and in that game, yep, the super Shop
made the difference.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
And Vouy nailed three out of four.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Incredible, isn't it. She fascinates me, Phil Devouis. She's just so,
she carries herself very evenly and there's no hysterics, no nothing.
She just you know, gets about her business. Now brings
us to Monday Night Tactics versus Magic again, the Tactics
sort of safely through into the top three. Magic they
(28:01):
were desperate, really and they didn't make it. Was it
sixty eight fifty seven? But you know there was an
element there that Emilia Anikinasio shot the two pointers now
and she did. They were successful, six from six from eight,
and I love the fact that she and her opposing defender,
(28:22):
you know, embraced after she shot the last one because
I think, well, I don't know, I guess their mates
and everyone was very happy for the other. But why
didn't she do that? All season?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Haven't we been talking about that? And I've certainly been
talking about that. Yeah, absolutely, it was a situation. You
look at that and you're going to see it shows
that you can do the two pointers. Yeah, six out
of eight you got in that one. And yeah, I
remember the hard that was really quite cool. And I'm going, oh,
I wonder if you know that.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Was the opposition. But even if it wasn't, I thought
it was and good spirits it was. Put it back.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I thought it was.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
The second quarter in that game set the tone twenty
to twelve to the Tech Dicks in that quarter, you know,
and then oh that was interesting. A magic came back
and they won the third quarter twenty to fourteen. Donna
Wilkins was questioned about that, and the first thing she said, yeah, yeah,
but that was thanks to the two point shots, and
I'm going, yeah, in a way, yes, but they are
(29:16):
part of our game.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
It's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
At the end of the game, Donna Wilkins said, oh, look,
we just want to win the game. Like for the
next game against the Mystics, we just want to win
the game. And the reason of that is because they're
at home and it's a situation on Actually, no, it's
the Mystics, isn't it home ground is the next game? Yeah,
but they have been winning all their games at home,
(29:39):
and so that's what it's all about. And I'm going, yeah,
but you don't want to just win. Don't give me this.
You actually have to win by six or more because
if Mystics do lose but they are within five, they
will then be on the same points and I think
gold differential will allow Mystics to take the top.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Oh, this is now, this is where it gets particularly
interested that let's jump ahead now to that next round. Yeah,
Magic versus Pulse, So well, the Magic, you know, I
don't think that they can make any headway, but I
don't think they can go any higher actually, but they
can certainly pull the Pulse down by beating them.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, and teams have spoken about that. At the bottom,
you know, you can still disrupt and yeah, you have
a look at it. We just alluded to it, Ecanasio.
If she starts shooting two pointers, they could really be
in there. And they have at times been in there
but just not have been successful. Look, both the Magic
and in the Stars. I'm sure we'll talk about them.
(30:39):
They want to finish at least the season on a
bit of a high. Having said that, I'm sure the
coaches will then turn around and say, well, if you
can do it for the last game, how can We
haven't been consistent throughout the season, so they're in trouble
no matter what happens. But you know that's a situation.
Obviously Pulse has to win it still will certainly look
at that game because if Pole does win, it still
(31:01):
has no chance even if they win to make.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
It that's right. And then of course you've got the
big game on Sunday, Mystics Tactics, who do you think
will win that?
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Exactly as Rob said, Actually, like Mystics have been inconsistent.
If they are totally on their game, they must be favorites.
But then you can look at the Tactics and on
the whole they've probably been the more consistent out of
the two teams. I just would like to see a
really close game, only it's almost going to be a final.
In fact, it could very much end up being a
(31:34):
final anyway.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And if you're the Tactics, who do you put at goal?
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Shoot?
Speaker 3 (31:38):
And you can say that, isn't it interesting?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Ali Bird played the last game In total, I thought
that Salmon would come on and readiness for the next
game didn't happen. But I think Ali Bird is easy
to feed, and it's a different combination yet she's slightly taller.
But also I don't know they do don't forget she's
been with them for a long time, so I guess
that's why one reason why she is easy to feed.
I think they'll start with Bird, but I can also
(32:02):
see Salmon coming on at some stage in the equation.
And hey, it may come down to the two point
shot at the end of every five and I'd like
to see it utilized, not just in the last quarter
to sort of get up in a bit of a
competitive score, but actually throughout the game.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Interesting though, isn't it, because you think Ellie Bird but
as you say, played with them for Yolks, but playing
some of the best netball of her life, but along
with Selby Rickett, Eric Anna Petterson, Jane Watson not available
for the Ferns.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
I was just going to say that, yeah, and that
may make a difference to Ali Bird, the fact that
she's just playing for this game. That's a reason maybe
Salmon will come on. She may come on a goal attack.
