August 14, 2025 • 19 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 14th August 2025, the New Zealand Darts Masters return for 2025 and one of the biggest names coming to these shores is former world champion Luke Humphries. He joins D'Arcy in studio ahead of the big event.
D'Arcy offers his thoughts on the future of the America's Cup.
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss what we can expect when the All Blacks team is named to face Argentina.
Get 'Sports Fix' every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Ed be Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast.
It's an association of course with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. On Thursday August fourteen. I'm
Jason Pine and I'm.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Darcy walder Grave and I love you doing the heavy
lifting and opening up the program. Jason, well, well, I.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Need you to do a bit of heavy lifting during
the podcast if you could, dark because I know you've
got a pretty special guest to bring us today.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
There's a boy called Luke Humphreys, and Luke Humphrey's number
one darts player in the world, a stunning individual, wonderful man.
Came up to the studio, sat down, had a yarn
with us. Or because of course the Auckland Darts Masters
gets underway tomorrow, carries on on Saturday as well. It's
it's going to be a big weekend for dartsy in
(01:07):
Auckland City. And I got to say, and he spoke
with him last year, didn't you look the arm Frees
is a g C and I want to explain what
that means.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Now I think we all know what it means, and
I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say
here on the podcast. I want to try and kick
around an All Blacks team with you because that gets
named tomorrow morning. And this exodus of netballers should we
start to worry. Plus the latest and sports years, so
let's get into it. In other news, let's get underway
(01:36):
and check out some of the big sports stories around today.
The All Whites have confirmed their second fixture of the
October international football window. They'll play Poland on October the tenth,
having already locked in a match against Norway five days later.
Coach Darren Baisley says taking on the two European sides
will serve them well.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
These are the type of games that we want, you know,
against top forty teams in the world, similar to what
we're going to come up against at the World cart
and a step up probably from what we've had.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
The Warriors are yet to indicate whether Luke Metcalf will
re sign after it becomes a free agent on the
first of November. The Australian half back signed until the
end of next year. Coach Andrew Webster has been asked
if there's an update on metcalf Steel not at this stage.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Obviously our main concern was Loop's injury and just making
sure that he got back on his feet the operation
went well, which it has and obviously we've got between
now and November one to try and make that happen.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And Wellington Phoenix women's coach be Of Priestman has outlined
the importance of working alongside Football Ferns boss Michael Maine
during her time in charge at the A League club.
The former Canadian national team coach will be in the
Capitol for the next two seasons with the Knixt boasting
five New Zealand internationals and their current squad.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
In terms of me sharing positionally where I see people
and then how we work together to achieve similar outcomes,
and then there's the team outcomes. But I'm big on
making sure that individuals get what they need at the
end of a session and I just want to see
every plague all reach their true potential.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vain and
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
We're joined now by one of the best the darts players,
if not the best darts players in the World's name
is Luck Humphries as world number one. Is here for
the Auckland Darts Masters. Welcome into the studio. Look great
to meet, You're great to.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Eyeball you thank you for having me over.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, you're a defending champ in this particular tournament. How
important is that for you to defend that or is
it more eyes for than anything else?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean it's not too important to defend the
title and itself, but obviously it's you know, last year
was my first World Series win overseas, so it gives
it a special feeling for me and it's a special
trophy for me. And you come all this way you
want to pick one trophy up. So I then, was
it successful in Australia and Wollongong, but makes me more
determined to go on and retain my trophy that won
(03:50):
last year in the ISLA.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
How important are these World Series matches because it's coming
through to a final, isn't it in September? So what
weight does this carry with all of the pro darts players?
How much do they value or treasure this particular brand
of darts if you will.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Yeah, I think it's exciting for us as players because
we get to try of the world. You know, we've
been to Bahrain, we've been Netherlands, we've been Denmark, Poland,
then we went to New York. Now we're in Australia
and New Zealand. You know, very blessed to be able
to travel the world and get to play in these
tournaments and you wanna you wanna win them. You want
to you want to have all these nice trophies that
come with it, and you know they are important, and
(04:26):
it could get you a higher ranking in the in
the World Series of Darts Final, like you say in September,
and that can make your job easier because if you're
not in the top one, two, three, four, you could
be playing a very tough player early on in the
competition in the World Series Finals. So higher up in
the rankings, the more chance you are not playing the
top players in the in the early rounds.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And you've experienced it early on in your career, the
ability to actually not the top off some players who
are ranked way above you, and their excitement that young
players get when they're out to the archy with guys
that are genuine superstars. They'll give them all crazy thrill.
