August 1, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 1st August 2025, Auckland Council has agreed to put $1.5 million towards upgrading the Auckland Tennis Arena on Stanley Street. ASB Classic tournament director Nico Lamperin joined the podcast to chat about what this means for the tournament.
Piney watched last night's NPC thriller, and he is hooked.
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss how much of a must win for the Warriors this match is.
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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 Dow, Welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. The first
day of August, the back end of the working week
for many. We're here in association with GJ. Gardner Holmes,
New Zealand's most trust at home building. My name's Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I'm Darcy Waldergrove. Welcome on and to the sportspecks. Looking
forward to bring this to you.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Plan Peter deal with Jo absolutely Now Tennis wise, I
know you've got a guest to talk some tennis with
us today.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah. Nicholas Slampern is going to join us. Is the
tournament director of the A Spinel. I talked to Nico
late last year, started this year around what's going on
with the roof? How long? And it was like, oh,
and it's just around the corner. I'm like, wow, you're
kidding me, right, And it is was announced today that
they're they're putting a lid on the tennis center. How
(01:06):
Good's that good?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It is a piece of development we've been waiting for
for a while. Good to know it's in the works.
Nico Lampern and I hear from him. I want to
talk Warriors, I want to talk CJ Bot joining the Phoenix.
I want to talk Formula one and the latest and
sports news as well. So please bee on, let's get
into it.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Well, hold on, I'll give.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
You a deal.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You can talk about football. I'll talk about Formula one
and together as a team, as he ended, as one,
we can talk about the wires, agree, Dundale.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Let's get into it. In other news, Let's get things
other way with a look at the big sports stories
around today. To Rugby's in PC Open at Eden Park
last night.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
It's been knocked on by white Katto but it won't matter.
From twenty points down the Mulus come back and steal it.
The Insortlands head Eaden Park thirty six thirty five.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Wait Cuto securing victory with four tries in the final
twenty minutes, including the match when it's a former All
Black Lemas Offtwinga who came off the bench. Meantime, the
Melbourne Storm have opened Round twenty two of the NR
with a win.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
They beat Paramatta for the sixth time in a row,
fourteenth win of the season and they're up to second
on the ladder again the Melbourne Storm.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
They're beating the fifteenth placed Eels sixteen to ten and
Lewis Clarebert has tuned up for the defense of his
four hundred meter medley title at the World Swim Champs
in Singapore by lowering his national record in the two
hundred individual medley. He's finished fifth in the final, shaving
point two to one of a second off his national
record and his personal best in the shorter distance with
(02:39):
a time of one minute fifty seven oh six.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
He is that has stood since between twenty one Olympics.
To lower that time tonight was really special and yeah
it's pretty emotional.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Use and a Vinion It's Sportsfix with Jason Hine and
Dussy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Well, welcome into the podcast now, Nicholas Lamprin, he is
well aka Miko. I mean he's a tournament director of
the ASB Classic. It's been a big day for tennis
in Auckland. Finally it's announced. We talked about this last year. Nico.
You're getting a roof on your stadium mate, How good
(03:20):
is that?
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Yeah, this is great news for the tournament and for
the venue. As you know, it's been a hard topic
for a number of years and there's been a multiple delays.
But the news that we got at at the start
of the week make that we you know, it's going
to be a reality and workout actually in progress now.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
So we're looking at twenty twenty seven. That's when you'll
have that lid on for the tournament, So not long
to go now.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
As far right, it's a two step process.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
The first one is the demolition of the Robinson Stand
and the extension of center court, which is below the
international standards.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
So this is being done as we speak.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
And it will be ready in time for the twenty
twenty six tournament, and we're hoping to get the second
phase concluded for the start of the twenty seven tournament.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
You mentioned not up to one's national standard. What doesn't it,
what doesn't work? What marks does it not hit?
Speaker 6 (04:22):
At the moment, the court is not long enough, you know,
with a way the game is evolving, and you know
the powerful players and the fact that they return.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Further from the baseline.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
You know, the ATP has decided to extend the space
needed between the baseline and the back wall, and I
was sent to court now was actually below the ATP
was requiring.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Are you resurfacing the whole nine yards you're getting right
in't there? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (04:52):
Yes, we need to resurface all the courts just to
make sure the surface is consistent everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, so more costs for you guys. Is that all
part though, of what the fifteen million dollars that's being
raised to cover the weight to everything.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Everything's been budget budgeted and in the budget we had
the demolition, the extension, and also the setup of the
roof and then also the lights that need to go
along with the roof.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Does this make your job a whole lot easier when
it comes to attracting talent.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
I'm not sure it makes my job easier to attract talent,
But it's more from, you know, an operations point of view.
