On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for Thursday April 10, 2025, Blues Rugby CEO Andrew Hore unpacks why Super Rugby Aupiki was given a 'prime time' slot but still clashes with Super Rugby Pacific - is it just lip service or commercial reality?
D’Arcy delivers an opinion on Joey Manu's rumoured move back to the NRL - and possibly the Wahs?
Plus, the lads join the panel to discuss the start of the 'Masters' golf tournament.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks be follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Sportsfects, your daily dose of sport.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello there, and welcome into the latest episode of the
Sports Fixed podcast, brought to you an association with GJ.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. It's the
tenth of April on Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I'm Darcy waldergra Welcome on board GJ. Gardner Holmes. He
attached yourself to the podcast and all of our other
programs as well, which is brilliant, right Piney.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
We love it, We love it. GJ can look after
us when it comes to building houses, that's for sure.
What about building towards a busy sporting weekend? Look do
we say this every week? I think on a Thursday
or a Friday there is so much on, But I
actually think for this weekend, there is so much, so much,
so much on. How we're going to divide our attention.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I try what we did last week just and the
week before the week before. Run several devices, several screens,
read a lot of reports, listen to the radio, and
hope for the best.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
There well, that's a strategy I'm going to write down
and go with in terms of what we're focusing on
on the Sports Fixed podcast today, I want to talk
abit about the Masters, want to talk a bit about
Grace Wecki. What about a guest for today.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Andrew haw is going to join us CEO of Blues Rugby.
It's a big weekend for the Blues Eden Park. First,
they're taking on the new Roustabouts on the block, well
newss anyway now they started winning Mina Plassifica. And then
on the heels of that, it is the final of
O Picky Mark to II are coming up to try
and stop the Blues women winning consecutive O Picking titles.
(01:50):
And that's king offered five minutes after seven, so that's
prime time for the finals, so we'll talk to him
about that in the organization behind what'll be a big
evening at eden Park.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Fantastic all right, plus the latest sports news coming up,
let's get into it. In other news, let's get things
underway with a look at some of the big sports
stories around today. Supercars driver andre Heimgartner's getting behind plans
for a Supercars round to take place in christ Church.
Blue poona Park's the likely candidate to join top Or
as the only New Zealand events on the calendar next year.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
For me, that's a great track. It's where I've done
the most laps out of any track in the world.
It's where I cut my teeth and form of the
forward and I think no doubt the area is amazing
for it a great part of the country and the
track is suitable for supercars too.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Silver Ferns that shooter Grace Wiki is overcoming early apprehension
at super netball's two point shot after joining the New
South Wales Swifts interially in pre seas and I was like,
I don't like this and it's not my strength and
it's changes the game.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
It brings teams to a.
Speaker 6 (02:50):
Drup down back in I think to give myself lifense
to turn and shoot both for the shot.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I know I need to do the work at training
to put that volume up.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And hosts Paris ja Mart have come from behind to
beat aston Villa three to one in the first leg
of their Champions League Football quarter final and keep his
furthest forward came in, Oh he's got all the way.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
What air?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
What a fighter for Georgian genius give beer.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Use and a Villian. It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine
and Dussy water Grave.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And it's all welcome to the Sports Fixed podcast. Now
to CEO of the Blues. His name is Andrew Hoare
Big weekend air head.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Gooday Andrew, how are you Darcy right?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, very well, looking forward to the weekend's sport as
of course you are as well. Big weekend for the
Blues franchise, not only for the men, more so for
the women. In opicky you got a final coming up, Andrew.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Yeah, back to back which has been an outstanding achievement.
And when I think about that first season where we
started from, I just take my head off to Willie
and the management team on how they've built the culture
and the environment and they're thriving. So yeah, look there
they're very close competitions. This whole season has been I mean,
(04:13):
we're just be able to put by the Chiefs here
at home and the team scored a fantastic late try
and it's been tit for tat so it'll be another
classic or picky game. And I think for those that
have watched it, they love the movement and the space
on the field and it's great rugby to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You're being very generous around what Hurricanes Pool didn't offer
this here. I mean it was close to the other sides.