And it's not a physical thing, it's not anything. It's
just I'm gonna throw a bit of darts in you
right now. So that's a constant three, hasn't it.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
It is, And it was like for me when I was,
you know, in the in the early stages of my
career ranked you know, twenty five, twenty sixteen, fourteen twelve,
I was just kept me my way up and none
of the players fit. I feared them, you know, I
never feared no one. I used to look forward to
playing the top players. I wanted to impress, and I
knew that my darts could do the talking, and they did.
For you know, the last two years, I've managed to
(05:27):
propel myself off all the work to number one in
the world, eight major titles, World Cup. You know, I've
won so many things in the last eighteen months is
quite ridiculous. So sometimes you have to pinch yourself and
quite quite look back and think what I've achieved so
much in such a short period of time, because there
is you know, it's like three players above me that
I've won more major titles than I have, and I've
done online in the last two years. So yeah, it's
(05:50):
been quite incredible.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That is a challenge for you, that's what keeps you throwing.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
Yeah, I think my next goal is to try and
get myself up to, you know, be the third most
successful major winner in darts history. You know, Jan's Wade
sits there, I think at ten. At the moment, I'm
on eight, so you know, I'm two away from doing that.
You know, looking at records, I've won the same amount
of major titles as Gary Andson. Ganson's an absolute legend.
(06:15):
You know, everyone loves him and knows how great he is.
To be on the same amount as he's got, it's
that's a pinchery moment to be honest, you know. And
if I can win two more WI the year's out,
then you know I could be matched as you know,
the third most successful dart player in history, beyond you know,
Phil Taylor and Mike Van Goen, who is going to
be a very hard task to catch.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I feel for Michael then going at the moment,
because the guy was almost Dan Stopple, wasn't it. A
couple of years ago a couple of loops tuned up
and started ruining his party and he's a yet to
bounce back for that. It doesn't take very long, doesn't
it to slip from that top position.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
No, it doesn't. It's I think Michael had been such
a pioneer for the sport for many, many years after
Phil Taylor retired. But when you've got too hungry youngsters
coming at you, it's hard. And you know he's found
that over the last couple of years that he's struggling
now to find major wins because know, only if you
got me and Littler coming at him, you've got so
(07:07):
many other players now that starting to gain momentum and
starting to get good. And nowadays you know, the first
and second round games and big major sns of really
tough games for him. There used to be quite comfortable
games you get through and then maybe get challenges in
the courts semis in the final. But now he's under
a lot of pressure to, you know, retain his world
ranking that he's at number three, because if he doesn't
start playing a lot better, then he could find himself
(07:29):
slipping down. And once you start slipping down the rankings,
it's always harder to come back up.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Tager on us Beck, which is kind of like ironic considering.
He plays that that let's talk about your progression in
your career. You were a rufer originally, how long for
and what took to you over what twenty eighteen, twenty
seventeen when you became professional? What was the drive behind me?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Yeah, well I've refeard when I finished scored at sixteen,
so I went straight into that. My dad was a reefer,
so I worked with him. Lovely sort of job for
me to as soon as I finished score, and I
did that till I was about twenty one, twenty two.
I think, I think I just turned twenty two and
I'd finally got my pro tour state US in twenty seventeen,
I think it was or twenty eighteen, and I just
thought to myself, I had to give it all I've
(08:13):
got because you only get one chance. You talk cars
for two years, I thought, you ever guaranteed on tour
two years. You know, if you're not in the top
sixty four after two years, then you find yourself you're
not professional anymore. So it was for me just something
I wanted to give my all into and it kind
of worked out straight away. First year I made a
court finals of the World Championships beating Rob Cross, which
is the reigning champion. So my career started off really
(08:36):
well and I never looked back. After that.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Sports Fixed sale GP turned up and it shook the
foundations of traditional sailing and the biggest foundation shaped for
the skyscraper, the tower of global sailing, the America's Cup,
and they felt that shake. Team New Zealand felt that
shake when one man by the name of Peter Berling
(08:59):
decided to eject himself from Team New Zealand and carry
on with his focus as the CEO of a sale
GP team. Always going to be a reaction to the dominance,
to the airtime, to the social media, to the profile
of sale GP from the old school at the America's Cup.
