June 9, 2025 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 9th June 2025, Mark Robinson has announced he'll be stepping down as NZR CEO at the end of the year. He joins the podcast to talk about his last 6 years in charge.
Piney is convinced the best is yet to come for Ryan Fox.
Plus, Nathan Limm joins the chamber to discuss another win for the Warriors, and a dramatic first round of Super Rugby finals.
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Episode Transcript
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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 ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a new week and into
a fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast in association
with GJ. Gardnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder. It is Monday,
June nine. I'm Jason Pine. Mark Robinson has announced today
he is leaving his role as New Zealand Rugby Chief
executive at the end of twenty twenty five. It'll bring
(00:42):
to an end at almost six year tenure. How does
Mark Robinson reflect on those six years and what sort
of shape does he believe he is leaving New Zealand Rugbyn.
Mark Robinson is on the Sports Fix podcast for with
us very very shortly, Ryan Fox. What about that at
the Canadian Golf Open this morning? A few reflections on that.
Nathan Limb pops into the chamber to talk Super Rugby
(01:05):
and the Warriors and the latest in sports news.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
In other news, let's get underway with some of the
big sports stories around today. Ryan Fox has survived a
test of endurance to win his second PGA Tour event,
four weeks on from his maiden one. He's held his
nerves to Pip sam Burns on the fourth hole of
a playoff at the Canadian Open in Toronto. The decisive
(01:32):
moment came with Fox's second shot on that fourth playoff hole, back.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
To three Wood.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
All over it.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hole now' It's a king.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
What a beautiful shy.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Sam Burns then three parted, allowing Fox a two part
for victory. The fantastic mister Fox here is the King
of Canada. Wonderful stuff from Ryan Fox, Carlos Alcarez and
Janick Sinner have produced a five set French Open men
tennis final thriller at Roland Garross de best title Incredible.
(02:23):
Nickson won the first two sets, el Carrez the third,
but saved three match points in the fourth before winning
that and securing the final set tiebreak.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Ten two and former All.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Blackswinger and captain Stu Wilson has died at the age
of seventy. He made eighty five appearances in New Zealand,
including thirty four tests. Here he is reflecting on his
relationship with fellow Wellington and All Black swinger Bernie Fraser.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
It just became a natural instinct. If he had the ball,
I knew something was going to happen, and vice versa.
If I took off, made a gap, I mean he
would latch hold of me and we had this sort
of chemistry. It wasn't planned. It was just sheer instinct
because you played with each other.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
For so long.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports
Vex powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
This is the Sports Fix podcast. New Zealand Rugby Chief
executive Mark Robinson is leaving his role at the end
of twenty twenty five. It'll bring to an end and
almost six year tenure which included the COVID pandemic and
significant change to the game, including the introduction of the
Silver Lake equity deal. Mark Robinson plans to relay coate
to Australia, where his family are living, and is with
(03:31):
us on Sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Thanks for your time, Mark, How long have you been
mulling this over?
Speaker 6 (03:36):
Hi, Penny and Hilood listeners. I look probably over the
last a couple of months. As you rightly said, you know,
my family has been based over in Australia for a
little bit longer than that, and when I wighed up
the fact that I wasn't I'm not able to see
a lot of them at the moment, had a pretty
critical stage of our children's life and of our stage
(04:00):
of family, combined with what I guess the remaining six
months of the year looked like in the critical opportunities
around trying to create a new financial model for the
game domestically here in New Zealand and finish off all
of that work that we've been doing with the international calendar.
Those two things ideally coming to a conclusion, then this thing,
(04:21):
you know, perfect time to a step away.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Just want to unpack a couple of those things in
a moment, But in general terms, how do you reflect
on your five and a half years in the role
up to this point?
Speaker 6 (04:31):
In general terms, I look incredibly proud Piney. You know,
as you said it was it was an extremely challenging start.