But having said that, boys Selby Ricketts is playing well
and I actually would have given her Player of the
Game last week, and I know Jane Watson got it,
but I would have given it to her mainly because
(32:59):
her attacking players there. When she needs the shoot, she
does shoot. And I just think that she's having a
really good season. Yes, I agree, I agree very much.
Now moving right along, because last week the final of
the National Netball League was played and well, for a change,
(33:22):
Central Manawah didn't win, Mainland did. Yeah, and also they
had some A and Z players in their team. Malasala
was there, right And I looked at that and going, oh,
is that the reason maybe she hasn't been played more
in the A and Z competition because isn't there a
certain amount before?
Speaker 3 (33:40):
I think it's only going up, maybe not going down.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I don't know, but yeah, I found that interesting and
I'm going, oh, Mainland actually hasn't got the most experience
in their team, but certainly they played well as a
collective unit, and boy, I think that's the first time
they actually they won that championship.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And good on them.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
I mean, obviously that's great for their future and great
for the A and Z team. So yeah, even like
obviously you know, the the the tactics, they're playing really
well at home.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
So you know, and the thing I went through my
mind was, boy, I know so many of these players,
and I think that's because this National League is doing
its job. It's feeding the A n Z because we've
had so many injuries as we all we've all talked about,
but you know, there's been an absolute parade of National
(34:28):
League players coming through the Stars, coming through some of
the steel and it's.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
But I'd like to see it changed at the moment.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And it may only be in the Auckland region, but
and I'm not saying there's an age restriction on it,
but they do tend to favor the younger players. And
I've been the club competition and I'm going WHOA some
of these players Actually, you know, it would be interesting
to see if they could take the step up. And
I like to just see that it's the next tier
down the n and L, that it's the players selected
(34:59):
for that the next best players in the region. And
I don't believe that's necessarily happening because you're twenty three,
twenty four year old, so are playing club netball basically
well not in aligible, but I'm not looked at for
the NNL competition, and I think there shouldn't be an
age restriction on that.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Yeah, no, well you that and that may well be right. Now, look,
one more thing we have to touch on before we go.
Joe Harton and lover her or hater. I know when
if she was playing for England against New Zealand, I
used to I hate a strong word, but you know
I wasn't her biggest fan. But she is a great woman.
I remember when she was here playing for the Magic
(35:39):
and then she followed Julie Fitzgerald across to Australia. She's
made a home in Sydney, she's had a baby, she's
you know, she's just she's made a whole new life
for herself out here. And I understand she's going into coaching.
I understand she's you know, she's announced her retirement from
playing netball. Did you have much to do with it?
Speaker 3 (35:59):
A little bit?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You know, And it was going to be a question
of when was she going to retire? You know, and
you could see that it was happening and she was
starting to get more into coaching. But you know, never
say never. Hey remember Casey koepoor. Oh that's right. She's
playing at the moment, so you know, and she's still
valuable in their team, and yeah, obviously in slightly lesser role.
(36:22):
You know, shooters don't have to move us much. But yeah,
I mean, she's had a wonderful, wonderful career, and what
I love about it is that she's still staying involved
in the sport.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Just in a different capacity.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Yeah, and she's the sort of player she'll always talk
to you wherever you are and I always value that.
But anyway, we have reached the end of this program,
so I don't know where those two magazine readers are,
but I'm sure that well, I hope that they'll be
back next week. In the meantime, martiwa
Inside, therefore getting you closer to the game you love.
With Adean Wilson, Anna Stanley and Jenny Woods sowed by
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Zeb talk about Blink and You'll miss it. We are
approaching the final round of this year's A and Z Premiership.
The magazine stars Anna and Adean thereof chasing down every
last copy. I think Anna was last seen in Balley
a dean scene chasing around the streets of Wellington. But
I am here along with super sub again evonn Willering,
(00:31):
and we're going to pick apart what has been a
very interesting well penultiple round of the A and Z Premiership.
Really and I think we should not. Oh and I'll
tell what. Will also be talking to Mystic's assistant coach,
Rob Wright to see how the season is going for him.
We'll talk a little bit of National League Grand Final,
(00:51):
and we might just pay a small tribute to a
fabulous English player who has announced her retirement. So without
further ado, let's get going.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Inside Bedball on iHeart.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Radio, season number five for Rob Wright as assistant coach
with the Mystics. You must love it, otherwise you wouldn't
keep coming back. How do you find it? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:17):
I do. I do love it and I can't believe
it's this is the fair season i've been here. But yeah,
it's a great environment, it's a great place to coach.