But it's going to happen, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
I think, Look, every franchise has its challenges. I think
if you go back though the first week, they really
did give our team a real run for the money,
particularly in the first half, and let's say they would
have got up there. Sort of momentum and confidence means
a lot in this comp so they're probably just having
(05:04):
their period of time.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
But it's all swings roundabouts.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
And the beauty of the iphine of all Picky two
is you don't get a lot of player movement, so
if your the developmental arm is really working well, you
will you know, you'll get the benefits, whereas in the
men's game it doesn't quite work like that. People move
(05:28):
much more and much more transient nature, so who knows
what power over the next next few years.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a very settled lineup that you've got up against
a Mutter two. It's a great traditional ivory blue white,
red Blake and our roles. Even though Mutter two is
the whole of Pinami, it's not carried away around that one.
The game set to go at five past seven on
a Saturday night, This is prime rugby viewing time. Do
(05:56):
you think that in z Are, I don't know actually
who makes this decision yourself? Super Rugby in z Are
should have given this final, this OPIKI Final a clear
prime time spot because there is rugby competition from the
super rugby from Highlanders. Do you think it deserves to
be elevated above that and give its own space.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
I think there's an argument definitely for that moving forward.
I think in this instance it fell well for us.
I mean, it could have very well not been here,
but we had a We're delighted that a men's team,
for example, we've got an afternoon fixture and that's that's great,
And that left a window open which now elevates this
(06:42):
final being a Saturday night. But I think you're right.
I think having a clear window enables you to market
and fit it in where it best fits the market.
That said, I think Saturday night is befitting of a
final final tonight, and I think they'll get the broadcast
ratings for or Piggy has actually continue to climb even
(07:04):
this year beyond sort of fifteen percent growth so I
think it's in a real good space, and I hope
people take the opportunity to, if they haven't watched it before,
dial in and get exposure to it, because I think
you'll find you're likely to follow it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I believe you, because it is fantastic to watch, very different,
but still fantastic to watch. Who makes the final call
on that is that inst r or is that Super Rugby?
Speaker 6 (07:31):
No, that's an ensio and all comes under the management
of Super Rugby is the commission now in that respect,
but ultimately it's broadcaster and national body.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Sarah want do you think to maybe have a standalone
planner you can see the benefits of it and see
what would be a good idea, But community wise, rugby wise,
do you think it would actually float?
Speaker 5 (07:56):
After being in working in Australia where they.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Put a lot of the female games after male games,
we actually found that work quite well because it does
take a while for people to appreciate both sexes in
the game and things, and so by making it convenient
it can actually work in my experience.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
From what I've seen. And the other part about it
is it actually ended up working.
Speaker 6 (08:25):
Really really well because we have the Pacific a festival,
but beforehand we then got what has now turned into,
you know, an intense fixture, and then off the back
of that we roll into the the Orpicki Finals. So actually,
from our perspective, it's made a day of entertainment and added.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
To what was already existing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Has it fallen in your lap though, Andrew I, it
was all settled to go anyway, and that's just how
it happened. You didn't have to adjust anything. This was
how it was presented and you just ran with it.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
We had an afternoon fixture, we had the one, we
had the Pacific a Festival coming off the Hall of
Fame which we're partners in, and on Thursday on tonight and.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It just flowed. And then obviously this game came up.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
And if it wasn't going to be played here, it
would have been played probably seven o'clock at Martha two,
I think was the other options.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
So by having it here, it's actually become part of.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
A far broader festival and something that I think is
extremely positive.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Expectations around attendance. Now, you would hope that there'd be
some people who turn up to watch the men's fixture,
and that'd be a great game considering where the Blues
are coming from and what Mowana had been up to
a recent times. What kind of the word leak through
is probably not ideal. But how many are you expecting
to stick around for the final? And conversely, how many
(09:58):
people are you expecting to turn up solely for that final?
Where are your numbers? Where does it sit?
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Yeah, that's what can be challenge. What we do know
is looking at those numbers last year, we are looking
at the growth we've had.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
In attendance in the women's game.
Speaker 6 (10:20):
I think, you know, if you look at Fong Ray,
there's now on eighteen hundred people, which for an all
picky game is good.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
I think as a country, we've got to understand too that.