I think I was a few weeks and when COVID
hit overseas at the time with international meetings coming back
into New Zealand soon to be lockdown was a was
a really challenging start, and you know, we said, certainly
(04:53):
was an impact on the organization. The way the sport
ran and people, you know, we lost a lot of
very good people during that time. But you know, I
look at the way we've come back, and I'm also
extremely proud with what we've done, be it you know,
marcial revenue growth, but the way we've led a lot
of law reform which we're seeing play through now with
our on field product around Super Rugby, sort of unprecedented
(05:17):
investment into the community game and getting back to community
numbers which are at those pre pre COVID levels. We've
led a lot of the work on the global stage
around player welfare and and banning concussion research, and we've
grown our fan base internationally clearly, you know, and we're
seeing some of the fruition of that coming through with
(05:40):
the revenue growth we're seeing at the moment by virtue
of the teams being involved in different markets around the world,
which again is an initiative we've led globally. So look,
I'm really proud. There's still you know, I think in
any case in this role, Pioney, you would have sort
of you know, I would have things that could could
be better or different, and there's always something to do.
But the time Field was right for me to say.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
You mentioned COVID and yeah, nobody would would wish that
as a start of a tenure on anybody. But as
you say, you came through it. What were the other
most challenging parts of the role for you?
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Oh, look, any any time where we're working through significant
change processes or doing things which were a departure from
the way they'd been done historically, and clearly taking an
investment from an investment partner to invest in the future
of fans both domestically and globally, and that's what the
Silver investment was about, really was about creating opportunities to
(06:40):
create differently and in a better way with fans. That
was certainly, you know, challenging any any change process as
I said, you know is, but certainly something that was
that different was you know, we worked through changes around
the All Blacks and we were very clear and our
decision making that you know, preserving the best interests of
(07:02):
the team and taking a team approach winning and getting
the best performances out of them was where we had
our So we made some calls there which we absolutely
stand by, and we also made a call in terms
of the future appointment with Scott's which was again a
(07:22):
departure from the past, but we felt needed to happen
and missing you know, the benefits now then, when I
look at national team environments, with the way the All Blacks,
Black Ferns, sevens and fifteens are all connecting and working together,
the interaction we have with superclubs and that sort of thing,
there's a great deal of alignment and collaboration in that
area which has been really positive as well. So there
(07:42):
were definite, you know, definitely challenges around some big decisions,
but I think in the fullness of time, when we
look at the things I just described coming out of
the back of that and where we sit now, I'm
really positive about.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, you touched on the All Blacks coaching change, which
I wanted to ask about, and I think we can
probably all agree that the outcome was the right one.
Are you happy with the way that process played out,
how it was conducted?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Look, you know, there was certainly there was certainly frustration
wasn't here by in terms of some of the decisions
around their actions, but by and large, in terms of
that we arrived at the decisions. There were two aspects
of this. One was to get the team in a
(08:27):
position to win the World Cup, and we pushed really
hard to have the posing of the final by a point,
but by and large, we felt like we gave the
team every chance to succeed with the team they had
around them from a coaching perspective, and then we wanted
to obviously think about the medium to long term and
we felt the time was right to think about why
(08:48):
to change there. And yes, you know, I think that
was the right process and the right decision.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Not just around that, but across the entire length of
your tenure. If you had your time again, is there
anything you would do differently?
Speaker 6 (09:02):
I think on a you know, on a day to
day basis, we're working through processes on big projects. There's
always time, Pioney where you would think you know differently
about you know, the way you work through things. But
in terms of, you know, the decision to take investment,
(09:23):
to invest in fans and create some resilience around the game.
That's given us, you know, a balance sheet where we
clearly have options now to do make choices in any
range of different areas, and we were definitely probably ahead
of our well, we were ahead of our time as
it related to doing that, but behind a lot of
other sports and codes and franchises who have been doing
(09:45):
this for years in terms of vesting in fans, and
that's one of the challenges that rugby has to be
catching up in a lot of those areas. So the
overall principle and behind the decision stand by, but there's
always things you could do slightly differently. And if you're
talking about the All Blacks decision, exec exactly the same
stand behind you know the outcomes that we had. There's
always things within those processes that might be managed slightly differently.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Thanks Mark and all the best for the final six
months of your time as New Zealand Rugby CEO.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
That is outgoing CEO of New Zealand Rugby, Mark Robinson SPORTSFX.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Well, it was another roller coaster of a morning, wasn't it,
watching Ryan Fox win the Canadian Golf Open in Toronto,
his second PGA Tour title in under a month, having
never won one before that, Like London buses, you ate
ages for the first one and then to turn up
at the same time. It was a really good tournament,
(10:41):
a really good weekend for Ryan Fox from start to finish.