I've just really it was like the best decision I've
ever made. So yeah, real thrilled to be here and
hoping to be here more.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah. Now, Rather, it's been interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
I mean we've obviously is in the past, all good ones,
all good ones, but I find it interesting what you
bring to the Mystics. I initially thought you were going
to be their defensive coach, but I believe you're doing
both ends now, Is that correct for a start off?
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Yeah, I am doing. I am doing both ends. Like
we we coach both ends during training and we coach
both ends across the season, just so just so it
doesn't get too stale, like I think, even though we're
coaching slightly differently but with the same theme. So I
just think it keeps everyone fresh and.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
That's what you want absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And the other thing adding to that, like, initially coming
from Australia, it was basically one on one defense, but
I have noticed that, you know, it is a little
bit more about I wouldn't say total space marking, but
certainly looking for a ball and flight. And I hear
you often saying ball and flight, And it was interesting
in the last game played right at the end to
(02:41):
your saying get off the body. You know, we want
no penalties right now, and I do believe we are
getting too many penalties in the game. How do you
see the defensive structures without obviously going to secrets.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah, I don't have any secrets, but you know I
have spent a lot of time into you and work
and spending time with you learning, and to me, we
do player as you notice, a hybrid type of defense,
because I think there's room for how the one on
one and some of that more space marking type styles
(03:17):
to actually combine, and there's room and room for both
of them. But I do agree I think that there's two.
There is too many penalties. We really look at penalties
every week as a real to see how we're going.
And we feel like, in particular the last couple of
weeks we've been way too high. So we want to
get off the body. We want it to be clean.
(03:38):
We want clean lines because one when I reckon your
stuff on a body like and I'm talking to the
converted here, like you just can't contest stuff. You can't
run through stuff, you can't you can't get up in
the air, you can't, you can't hedge as well, et cetera,
et cetera. So to me, it's that we want we
need to tidy keep tiding up the game.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
In my opinion, are you saying that you you think
the game is getting rougher?
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah? I do. Yeah, I think the uh and ann.
Don't get me wrong. I love a tough contest like
and and that doesn't mean that there's not going to
be some real big challenges a lot that we need
that in the game. But there's some niggle and stuff
that and some just some stuff that I don't think
(04:26):
accentuates or really highlights how good our game is. They're
really good athletes, they're they're quick there, they can get
in the air, they're good across the ground, and to me,
we want to showcase that. And to may, I think
where the umpires are having to get too involved.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so how would you start cleaning the game up?
Speaker 4 (04:46):
To me, I think it just comes back to, well,
on one, the coaches, it's a priority for the coaches
have to go radio. How do we how do we
minimize our penalties? Like, because in reality, teams with higher
penalties lose more than they win. There's always going to
be exceptions to the rule. But to me, like you
(05:07):
just go from our success point of view. Do you
know if we lower our penalties, we're gonna we keep
ourselves in play, we can build pressure, we can we
can look for stuff, and you're no good to anyone
if you're standing out of play. So I think it's
sort of a no brainer. But you know, everyone's different
because every coach is going to play a different style,
and some coaches might want to play real tight on
(05:30):
the body and the look. That's their prerogative, et cetera,
et cetera. Even though I do like my one on one,
even though we play a hybrid, our one on one
is not on the body. It's meant to be off
the body because we want to stay in play and
be able to contest and run stuff and not not
bring the umpire into it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, and it's interesting, Like I guess, well, you also
know it's close to Silver Fern squad selection as well,
and I know that you know the players must have
that in their minds as well, and one thing I
found interesting last week's game against the steel Haul for
your goalkeeper versus stythe their goalkeeper. And obviously you know,
both these players really well. And when we did sort
(06:12):
of stats, not that I'm into stats, but having said that,
like Hall was penalized seventeen times and Stith was, oh no,
Stith twenty one times. And yeah, and I and I say,
both these players are better than that. They are better
than standing beside their opposition, you know. And I look
at that and I go, yeah, we just it just
(06:33):
needs to be tweaked and tidy up. And that's why
I respect it to you for coming out and saying
get off the body, and you say it all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I hear it all the time.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
And I'm with you one hundred percent on that. Like
we think from a penalty count, that's way too high
in my opinion from a keeper, because you're right, like
if you end up just standing out like when when
she's a big menace, and both of them are menaces,
like they don't want to be standing out, like you're
you're giving away some too much free ball or free shots,
and that's what we want to try and limit.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Is there a team that you that your team considers
a dirty team rougher than the others.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Oh no, no, I don't. I just think there's probably
just the nature there's some teams because of the nature
of how they defend, they're obviously going to be much
more low penalty count than some others. But in reality,
I just think across all teams, including ours, sometimes we
just got to go, We've just got to tidy that up.