The fact that you have a roof, you you you're
basically you know, it's a peace of mind. And also
the players have the guarantee that they will be able
to play at a set time, uh, and they won't
(05:50):
be multiple delays and you're forcing them to go from
outdoor to indoors, which is no ideal when you're playing
a tournament the week before Grand slam. You know, you
just want to make sure you play on time and
and you can prepare properly.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well that's what I thought. It would be easier because
you can guarant tea they'll actually get caught time. They're
not thinking, Oh, I don't know Auckland over summer. It
might rain on us that that has to be a
plus for you.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
It is a plus, But you know, at the same time,
we're competing with the likes of Brisbane or a Delaide
or the or the venues for the United Cup, and
these venues already have the roofs, so we we basically
on equal terms with them now, but we're not.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
We're not better.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
So it would help, but it doesn't solve or all
the other issues that we could have.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
What's the nature of the canopy anyway, I'm looking at
the information here, so it looks like it's it's it's
then enough that it's light through but not rain through.
What do you know about the actual product that you're
using them?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, it's it's it's a membrane.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
It's fairly light, and it's open on the side and
at the back, and and this is a requirement to remain.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
An outdoor tournament. You know, we are in the lead
up of the Train Open.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
Your Train Open is an adult tournament and we want
to make sure we offer some similar conditions to what
the players will have later on in Melbourne.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
The same technology is actually used in Brisbane.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
And Daday, so that the players will have exactly the
same conditions as.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Far as attendance is concerned. Is this going to boast
your bottom line as far as the amount of people
actually turn up and watch.
Speaker 6 (07:38):
Yeah, So by demolishing the Robinson stand we will increase
the stadium capacity.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
We will have an extra five hundred seats.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Available per session, so you can do the math the
twenty two sessions that we have.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
And that was also another requirement from the tour.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
As you operate an ATP two fifty tournament, you need
to have a center court with three and a half
thousand seats, So we wear bid of standards on the
court length, in the stadium capacity and with those improvements,
who will now be matching all the requirements from the
tour Sports effects.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
If Last Night is anything to go by in terms
of what the bunnings ENPC will offer us in twenty
twenty five, then sign me up for that. You could
hardly have wanted a better matchup to start things off
in twenty twenty five than what was put on display
by Auckland and White Cuttle at Eden Park last night.
It looked for all money, especially after the first little while,
(08:42):
as though Auckland were going to run away with this
on home soil. They were fourteen mill up after fifteen
minutes before White Cuttle came back into it. Auckland led
at halftime and then extended that lead, and with twenty
minutes to go they were thirty two twelve ahead. Game over,
not a bit of it. White Cuto came storming back
and scored four unanswered trice, the last of them to Limasopulwanga.
(09:05):
Is that a sentence you ever thought you'd say? Limasopawanga
scoring the winning try for Waikato in an MPC match
against Auckland, converted incidentally by another former All Black in
Aaron Cruden. It was the perfect start to NPC, as
I say, and the perfect start to what is a
very exciting looking weekend for a number of reasons. Tomorrow
(09:27):
afternoon at Pottidoor Park, defending champions Wellington up against the
Red and Black Machine and they are always a machine
from Canterbury and then we're down to Invercargo for Stag
Day when Southland take on Otago. Reports have nearly five
thousand tickets sold for that one already. And if that's
not enough for you Saturday there's a ran Fully Shield
(09:48):
defense tomorrow night as well at Stadium Taranaki, where the
Amber and Blacks put the log of wood on the
line against the Tunney far of Northland. And then we
arrive at Sunday and two more Mouthwater and clashes Bay
have plenty. The Steam is up against competition favorites Tasman,
before the Magpie and the stif Dealers go head to
(10:09):
head in Napier to finish the weekend. Look, they're not
all going to be like last night. They're not all
going to be one pointers with twenty points in the
last twenty minutes to get a team across the line. Yes,
across a season there'll be games which we forget pretty
much as soon as the final whistle blows. But the
beauty of the NPC is that it throws up rugby
(10:29):
matches like last night and gives us a glimpse not
only into the past, with the likes of Lumisoppuwanga and
our and Crudin involved, but a real glimpse to the
future as well as the new stars on our rugby
block announce themselves. As I say, NPC, sign me up.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
End of the Chamber, we go. I feel like this
game tonight for the Warriors does against the Dolphins go
Media Stadium, Ount Smart could be season defining Win it
and I think things are starting to get back on track,
lose it, and I just wonder about the stumble towards
the finish line. Am I taking this too?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Seria? No you're not. This is right on point. They've
got a number of games that they should win up
after the Dolphins, or they had seduced the Bulldogs and
the should win. But they've got a really good run in.