Really sixty six sixty six, sixty four in his third round,
and then sixty six again in his fourth today, including
a crucial, in fact absolutely compulsory birdie putt on eighteen
which took him to eighteen under and forced the playoff
(11:02):
against Sam Burns. It wasn't actually the best fourth round
all things considered for Ryan Fox. In the front nine
in round three he was five under. He was only
one under through the front nine today. But I think
what he's probably learned, and he said this himself afterwards,
was that having won one now he's got a lot
more patience. He's not chasing birdies necessarily, well, he is
(11:26):
chasing them, but when he's not getting them, he's not
as frustrated as he previously perhaps would have been because
the scoring was pretty hot around that course. And he
made the birdies on the back nine to force the playoff,
and then it raally got dramatic. One playoff hole they
both parted. Two playoff holes they both part, They moved
the pin to try and separate them. The third playoff
(11:48):
hole they also both part. But then that fairway shot
with his three wood on the fourth playoff hole, which
left the ball basically a makeable eagle part on the
fourth playoff hole that forced Burns to really attack the hole,
went past it two parted coming back. So Ryan Fox
had two parts victory ant he well and truly took
(12:11):
them absolutely brilliant. He is such an easy sportsperson to like.
I think we just want success for people who show
the qualities that Ryan Fox consistently displays, humility down to worth.
Just an absolute KIWI who we all love and isn't
(12:31):
it great watching him succeed? Watching on the All Whites
of course, who are up in Canada at the moment.
They had a win over the Ivory Coast yesterday, They've
got the Ukraine game on Wednesday, eight or nine of
them there to be a witness and to meet Ryan
Fox afterwards. That was a cool, cool moment, I'm sure
for Ryan Fox, but also for those All Whites players.
And what this one also does is earn Ryan Fox qualifications.
(12:54):
Next week's US Open, the third major of the season,
off to Oakmont. Now, what chance Ryan Fox emulates another KEIW,
Michael Campbell, who exactly twenty years ago won the US
So you certainly would not bet against Ryan Fox right now.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
On the Sports Fix podcast let's kick around a few
sporting issues that have jumped up and down at US
over the weekend. In the Chamber at eight, joined by
NZ and Me multi media journalist Nathan Limb. You would
have enjoyed watching Ryan Fox on the first, second, third,
and fourth playoff owls today, Nathan.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Oh, fantastic, Piney. It was stressful. It was stressful. He
doesn't like to just do it easily. It's like the
Warriors in recent times, isn't it. But Ryan Fox, I
mean give him the Halberg already he's won the Canadian
Open and a playoff just weeks after winning the Myrtle
Beach and winning at Myrtle Beach in a playoff. He's got,
apart from being probably the nicest guy in New Zealand sport,
(13:55):
he's also got the coolest head in New Zealand sport
as well. Four playoff holes to decide it. And of
course he's just put himself with the start of the
year in the most brilliant position. Obviously, we know he's
got the PGA Tour card secured for a couple of years,
but he's now also gained entry into the US Open.
He's pocketed a two point nine to two million. And
(14:16):
the big question for me out of this is can
he now afford a one bedroom apartment in Auckland. And
I'm thinking no.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
No, I don't think he's quite got enough.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
He's probably gonna win another couple of tournaments before he
can get up to that level. But are you so
right about about him being He just looks so calm
and unaffected by it all. And I guess he's just
quintessentially keiw which I think is why we all love
him so much. We can all sort of see in
him the qualities we like to think we have ourselves.
Humility are calmness and the ability to get on with people.
(14:44):
If only we could all hit a golf ball that way, Oh.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
My goodness, me. I yeah, I mean, I think with
Ryan Fox's you talk about him being humble, he's just
so relatable, Like you call him and you talk to him,
and he's so open about the struggles that he's having.
He doesn't sugar coat anything, he doesn't try to hide anything.
He just comes across as very, very genuine. If he's
(15:08):
having a little problem with an injury, he's pretty blunt
about that. He talks about if his preparation hasn't been successful.
He doesn't put on a persona or an act at all,
which is what I think makes him so likable.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Let's get to one of your sweet spots, Rugby League.