We've got to be a little bit more disciplined. Sometimes
(07:30):
it's just a discipline thing. We've got to go. You know,
you don't need to go for that. You pull pull
out of that one because you're just gonna you're not
gonna win it. You're gonna you're gonna get ourselves out
of play, and then the pressure comes off. So to me,
it's just about going from a coaching point of view,
how do we tidy up, how do we keep building
that discipline, stay and play and win the ball clean.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Now we see you on the sideline of the Jamaican team,
and we've seen that for the last couple of you know,
big tournaments. Are you still doing work with them?
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Well, that's a good question. It's sort of been. It's
a year by year thing. So at the moment, I
haven't had any contact with Jamaica this season around what's
what moving forward will look like? So who knows it
currently at the moment, I don't. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
May be a country, wouldn't they that you know this
thing where the World Cup is going to every two years,
Well they have the money for that. I mean they
you know, they let us down badly a few years back,
not not being able to get organized. What was your
take on that?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I was. I was furious because I thought nep On
New Zealand were, let's be honest, we're funding a lot
of that, and I felt like we did the wrong thing.
We I think they're expecting obviously that our very best
team that wasn't was never gonna happen, but I don't
(08:59):
think we were maybe upfront and up around what was that?
And so I think we let down ourselves because then
I feel like Netborne New Zealand's going to be very
gunshy to get us back because of that, and they
probably lost a lot of money over that. And I
think they're very diplomatic around how they spoke after that,
(09:22):
but I think it was an absolute shambles from our
point of view from Jamaica's porn of view.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Just with regards to the World Champs and Genny alluded
to it going every two years.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Because I think it's a good idea, because my gut
feel is I'm wondering whether World Netbune is thinking does
that mean that comm Games, the Comwealth Games is under
threat and maybe it's not going to exist anymore, and
so we're looking to make sure that there's something in
that other to that other period. So and if it
(09:59):
goes to every two years and say COMM Games vanishes,
it will probably be a better sequencing of the four
year cycle because clearly at the moment we've got Conwealth
Games one year and then World Champs the very next year.
But I also worry about it. Do World Netball not
think we're going to get in the Olympics, and so
(10:19):
they're trying to also put in a thing to go, oh, well,
we're not. We haven't got any Olympics, but we're going
to go to Worlds every two years. So I don't know.
I think it's a good idea because I don't think
there's enough competition in terms of teams being able to
get exposed enough. I think if you can only get
(10:42):
exposed once every four years, I think we're seeing the
top say eight teams getting further and further away from
maybe the rest of the team. So I'm not quite
sure what the answer to that is, but at the moment,
I think it's a good idea. Money is going to
clearly been should open. Yeah, a number of countries.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Yeah, And that's where I look at it, and I'm going,
is it just going to be an elitist competition and
where teams that can afford to participate will participate?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Because already there.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Are some countries and Tonga is an example of that
where they're saying, you know, we're having trouble getting a
team together every four years, how are we.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Going to do it every two years? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (11:21):
And that's a really good it's a really good point,
and that we wouldn't want that to occur because otherwise
and I think it defeats the purpose ye completely. But
do you alwish I knew an answer to that?
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Do you think that we should be in the Olympics?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
I do. I think I think we really need to
keep exposing our game to a wider and wider audience.
And I think it that might just be a nice
leverage to audiences that currently don't see it. And my
my thing, my gut feel though, is if it is
in the Olympics, I am imagine it might be more
(12:01):
the fast five game because of numbers, they might want
to keep it down, but I'd prefer it to be
the seven A side game. I even though fast, you know,
fast fives, fast five, but I do love the seven
a side game, and I think that would showcase our
athletes in the very best light. And the thing about it,
(12:22):
it's such a such a great game. My only thing
about netball sometimes I don't think television does it justice.
I always think that the speed of the athleticism sometimes
doesn't come through on the television. When you're there live,
all of a sudden, you go, wow, I look at
these it's flying about it. It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I don't know how often I've been when I've been
commentating that various things around the world, and people were
working on it say I had no idea it was
so fast, And I think that's the wake up call.
You know. I agree with you. But one thing I
do want to ask you is would you like to
see more men coaching. I mean, I think you're the
only bloke coaching on this in the elite you know area.
(13:06):
Would you like to see more men in the game.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I've always been I've always been gun shy around the
men versus women thing, only because I always think you you,
if you're good enough, you should get opportunity. But we
shouldn't just just because I'm a blow it doesn't mean
I should get a gig. I think I have to
prove that I'm good enough and show that I'm good
(13:29):
enough because and if you and if you do that, well,
I don't care if you're a man woman, whatever the opportunity,
if it arises, you should have So Yep, I think
you should earn. I think everything should be earned.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Oh, I am so with you on that one.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Now you were head coach, I think a few years
ago at the Magpies. Would you ever go back to
being a head coach or those days done?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Oh no, I just if the if the right opportunity came. Yeah. Absolutely.