(09:20):
We all know tradition is the illusion of permanence. Yet
the America's Cup have leaned on one hundred and seventy
plus years of tradition to keep the event relevant now.
They have made changes in the past, but the changes
now that are going to be put in place the
next America's Cup are huge. And it is even though
(09:42):
these people will say no, it's not a massive reaction
to what's happened in sale GP They've shown the future.
They've shown what competitive sailing can do. They've shown how
to engage the youth, how to capture the market, how
to make the profile of their sport lift well beyond
(10:02):
the sum of its parts. America's Cup had no choice
but to react to what sale gps are doing. They
are two very different regattas, they are two very different
series that sale GP is looking to the future, sale
GP is looking to the youth, and that's what the
America's Cup is doing now, cutting down the huge budgets,
(10:23):
increasing the frequency of the racing, introducing women to the fort,
opening opportunity for social media influencers to climb on board,
and then some so much to look at. And they
should be applauded for understanding that sale GP is a
threat and unless they act fast, their event is going
(10:47):
to sync without a trace.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Into the Chamber we go. Eight thirty tomorrow morning. New
Zealand time is when the All Blacks team to take
on Argentina in Cordoba on Sunday morning. New Zealand time
is unveiled, of course, they've known the team for the
last few days. The players in it and the players
not in it. Do you expect any surprises when that
All Blacks team is unveiled to the rest of us
(11:13):
tomorrow morning?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Does it's like their Spanish Inquisition?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
You know what I'm referencing here Old Monty, Bith and
fan But episode no. One expects that what they do
there will be I'm sure something for us to scratch
our heads over. What iking here is what Rasi Harasmus
is doing. He's releasing this team on a Monday. Now,
it's like just getting it out. Who cares about the suspense.
Let's talk about the team we have got, I think
(11:41):
points of interest for me right across the park. We
don't know what they learned out of that French series.
We don't know what they want to put down where
they want to go. I'm presuming Rica was going to
stay out near the wing. I'm presuming that Will Jordan
is going to come in at fallback. I'm presuming that
Boden Barrett and both Barrett boys are going to be Okay,
(12:02):
the six seven and eight, anyone's guess.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, no, that that's and That's where I'm landing actually
is the six seven eight. I'll go back to Tuporvai
for this one anyway? Does I kind of think he
will be given another go in that shirt? Artie Savia,
as we know, will almost certainly where the seven jersey.
Number eight is really interesting for me. I wonder whether
this big bopper Simon Parker might find himself starting on
(12:25):
test aboo while a Tatiti not quite ready to go yet,
So the options have come down unless you put Ardi there,
which I know they don't want to. Simon Parker could
find himself on test day boo.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
That would be quite a place to day boo. We're
not expecting Are we expecting a great deal from Argentina.
They haven't had the most vintage of times in the
last year or so. We do know that they can
come up and bite us on the backside because they've
done it a couple of times at home. But this game,
you'd hope would be a settling in period it Maybe
it might be a great place for Simon park at
(12:57):
the start, But that's asking a hell of a lot,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
No, it is it is I and he only arrived
after everybody else because he stayed back to play for
the tunny far last weekend. So I wonder whether the
lightly shorter time on the ground and Argentina might play
against him as well. So we wait to see what
they what they do there. As you say, the Barrett's back,
which is great news. Still a couple of out Wallace
(13:20):
a TT has mentioned to Mighty Williams. Still not quite
ready to go on the question of Argentina. They did
beat the British and Irish Lions at twicken And before
they set off to Australia, but then they've had back
to back losses to England and that's in England without
their Lions players. So yeah, I don't really know what
to expect from the permis why they've.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Never beaten New Zealand at home. Well, I'll tell you what.