The Big League podcast will be out this week, the
latest edition of the Warriors going to the shi and
this given the Sharks and absolute shell lacking, they're now
well and truly. I mean we talk about are they
our top eight side? Forget about that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Is this a top four side now?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Though? Yes? Yes, short answer is yes, Piney at this
point ten wins, three losses in the season. This is
just unprecedented. And when you factor in the fact that
they don't have Mitch barn That was their first game
without Mitch Barnett. Yeah, and the players who really stood
up for me. You look at Dimitric Vai, Manger, Lekahalaesima
and Jacob Laben, three youngsters who came in and put
(16:03):
on standout performances, all three of them. Sam Heay who
came in his starting debut. They didn't have Wade Egan either,
and we talk all the time about how important Wade Egan.
He goes out late. Sam Healy, he's on the big
League podcast this week, and he talked about getting that
eleven eleventh hour call up. He didn't know he was
playing until about eleven o'clock that morning on game day,
and he comes in and puts in a really, really
(16:24):
solid shown. But those three youngsters who I mentioned stepping up,
and not only because you talk about, you know, young
players coming on. They come on from the interchange, they
play some good minutes and then they come off again.
These three are playing big minutes. They're starting, and a
lot of the time they are the ones carrying the
Warriors up the middle. I think they are the best
trio of youngsters any NRL club has. And you talk
(16:47):
about the table that top four. The Warriors now on
twenty two points alongside the Bulldogs and the Raiders, the
Storm on twenty, but a GAP's opened up the Sharks
in fifth on sixteen, and you talk about them potentially
being one of the teams that could break into that
top four, potentially the Broncos with their squad. But if
you're looking at the Broncos, there are eight points behind
the Warriors. So they've just set themselves up so well enough.
(17:08):
They have a few blips in the back end of
the season, they are in the box seat to finish
top four point.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yeah, I guess the pessimistic listeners on the show yesterday
were saying, hey, let's call our jets. They haven't beaten
the Raiders and a couple of attempts, they haven't beaten
the Storm. Where you yet to see them play the Bulldogs.
Do we need to wait, you know, a little bit
longer to really talk about them as a title contender
or can we allow ourselves to get a little bit
(17:33):
excited now?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
We can? Can't we?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
I think we can?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
And you talk about the losses to the Raiders. Okay, yeah, Vegas,
that was a blip, that was a bad start, But
if you look a few weeks ago the loss to them,
they had missed opportunities. It felt like they could have
and probably should have won that game. So they're really
not that far off the Raiders. Obviously we don't know
about the Bulldoers at this point. The Storm is the
one for me that the Warriors will struggle with because
there's clearly a mental block there. But I think at
(17:58):
this point, with the amount of confidence that the side has,
they're going into a buy as well. So they've got
guaranteed two points coming out of next weekend, so they're
going to remain up near the top of the ladder.
So yeah, one hundred percent. We can get excited, and
I think we can. We are at the stage now
where we can talk about the side as a potential
title contender.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
All right, look forward to the next few weeks and
a continuation of this great Warriors form. Just to finish,
I think we all thought last week that the Blues
would be enjoying mad Monday today. They had their season
ended in Hamilton on Saturday night. Instead, they've got another
Monday another week. Could they possibly go to christ Church
(18:37):
and beat the Crusaders on Friday.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
It's going to be a tough ask. It's going to
be a really tough ask. And to be honest, I
think if they upset the Crusaders in christ Church at
a playoff game, that is a bigger win. It's a
bigger result than beating the top of the table Chiefs
in Hamilton given the history with the Crusaders and the
Crusaders playoff streak in christ whre it's thirty and oh
thirty and oh if they can upset that. But the
(19:00):
fact that they put on that massive performance against the
Chiefs that went right down to the end of the game,
past the full time buzzer. To then reset mentally and
come in and produce something possibly even bigger to beat
the Crusaders. That is going to be a really tough asking.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Yeah, I agree. I just I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I just can't see it, you know, I think without
any skin in the game, I'm looking forward to seeing
what happens.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
But I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, that Crusaders record is otherworldly down there in
christ shit, so who knows. Let's see what the Blues
can do across the week. Great chatting sport with you
on the on the Sports Fix podcast in the Chamber, Nay,
thanks so much for stopping in.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Thanks party.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
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(20:04):
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Speaker 1 (20:13):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a new week and into
a fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast in association
with GJ. Gardnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder. It is Monday,
June nine. I'm Jason Pine. Mark Robinson has announced today
he is leaving his role as New Zealand Rugby Chief
executive at the end of twenty twenty five. It'll bring
(00:42):
to an end at almost six year tenure. How does
Mark Robinson reflect on those six years and what sort
of shape does he believe he is leaving New Zealand Rugbyn.