Speaker 6 (10:36):
The woman's professional game is starting at a different base
to where the men started. The men's had, you know,
years of provincialism. In nineteen ninety six, they turned the dial,
flicked it to this thing, got an injection of you know,
millions of dollars of broadcast cash, and it was and
there was very little other sports even competing in the
(10:57):
men's environment there in the professional game. Now we've got
a competition that's turned the dial to professionalism, can't will
it turn it fully because it hasn't had the same
level of investment and as entering a sports market which
is so much more competitive.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
For men and women.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
So I think that it has to be a touch
of realism in all of this, and that it is
going to be a billed as opposed of an overnight
sort of flicking of a switch.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Andrew were thinking very much for your time. Hate Joyce
said it that it's going to be a big game.
Let's open so well attended and success for your blues both.
Thank you, good on you mate, Thank you Sports pigeons.
Meat cat. I'm referencing Joey Manu, former rugby league player
New Zealand international rugby league player who decided it was
(11:52):
in his best interests to disappear from the thirteen man
a side code and wander on over to Japan to
play some fifteens and then later in the piece disappeared
to Russing ninety two one year deal to play some
rugby with that French team. Of course the contract turns
up and the contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.
(12:16):
Reports have just emerged that he's weighing up his future
now even though he had his future signed on a
dotal line, he is citing family reasons and is considering
maybe looking for a release to escape from arrussing at
ninety two. Maybe returned to Sydney, maybe return it to
New Zella. No one quite knows. I'd expect that a
(12:39):
super rugby team would be pretty keen to pick him
up because he does like the idea of being an
All Black, although the Roosters and the Warriors will be
right there lining up for his signature. That's the question, though,
Why would you line up for anyone's signature if it's
not worth the paper it's written on. Again, the concept
of contracts, it's been made a mockery of by a
(13:02):
player who's had a change of mind, a change of heart,
after he secured his future. This is not tasty for
me anymore now playing. I don't know the family reasons
that he's cited behind this change of heart. They might
be overpowering in his case, and he would say they are.
But surely you would have worked this out before you
(13:23):
started signing contracts to go and play in Japan and
then go and play in France. Isn't that part of
your due diligence and want a racing ninety two thinking
now of the contract they signed with Joey Manu. It's
gotten to a stage now where there is no point
in signing a contract. It means nothing. There are escape
(13:44):
clauses everywhere. These aren't contracts anymore. There are memorandums of understanding.
They are statements of intent. So whoever signs Joey Manubi
at Rugby or Rugby League New Zealand or Australia be
warned you need to take his signature with a healthy
dose of cynicism.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
We are now in session on Sports Vex.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Into the chamber we go. It's Thursday. We'll save the
real preview of the weekend as far as the Warriors
and Super Rugby and A League and other but some
pieces are concerned until tomorrow. But there are a couple
of issues floating around. I'd be very very keen to
get your thoughts on. Actually, let's go to the Masters
and Augusta has been the hallowed turf of golf for
(14:28):
quite some time. I've never had the opportunity to go.
I'm not sure you have, but it looks like it's
the one that the pro golfers covert the most. Would
that be a fair assessment, I would say.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So, although there is a move toward the Open being
so original and such a stout test, and because it's
not at the same venue every year, I think might
hover up there possibly same same maybe because it does
move around from what I can tell. And you know,
(14:59):
I've never been to the Masters. I don't pass the
background checks. They're not even letting me into Georgia. To me,
the Masters is the most pompous golf tournament I've ever seen.
Now you can read into that whatever you will, Pony, Well.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Look, I think it sort of survives on that. When
not survives, that's the wrong word. I think it probably,
you know, unashamedly does that. You know, you're right, it's
certainly got a few antiquated traditions that go with it,
and I don't think we've got time to go into
those today. But you're not hiding from it, are they.
That's the thing.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
They're reveling in it and all the bloody tradition that
they grab and hold. Dare it's but anyway, they love it, No,
they do.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
And look, I think if we just isolate the golf
course out and a friend of mine had the opportunity
to go, and he told me, when you walk out there,
it's like being in a theme part. That's that's what
it's like. The greens, the fairways, everywhere you look perfectly manicured,
not a leaf out of place on any of the trees.
And he also said that anything they can stick a
(16:01):
logo on, they will stick a logo on and sell
it to you. It's that the business of the Masters
is perhaps as big as the golf tournament itself.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And when you look at the grounds and that is spectacular.
And I've been watching Masters since I can remember, and
it is quite magical out there. But there are some
changes this year because it got torn to shreds by
a big storm last year. I think they've had six
months to repair the place, Penny, So a few trees
are being ripped out, but they've gone over the fine toothcomb.