You remember this too, way back in the day, watching
these games early in the morning, and you go Porter
nearly kicking us out of the game, and there's been
a couple of occasions where last minute tries have saved
the day. Joh, I'm thinking, was it was it the
fullback Ben Blair way back when the ex Canterbury player
(13:59):
that managed to pull us out of the fire? Am
I just imagining that?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
You're not imagining it because he stepped off his right
foot and throw a right foot pass to none other
then current coach Scott Robinson, who went over in the
corner to seal New Zealander wins. I know your your
mind's not playing tricks on you, and it's a bit
of a full circle for Raser. In fact, I think
it might even be on on this ground. I might
be my mind might be playing tricks on me now,
(14:23):
but certainly Blair and Robertson combined to break some Argentinian hearts.
And you're right that eighty five game who go porter,
four penalties, three drop goals, twenty one all draw incredible
look at bat.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I'm loving the that I can still pull that out
of the depths of my gray matter. I'm quite stunned,
quite frankly, planning I wasn't prepared. I was just hoping
that you were, and you knew so we were right.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
They were right now and now we wait to see
what iteration of the All Blacks is named the twenty
three man squad you out tomorrow morning, Friday morning, New
Zealand Time, eight thirty. We'll have it for you across
our news talks. He'd be platforms. Another matter I wanted
to discuss with you in the chamber today, Darre. So
I see Maddie Gordon has become the latest New Zealand
netballer to join the netball exodus across the ditch. She's
(15:09):
joining Kellie Jackson at the Queensland Firebirds. We know Grace
Wicki is also there already. There's been rumors about Karen
Berger looking at options over there. Should we be worried
or was this always going to happen When the eligibility
rules were changed.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
No one messed around, didn't they As soon as they
changed there was basically that all fell on the cliff.
Everybody was there. It set the ball rolling. So many
athletes and I've been talking earlier in this week were
basically prepared and ready to go. They were just waiting
for that tick off. Is it. I don't know if
it's a mass exodus because I got some of the
(15:47):
best players in the world, and of course Newzella and
Nepple have to okay this long term. But if they don't,
will the players leave anyway? That's where my concern is.
Because of course we had Grace Wicki she went like
I'm out, and Kelly Jackson she was already prepared and
ready to go, and what she needed was that was
(16:07):
that green flag and the same with that. So maybe
we've reached the end. They see much more. I think
the exodus it started and it's been big enough, but
I think maybe it ends. I mean, what are we
looking at? Who else have we got left to go?
A Karen Berger the possibility? Who else?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think that's about I think you're right. I think
that's about it, because let's not forget that you don't
just walk into one of these Super netball teams in Australia.
They're good teams over there. You know you have to
you know, you have to be a decent player. So
we're talking about the upper echelon of our players. So
there will still be plenty back here playing in our
domestic competition. And I think we have to accept that
(16:47):
this was what was going to happen as soon as
those eligibility rules changed, especially given that there is still
a bit of uncertainty around the future of our an
Zet Premiership. So you can hardly blame our top players
for looking to secure their future.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Kim got to love Keddy Wills over there, coach in
the fire, but he's been picking them. I couldn't believe. Yep,
I can work with you, yep, I know you. Yeah,
well take you on board as well. So destruction, I'm
not sure the future or the premiership. They've changed now
so you can get a couple of overseas players in
the a ZID Premiership over here, so that's a positive.
(17:23):
The question really, though, is do you want your best
players at an am ZID Premiership level that you can
see every week, week in, week out, or do you
want the silver ferns to start winning World Cups and
gold medals. That's where you've got to lie, because I
don't think you can have both.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
No. I was going to say to myself or say
to you, can you have both? But I'm not sure
you can have They're not necessarily mutually exclusive. They can
cross over. But you're right, I don't think you can
have one or the other or sorry, you can't have both,
but I think you can have more than one or
the other. Gee, I'm getting myself a notz here. I
(18:02):
just hope that we do okay in the future and
that these rules benefit the players who have earned the
right to, you know, to command interest from overseas, but
also the next wave of players here in New Zealand
coming through to replace them.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
It's a waiting brief and Netball New Zealand carries on
in the headlines and has been there for weeks, which
has got to be a good thing for the sport, right.
I guess so, I guess so? And that is us
in the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Eating of X. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports
Fix powered by News Talks IV.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
And that is us on the Sports Fix podcast for today.
We greatly appreciate those of you who subscribe to sports Fix.