But currently at the moment, like the organization, I'm in
the environment, I'm in the players i'm working with, and
it allows me currently to do the international stuff because
I really did want to get into international netball, and
(14:16):
I felt because I do spend well so far, I've
often been spending say three or four months in Jamaica
a year, and I felt like, if you're a head coach,
I wouldn't be able to do that justice and do
both roles. So that's why I hadn't put my hand
up for any of the head coach role. Because I did.
(14:38):
I want to maintain that. Whether that continues, we'll see.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Well now I've got to get back on track. Big game. No,
but well no, because I steered you off track. Big
game this Sunday against the Tactics. You're after the three peete.
Can you do it? Can you get the home final? Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Look, if we play really well, yes we can. But
I'm sure Tactics would say exactly the same thing. And
from our point of view, we we haven't been as
consistent as we're like often we you know, we'd get
out to a lead and then we'll let teams back
in rather than going right, we've got a nice lead
(15:21):
and put your foot down and keep extending it, so
we keep letting people back in. So that inconsistency is
the bit that we need to tidy up because if
we're inconsistent against tactics, they'll beat us inconsistent.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
That's what you know to me, that this whole year's
competition has been inconsistent. The scores have been up and
down and all over the place. What would be your
take on that?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, I agree with that, and I'm wondering whether certainly
it was a compressed season. Certainly pre season has been
shorter than normal, but it also appears to have been
a significant rise in injuries, and I think that's affected
teams being able to get all their players either training
(16:07):
or playing together, and that time together clearly is going
to help around that consistency piece. That's a bit that
I'm really interested what what's causing that, because I feel
like across this season there's been a number of times
a number of teams have been out, had a number
of their main line out, And I was thinking, well,
that's interesting, what's what's what's that? What's that about?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Well, look at the Pulse, look at the Stars. You
know they've had a terrible season. Yes, well not the Pulse,
but certainly you.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Know you've got to.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
You know, Timmy Potter Bailey and her first season as
a head coach, nightmare.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Oh so unlucky, like they've just had these injuries that
and sometimes you just you need a bit of luck.
I always think you need a bit of luck during
the season and sometimes those injuries can just they can
affect your big time.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
At the end of all our little interviews, we do
a thing called the fast Fire.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Inside Netball's Fast five.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
What would be your go to postgame snack?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
A coke? Well, certainly would be a certainly'd be a
coke on the time. I know it's a drink, but
that would still be my snack.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Now, if you could compete in any other sport other
than netball, what would it be?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
And why I was rubbish and everything? But what I
would love to have been. I would love to have
been like an international cricket umpire. Oh I would love
to have done that. But you know, I went down
a different path like netball took me, which was fantastic.
So but that's what I'll do. I'd be hopeless of
(17:47):
it if I was playing anything.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
If now number three, who in your team is most
likely to get you into trouble and then most likely
to get you out of trouble?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Oh besides yourself?
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Yeah, I get myself in trouble. What it almost might
be the same person. Oh no, no, I'm going to
separate it. So Katie Tiao would be the most likely
to get me into trouble. She's real cheeky, like she's
every session or every training session, she hides my bag
and can never find it. She's hiding stuff. And the
(18:25):
person will probably get me out of trouble is Petter.
She's real clever, so she'll find a way for me
to get out of trouble. So she's always on speed dial.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Okay, one, two to go. If you could take any
three athletes in the world, current or present, dead or
alive with you to dinner, who would you invite?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Oh? I would go. Lebron James is just I think
from his longevity in the sport, like obviously just you know, amazing,
certainly up there with Michael Jordan as one of the
very best players in the world, and what he's done
off court as well, his work away from basketball is real,
(19:12):
real cool. So I would go with that. It's not
necessarily an athlete, but I start from Game of Thrones.
She's the one that killed the king.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
I've never watched game.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Tell me, yeah, she's yeah, she's cool.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Okay, so you've got one more.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Well, I have to go with your co host.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Don't go there.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
I have to like one like the world's best sense
of humor, like obviously knows the game inside out, but
it's like you can have a conversation and you learn
so much, but you'll also have laughed just self silly
in it, So it would be just an amazing experience.
(20:05):
So there's my three.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
You're on my Christmas card list.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Okay, last one, best piece of advice anyone has ever
given you.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
This one's an easy one, So I was the best
piece of advice I was given is to be myself,
so not try and and that was from a coaching
point of view, because when I first started coaching, you
see what other people are doing and you try and
mimic them, or you think this is what you should
do rather than you know, be authentic, like if you'll quiet,
(20:38):
be quiet, if you're a bit crazy, be crazy, etcetera, etcetera.
