May 5, 2025 • 17 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 5th of May 2025, it's been another blockbuster Magic Round in Brisbane over the weekend, with exciting action across the board. Newstalk ZB journalist Reuben Mama went along and he joins the podcast to chat about what makes it so good.
Piney pitches his idea for a Super Rugby Magic Round and where the ideal location would be for it.
Plus, the Elijah Fa'afiu is back in the people's chamber to review the weekend of Super Rugby action.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, Welcome to the start of a new working week,
Welcome into the start or close to it, of a
new month, and welcome into a fresh episode of the
Sports Fix Podcast in association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. Monday, May the first. I'm
Jason Fine, thanks for joining me on the Sports Fix
podcast today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
What a weekend in Brisbane man?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Watching that on television, Magic Ground in the NRL, it
makes you extremely envious, doesn't it and makes you wonder
whether we could replicate something here and Super Rugby.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I've got a few thoughts on that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm going to chat to a colleague of mine, Ruben Mamma,
who was in Brisbane over the weekend. He can tell
us all about it. What was it like on the
ground there and how many of the eight games did
he actually go to. I know he's not a fan
of the Warriors, but did he watch the Warriors? He's
a Bronch, he clearly watched them. What about the other games,
what was Magic Round. Like Ruben Mamma on the podcast today,
we're in the chamber as well with a larger field
(01:17):
as we look at Magic Grand In the NRL the Warriors,
is it our year and we try to put together
our top six for the Super Rugby playoffs with four
games to go in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
That's what we have for you. So let's not muck about.
Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
In other news, let's get underway with a look at
some of the biggest sports stories.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Floating around today.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
McLaren's Oscar Pastree has won Formula one's Miami Grand Prix
from teammatee Lando Norris more than twenty eight seconds back
to Mercedes George Russell and third Osca Piastree wins to
Miami Grand Prix. Have a championship leader, does it in
style and they're.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
In a different post code.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
McLaren to the rest of the fields.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Liam Lawson eventually withdrew after being clipped by Jack Dowan
on the opening corner.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
A hint of simple theme.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
From Canberra coach Ricky Stewart to his Melbourne counterpart informer
team made Craig Bellamy after the Raiders twenty eighteen golden
point win to complete the Magic Round in Brucebane, the
Raiders benefited from the storms ill disciplined late on to
send the match to extra time and then kick the
match winning penalty.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
It's hard for me because I'm good master repellier.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
There's always going to be a winner. There's always going
to be a loser. Usually it's me And no fears
from Wellington Phoenix coach at John calo Ataliano that potential
signings could be turned off by their poor A League campaign.
The Knicks have finished their season in eleventh place, fourteen
points outside the top six.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Players will come if they think that the coach can
give an advantage in the playing style and so on.
And you know, I've had a lot of interest from
people that want to come and play for us. Irrespective
of this season, we'll be able to track players.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine on the Sports Fix podcast.
It has been hard to ignore the hype round. Magic
Round in the NRL a brilliant formula, with sixteen of
the seventeen teams coming together at sun Corps Stadium and
Brisbane for eight matches across three days, big crowds, sold
(03:21):
out stands, rugby league jerseys everywhere, a carnival atmosphere wrapped
around it. They seem to be doing everything right. So
what is it like at Magic Rounds in Brisbane? Well, fortunately,
a voice that you'll know well from news talks edb
reads sports news on the station on a fairly regular
basis as Ruben Mamma, and he was at Magic Rounds
(03:44):
over the weekend. In fact, he is still in Brisbane
as he joins us on the Sportsbooks podcast. Ruben, thanks
for taking the time tell us about Magic Round. You've
been there for the last two or three days. How
was the experience of Magic Round here?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Pay?