(16:31):
You'd like to think it still presents in the same
fantastic way. Look, I don't know about you, but I'm
getting peppered on social media that two thousand and five
chipping off the apron when Tiger Woods won. Remember that
when the balls stopped with a Nike swish on it,
before it dropped in the hole.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Absolutely I remember it. Yeah, probably one of, well, if
not the most iconic Masters moment of all time. And
yeah just the yeah, the Nike flick as it rolled
in it could not have been planned better. Look the
green jacket, I think is still one of the global
sports most famous pieces of apparel. So somebody over the
next four days or so I was going to earn
(17:07):
themselves those can I ask you? Also, I'm not sure
whether this is controversial or not, but Grace WICKI she's
decided that she won't play in our domestic netball competition
this year. She's gone across of course to play in
New South Wales and the Australian competition. She can't play
for the Silver Ferns. I kind of feel like she
(17:28):
should be able to.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
You make rules based around how engaging the character is,
and rules are there to be broken and adjusted and
twisted and chained by the governing body, which is Netballnew Zealand.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Right, yep. They make their own rules. They can change
the rules that they want to.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
So in a case of someone like Grace who is
a draw card player, she's a player that people want
to see play. She dominates she's very good at what
she did. It does I don't know if that sets
an alarming precedent if they say, you know what, you
can come back and play because you're that good. I
think most people would understand that, wouldn't they.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So I totally agree on what you just said then
about people wanting to watch her play. Surely the fan
needs to be put in the middle of this conversation
because look, I'm not sure how many people she would
add to a gate, but you know, she's one of
the most recognizable figures in netball in this country. And
I feel like you're not putting the fan at the
(18:25):
center of the conversation if you are electing not to
pick her by rules that you have put in place
yourself and could remove yourself.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
And they need to take on a new Zealand cricket attitude, poney,
and that changes. That's a very malleable outlook on their
players and they basically on any given day look at
the individual circumstance and make a call around that. And
that's probably the most pragmatic way to go about dealing
with your athletes.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I totally agree. I totally agree with that. And
you talk about precedents, and look, I think exemptions have
in the past been given to veterans, the likes of
Laura Langman and Maria fal and others who have played,
you know, over one hundred tests. Look, I think it's
a case a case basis thing. And again, what do
the fans. What do New Zealand neppule fans want to see?
Do they? And look, I totally get the precedent that
(19:16):
it sets, and also the whole you know, those who
have committed to New Zealand and who will play for
their am Z franchise are saying, well, you know what
am I doing? What if I'm just going to be
overlooked for grace Wiki. The fact is if she was
playing here, that'd be overlooked anyway. You know, I don't
think that just be better.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't know, It's okay, there's an always room at
the top. And if that is a precedent, if you're
that good, we will we'll do things for you. I
don't I don't think that's such a bad thing at all.
On that, I mean would love to see a play
for the Ferns, not that she's the b or an
endele because it is a team game. But an important
cog no doubt.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
An important cogndad. It's good that we're impassionate agreement on this,
for I was gonna say, for once, we do tend
to agree on most things.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
We're sensible men, Jason Pine, We're a sensible radio station.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
I don't think we should get too carried away. I
don't think we should draw it too long ago. Yeah,
I think we're a sensible radio station for sure. But
I look at the lineup on News Talk ZB if
we can digress of it, and I think they've left
the un serious guys out on the side of that photo.
For a reason, sport is far too important to be
taken seriously. And as far as the Masters go, I
(20:23):
don't know who you like. It's all about the world
number one and Rory McElroy.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
But keep your eye on min Wu Lee after what
he got up to over the weekend. There's a guy
with stealing his veins. This is Australian Korean. He could
be quite something else at the Masters.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, looking forward to that, Looking forward to a big
weekend of sport. We'll be back to perhaps preview it
a bit more specifically, and astute Lee who knows tomorrow
on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
I think next time we're going to give it a
bit of stupid good on you, Piney sort of sex.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
And that is us on the Sportsbooks podcast for today.