But as you know, you finished top four, you've got
a good chance. You finished outside of the four. Maybe
you don't. And the injury told this is something that
(11:28):
all NRL teams have to deal with. And they've often
talked about depth at Mount Smart, they've talked about depth
and Penrose and now we need to see and my
big concern is how well these younger athletes who have
started off with a hess and a raw, how well
they're going to deal with not only tonight but the
next four or five weeks. Are they going to be
(11:51):
fatigued mentally and physically because they're young men, they're basically kids,
and this is a man's game, right, So I think
we should be worried.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
It's huge tonight, Yeah, massive game, massive opportunity if we
turn around the other way. But you're right about the injuries.
No Chanelle Harris, Tavita or wait and hopefully both back
next week. A Tawa out for another couple of weeks,
James Fisherharis a couple of weeks, and Rock o'berry still
three weeks away. That's on top of the season ending
injuries to Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf. It's seven of
(12:18):
our best players, do it is?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
But you remember throughout the start of the year, depth depth,
we got to trust the next man to stand up,
and now they really have to. So we'll see if
that rhetoric rings true tonight, because this is a pretty
fearsome Dolphin's side, and I think a lot of people
are well, they're holding their breath around this fixture because
(12:41):
the Warriors they they had a loss and a loss
and a buy and a win and a loss, and
that they've won only twice in their last five competitive games.
That's definitely a sag.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
This is indeed all right. Other matters around. Liam Lawson
takes to the wheel again across the weekend. What should
we expect and is this the last one before we break?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, they have a summer break because all of the teams,
all of the crews, it's not the drivers. Didn't care
about the drivers of the team principles, it's all of
the staff, the mechanics and everybody else. They need a break.
It's a fearsome season. It's way too long, so they're
going to take a well deserved break over summer. What
do we expect from the Hungering well after what Liam
(13:24):
did last week, more improvements. But what we do know
about the hunger are ring It's like Monaco with grass,
it's very hard to pass. So again all about the qualifying.
But but Liam is in good spirits. He's he's driving well,
did well last week. And now of course we know
that Max Vestappen is signed on the line. He's not
(13:47):
leaving Red Ball next year. So whoever picks up that
secondary seat has to drive Max's car, which is impossible.
I think leave it with Yuki. Well, Honda's leaving, so
I think they'll take Yuki with him. So Hadja, you
want to drive that car? Best for luck, we'll leave
(14:08):
Big One. It's a beautiful track, but not much fun
to drive on.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Okay, but of football, I want to just I guess
give some more kudos to Wellington Phoenix Football Club. Ce
J Bott fifty cap football fern. She's been playing in
the English Super League for the last four years. That's
the top league in the UK. Very very good player
Wellington Bourne and had to go away to seek her
(14:34):
professional football dream and now comes home. Basically she was
born in Tawa, which is just one suburb over from Pottydoa,
which is where the Phoenix Women play. I mean, as
a young girl, she never could have dreamed that she'd
be playing professional football in basically her hometown. But here
we are what a team beef priestman is building at
the Phoenix Women. The prodigal daughter returns, if you will,
(14:57):
Why did CJ Bot leave?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
What?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
She's only what thirty years old? Is there any drive
behind her? Actually? Leaving the English Super League to come
back to.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
The A League.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Well, listening to her at the media conference this afternoon,
I think she just said this is the right time
to come home. You know, it's midway between World Cup cycles.
She's still very ambitious around her football ferns aspirations and
you know, wants to get back into the national squad.
Hasn't played for them since the back end of last year,
and I just think she feels like it's time to
make this full circle moment and to come back and
(15:30):
play in her hometown. It's a two year deal, so
it's not just one of those where you come home
for a year and see how you go. It's two years,
so that secures her future through into the World Cup.