And so I passed it on to everyone. I think
it's the best thing you can do because one I
always think players see through or fraud or if you're
if you're trying to fake it they'll see through it.
You might do it, you might get away with it once,
but it's hard work trying to not belf So that's
(21:01):
the best piece of ice. And I got that, you know,
more than twenty five years ago. But it's stuck with
me forever and.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It's true to it as well, and it's lasted the
test of time. Well, Rob, thank you so much for
your time. Best of luck on Sunday. And look, I'm
sure it'll be a great game.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
I think it'll be a cracker talking all things netball,
Inside Netball, the Inside Netball Podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Now round nine pretty much the finalists are set, you've
got the mystics are there, the tactics are there, but
it's still a bit of a question mark as to
who is there with them. First game of the round
was the Pulse Stars. Now the Pulse are very much
in it, aren't they.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, And this was one round that we probably could
have predicted who was going to win the game, and
that's that's how it worked out. And yeah, but it's
everything is still about the last round because it's not
top position. That's still up for grabs, and that's tactics, mystics.
That'll be an interesting one, and certainly the Pulse absolutely
in it, and in their next game they will have
(22:07):
to win it. And if they don't, still is going
to be smiling because then they're in with a chance.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
But yeah, the Pulse.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Stars game the Stars. You know, I know it's been
a difficult season for them. They were only two points
behind at halftime, and they are only six points behind
it three quarter time, so they were still in it.
And then what happened. Pulse finally came to the equation
must have woken up. They won the last quarter twenty
two to seven. And you know, I looked at it
(22:35):
at the stats in that game as well. I mean,
Pulse won that sixty five forty four. The Scars were
penalized seventy times. And the reason I bring that up
is because Rob Bright spoke about that as well, and
that is far too many penalties against them. And once
again Warmsley very very dominant forty six out of forty nine.
But the Pulse didn't have what i'd call the consistency.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
And boy have we been talking about that all the time.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
They didn't have that, and I looked at them, going
is this is a championship team, and at the moment.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
No they're not, but they're noms.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
No, well, let's rite Yvonne. But then they're missing some
of these starters, like what they sooner out with I
think a concussion for Amu Yuani missed another game with illness,
Tiana Maturo illness, So you know, what can you expect?
But I thought it was a rough game, and I
also thought that in that was it halfway through the
(23:28):
second quarter when there was an ugly bit of play
in the Pulse defensive circle, flurry of arms and legs
and what have you. In Paris, Mason just went to
the you know, went to the bottom of the court
and sort of got sat on. I mean, last I heard,
she's fine, she's still having a few tests. But is
(23:48):
the game getting too rough?
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Yeah? And I know the incident and yeah, you're right,
Pulse that was totally shuffle on their part and they
still came through absolutely, and don't take that away from them.
But yeah, but there are times, and you know, Rob
alluded to it, sometimes it's also the player's responsibilities, but
somewhere along the line it is also the umpire's responsibility. Yes,
they penalize and I spoke about it. The Stars seventy
(24:14):
penalties that could have been lowered if the umpire had said,
for instance, okay, that's enough, let's just tidy up the game.
And I think that action by an umpire makes a
big difference. It's a bit like a player being sent
off for a couple of minutes. When they come back on,
they're a slightly different person. And that's why sometimes I'm going,
you know, and it's not a particular individual, it's the
(24:35):
game is getting rough, then you know, stamp on. It's
you know, don't just make the calls and keep making
the calls and the same calls. I actually would say, look,
stop baying. This is the way it's got to be.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Yeah, you say that, and I agree with you, But
you know, you look across the Tasman to the SSN
and man, I mean, I don't think they've had a
player sent off. I don't think they've had a suspension
or anything. It is full of yeah and well, I know,
I think a few people sort of make a comment, but.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
I was going to say they do though they they've
been commenting on the fact that the game is getting
very physical. Appreciate defensively, it's a slightly different style it's
very much and one on one defense, unlike like we
have a bit more what I call space marking or
off for body marking. But yeah, I just find that
there is stuff going that stuff's going down here, that
(25:25):
it's the same stuff, and players aren't making the changes accordingly.
And I'm going you've been penalized for that two or
three times change a whole approach to the game.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah, Now, next game was the game of the round.