Speaker 7 (03:59):
It's good to be hon It's been a fantastic few
days for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
I think obviously I'm a big league here.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
For the first time going to Magic Round, it was
just an awesome festival like atmosphere. It felt like, you know,
I guess, the equivalent of a music festival, but it's
all about footage, so it's a bit of dreamland. Just
they run it so well. I think I can't remember
how many years prisons had it now, but I've only
heard good things, so I wanted to get amongst it,
and it was amazing, just all like, no matter where
(04:26):
you went outside Tungkok Stadium in the city, inside the stadium,
it was just awesome for the whole duration.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So there were eight games across the weekend, a couple
on Friday night, three Saturday, three yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
So how many did you go to?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
We ended up going to six.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
I actually ended up with We only managed because I
mean it's a hot ticket and the thing I forgot
about when we initially went for it. We only man
to get the group of us as eight of us
that went over, we only man to get two days
worse because it was so hot, but managed to Me
and one of the boys mass to scramble to the
Sunday which had the biggest crowd. I made about forty
nine thousand there for the Broncos game, which is the
Broncos stand. Was just horrible, but it was yeah, great,
(05:08):
I think majority of people. Definitely, I would have been
surprised when he went to the fusel Head I think
come yesterday.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
But yeah, it was. It was really good.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
I think regardless of the people couldn't quite get a ticket,
you get a messed in the atmosphere, regardless out out
in the concourse and everything and.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
The like, because you know, most of us support one
team right where.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I know you're a Broncos fan.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
A lot of our listeners Warriors fans, but there's fans
for all sorts of places.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
But the fact that you went to five games that didn't.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Feature your team, I think that's the secret sauce here,
isn't it. Because if Super Rugby are looking to do
something similar, it's a matter of getting people along just
for the sport, just for the occasion, isn't it, rather
than I'll just go and watch the Broncos.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Yeah, I think that's it.
Speaker 7 (05:50):
I think everyone that went there as a rugby league
die hard no matter what. And you know, I was
wearing my Broncos yearsy on Friday and Saturday, even though
they didn't play till Sunday.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
At the time.
Speaker 7 (05:59):
It was funny because I thought I would only wear
it on Sunday because I didn't want to, you know,
be you know, to looking too hard at wearing it
that long, and then you get there and you felt
naked if you didn't have a jew on.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
So it was pretty cool.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
Like everyone, it's just like a big festival, everyone showing
their colors.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Yeah, it was. It was awesome.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
I think this everyone loves their footye, so they just
wanted to come and get amongst it. And even if
you didn't support it, like, there was a lot of
points stored, so you just enjoyed and think a lot
of people in big.
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Groups of their mates. So I think that's all what
it's all about. Pine In.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
It's probably a super rugby going to do similar that
sort of the atmosphere they need to have and build
it into a little village really. I think that's where
it works too, because you're only five minutes from the
stadium and go to Ketson Street, which is notorious for
all the Broncos stands before their games, and everyone just
based out of there, so you've got only a small
little precinct. Rather than have to travel too far to
get to places, they just run it really well, which
(06:45):
I think my Brisin had it so long.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah, well you've survived, you've come through the other side.
I know you're not on a flight till late tonight,
so you've still got a bit of time.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
On that side of the Tasman. I'm sure you'll avoid
the trouble.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Thanks for joining us on Sports talk Roapes look for
to send you back here.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
Thanks Piney, take care of mate.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
You take care too, Ruben. Thanks for joining us on
the Sports Fixed podcast.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Ruben Mama giving us the experience the lowdown on what
it is like at Magic Round sounds like something we
should all as sports fans experience at one time or
another in our lives.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Sports fact sense, sex senses.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Well, what a weekend in Brisbane for the NRL's Magic Round.
They are on to an absolute winner with this concept,
with sixteen of the seventeen teams converging on the one
venue to play matches right across the weekend, fans from
all of the different clubs turning up in club colors,
and by the looks of it, not just going along
to watch their team play, but making a weekend of it, sure,
(07:42):
cheering loudly for their team, but going to the other
games as well and just enjoying high quality NRL Rugby
League five, six, seven, eight games across a weekend and
sampling all the best that Brisbane has to offer. So
Super Rugby, you are up. Super Round must return. Kevin
Malloy on the radio with me yesterday said, yes, we
(08:04):
are looking at the return of super Round. We're ten
of the eleven teams will go somewhere one place over
all weekend and play a super Round very similar to
what they did in Melbourne last season. Didn't work. Wrong place,
just the wrong time really and the rebels or they
are on their way out, so it really didn't come
(08:24):
together at all. It has to be somewhere where people
will turn up and watch, obviously, and where there is
a real fever and a fervor for rugby. You know
what I'm saying. Fiji, Fiji for super Round. Now hear
me out here. I know that there are a lot
of logistical challenges, but if you start with the amazing
(08:45):
crowds that turn up in Fiji and work from there,
then there must be a way of making this work. Yes,
it might be tough to get the logistics of accommodation
and travel and the lights and the training facilities and
recovery and everything else wrapped around it that is needed
for a weekend like this. But rather than say hey,
(09:06):
we can't do it because of this. Yeah, but yeah,
but yeah, but why don't we start with what it
could be and then work from there. Super Round in Fiji?