I just think it's a win all round for the club,
for Cjbot herself and for the fans of the club,
who I think can be rightly optimistic about what the
season ahead might hold.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Who else are they looking at, because I tell you what,
they've got a pretty good roster already, haven't they.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
All star cast rarely? Yeah, four new imports. I won't
go through them all. What I will say is the
positions that still need perhaps some strengthening, and BEF Priestman
said this at the media conference today too. She's looking
for another midfielder and another defender, not necessarily first choice
because she's got a lot of first choice players. They
do have one importan spot left, so they'll use one
of those positions for or the import will fill one
(16:16):
of those positions. But really it's now just filling in
the gaps. I look at that squad and I think,
you know what, it is the equal of any other
squad in the Women's A League and they are going
to be a heck of a lot of fun to
watch in the summer.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Head does just as in aside. You got to be
impressed with Beev Pressman and the way she's dealt with
her appointment and dealt with the media around the drone affair.
I think that's just died. I think the way they
dealt with it, it's like they fronted it and when
that's it, that's history. Move on. What a great way
to deal with an issue.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Indeed, indeed, we can all move forward now. It is
in the past and it is a bright future to
look forward to. At the Knicks that is us and
the Chamber today leading.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
A X We've got just the ticket. It's sports X
powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
for today. Thank you for downloading, thank you for subscribing
in particular, and though of you who do subscribe, well
know that a new episode will drop into your feed
around this time on Monday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Be part of sport Radio. You can with sports Talk
Monday to Friday. Piney's got Monday, I've got Tuesday, wednes
the Thursday Friday between seven and eight pm, taking your
calls at your thoughts, the best interviews as well, and
of course Jason Pine I hand you them back on
You've got the weekend.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I do indeed from midday All three Tomorrow and middayt
all three on Sunday. Lots of sport to Talk weeknights
and on the weekend as well, and of course Sports
Fix are in your podcast feed Monday through Friday. Dars
is that us for today?
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
But I'm going back to work, I really am, and
I'm going tonight and I've got the All Sport Breakfast.
Then I'm forced to spend the next two to three
days lying on the couch, drinking beer, shouting at the television,
and that's part of my contract.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I've seen it, and I've seen that it's in your handwriting.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Sooo on your piney mate. You have a tremendous weekend.
Enjoy whatever it is you choose to do of the worse.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
For more from News Talk set 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 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 Dow, Welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. The first
day of August, the back end of the working week
for many. We're here in association with GJ. Gardner Holmes,
New Zealand's most trust at home building. My name's Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I'm Darcy Waldergrove. Welcome on and to the sportspecks. Looking
forward to bring this to you.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Plan Peter deal with Jo absolutely Now Tennis wise, I
know you've got a guest to talk some tennis with
us today.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah. Nicholas Slampern is going to join us. Is the
tournament director of the A Spinel. I talked to Nico
late last year, started this year around what's going on
with the roof? How long? And it was like, oh,
and it's just around the corner. I'm like, wow, you're
kidding me, right, And it is was announced today that
they're they're putting a lid on the tennis center. How
(01:06):
Good's that good?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It is a piece of development we've been waiting for
for a while. Good to know it's in the works.
Nico Lampern and I hear from him. I want to
talk Warriors, I want to talk CJ Bot joining the Phoenix.
I want to talk Formula one and the latest and
sports news as well. So please bee on, let's get
into it.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Well, hold on, I'll give.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
You a deal.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You can talk about football. I'll talk about Formula one
and together as a team, as he ended, as one,
we can talk about the wires, agree, Dundale.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Let's get into it. In other news, Let's get things
other way with a look at the big sports stories
around today. To Rugby's in PC Open at Eden Park
last night.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
It's been knocked on by white Katto but it won't matter.
From twenty points down the Mulus come back and steal it.
The Insortlands head Eaden Park thirty six thirty five.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Wait Cuto securing victory with four tries in the final
twenty minutes, including the match when it's a former All
Black Lemas Offtwinga who came off the bench. Meantime, the
Melbourne Storm have opened Round twenty two of the NR
with a win.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
They beat Paramatta for the sixth time in a row,
fourteenth win of the season and they're up to second
on the ladder again the Melbourne Storm.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
They're beating the fifteenth placed Eels sixteen to ten and
Lewis Clarebert has tuned up for the defense of his
four hundred meter medley title at the World Swim Champs
in Singapore by lowering his national record in the two
hundred individual medley. He's finished fifth in the final, shaving
point two to one of a second off his national
record and his personal best in the shorter distance with
(02:39):
a time of one minute fifty seven oh six.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
He is that has stood since between twenty one Olympics.