Mark Robinson is on the Sports Fix podcast for with
us very very shortly, Ryan Fox. What about that at
the Canadian Golf Open this morning? A few reflections on that.
Nathan Limb pops into the chamber to talk Super Rugby
(01:05):
and the Warriors and the latest in sports news.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Well, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
In other news, let's get underway with some of the
big sports stories around today. Ryan Fox has survived a
test of endurance to win his second PGA Tour event,
four weeks on from his maiden one. He's held his
nerves to Pip sam Burns on the fourth hole of
a playoff at the Canadian Open in Toronto. The decisive
(01:32):
moment came with Fox's second shot on that fourth playoff hole, back.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
To three Wood.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
All over it.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Hole now' It's a king.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
What a beautiful shy.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Sam Burns then three parted, allowing Fox a two part
for victory. The fantastic mister Fox here is the King
of Canada. Wonderful stuff from Ryan Fox, Carlos Alcarez and
Janick Sinner have produced a five set French Open men
tennis final thriller at Roland Garross de best title Incredible.
(02:23):
Nickson won the first two sets, el Carrez the third,
but saved three match points in the fourth before winning
that and securing the final set tiebreak.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Ten two and former All.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Blackswinger and captain Stu Wilson has died at the age
of seventy. He made eighty five appearances in New Zealand,
including thirty four tests. Here he is reflecting on his
relationship with fellow Wellington and All Black swinger Bernie Fraser.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
It just became a natural instinct. If he had the ball,
I knew something was going to happen, and vice versa.
If I took off, made a gap, I mean he
would latch hold of me and we had this sort
of chemistry. It wasn't planned. It was just sheer instinct
because you played with each other.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
For so long.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports
Vex powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
This is the Sports Fix podcast. New Zealand Rugby Chief
executive Mark Robinson is leaving his role at the end
of twenty twenty five. It'll bring to an end and
almost six year tenure which included the COVID pandemic and
significant change to the game, including the introduction of the
Silver Lake equity deal. Mark Robinson plans to relay coate
to Australia, where his family are living, and is with
(03:31):
us on Sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Thanks for your time, Mark, How long have you been
mulling this over?
Speaker 6 (03:36):
Hi, Penny and Hilood listeners. I look probably over the
last a couple of months. As you rightly said, you know,
my family has been based over in Australia for a
little bit longer than that, and when I wighed up
the fact that I wasn't I'm not able to see
a lot of them at the moment, had a pretty
critical stage of our children's life and of our stage
(04:00):
of family, combined with what I guess the remaining six
months of the year looked like in the critical opportunities
around trying to create a new financial model for the
game domestically here in New Zealand and finish off all
of that work that we've been doing with the international calendar.
Those two things ideally coming to a conclusion, then this thing,
(04:21):
you know, perfect time to a step away.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Just want to unpack a couple of those things in
a moment, But in general terms, how do you reflect
on your five and a half years in the role
up to this point?
Speaker 6 (04:31):
In general terms, I look incredibly proud Piney. You know,
as you said it was it was an extremely challenging start.
I think I was a few weeks and when COVID
hit overseas at the time with international meetings coming back
into New Zealand soon to be lockdown was a was
a really challenging start, and you know, we said, certainly
(04:53):
was an impact on the organization. The way the sport
ran and people, you know, we lost a lot of
very good people during that time. But you know, I
look at the way we've come back, and I'm also
extremely proud with what we've done, be it you know,
marcial revenue growth, but the way we've led a lot
of law reform which we're seeing play through now with
our on field product around Super Rugby, sort of unprecedented
(05:17):
investment into the community game and getting back to community
numbers which are at those pre pre COVID levels. We've
led a lot of the work on the global stage
around player welfare and and banning concussion research, and we've
grown our fan base internationally clearly, you know, and we're
seeing some of the fruition of that coming through with
(05:40):
the revenue growth we're seeing at the moment by virtue
of the teams being involved in different markets around the world,
which again is an initiative we've led globally. So look,
I'm really proud. There's still you know, I think in
any case in this role, Pioney, you would have sort
of you know, I would have things that could could
be better or different, and there's always something to do.