Can you imagine it? I'd be buying a ticket.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
The Chamber is now in session on SPORTSFX.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
This is the Sports Fix podcast and into the Chamber
we go to kick around a few sporting issues that
have arisen over the weekend. On Mondays, we're joined by
Elijah Ffield in the People's Chamber, The thirteen side Code,
the fifteen A side code Front of Mind Elijah, the
Warriors their best ever start to an NRL season.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Our year, mate, our year, and no it's not your
team but our year.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah when you said our year, my first thought was,
hang on my Canary Banks down. Bulldogs are actually leading
the table, but I will say the Warriors right behind
them on the ladder. And yes, they've been impressive this season.
I think this past week and a Magic Round showed
another example of the adversity that they've managed to overcome,
this time in quite different fashion, having to hold off
(10:12):
a fast finishing Cowboys side. They almost blue an eighteen
point lead, but I think that game changing play from
Luke Metcalf really stopped the movement and which can be
hard to do in the NRL these days. So great
for the Warriors and especially with losing a couple of
their players both before and during the game with Ali
(10:32):
Leah Taua and Roku Berry during that contest as well.
So just a great way for them to show that
resilience and overcome that adversity.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I feel like there's no way to prove this theory,
but it feels to me as though the Warriors might
have lost that game in the past. You know, they
won it by four points, just as they did it
with the Broncos a couple of weeks ago they won
it by two points.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I feel as though, and I.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Need to check the exact data on this, that close
games have gone against the Warriors more often than not
in previous years.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Yeah, I feel so as well. I think the Warriors
in the past would have definitely lost that game, but
things have changed this season. I think they've been given
the confidence boost of the last few weeks where they've
built these wins an ugly manner, which is sort of
what you need to do when if you're going to
be near the top of the ladder, and they've done that.
(11:22):
They've shown that these past few weeks, and I think
that definitely helped them hold off the Cowboys this time around.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So what do we take from this?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Then?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
An eight game start, which has six wins and two losses.
I've seen a couple of times that their resilience and
the bounce back ability of this team has been impressive.
After disappointments in Vegas against the Raiders and in Melbourne
against the Storm, They've rebounded well both times. Now with
three consecutive wins. They've never had an eight game start
as good as this six wins and two defeats. Do
(11:51):
we need to see more? What more do we need
to see? Or can we say, you know what, when
these hyphenated surnames why Tennis, ALEISNI Act two I, Vasa
Chek and Fisher Harris come back, this actually is a
team that could go quite deep.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Yeah, I think I'm with what I've seen so far
from the Warriors. I'm happy to say that they're firmly contenders.
Like they've shown, they've done enough to show that they
can be contenders. And I think given that they've got
that double barreled hospital warder, hopefully those names that are
coming out soon back on the field. But they can
take great confidence in knowing that those players are going
(12:26):
to come back and once they do have a full
strength squad, given what they've built in terms of their
base and their platform over these first eight weeks, I
can definitely say that the Warriors are going to be contenders.
I don't have any I guess regrets and saying that.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Now, neither do I. Dragons Away, Dolphins Away.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
That next home game against the Raiders at the back
end of May at Mount Smart's going to be a
beauty as they look to gain some revenge from Vegas
back in Round one. Super Right B, of course, is
also boiling away, and only three or four games to
go for most of these teams now, in fact, for
all of these teams, and you look at the table
and you start to think of yourself, Okay, who can
(13:04):
we sort of lock into the top six and who
can we you know, surmise might make it.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Do you agree that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
The Chiefs and the Crusaders are pretty much locks for
the top six?