To lower that time tonight was really special and yeah
it's pretty emotional.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Use and a Vinion It's Sportsfix with Jason Hine and
Dussy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Well, welcome into the podcast now, Nicholas Lamprin, he is
well aka Miko. I mean he's a tournament director of
the ASB Classic. It's been a big day for tennis
in Auckland. Finally it's announced. We talked about this last year. Nico.
You're getting a roof on your stadium mate, How good
(03:20):
is that?
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Yeah, this is great news for the tournament and for
the venue. As you know, it's been a hard topic
for a number of years and there's been a multiple delays.
But the news that we got at at the start
of the week make that we you know, it's going
to be a reality and workout actually in progress now.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
So we're looking at twenty twenty seven. That's when you'll
have that lid on for the tournament, So not long
to go now.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
As far right, it's a two step process.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
The first one is the demolition of the Robinson Stand
and the extension of center court, which is below the
international standards.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
So this is being done as we speak.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
And it will be ready in time for the twenty
twenty six tournament, and we're hoping to get the second
phase concluded for the start of the twenty seven tournament.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
You mentioned not up to one's national standard. What doesn't it,
what doesn't work? What marks does it not hit?
Speaker 6 (04:22):
At the moment, the court is not long enough, you know,
with a way the game is evolving, and you know
the powerful players and the fact that they return.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Further from the baseline.
Speaker 6 (04:35):
You know, the ATP has decided to extend the space
needed between the baseline and the back wall, and I
was sent to court now was actually below the ATP
was requiring.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Are you resurfacing the whole nine yards you're getting right
in't there? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (04:52):
Yes, we need to resurface all the courts just to
make sure the surface is consistent everywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah, so more costs for you guys. Is that all
part though, of what the fifteen million dollars that's being
raised to cover the weight to everything.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Everything's been budget budgeted and in the budget we had
the demolition, the extension, and also the setup of the
roof and then also the lights that need to go
along with the roof.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Does this make your job a whole lot easier when
it comes to attracting talent.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
I'm not sure it makes my job easier to attract talent,
But it's more from, you know, an operations point of view.
The fact that you have a roof, you you you're
basically you know, it's a peace of mind. And also
the players have the guarantee that they will be able
to play at a set time, uh, and they won't
(05:50):
be multiple delays and you're forcing them to go from
outdoor to indoors, which is no ideal when you're playing
a tournament the week before Grand slam. You know, you
just want to make sure you play on time and
and you can prepare properly.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well that's what I thought. It would be easier because
you can guarant tea they'll actually get caught time. They're
not thinking, Oh, I don't know Auckland over summer. It
might rain on us that that has to be a
plus for you.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
It is a plus, But you know, at the same time,
we're competing with the likes of Brisbane or a Delaide
or the or the venues for the United Cup, and
these venues already have the roofs, so we we basically
on equal terms with them now, but we're not.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
We're not better.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
So it would help, but it doesn't solve or all
the other issues that we could have.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
What's the nature of the canopy anyway, I'm looking at
the information here, so it looks like it's it's it's
then enough that it's light through but not rain through.
What do you know about the actual product that you're
using them?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, it's it's it's a membrane.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
It's fairly light, and it's open on the side and
at the back, and and this is a requirement to remain.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
An outdoor tournament. You know, we are in the lead
up of the Train Open.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
Your Train Open is an adult tournament and we want
to make sure we offer some similar conditions to what
the players will have later on in Melbourne.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
The same technology is actually used in Brisbane.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
And Daday, so that the players will have exactly the
same conditions as.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Far as attendance is concerned. Is this going to boast
your bottom line as far as the amount of people
actually turn up and watch.
Speaker 6 (07:38):
Yeah, So by demolishing the Robinson stand we will increase
the stadium capacity.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
We will have an extra five hundred seats.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Available per session, so you can do the math the
twenty two sessions that we have.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
And that was also another requirement from the tour.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
As you operate an ATP two fifty tournament, you need
to have a center court with three and a half
thousand seats, So we wear bid of standards on the
court length, in the stadium capacity and with those improvements,
who will now be matching all the requirements from the
tour Sports effects.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
If Last Night is anything to go by in terms
of what the bunnings ENPC will offer us in twenty
twenty five, then sign me up for that. You could
hardly have wanted a better matchup to start things off
in twenty twenty five than what was put on display
by Auckland and White Cuttle at Eden Park last night.