But the time Field was right for me to say.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
You mentioned COVID and yeah, nobody would would wish that
as a start of a tenure on anybody. But as
you say, you came through it. What were the other
most challenging parts of the role for you?
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Oh, look, any any time where we're working through significant
change processes or doing things which were a departure from
the way they'd been done historically, and clearly taking an
investment from an investment partner to invest in the future
of fans both domestically and globally, and that's what the
Silver investment was about, really was about creating opportunities to
(06:40):
create differently and in a better way with fans. That
was certainly, you know, challenging any any change process as
I said, you know is, but certainly something that was
that different was you know, we worked through changes around
the All Blacks and we were very clear and our
decision making that you know, preserving the best interests of
(07:02):
the team and taking a team approach winning and getting
the best performances out of them was where we had
our So we made some calls there which we absolutely
stand by, and we also made a call in terms
of the future appointment with Scott's which was again a
(07:22):
departure from the past, but we felt needed to happen
and missing you know, the benefits now then, when I
look at national team environments, with the way the All Blacks,
Black Ferns, sevens and fifteens are all connecting and working together,
the interaction we have with superclubs and that sort of thing,
there's a great deal of alignment and collaboration in that
area which has been really positive as well. So there
(07:42):
were definite, you know, definitely challenges around some big decisions,
but I think in the fullness of time, when we
look at the things I just described coming out of
the back of that and where we sit now, I'm
really positive about.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, you touched on the All Blacks coaching change, which
I wanted to ask about, and I think we can
probably all agree that the outcome was the right one.
Are you happy with the way that process played out,
how it was conducted?
Speaker 5 (08:06):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Look, you know, there was certainly there was certainly frustration
wasn't here by in terms of some of the decisions
around their actions, but by and large, in terms of
that we arrived at the decisions. There were two aspects
of this. One was to get the team in a
(08:27):
position to win the World Cup, and we pushed really
hard to have the posing of the final by a point,
but by and large, we felt like we gave the
team every chance to succeed with the team they had
around them from a coaching perspective, and then we wanted
to obviously think about the medium to long term and
we felt the time was right to think about why
(08:48):
to change there. And yes, you know, I think that
was the right process and the right decision.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Not just around that, but across the entire length of
your tenure. If you had your time again, is there
anything you would do differently?
Speaker 6 (09:02):
I think on a you know, on a day to
day basis, we're working through processes on big projects. There's
always time, Pioney where you would think you know differently
about you know, the way you work through things. But
in terms of, you know, the decision to take investment,
(09:23):
to invest in fans and create some resilience around the game.
That's given us, you know, a balance sheet where we
clearly have options now to do make choices in any
range of different areas, and we were definitely probably ahead
of our well, we were ahead of our time as
it related to doing that, but behind a lot of
other sports and codes and franchises who have been doing
(09:45):
this for years in terms of vesting in fans, and
that's one of the challenges that rugby has to be
catching up in a lot of those areas. So the
overall principle and behind the decision stand by, but there's
always things you could do slightly differently. And if you're
talking about the All Blacks decision, exec exactly the same
stand behind you know the outcomes that we had. There's
always things within those processes that might be managed slightly differently.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Thanks Mark and all the best for the final six
months of your time as New Zealand Rugby CEO.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
That is outgoing CEO of New Zealand Rugby, Mark Robinson SPORTSFX.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Well, it was another roller coaster of a morning, wasn't it,
watching Ryan Fox win the Canadian Golf Open in Toronto,
his second PGA Tour title in under a month, having
never won one before that, Like London buses, you ate
ages for the first one and then to turn up
at the same time. It was a really good tournament,
(10:41):
a really good weekend for Ryan Fox from start to finish.