I think Mystic Steel so much writing on it. The mystics, Yes,
they are in the finals already, but they were you know,
if you've talked about fighting for a home final, but
the steal, you know, I felt it was all therefore
on the I think at the beginning of that final
quarter they could see it. But fil Devoui and those
(26:00):
super shots, she did them absolutely.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
And it's really interesting because the Steel coach, when you
threw like she say, we've got this, we can do this,
and the belief in the team is unbelievable. And I
believe with about two minutes to go or maybe three,
still had the game for the taking. They missed a
two pointer at that stage and so the ball went
down the other end and just like you said, Vuiye
(26:24):
nailed two two pointers and that is how the game
ended up, and that enabled Mystics to come out on top.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So yeah, really interesting.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And I enjoyed the game, and again probably more sobecause
I like to see that defensive matchup between Hall and Steith,
and I think both of them are in contention. In fact,
I expect to see their names in the SilverFin squad,
not the team in the squad, so that's always going
to be interesting. The thing that I did question in
that game, Georgia Heffman went off at some stage. Now
(26:55):
I don't know if she was injured, sick, or whatever happened.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I can tell you because i'd gotten and coaching decision.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Oh yeah see, and I found that interesting. And yes,
Grace Numana came on.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Yes she's played for them in the past, but not
this season, appreciating that to me also was unavailable. And yeah, yeah,
I still was surprised that that Georgia Hefferlin wasn't shooting bad.
And that's why I'm going, Oh, I don't know if
this is an injury or whatever, but to bring someone
that hasn't been in the team, she might have been
a training partner probably has, but and I've indicated that before.
(27:30):
You know, training is totally different than actually on court action.
With that, and in that game, yep, the super Shop
made the difference.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
And Vouy nailed three out of four.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Incredible, isn't it. She fascinates me, Phil Devouis. She's just so,
she carries herself very evenly and there's no hysterics, no nothing.
She just you know, gets about her business. Now brings
us to Monday Night Tactics versus Magic again, the Tactics
sort of safely through into the top three. Magic they
(28:01):
were desperate, really and they didn't make it. Was it
sixty eight fifty seven? But you know there was an
element there that Emilia Anikinasio shot the two pointers now
and she did. They were successful, six from six from eight,
and I love the fact that she and her opposing defender,
(28:22):
you know, embraced after she shot the last one because
I think, well, I don't know, I guess their mates
and everyone was very happy for the other. But why
didn't she do that? All season?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Haven't we been talking about that? And I've certainly been
talking about that. Yeah, absolutely, it was a situation. You
look at that and you're going to see it shows
that you can do the two pointers. Yeah, six out
of eight you got in that one. And yeah, I
remember the hard that was really quite cool. And I'm going, oh,
I wonder if you know that.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Was the opposition. But even if it wasn't, I thought
it was and good spirits it was. Put it back.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I thought it was.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
The second quarter in that game set the tone twenty
to twelve to the Tech Dicks in that quarter, you know,
and then oh that was interesting. A magic came back
and they won the third quarter twenty to fourteen. Donna
Wilkins was questioned about that, and the first thing she said, yeah, yeah,
but that was thanks to the two point shots, and
I'm going, yeah, in a way, yes, but they are
(29:16):
part of our game.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
It's as simple as that.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
At the end of the game, Donna Wilkins said, oh, look,
we just want to win the game. Like for the
next game against the Mystics, we just want to win
the game. And the reason of that is because they're
at home and it's a situation on Actually, no, it's
the Mystics, isn't it home ground is the next game? Yeah,
but they have been winning all their games at home,
(29:39):
and so that's what it's all about. And I'm going, yeah,
but you don't want to just win. Don't give me this.
You actually have to win by six or more because
if Mystics do lose but they are within five, they
will then be on the same points and I think
gold differential will allow Mystics to take the top.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Oh, this is now, this is where it gets particularly
interested that let's jump ahead now to that next round. Yeah,
Magic versus Pulse, So well, the Magic, you know, I
don't think that they can make any headway, but I
don't think they can go any higher actually, but they
can certainly pull the Pulse down by beating them.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, and teams have spoken about that. At the bottom,
you know, you can still disrupt and yeah, you have
a look at it. We just alluded to it, Ecanasio.
If she starts shooting two pointers, they could really be
in there. And they have at times been in there
but just not have been successful. Look, both the Magic
and in the Stars. I'm sure we'll talk about them.
(30:39):
They want to finish at least the season on a
bit of a high. Having said that, I'm sure the
coaches will then turn around and say, well, if you
can do it for the last game, how can We
haven't been consistent throughout the season, so they're in trouble
no matter what happens. But you know that's a situation.
Obviously Pulse has to win it still will certainly look
at that game because if Pole does win, it still
(31:01):
has no chance even if they win to make.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
It that's right. And then of course you've got the
big game on Sunday, Mystics Tactics, who do you think
will win that?
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Exactly as Rob said, Actually, like Mystics have been inconsistent.
If they are totally on their game, they must be favorites.
But then you can look at the Tactics and on
the whole they've probably been the more consistent out of
the two teams. I just would like to see a
really close game, only it's almost going to be a final.