Huge thanks to our new sponsor GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. And if you like what
you heard, then you can hear it every weekday simply
by subscribing. It'll drop automatically to your podcast feed, or you.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Can climb on board by joining Piney or myself seven
to eight pm on News Talk ZB for sports Talk
and hour of you calling us and telling us what's
going on. And over the weekend, Piney's got a handle
on that as well, Weekend Sport twelve mid day through
to three pm Saturday and Sunday. We are here as
serious as you want us to be on a regular basis.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Let's see you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Does for more from News Talk zed B. Listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks be follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Sportsfects, your daily dose of sport.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello there, and welcome into the latest episode of the
Sports Fixed podcast, brought to you an association with GJ.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. It's the
tenth of April on Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I'm Darcy waldergra Welcome on board GJ. Gardner Holmes. He
attached yourself to the podcast and all of our other
programs as well, which is brilliant, right Piney.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
We love it, We love it. GJ can look after
us when it comes to building houses, that's for sure.
What about building towards a busy sporting weekend? Look do
we say this every week? I think on a Thursday
or a Friday there is so much on, But I
actually think for this weekend, there is so much, so much,
so much on. How we're going to divide our attention.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I try what we did last week just and the
week before the week before. Run several devices, several screens,
read a lot of reports, listen to the radio, and
hope for the best.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
There well, that's a strategy I'm going to write down
and go with in terms of what we're focusing on
on the Sports Fixed podcast today, I want to talk
abit about the Masters, want to talk a bit about
Grace Wecki. What about a guest for today.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Andrew haw is going to join us CEO of Blues Rugby.
It's a big weekend for the Blues Eden Park. First,
they're taking on the new Roustabouts on the block, well
newss anyway now they started winning Mina Plassifica. And then
on the heels of that, it is the final of
O Picky Mark to II are coming up to try
and stop the Blues women winning consecutive O Picking titles.
(01:50):
And that's king offered five minutes after seven, so that's
prime time for the finals, so we'll talk to him
about that in the organization behind what'll be a big
evening at eden Park.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Fantastic all right, plus the latest sports news coming up,
let's get into it. In other news, let's get things
underway with a look at some of the big sports
stories around today. Supercars driver andre Heimgartner's getting behind plans
for a Supercars round to take place in christ Church.
Blue poona Park's the likely candidate to join top Or
as the only New Zealand events on the calendar next year.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
For me, that's a great track. It's where I've done
the most laps out of any track in the world.
It's where I cut my teeth and form of the
forward and I think no doubt the area is amazing
for it a great part of the country and the
track is suitable for supercars too.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Silver Ferns that shooter Grace Wiki is overcoming early apprehension
at super netball's two point shot after joining the New
South Wales Swifts interially in pre seas and I was like,
I don't like this and it's not my strength and
it's changes the game.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
It brings teams to a.
Speaker 6 (02:50):
Drup down back in I think to give myself lifense
to turn and shoot both for the shot.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I know I need to do the work at training
to put that volume up.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
And hosts Paris ja Mart have come from behind to
beat aston Villa three to one in the first leg
of their Champions League Football quarter final and keep his
furthest forward came in, Oh he's got all the way.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
What air?
Speaker 2 (03:12):
What a fighter for Georgian genius give beer.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Use and a Villian. It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine
and Dussy water Grave.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And it's all welcome to the Sports Fixed podcast. Now
to CEO of the Blues. His name is Andrew Hoare
Big weekend air head.
Speaker 5 (03:33):
Gooday Andrew, how are you Darcy right?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, very well, looking forward to the weekend's sport as
of course you are as well. Big weekend for the
Blues franchise, not only for the men, more so for
the women. In opicky you got a final coming up, Andrew.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Yeah, back to back which has been an outstanding achievement.
And when I think about that first season where we
started from, I just take my head off to Willie
and the management team on how they've built the culture
and the environment and they're thriving. So yeah, look there
they're very close competitions. This whole season has been I mean,
(04:13):
we're just be able to put by the Chiefs here
at home and the team scored a fantastic late try
and it's been tit for tat so it'll be another
classic or picky game. And I think for those that
have watched it, they love the movement and the space
on the field and it's great rugby to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You're being very generous around what Hurricanes Pool didn't offer
this here. I mean it was close to the other sides.
But it's going to happen, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
I think, Look, every franchise has its challenges. I think
if you go back though the first week, they really
did give our team a real run for the money,
particularly in the first half, and let's say they would
have got up there. Sort of momentum and confidence means
a lot in this comp so they're probably just having
(05:04):
their period of time.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
But it's all swings roundabouts.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
And the beauty of the iphine of all Picky two
is you don't get a lot of player movement, so
if your the developmental arm is really working well, you
will you know, you'll get the benefits, whereas in the
men's game it doesn't quite work like that. People move
(05:28):
much more and much more transient nature, so who knows
what power over the next next few years.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It's a very settled lineup that you've got up against
a Mutter two. It's a great traditional ivory blue white,
red Blake and our roles. Even though Mutter two is
the whole of Pinami, it's not carried away around that one.