Speaker 5 (13:15):
I would say so. And I'm actually looking forward to
those two teams going head to ahead this weekend because
that that could be a preview of the Grand Final.
So looking forward to that one, I guess in terms
of the teams behind them, and I've sort of had
to go through everyone's schedule and sort of do the
math on things. I think to round out my top six,
(13:36):
I would go the Brumbies, Reds, Hurricanes, Blues, not particularly
in that order, but I think those are the four
teams who could round out that top six. Yeah, I'm
not sure what you think, Piney, but that's who I
gone with.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I see.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I want Mawaa Pacifica to be there because I love them.
They're my second favorite team after my Hurricanes. But you
look at who they've gotten. I'm sure you've done this too.
They host the Blues and then they're away to the
Chiefs and away to the Hurricanes. That is a tough,
tough running, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
It is?
Speaker 5 (14:08):
And I would love Mona to crack the top six.
I think everyone. I think that everyone's second favorite team
at this stage in terms of what they've shown the
so far this season. But yeah, the Blues, Chiefs and
the Hurricanes are such a tough ask. You would think
Moriana would need to win two of those games to
at least have a shots, and unfortunately I don't see
that happening, particularly if the way the Hurricanes they've started
(14:30):
to build some momentum of the last couple of weeks,
you'll definitely be thrilled off that pinety and I think
the Blues, I mean, they're sort of desperate at this point.
They need to win these last few games that they
have so unfortunate. I don't see Moina cracking the top six.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think the Hurricanes went on the
weekend against the Chiefs was so much needed. You know,
it's been such an inconsistent season for the Hurricanes. They
beat the Brumbies over in Canberra last weekend. Could they
back it up at halftime? I wasn't sure. Only three
penalties to show for their efforts in the first half,
but those four Balen Sullivan tries in the second I
would never never seen anything like it. Blow comes off
(15:06):
the bench, he's not even a winger, goes onto the
wing and gets four tries.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Remarkable.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
The Hurricanes have the Highlanders, the Reds and Molwaana Pacifica
on the run home. I agree on the Blues. Look,
I have been anything but convinced by the Blues, and
I don't think even the most ardent Blues fans could
stand up and say, hey, this is a great title defense.
But they beat the Force the other day, you know,
in pretty comfortable fashion away at the drawer away at
(15:31):
Mawaana Pacifica, but that's really just across town, and then
at home to the war Retars. They should be able
to get enough points from those games to get into
the six, shouldn't they.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
They should, and I think the drawer game this week
is actually going to be the toughest obstacle. If they
can overcome that, beat the drawer in Fiji, which is
always a tough place for super rugby teams to go to,
then I think I can safely possibly lock them into
that fifth or sixth what on the table, given that, yes,
they are playing Wina just across the bridge and the
(16:00):
war Tars at home. The way the war Tars having
played in away games hasn't been too great, so yeah,
I'd say if Blues can get past the drawer, then
I think they can make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I've just been so disappointed with the Highlanders, you know.
I thought at the start of the season we were
going to see something there. They beat the Blues, they
beat the one to Pacifica. After a one point loss
against the Warratars in round one which they probably should
have won. They lost narrowly to the Hurricanes in round four.
They could have been four and zero, but they've just
spectacularly failed to produce any sort of consistency at all.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Yeah, and I think part of theirs the young squad
that they have. I think that it's an average age
of twenty two years, and you would think at the
stage of the season they off the back of wins
over the Blues and one and they would have built
enough momentum or confidence to help them at the latter
stages of the season. But it looks like they've sort
of run out of steam at this point. Unfortunately. You
(16:57):
would hope that moving forward they've built enough of a
base with their young cor to be competitive in the future,
but unfortunately this year is not their year.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
All right, So four weekends to go and super right
before our top six are confirmed. But I think we're
pretty much an agreement on who they'll be beyond that.
I guess we can discuss that in the chamber in
the future. As always, Elijah love chatting sport with you.