It looked for all money, especially after the first little while,
(08:42):
as though Auckland were going to run away with this
on home soil. They were fourteen mill up after fifteen
minutes before White Cuttle came back into it. Auckland led
at halftime and then extended that lead, and with twenty
minutes to go they were thirty two twelve ahead. Game over,
not a bit of it. White Cuto came storming back
and scored four unanswered trice, the last of them to Limasopulwanga.
(09:05):
Is that a sentence you ever thought you'd say? Limasopawanga
scoring the winning try for Waikato in an MPC match
against Auckland, converted incidentally by another former All Black in
Aaron Cruden. It was the perfect start to NPC, as
I say, and the perfect start to what is a
very exciting looking weekend for a number of reasons. Tomorrow
(09:27):
afternoon at Pottidoor Park, defending champions Wellington up against the
Red and Black Machine and they are always a machine
from Canterbury and then we're down to Invercargo for Stag
Day when Southland take on Otago. Reports have nearly five
thousand tickets sold for that one already. And if that's
not enough for you Saturday there's a ran Fully Shield
(09:48):
defense tomorrow night as well at Stadium Taranaki, where the
Amber and Blacks put the log of wood on the
line against the Tunney far of Northland. And then we
arrive at Sunday and two more Mouthwater and clashes Bay
have plenty. The Steam is up against competition favorites Tasman,
before the Magpie and the stif Dealers go head to
(10:09):
head in Napier to finish the weekend. Look, they're not
all going to be like last night. They're not all
going to be one pointers with twenty points in the
last twenty minutes to get a team across the line. Yes,
across a season there'll be games which we forget pretty
much as soon as the final whistle blows. But the
beauty of the NPC is that it throws up rugby
(10:29):
matches like last night and gives us a glimpse not
only into the past, with the likes of Lumisoppuwanga and
our and Crudin involved, but a real glimpse to the
future as well as the new stars on our rugby
block announce themselves. As I say, NPC, sign me up.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
End of the Chamber, we go. I feel like this
game tonight for the Warriors does against the Dolphins go
Media Stadium, Ount Smart could be season defining Win it
and I think things are starting to get back on track,
lose it, and I just wonder about the stumble towards
the finish line. Am I taking this too?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Seria? No you're not. This is right on point. They've
got a number of games that they should win up
after the Dolphins, or they had seduced the Bulldogs and
the should win. But they've got a really good run in.
But as you know, you finished top four, you've got
a good chance. You finished outside of the four. Maybe
you don't. And the injury told this is something that
(11:28):
all NRL teams have to deal with. And they've often
talked about depth at Mount Smart, they've talked about depth
and Penrose and now we need to see and my
big concern is how well these younger athletes who have
started off with a hess and a raw, how well
they're going to deal with not only tonight but the
next four or five weeks. Are they going to be
(11:51):
fatigued mentally and physically because they're young men, they're basically kids,
and this is a man's game, right, So I think
we should be worried.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
It's huge tonight, Yeah, massive game, massive opportunity if we
turn around the other way. But you're right about the injuries.
No Chanelle Harris, Tavita or wait and hopefully both back
next week. A Tawa out for another couple of weeks,
James Fisherharis a couple of weeks, and Rock o'berry still
three weeks away. That's on top of the season ending
injuries to Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf. It's seven of
(12:18):
our best players, do it is?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
But you remember throughout the start of the year, depth depth,
we got to trust the next man to stand up,
and now they really have to. So we'll see if
that rhetoric rings true tonight, because this is a pretty
fearsome Dolphin's side, and I think a lot of people
are well, they're holding their breath around this fixture because
(12:41):
the Warriors they they had a loss and a loss
and a buy and a win and a loss, and
that they've won only twice in their last five competitive games.
That's definitely a sag.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
This is indeed all right. Other matters around. Liam Lawson
takes to the wheel again across the weekend. What should
we expect and is this the last one before we break?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, they have a summer break because all of the teams,
all of the crews, it's not the drivers. Didn't care
about the drivers of the team principles, it's all of
the staff, the mechanics and everybody else. They need a break.