The game set to go at five past seven on
a Saturday night, This is prime rugby viewing time. Do
(05:56):
you think that in z Are, I don't know actually
who makes this decision yourself? Super Rugby in z Are
should have given this final, this OPIKI Final a clear
prime time spot because there is rugby competition from the
super rugby from Highlanders. Do you think it deserves to
be elevated above that and give its own space.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
I think there's an argument definitely for that moving forward.
I think in this instance it fell well for us.
I mean, it could have very well not been here,
but we had a We're delighted that a men's team,
for example, we've got an afternoon fixture and that's that's great,
And that left a window open which now elevates this
(06:42):
final being a Saturday night. But I think you're right.
I think having a clear window enables you to market
and fit it in where it best fits the market.
That said, I think Saturday night is befitting of a
final final tonight, and I think they'll get the broadcast
ratings for or Piggy has actually continue to climb even
(07:04):
this year beyond sort of fifteen percent growth so I
think it's in a real good space, and I hope
people take the opportunity to, if they haven't watched it before,
dial in and get exposure to it, because I think
you'll find you're likely to follow it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
I believe you, because it is fantastic to watch, very different,
but still fantastic to watch. Who makes the final call
on that is that inst r or is that Super Rugby?
Speaker 6 (07:31):
No, that's an ensio and all comes under the management
of Super Rugby is the commission now in that respect,
but ultimately it's broadcaster and national body.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Sarah want do you think to maybe have a standalone
planner you can see the benefits of it and see
what would be a good idea, But community wise, rugby wise,
do you think it would actually float?
Speaker 5 (07:56):
After being in working in Australia where they.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Put a lot of the female games after male games,
we actually found that work quite well because it does
take a while for people to appreciate both sexes in
the game and things, and so by making it convenient
it can actually work in my experience.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
From what I've seen. And the other part about it
is it actually ended up working.
Speaker 6 (08:25):
Really really well because we have the Pacific a festival,
but beforehand we then got what has now turned into,
you know, an intense fixture, and then off the back
of that we roll into the the Orpicki Finals. So actually,
from our perspective, it's made a day of entertainment and added.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
To what was already existing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Has it fallen in your lap though, Andrew I, it
was all settled to go anyway, and that's just how
it happened. You didn't have to adjust anything. This was
how it was presented and you just ran with it.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 6 (09:02):
We had an afternoon fixture, we had the one, we
had the Pacific a Festival coming off the Hall of
Fame which we're partners in, and on Thursday on tonight and.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
It just flowed. And then obviously this game came up.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
And if it wasn't going to be played here, it
would have been played probably seven o'clock at Martha two,
I think was the other options.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
So by having it here, it's actually become part of.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
A far broader festival and something that I think is
extremely positive.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Expectations around attendance. Now, you would hope that there'd be
some people who turn up to watch the men's fixture,
and that'd be a great game considering where the Blues
are coming from and what Mowana had been up to
a recent times. What kind of the word leak through
is probably not ideal. But how many are you expecting
to stick around for the final? And conversely, how many
(09:58):
people are you expecting to turn up solely for that final?
Where are your numbers? Where does it sit?
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Yeah, that's what can be challenge. What we do know
is looking at those numbers last year, we are looking
at the growth we've had.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
In attendance in the women's game.
Speaker 6 (10:20):
I think, you know, if you look at Fong Ray,
there's now on eighteen hundred people, which for an all
picky game is good.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
I think as a country, we've got to understand too that.
Speaker 6 (10:36):
The woman's professional game is starting at a different base
to where the men started. The men's had, you know,
years of provincialism. In nineteen ninety six, they turned the dial,
flicked it to this thing, got an injection of you know,
millions of dollars of broadcast cash, and it was and
there was very little other sports even competing in the
(10:57):
men's environment there in the professional game. Now we've got
a competition that's turned the dial to professionalism, can't will
it turn it fully because it hasn't had the same
level of investment and as entering a sports market which
is so much more competitive.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
For men and women.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
So I think that it has to be a touch
of realism in all of this, and that it is
going to be a billed as opposed of an overnight
sort of flicking of a switch.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Andrew were thinking very much for your time. Hate Joyce
said it that it's going to be a big game.