Let's do it again next Monday.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
Well, due thank you Bony leading Aix.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
It's Sportsfix powered by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
V and that's us for Sports Fixed for today. Thank
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(17:47):
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Speaker 1 (17:52):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
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This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, Welcome to the start of a new working week,
Welcome into the start or close to it, of a
new month, and welcome into a fresh episode of the
Sports Fix Podcast in association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. Monday, May the first. I'm
Jason Fine, thanks for joining me on the Sports Fix
podcast today.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
What a weekend in Brisbane man?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Watching that on television, Magic Ground in the NRL, it
makes you extremely envious, doesn't it and makes you wonder
whether we could replicate something here and Super Rugby.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I've got a few thoughts on that.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm going to chat to a colleague of mine, Ruben Mamma,
who was in Brisbane over the weekend. He can tell
us all about it. What was it like on the
ground there and how many of the eight games did
he actually go to. I know he's not a fan
of the Warriors, but did he watch the Warriors? He's
a Bronch, he clearly watched them. What about the other games,
what was Magic Round. Like Ruben Mamma on the podcast today,
we're in the chamber as well with a larger field
(01:17):
as we look at Magic Grand In the NRL the Warriors,
is it our year and we try to put together
our top six for the Super Rugby playoffs with four
games to go in the regular season.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
That's what we have for you. So let's not muck about.
Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
In other news, let's get underway with a look at
some of the biggest sports stories.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Floating around today.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
McLaren's Oscar Pastree has won Formula one's Miami Grand Prix
from teammatee Lando Norris more than twenty eight seconds back
to Mercedes George Russell and third Osca Piastree wins to
Miami Grand Prix. Have a championship leader, does it in
style and they're.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
In a different post code.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
McLaren to the rest of the fields.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Liam Lawson eventually withdrew after being clipped by Jack Dowan
on the opening corner.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
A hint of simple theme.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
From Canberra coach Ricky Stewart to his Melbourne counterpart informer
team made Craig Bellamy after the Raiders twenty eighteen golden
point win to complete the Magic Round in Brucebane, the
Raiders benefited from the storms ill disciplined late on to
send the match to extra time and then kick the
match winning penalty.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
It's hard for me because I'm good master repellier.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
There's always going to be a winner. There's always going
to be a loser. Usually it's me And no fears
from Wellington Phoenix coach at John calo Ataliano that potential
signings could be turned off by their poor A League campaign.
The Knicks have finished their season in eleventh place, fourteen
points outside the top six.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Players will come if they think that the coach can
give an advantage in the playing style and so on.
And you know, I've had a lot of interest from
people that want to come and play for us. Irrespective
of this season, we'll be able to track players.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine on the Sports Fix podcast.
It has been hard to ignore the hype round. Magic
Round in the NRL a brilliant formula, with sixteen of
the seventeen teams coming together at sun Corps Stadium and
Brisbane for eight matches across three days, big crowds, sold
(03:21):
out stands, rugby league jerseys everywhere, a carnival atmosphere wrapped
around it. They seem to be doing everything right. So
what is it like at Magic Rounds in Brisbane? Well, fortunately,
a voice that you'll know well from news talks edb
reads sports news on the station on a fairly regular
basis as Ruben Mamma, and he was at Magic Rounds
(03:44):
over the weekend. In fact, he is still in Brisbane
as he joins us on the Sportsbooks podcast. Ruben, thanks
for taking the time tell us about Magic Round. You've
been there for the last two or three days. How
was the experience of Magic Round here?
Speaker 6 (03:59):
Pay?
Speaker 7 (03:59):
It's good to be hon It's been a fantastic few
days for sure.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
I think obviously I'm a big league here.
Speaker 7 (04:05):
For the first time going to Magic Round, it was
just an awesome festival like atmosphere. It felt like, you know,
I guess, the equivalent of a music festival, but it's
all about footage, so it's a bit of dreamland. Just
they run it so well. I think I can't remember
how many years prisons had it now, but I've only
heard good things, so I wanted to get amongst it,
and it was amazing, just all like, no matter where
(04:26):
you went outside Tungkok Stadium in the city, inside the stadium,
it was just awesome for the whole duration.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So there were eight games across the weekend, a couple
on Friday night, three Saturday, three yesterday.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
So how many did you go to?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
We ended up going to six.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
I actually ended up with We only managed because I
mean it's a hot ticket and the thing I forgot
about when we initially went for it. We only man
to get the group of us as eight of us
that went over, we only man to get two days
worse because it was so hot, but managed to Me
and one of the boys mass to scramble to the
Sunday which had the biggest crowd. I made about forty
nine thousand there for the Broncos game, which is the
Broncos stand. Was just horrible, but it was yeah, great,
(05:08):
I think majority of people. Definitely, I would have been
surprised when he went to the fusel Head I think
come yesterday.