In fact, it could very much end up being a
(31:34):
final anyway.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And if you're the Tactics, who do you put at goal?
Speaker 4 (31:38):
Shoot?
Speaker 3 (31:38):
And you can say that, isn't it interesting?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Ali Bird played the last game In total, I thought
that Salmon would come on and readiness for the next
game didn't happen. But I think Ali Bird is easy
to feed, and it's a different combination yet she's slightly taller.
But also I don't know they do don't forget she's
been with them for a long time, so I guess
that's why one reason why she is easy to feed.
I think they'll start with Bird, but I can also
(32:02):
see Salmon coming on at some stage in the equation.
And hey, it may come down to the two point
shot at the end of every five and I'd like
to see it utilized, not just in the last quarter
to sort of get up in a bit of a
competitive score, but actually throughout the game.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Interesting though, isn't it, because you think Ellie Bird but
as you say, played with them for Yolks, but playing
some of the best netball of her life, but along
with Selby Rickett, Eric Anna Petterson, Jane Watson not available
for the Ferns.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
I was just going to say that, yeah, and that
may make a difference to Ali Bird, the fact that
she's just playing for this game. That's a reason maybe
Salmon will come on. She may come on a goal attack.
But having said that, boys Selby Ricketts is playing well
and I actually would have given her Player of the
Game last week, and I know Jane Watson got it,
but I would have given it to her mainly because
(32:59):
her attacking players there. When she needs the shoot, she
does shoot. And I just think that she's having a
really good season. Yes, I agree, I agree very much.
Now moving right along, because last week the final of
the National Netball League was played and well, for a change,
(33:22):
Central Manawah didn't win, Mainland did. Yeah, and also they
had some A and Z players in their team. Malasala
was there, right And I looked at that and going, oh,
is that the reason maybe she hasn't been played more
in the A and Z competition because isn't there a
certain amount before?
Speaker 3 (33:40):
I think it's only going up, maybe not going down.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
I don't know, but yeah, I found that interesting and
I'm going, oh, Mainland actually hasn't got the most experience
in their team, but certainly they played well as a
collective unit, and boy, I think that's the first time
they actually they won that championship.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And good on them.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
I mean, obviously that's great for their future and great
for the A and Z team. So yeah, even like
obviously you know, the the the tactics, they're playing really
well at home.
Speaker 2 (34:08):
So you know, and the thing I went through my
mind was, boy, I know so many of these players,
and I think that's because this National League is doing
its job. It's feeding the A n Z because we've
had so many injuries as we all we've all talked about,
but you know, there's been an absolute parade of National
(34:28):
League players coming through the Stars, coming through some of
the steel and it's.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
But I'd like to see it changed at the moment.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
And it may only be in the Auckland region, but
and I'm not saying there's an age restriction on it,
but they do tend to favor the younger players. And
I've been the club competition and I'm going WHOA some
of these players Actually, you know, it would be interesting
to see if they could take the step up. And
I like to just see that it's the next tier
down the n and L, that it's the players selected
(34:59):
for that the next best players in the region. And
I don't believe that's necessarily happening because you're twenty three,
twenty four year old, so are playing club netball basically
well not in aligible, but I'm not looked at for
the NNL competition, and I think there shouldn't be an
age restriction on that.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Yeah, no, well you that and that may well be right. Now, look,
one more thing we have to touch on before we go.
Joe Harton and lover her or hater. I know when
if she was playing for England against New Zealand, I
used to I hate a strong word, but you know
I wasn't her biggest fan. But she is a great woman.
I remember when she was here playing for the Magic
(35:39):
and then she followed Julie Fitzgerald across to Australia. She's
made a home in Sydney, she's had a baby, she's
you know, she's just she's made a whole new life
for herself out here. And I understand she's going into coaching.
I understand she's you know, she's announced her retirement from
playing netball. Did you have much to do with it?
Speaker 3 (35:59):
A little bit?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
You know, And it was going to be a question
of when was she going to retire? You know, and
you could see that it was happening and she was
starting to get more into coaching. But you know, never
say never. Hey remember Casey koepoor. Oh that's right. She's
playing at the moment, so you know, and she's still
valuable in their team, and yeah, obviously in slightly lesser role.
(36:22):
You know, shooters don't have to move us much. But yeah,
I mean, she's had a wonderful, wonderful career, and what
I love about it is that she's still staying involved
in the sport.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
Just in a different capacity.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Yeah, and she's the sort of player she'll always talk
to you wherever you are and I always value that.
But anyway, we have reached the end of this program,
so I don't know where those two magazine readers are,
but I'm sure that well, I hope that they'll be
back next week. In the meantime, martiwa
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