Let's open so well attended and success for your blues both.
Thank you, good on you mate, Thank you Sports pigeons.
Meat cat. I'm referencing Joey Manu, former rugby league player
New Zealand international rugby league player who decided it was
(11:52):
in his best interests to disappear from the thirteen man
a side code and wander on over to Japan to
play some fifteens and then later in the piece disappeared
to Russing ninety two one year deal to play some
rugby with that French team. Of course the contract turns
up and the contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.
(12:16):
Reports have just emerged that he's weighing up his future
now even though he had his future signed on a
dotal line, he is citing family reasons and is considering
maybe looking for a release to escape from arrussing at
ninety two. Maybe returned to Sydney, maybe return it to
New Zella. No one quite knows. I'd expect that a
(12:39):
super rugby team would be pretty keen to pick him
up because he does like the idea of being an
All Black, although the Roosters and the Warriors will be
right there lining up for his signature. That's the question, though,
Why would you line up for anyone's signature if it's
not worth the paper it's written on. Again, the concept
of contracts, it's been made a mockery of by a
(13:02):
player who's had a change of mind, a change of heart,
after he secured his future. This is not tasty for
me anymore now playing. I don't know the family reasons
that he's cited behind this change of heart. They might
be overpowering in his case, and he would say they are.
But surely you would have worked this out before you
(13:23):
started signing contracts to go and play in Japan and
then go and play in France. Isn't that part of
your due diligence and want a racing ninety two thinking
now of the contract they signed with Joey Manu. It's
gotten to a stage now where there is no point
in signing a contract. It means nothing. There are escape
(13:44):
clauses everywhere. These aren't contracts anymore. There are memorandums of understanding.
They are statements of intent. So whoever signs Joey Manubi
at Rugby or Rugby League New Zealand or Australia be
warned you need to take his signature with a healthy
dose of cynicism.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
We are now in session on Sports Vex.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Into the chamber we go. It's Thursday. We'll save the
real preview of the weekend as far as the Warriors
and Super Rugby and A League and other but some
pieces are concerned until tomorrow. But there are a couple
of issues floating around. I'd be very very keen to
get your thoughts on. Actually, let's go to the Masters
and Augusta has been the hallowed turf of golf for
(14:28):
quite some time. I've never had the opportunity to go.
I'm not sure you have, but it looks like it's
the one that the pro golfers covert the most. Would
that be a fair assessment, I would say.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So, although there is a move toward the Open being
so original and such a stout test, and because it's
not at the same venue every year, I think might
hover up there possibly same same maybe because it does
move around from what I can tell. And you know,
(14:59):
I've never been to the Masters. I don't pass the
background checks. They're not even letting me into Georgia. To me,
the Masters is the most pompous golf tournament I've ever seen.
Now you can read into that whatever you will, Pony, Well.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Look, I think it sort of survives on that. When
not survives, that's the wrong word. I think it probably,
you know, unashamedly does that. You know, you're right, it's
certainly got a few antiquated traditions that go with it,
and I don't think we've got time to go into
those today. But you're not hiding from it, are they.
That's the thing.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
They're reveling in it and all the bloody tradition that
they grab and hold. Dare it's but anyway, they love it, No,
they do.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
And look, I think if we just isolate the golf
course out and a friend of mine had the opportunity
to go, and he told me, when you walk out there,
it's like being in a theme part. That's that's what
it's like. The greens, the fairways, everywhere you look perfectly manicured,
not a leaf out of place on any of the trees.
And he also said that anything they can stick a
(16:01):
logo on, they will stick a logo on and sell
it to you. It's that the business of the Masters
is perhaps as big as the golf tournament itself.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And when you look at the grounds and that is spectacular.
And I've been watching Masters since I can remember, and
it is quite magical out there. But there are some
changes this year because it got torn to shreds by
a big storm last year. I think they've had six
months to repair the place, Penny, So a few trees
are being ripped out, but they've gone over the fine toothcomb.