Speaker 6 (05:15):
But yeah, it was. It was really good.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
I think regardless of the people couldn't quite get a ticket,
you get a messed in the atmosphere, regardless out out
in the concourse and everything and.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
The like, because you know, most of us support one
team right where.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I know you're a Broncos fan.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
A lot of our listeners Warriors fans, but there's fans
for all sorts of places.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
But the fact that you went to five games that didn't.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Feature your team, I think that's the secret sauce here,
isn't it. Because if Super Rugby are looking to do
something similar, it's a matter of getting people along just
for the sport, just for the occasion, isn't it, rather
than I'll just go and watch the Broncos.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Yeah, I think that's it.
Speaker 7 (05:50):
I think everyone that went there as a rugby league
die hard no matter what. And you know, I was
wearing my Broncos yearsy on Friday and Saturday, even though
they didn't play till Sunday.
Speaker 6 (05:59):
At the time.
Speaker 7 (05:59):
It was funny because I thought I would only wear
it on Sunday because I didn't want to, you know,
be you know, to looking too hard at wearing it
that long, and then you get there and you felt
naked if you didn't have a jew on.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
So it was pretty cool.
Speaker 7 (06:10):
Like everyone, it's just like a big festival, everyone showing
their colors.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Yeah, it was. It was awesome.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
I think this everyone loves their footye, so they just
wanted to come and get amongst it. And even if
you didn't support it, like, there was a lot of
points stored, so you just enjoyed and think a lot
of people in big.
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Groups of their mates. So I think that's all what
it's all about. Pine In.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
It's probably a super rugby going to do similar that
sort of the atmosphere they need to have and build
it into a little village really. I think that's where
it works too, because you're only five minutes from the
stadium and go to Ketson Street, which is notorious for
all the Broncos stands before their games, and everyone just
based out of there, so you've got only a small
little precinct. Rather than have to travel too far to
get to places, they just run it really well, which
(06:45):
I think my Brisin had it so long.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Yeah, well you've survived, you've come through the other side.
I know you're not on a flight till late tonight,
so you've still got a bit of time.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
On that side of the Tasman. I'm sure you'll avoid
the trouble.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Thanks for joining us on Sports talk Roapes look for
to send you back here.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
Thanks Piney, take care of mate.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
You take care too, Ruben. Thanks for joining us on
the Sports Fixed podcast.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Ruben Mama giving us the experience the lowdown on what
it is like at Magic Round sounds like something we
should all as sports fans experience at one time or
another in our lives.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Sports fact sense, sex senses.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Well, what a weekend in Brisbane for the NRL's Magic Round.
They are on to an absolute winner with this concept,
with sixteen of the seventeen teams converging on the one
venue to play matches right across the weekend, fans from
all of the different clubs turning up in club colors,
and by the looks of it, not just going along
to watch their team play, but making a weekend of it, sure,
(07:42):
cheering loudly for their team, but going to the other
games as well and just enjoying high quality NRL Rugby
League five, six, seven, eight games across a weekend and
sampling all the best that Brisbane has to offer. So
Super Rugby, you are up. Super Round must return. Kevin
Malloy on the radio with me yesterday said, yes, we
(08:04):
are looking at the return of super Round. We're ten
of the eleven teams will go somewhere one place over
all weekend and play a super Round very similar to
what they did in Melbourne last season. Didn't work. Wrong place,
just the wrong time really and the rebels or they
are on their way out, so it really didn't come
(08:24):
together at all. It has to be somewhere where people
will turn up and watch, obviously, and where there is
a real fever and a fervor for rugby. You know
what I'm saying. Fiji, Fiji for super Round. Now hear
me out here. I know that there are a lot
of logistical challenges, but if you start with the amazing
(08:45):
crowds that turn up in Fiji and work from there,
then there must be a way of making this work. Yes,
it might be tough to get the logistics of accommodation
and travel and the lights and the training facilities and
recovery and everything else wrapped around it that is needed
for a weekend like this. But rather than say hey,
(09:06):
we can't do it because of this. Yeah, but yeah,
but yeah, but why don't we start with what it
could be and then work from there. Super Round in Fiji?