Really sixty six sixty six, sixty four in his third round,
and then sixty six again in his fourth today, including
a crucial, in fact absolutely compulsory birdie putt on eighteen
which took him to eighteen under and forced the playoff
(11:02):
against Sam Burns. It wasn't actually the best fourth round
all things considered for Ryan Fox. In the front nine
in round three he was five under. He was only
one under through the front nine today. But I think
what he's probably learned, and he said this himself afterwards,
was that having won one now he's got a lot
more patience. He's not chasing birdies necessarily, well, he is
(11:26):
chasing them, but when he's not getting them, he's not
as frustrated as he previously perhaps would have been because
the scoring was pretty hot around that course. And he
made the birdies on the back nine to force the playoff,
and then it raally got dramatic. One playoff hole they
both parted. Two playoff holes they both part, They moved
the pin to try and separate them. The third playoff
(11:48):
hole they also both part. But then that fairway shot
with his three wood on the fourth playoff hole, which
left the ball basically a makeable eagle part on the
fourth playoff hole that forced Burns to really attack the hole,
went past it two parted coming back. So Ryan Fox
had two parts victory ant he well and truly took
(12:11):
them absolutely brilliant. He is such an easy sportsperson to like.
I think we just want success for people who show
the qualities that Ryan Fox consistently displays, humility down to worth.
Just an absolute KIWI who we all love and isn't
(12:31):
it great watching him succeed? Watching on the All Whites
of course, who are up in Canada at the moment.
They had a win over the Ivory Coast yesterday, They've
got the Ukraine game on Wednesday, eight or nine of
them there to be a witness and to meet Ryan
Fox afterwards. That was a cool, cool moment, I'm sure
for Ryan Fox, but also for those All Whites players.
And what this one also does is earn Ryan Fox qualifications.
(12:54):
Next week's US Open, the third major of the season,
off to Oakmont. Now, what chance Ryan Fox emulates another KEIW,
Michael Campbell, who exactly twenty years ago won the US
So you certainly would not bet against Ryan Fox right now.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
On the Sports Fix podcast let's kick around a few
sporting issues that have jumped up and down at US
over the weekend. In the Chamber at eight, joined by
NZ and Me multi media journalist Nathan Limb. You would
have enjoyed watching Ryan Fox on the first, second, third,
and fourth playoff owls today, Nathan.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Oh, fantastic, Piney. It was stressful. It was stressful. He
doesn't like to just do it easily. It's like the
Warriors in recent times, isn't it. But Ryan Fox, I
mean give him the Halberg already he's won the Canadian
Open and a playoff just weeks after winning the Myrtle
Beach and winning at Myrtle Beach in a playoff. He's got,
apart from being probably the nicest guy in New Zealand sport,
(13:55):
he's also got the coolest head in New Zealand sport
as well. Four playoff holes to decide it. And of
course he's just put himself with the start of the
year in the most brilliant position. Obviously, we know he's
got the PGA Tour card secured for a couple of years,
but he's now also gained entry into the US Open.
He's pocketed a two point nine to two million. And
(14:16):
the big question for me out of this is can
he now afford a one bedroom apartment in Auckland. And
I'm thinking no.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
No, I don't think he's quite got enough.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
He's probably gonna win another couple of tournaments before he
can get up to that level. But are you so
right about about him being He just looks so calm
and unaffected by it all. And I guess he's just
quintessentially keiw which I think is why we all love
him so much. We can all sort of see in
him the qualities we like to think we have ourselves.
Humility are calmness and the ability to get on with people.
(14:44):
If only we could all hit a golf ball that way, Oh.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
My goodness, me. I yeah, I mean, I think with
Ryan Fox's you talk about him being humble, he's just
so relatable, Like you call him and you talk to him,
and he's so open about the struggles that he's having.
He doesn't sugar coat anything, he doesn't try to hide anything.
He just comes across as very, very genuine. If he's
(15:08):
having a little problem with an injury, he's pretty blunt
about that. He talks about if his preparation hasn't been successful.
He doesn't put on a persona or an act at all,
which is what I think makes him so likable.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Yeah, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Let's get to one of your sweet spots, Rugby League.
The Big League podcast will be out this week, the
latest edition of the Warriors going to the shi and
this given the Sharks and absolute shell lacking, they're now
well and truly. I mean we talk about are they
our top eight side? Forget about that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Is this a top four side now?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Though? Yes? Yes, short answer is yes, Piney at this
point ten wins, three losses in the season. This is
just unprecedented. And when you factor in the fact that
they don't have Mitch barn That was their first game
without Mitch Barnett. Yeah, and the players who really stood
up for me. You look at Dimitric Vai, Manger, Lekahalaesima
and Jacob Laben, three youngsters who came in and put
(16:03):
on standout performances, all three of them. Sam Heay who
came in his starting debut. They didn't have Wade Egan either,
and we talk all the time about how important Wade Egan.