It's a fearsome season. It's way too long, so they're
going to take a well deserved break over summer. What
do we expect from the Hungering well after what Liam
(13:24):
did last week, more improvements. But what we do know
about the hunger are ring It's like Monaco with grass,
it's very hard to pass. So again all about the qualifying.
But but Liam is in good spirits. He's he's driving well,
did well last week. And now of course we know
that Max Vestappen is signed on the line. He's not
(13:47):
leaving Red Ball next year. So whoever picks up that
secondary seat has to drive Max's car, which is impossible.
I think leave it with Yuki. Well, Honda's leaving, so
I think they'll take Yuki with him. So Hadja, you
want to drive that car? Best for luck, we'll leave
(14:08):
Big One. It's a beautiful track, but not much fun
to drive on.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Okay, but of football, I want to just I guess
give some more kudos to Wellington Phoenix Football Club. Ce
J Bott fifty cap football fern. She's been playing in
the English Super League for the last four years. That's
the top league in the UK. Very very good player
Wellington Bourne and had to go away to seek her
(14:34):
professional football dream and now comes home. Basically she was
born in Tawa, which is just one suburb over from Pottydoa,
which is where the Phoenix Women play. I mean, as
a young girl, she never could have dreamed that she'd
be playing professional football in basically her hometown. But here
we are what a team beef priestman is building at
the Phoenix Women. The prodigal daughter returns, if you will,
(14:57):
Why did CJ Bot leave?
Speaker 4 (14:59):
What?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
She's only what thirty years old? Is there any drive
behind her? Actually? Leaving the English Super League to come
back to.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
The A League.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Well, listening to her at the media conference this afternoon,
I think she just said this is the right time
to come home. You know, it's midway between World Cup cycles.
She's still very ambitious around her football ferns aspirations and
you know, wants to get back into the national squad.
Hasn't played for them since the back end of last year,
and I just think she feels like it's time to
make this full circle moment and to come back and
(15:30):
play in her hometown. It's a two year deal, so
it's not just one of those where you come home
for a year and see how you go. It's two years,
so that secures her future through into the World Cup.
I just think it's a win all round for the club,
for Cjbot herself and for the fans of the club,
who I think can be rightly optimistic about what the
season ahead might hold.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Who else are they looking at, because I tell you what,
they've got a pretty good roster already, haven't they.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
All star cast rarely? Yeah, four new imports. I won't
go through them all. What I will say is the
positions that still need perhaps some strengthening, and BEF Priestman
said this at the media conference today too. She's looking
for another midfielder and another defender, not necessarily first choice
because she's got a lot of first choice players. They
do have one importan spot left, so they'll use one
of those positions for or the import will fill one
(16:16):
of those positions. But really it's now just filling in
the gaps. I look at that squad and I think,
you know what, it is the equal of any other
squad in the Women's A League and they are going
to be a heck of a lot of fun to
watch in the summer.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Head does just as in aside. You got to be
impressed with Beev Pressman and the way she's dealt with
her appointment and dealt with the media around the drone affair.
I think that's just died. I think the way they
dealt with it, it's like they fronted it and when
that's it, that's history. Move on. What a great way
to deal with an issue.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Indeed, indeed, we can all move forward now. It is
in the past and it is a bright future to
look forward to. At the Knicks that is us and
the Chamber today leading.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
A X We've got just the ticket. It's sports X
powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
for today. Thank you for downloading, thank you for subscribing
in particular, and though of you who do subscribe, well
know that a new episode will drop into your feed
around this time on Monday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Be part of sport Radio. You can with sports Talk
Monday to Friday. Piney's got Monday, I've got Tuesday, wednes
the Thursday Friday between seven and eight pm, taking your
calls at your thoughts, the best interviews as well, and
of course Jason Pine I hand you them back on
You've got the weekend.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I do indeed from midday All three Tomorrow and middayt
all three on Sunday. Lots of sport to Talk weeknights
and on the weekend as well, and of course Sports
Fix are in your podcast feed Monday through Friday. Dars
is that us for today?
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
But I'm going back to work, I really am, and
I'm going tonight and I've got the All Sport Breakfast.
Then I'm forced to spend the next two to three
days lying on the couch, drinking beer, shouting at the television,
and that's part of my contract.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I've seen it, and I've seen that it's in your handwriting.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Sooo on your piney mate. You have a tremendous weekend.
Enjoy whatever it is you choose to do of the worse.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
For more from News Talk 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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