(16:31):
You'd like to think it still presents in the same
fantastic way. Look, I don't know about you, but I'm
getting peppered on social media that two thousand and five
chipping off the apron when Tiger Woods won. Remember that
when the balls stopped with a Nike swish on it,
before it dropped in the hole.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Absolutely I remember it. Yeah, probably one of, well, if
not the most iconic Masters moment of all time. And
yeah just the yeah, the Nike flick as it rolled
in it could not have been planned better. Look the
green jacket, I think is still one of the global
sports most famous pieces of apparel. So somebody over the
next four days or so I was going to earn
(17:07):
themselves those can I ask you? Also, I'm not sure
whether this is controversial or not, but Grace WICKI she's
decided that she won't play in our domestic netball competition
this year. She's gone across of course to play in
New South Wales and the Australian competition. She can't play
for the Silver Ferns. I kind of feel like she
(17:28):
should be able to.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
You make rules based around how engaging the character is,
and rules are there to be broken and adjusted and
twisted and chained by the governing body, which is Netballnew Zealand.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Right, yep. They make their own rules. They can change
the rules that they want to.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
So in a case of someone like Grace who is
a draw card player, she's a player that people want
to see play. She dominates she's very good at what
she did. It does I don't know if that sets
an alarming precedent if they say, you know what, you
can come back and play because you're that good. I
think most people would understand that, wouldn't they.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
So I totally agree on what you just said then
about people wanting to watch her play. Surely the fan
needs to be put in the middle of this conversation
because look, I'm not sure how many people she would
add to a gate, but you know, she's one of
the most recognizable figures in netball in this country. And
I feel like you're not putting the fan at the
(18:25):
center of the conversation if you are electing not to
pick her by rules that you have put in place
yourself and could remove yourself.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
And they need to take on a new Zealand cricket attitude, poney,
and that changes. That's a very malleable outlook on their
players and they basically on any given day look at
the individual circumstance and make a call around that. And
that's probably the most pragmatic way to go about dealing
with your athletes.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah, I totally agree. I totally agree with that. And
you talk about precedents, and look, I think exemptions have
in the past been given to veterans, the likes of
Laura Langman and Maria fal and others who have played,
you know, over one hundred tests. Look, I think it's
a case a case basis thing. And again, what do
the fans. What do New Zealand neppule fans want to see?
Do they? And look, I totally get the precedent that
(19:16):
it sets, and also the whole you know, those who
have committed to New Zealand and who will play for
their am Z franchise are saying, well, you know what
am I doing? What if I'm just going to be
overlooked for grace Wiki. The fact is if she was
playing here, that'd be overlooked anyway. You know, I don't
think that just be better.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't know, It's okay, there's an always room at
the top. And if that is a precedent, if you're
that good, we will we'll do things for you. I
don't I don't think that's such a bad thing at all.
On that, I mean would love to see a play
for the Ferns, not that she's the b or an
endele because it is a team game. But an important
cog no doubt.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
An important cogndad. It's good that we're impassionate agreement on this,
for I was gonna say, for once, we do tend
to agree on most things.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
We're sensible men, Jason Pine, We're a sensible radio station.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
I don't think we should get too carried away. I
don't think we should draw it too long ago. Yeah,
I think we're a sensible radio station for sure. But
I look at the lineup on News Talk ZB if
we can digress of it, and I think they've left
the un serious guys out on the side of that photo.
For a reason, sport is far too important to be
taken seriously. And as far as the Masters go, I
(20:23):
don't know who you like. It's all about the world
number one and Rory McElroy.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
But keep your eye on min Wu Lee after what
he got up to over the weekend. There's a guy
with stealing his veins. This is Australian Korean. He could
be quite something else at the Masters.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, looking forward to that, Looking forward to a big
weekend of sport. We'll be back to perhaps preview it
a bit more specifically, and astute Lee who knows tomorrow
on the podcast.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
I think next time we're going to give it a
bit of stupid good on you, Piney sort of sex.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
And that is us on the Sportsbooks podcast for today.
Huge thanks to our new sponsor GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. And if you like what
you heard, then you can hear it every weekday simply
by subscribing. It'll drop automatically to your podcast feed, or you.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Can climb on board by joining Piney or myself seven
to eight pm on News Talk ZB for sports Talk
and hour of you calling us and telling us what's
going on. And over the weekend, Piney's got a handle
on that as well, Weekend Sport twelve mid day through
to three pm Saturday and Sunday. We are here as
serious as you want us to be on a regular basis.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Let's see you tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Does for more from News Talk zed B. Listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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