He goes out late. Sam Healy, he's on the big
League podcast this week, and he talked about getting that
eleven eleventh hour call up. He didn't know he was
playing until about eleven o'clock that morning on game day,
and he comes in and puts in a really, really
(16:24):
solid shown. But those three youngsters who I mentioned stepping up,
and not only because you talk about, you know, young
players coming on. They come on from the interchange, they
play some good minutes and then they come off again.
These three are playing big minutes. They're starting, and a
lot of the time they are the ones carrying the
Warriors up the middle. I think they are the best
trio of youngsters any NRL club has. And you talk
(16:47):
about the table that top four. The Warriors now on
twenty two points alongside the Bulldogs and the Raiders, the
Storm on twenty, but a GAP's opened up the Sharks
in fifth on sixteen, and you talk about them potentially
being one of the teams that could break into that
top four, potentially the Broncos with their squad. But if
you're looking at the Broncos, there are eight points behind
the Warriors. So they've just set themselves up so well enough.
(17:08):
They have a few blips in the back end of
the season, they are in the box seat to finish
top four point.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yeah, I guess the pessimistic listeners on the show yesterday
were saying, hey, let's call our jets. They haven't beaten
the Raiders and a couple of attempts, they haven't beaten
the Storm. Where you yet to see them play the Bulldogs.
Do we need to wait, you know, a little bit
longer to really talk about them as a title contender
or can we allow ourselves to get a little bit
(17:33):
excited now?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
We can? Can't we?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
I think we can?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
And you talk about the losses to the Raiders. Okay, yeah, Vegas,
that was a blip, that was a bad start, But
if you look a few weeks ago the loss to them,
they had missed opportunities. It felt like they could have
and probably should have won that game. So they're really
not that far off the Raiders. Obviously we don't know
about the Bulldoers at this point. The Storm is the
one for me that the Warriors will struggle with because
there's clearly a mental block there. But I think at
(17:58):
this point, with the amount of confidence that the side has,
they're going into a buy as well. So they've got
guaranteed two points coming out of next weekend, so they're
going to remain up near the top of the ladder.
So yeah, one hundred percent. We can get excited, and
I think we can. We are at the stage now
where we can talk about the side as a potential
title contender.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
All right, look forward to the next few weeks and
a continuation of this great Warriors form. Just to finish,
I think we all thought last week that the Blues
would be enjoying mad Monday today. They had their season
ended in Hamilton on Saturday night. Instead, they've got another
Monday another week. Could they possibly go to christ Church
(18:37):
and beat the Crusaders on Friday.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
It's going to be a tough ask. It's going to
be a really tough ask. And to be honest, I
think if they upset the Crusaders in christ Church at
a playoff game, that is a bigger win. It's a
bigger result than beating the top of the table Chiefs
in Hamilton given the history with the Crusaders and the
Crusaders playoff streak in christ whre it's thirty and oh
thirty and oh if they can upset that. But the
(19:00):
fact that they put on that massive performance against the
Chiefs that went right down to the end of the game,
past the full time buzzer. To then reset mentally and
come in and produce something possibly even bigger to beat
the Crusaders. That is going to be a really tough asking.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Yeah, I agree. I just I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
I just can't see it, you know, I think without
any skin in the game, I'm looking forward to seeing
what happens.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
But I think you're right.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I mean, that Crusaders record is otherworldly down there in
christ shit, so who knows. Let's see what the Blues
can do across the week. Great chatting sport with you
on the on the Sports Fix podcast in the Chamber, Nay,
thanks so much for stopping in.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Thanks party.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
for today. Thank you so much for downloading and listening in.
Thank you for subscribing if you're a first time listener.
If you subscribe to Sports Fix, a fresh episode will
drop into your podcast feed at around about this time
or thereabouts every Monday through Friday, inclusive and for more
from news Talks, ab Sports Tune into Sports Talk weeknights
(20:04):
between seven and eight met tonight, Darcy Watergrave for the
rest of the week, Weekend Sport Saturday and Sunday between
midday and three for more from News Talk.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Set 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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