You'll know by now that a fresh episode appears at
around about this time every weekday, and we're greatly appreciated
if you maybe suggested subscribing to your friends because the
more the.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Area right does absolutely and if you want to join
on and will you can. We're not in a podcast, right,
we can do it. Sports Talk that's Monday to Friday
seven eight pm on News Talks EB. Piney's Got Control.
On a Monday, I'm let loose, Tuesday Weds and Thursday Friday.
And on the weekend, Piney, It's all about you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Weekend Sport Middata three, Saturday and Sunday and as you say, Dus,
we love it when our listeners jump on board and
interact with us. It's not a one way conversation. We
like having it going both ways. We will see you
on Sports Fix tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
For more from News Talk sed 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.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Ed be Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast.
It's an association of course with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. On Thursday August fourteen. I'm
Jason Pine and I'm.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Darcy walder Grave and I love you doing the heavy
lifting and opening up the program. Jason, well, well, I.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Need you to do a bit of heavy lifting during
the podcast if you could, dark because I know you've
got a pretty special guest to bring us today.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
There's a boy called Luke Humphreys, and Luke Humphrey's number
one darts player in the world, a stunning individual, wonderful man.
Came up to the studio, sat down, had a yarn
with us. Or because of course the Auckland Darts Masters
gets underway tomorrow, carries on on Saturday as well. It's
it's going to be a big weekend for dartsy in
(01:07):
Auckland City. And I got to say, and he spoke
with him last year, didn't you look the arm Frees
is a g C and I want to explain what
that means.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Now I think we all know what it means, and
I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say
here on the podcast. I want to try and kick
around an All Blacks team with you because that gets
named tomorrow morning. And this exodus of netballers should we
start to worry. Plus the latest and sports years, so
let's get into it. In other news, let's get underway
(01:36):
and check out some of the big sports stories around today.
The All Whites have confirmed their second fixture of the
October international football window. They'll play Poland on October the tenth,
having already locked in a match against Norway five days later.
Coach Darren Baisley says taking on the two European sides
will serve them well.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
These are the type of games that we want, you know,
against top forty teams in the world, similar to what
we're going to come up against at the World cart
and a step up probably from what we've had.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
The Warriors are yet to indicate whether Luke Metcalf will
re sign after it becomes a free agent on the
first of November. The Australian half back signed until the
end of next year. Coach Andrew Webster has been asked
if there's an update on metcalf Steel not at this stage.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Obviously our main concern was Loop's injury and just making
sure that he got back on his feet the operation
went well, which it has and obviously we've got between
now and November one to try and make that happen.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And Wellington Phoenix women's coach be Of Priestman has outlined
the importance of working alongside Football Ferns boss Michael Maine
during her time in charge at the A League club.
The former Canadian national team coach will be in the
Capitol for the next two seasons with the Knixt boasting
five New Zealand internationals and their current squad.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
In terms of me sharing positionally where I see people
and then how we work together to achieve similar outcomes,
and then there's the team outcomes. But I'm big on
making sure that individuals get what they need at the
end of a session and I just want to see
every plague all reach their true potential.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vain and
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
We're joined now by one of the best the darts players,
if not the best darts players in the World's name
is Luck Humphries as world number one. Is here for
the Auckland Darts Masters. Welcome into the studio. Look great
to meet, You're great to.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Eyeball you thank you for having me over.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, you're a defending champ in this particular tournament. How
important is that for you to defend that or is
it more eyes for than anything else?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Yeah, I mean it's not too important to defend the
title and itself, but obviously it's you know, last year
was my first World Series win overseas, so it gives
it a special feeling for me and it's a special
trophy for me. And you come all this way you
want to pick one trophy up. So I then, was
it successful in Australia and Wollongong, but makes me more
determined to go on and retain my trophy that won
(03:50):
last year in the ISLA.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
How important are these World Series matches because it's coming
through to a final, isn't it in September? So what
weight does this carry with all of the pro darts players?