Can you imagine it? I'd be buying a ticket.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
The Chamber is now in session on SPORTSFX.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
This is the Sports Fix podcast and into the Chamber
we go to kick around a few sporting issues that
have arisen over the weekend. On Mondays, we're joined by
Elijah Ffield in the People's Chamber, The thirteen side Code,
the fifteen A side code Front of Mind Elijah, the
Warriors their best ever start to an NRL season.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Our year, mate, our year, and no it's not your
team but our year.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah when you said our year, my first thought was,
hang on my Canary Banks down. Bulldogs are actually leading
the table, but I will say the Warriors right behind
them on the ladder. And yes, they've been impressive this season.
I think this past week and a Magic Round showed
another example of the adversity that they've managed to overcome,
this time in quite different fashion, having to hold off
(10:12):
a fast finishing Cowboys side. They almost blue an eighteen
point lead, but I think that game changing play from
Luke Metcalf really stopped the movement and which can be
hard to do in the NRL these days. So great
for the Warriors and especially with losing a couple of
their players both before and during the game with Ali
(10:32):
Leah Taua and Roku Berry during that contest as well.
So just a great way for them to show that
resilience and overcome that adversity.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I feel like there's no way to prove this theory,
but it feels to me as though the Warriors might
have lost that game in the past. You know, they
won it by four points, just as they did it
with the Broncos a couple of weeks ago they won
it by two points.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
I feel as though, and I.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Need to check the exact data on this, that close
games have gone against the Warriors more often than not
in previous years.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Yeah, I feel so as well. I think the Warriors
in the past would have definitely lost that game, but
things have changed this season. I think they've been given
the confidence boost of the last few weeks where they've
built these wins an ugly manner, which is sort of
what you need to do when if you're going to
be near the top of the ladder, and they've done that.
(11:22):
They've shown that these past few weeks, and I think
that definitely helped them hold off the Cowboys this time around.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
So what do we take from this?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Then?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
An eight game start, which has six wins and two losses.
I've seen a couple of times that their resilience and
the bounce back ability of this team has been impressive.
After disappointments in Vegas against the Raiders and in Melbourne
against the Storm, They've rebounded well both times. Now with
three consecutive wins. They've never had an eight game start
as good as this six wins and two defeats. Do
(11:51):
we need to see more? What more do we need
to see? Or can we say, you know what, when
these hyphenated surnames why Tennis, ALEISNI Act two I, Vasa
Chek and Fisher Harris come back, this actually is a
team that could go quite deep.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Yeah, I think I'm with what I've seen so far
from the Warriors. I'm happy to say that they're firmly contenders.
Like they've shown, they've done enough to show that they
can be contenders. And I think given that they've got
that double barreled hospital warder, hopefully those names that are
coming out soon back on the field. But they can
take great confidence in knowing that those players are going
(12:26):
to come back and once they do have a full
strength squad, given what they've built in terms of their
base and their platform over these first eight weeks, I
can definitely say that the Warriors are going to be contenders.
I don't have any I guess regrets and saying that.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Now, neither do I. Dragons Away, Dolphins Away.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
That next home game against the Raiders at the back
end of May at Mount Smart's going to be a
beauty as they look to gain some revenge from Vegas
back in Round one. Super Right B, of course, is
also boiling away, and only three or four games to
go for most of these teams now, in fact, for
all of these teams, and you look at the table
and you start to think of yourself, Okay, who can
(13:04):
we sort of lock into the top six and who
can we you know, surmise might make it.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Do you agree that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
The Chiefs and the Crusaders are pretty much locks for
the top six?
Speaker 5 (13:15):
I would say so. And I'm actually looking forward to
those two teams going head to ahead this weekend because
that that could be a preview of the Grand Final.
So looking forward to that one, I guess in terms
of the teams behind them, and I've sort of had
to go through everyone's schedule and sort of do the
math on things. I think to round out my top six,
(13:36):
I would go the Brumbies, Reds, Hurricanes, Blues, not particularly
in that order, but I think those are the four
teams who could round out that top six. Yeah, I'm
not sure what you think, Piney, but that's who I
gone with.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I see.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I want Mawaa Pacifica to be there because I love them.
They're my second favorite team after my Hurricanes. But you
look at who they've gotten. I'm sure you've done this too.
They host the Blues and then they're away to the
Chiefs and away to the Hurricanes. That is a tough,
tough running, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
It is?
Speaker 5 (14:08):
And I would love Mona to crack the top six.
I think everyone. I think that everyone's second favorite team
at this stage in terms of what they've shown the
so far this season. But yeah, the Blues, Chiefs and
the Hurricanes are such a tough ask. You would think
Moriana would need to win two of those games to
at least have a shots, and unfortunately I don't see
that happening, particularly if the way the Hurricanes they've started
(14:30):
to build some momentum of the last couple of weeks,
you'll definitely be thrilled off that pinety and I think
the Blues, I mean, they're sort of desperate at this point.
They need to win these last few games that they
have so unfortunate. I don't see Moina cracking the top six.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think the Hurricanes went on the
weekend against the Chiefs was so much needed. You know,
it's been such an inconsistent season for the Hurricanes. They
beat the Brumbies over in Canberra last weekend. Could they
back it up at halftime? I wasn't sure. Only three
penalties to show for their efforts in the first half,
but those four Balen Sullivan tries in the second I
would never never seen anything like it. Blow comes off
(15:06):
the bench, he's not even a winger, goes onto the
wing and gets four tries.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Remarkable.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
The Hurricanes have the Highlanders, the Reds and Molwaana Pacifica
on the run home. I agree on the Blues. Look,
I have been anything but convinced by the Blues, and
I don't think even the most ardent Blues fans could
stand up and say, hey, this is a great title defense.
But they beat the Force the other day, you know,
in pretty comfortable fashion away at the drawer away at
(15:31):
Mawaana Pacifica, but that's really just across town, and then
at home to the war Retars. They should be able
to get enough points from those games to get into
the six, shouldn't they.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
They should, and I think the drawer game this week
is actually going to be the toughest obstacle. If they
can overcome that, beat the drawer in Fiji, which is
always a tough place for super rugby teams to go to,
then I think I can safely possibly lock them into
that fifth or sixth what on the table, given that, yes,
they are playing Wina just across the bridge and the
(16:00):
war Tars at home. The way the war Tars having
played in away games hasn't been too great, so yeah,
I'd say if Blues can get past the drawer, then
I think they can make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I've just been so disappointed with the Highlanders, you know.
I thought at the start of the season we were
going to see something there. They beat the Blues, they
beat the one to Pacifica. After a one point loss
against the Warratars in round one which they probably should
have won. They lost narrowly to the Hurricanes in round four.
They could have been four and zero, but they've just
spectacularly failed to produce any sort of consistency at all.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
Yeah, and I think part of theirs the young squad
that they have. I think that it's an average age
of twenty two years, and you would think at the
stage of the season they off the back of wins
over the Blues and one and they would have built
enough momentum or confidence to help them at the latter
stages of the season. But it looks like they've sort
of run out of steam at this point. Unfortunately. You
(16:57):
would hope that moving forward they've built enough of a
base with their young cor to be competitive in the future,
but unfortunately this year is not their year.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
All right, So four weekends to go and super right
before our top six are confirmed. But I think we're
pretty much an agreement on who they'll be beyond that.
I guess we can discuss that in the chamber in
the future. As always, Elijah love chatting sport with you.
Let's do it again next Monday.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
Well, due thank you Bony leading Aix.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
It's Sportsfix powered by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
V and that's us for Sports Fixed for today. Thank
you so much for downloading and listening to this episode.
If you subscribe to Sports Fix, then a fresh episode
of the podcast will drop into your feed around about
the same time every weekday. And for more from News
Talks EDB Sports, check out Sports Talk weeknights between seven
(17:47):
and eight and Weekend Sport midday through three Saturday and Sunday.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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