How much do they value or treasure this particular brand
of darts if you will.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Yeah, I think it's exciting for us as players because
we get to try of the world. You know, we've
been to Bahrain, we've been Netherlands, we've been Denmark, Poland,
then we went to New York. Now we're in Australia
and New Zealand. You know, very blessed to be able
to travel the world and get to play in these
tournaments and you wanna you wanna win them. You want
to you want to have all these nice trophies that
come with it, and you know they are important, and
(04:26):
it could get you a higher ranking in the in
the World Series of Darts Final, like you say in September,
and that can make your job easier because if you're
not in the top one, two, three, four, you could
be playing a very tough player early on in the
competition in the World Series Finals. So higher up in
the rankings, the more chance you are not playing the
top players in the in the early rounds.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And you've experienced it early on in your career, the
ability to actually not the top off some players who
are ranked way above you, and their excitement that young
players get when they're out to the archy with guys
that are genuine superstars. They'll give them all crazy thrill.
And it's not a physical thing, it's not anything. It's
just I'm gonna throw a bit of darts in you
right now. So that's a constant three, hasn't it.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
It is, And it was like for me when I was,
you know, in the in the early stages of my
career ranked you know, twenty five, twenty sixteen, fourteen twelve,
I was just kept me my way up and none
of the players fit. I feared them, you know, I
never feared no one. I used to look forward to
playing the top players. I wanted to impress, and I
knew that my darts could do the talking, and they did.
For you know, the last two years, I've managed to
(05:27):
propel myself off all the work to number one in
the world, eight major titles, World Cup. You know, I've
won so many things in the last eighteen months is
quite ridiculous. So sometimes you have to pinch yourself and
quite quite look back and think what I've achieved so
much in such a short period of time, because there
is you know, it's like three players above me that
I've won more major titles than I have, and I've
done online in the last two years. So yeah, it's
(05:50):
been quite incredible.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
That is a challenge for you, that's what keeps you throwing.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
Yeah, I think my next goal is to try and
get myself up to, you know, be the third most
successful major winner in darts history. You know, Jan's Wade
sits there, I think at ten. At the moment, I'm
on eight, so you know, I'm two away from doing that.
You know, looking at records, I've won the same amount
of major titles as Gary Andson. Ganson's an absolute legend.
(06:15):
You know, everyone loves him and knows how great he is.
To be on the same amount as he's got, it's
that's a pinchery moment to be honest, you know. And
if I can win two more WI the year's out,
then you know I could be matched as you know,
the third most successful dart player in history, beyond you know,
Phil Taylor and Mike Van Goen, who is going to
be a very hard task to catch.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I feel for Michael then going at the moment,
because the guy was almost Dan Stopple, wasn't it. A
couple of years ago a couple of loops tuned up
and started ruining his party and he's a yet to
bounce back for that. It doesn't take very long, doesn't
it to slip from that top position.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
No, it doesn't. It's I think Michael had been such
a pioneer for the sport for many, many years after
Phil Taylor retired. But when you've got too hungry youngsters
coming at you, it's hard. And you know he's found
that over the last couple of years that he's struggling
now to find major wins because know, only if you
got me and Littler coming at him, you've got so
(07:07):
many other players now that starting to gain momentum and
starting to get good. And nowadays you know, the first
and second round games and big major sns of really
tough games for him. There used to be quite comfortable
games you get through and then maybe get challenges in
the courts semis in the final. But now he's under
a lot of pressure to, you know, retain his world
ranking that he's at number three, because if he doesn't
start playing a lot better, then he could find himself
(07:29):
slipping down. And once you start slipping down the rankings,
it's always harder to come back up.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Tager on us Beck, which is kind of like ironic considering.
He plays that that let's talk about your progression in
your career. You were a rufer originally, how long for
and what took to you over what twenty eighteen, twenty
seventeen when you became professional? What was the drive behind me?
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Yeah, well I've refeard when I finished scored at sixteen,
so I went straight into that. My dad was a reefer,
so I worked with him. Lovely sort of job for
me to as soon as I finished score, and I
did that till I was about twenty one, twenty two.
I think, I think I just turned twenty two and
I'd finally got my pro tour state US in twenty seventeen,
I think it was or twenty eighteen, and I just
thought to myself, I had to give it all I've
(08:13):
got because you only get one chance. You talk cars
for two years, I thought, you ever guaranteed on tour
two years. You know, if you're not in the top
sixty four after two years, then you find yourself you're
not professional anymore. So it was for me just something
I wanted to give my all into and it kind
of worked out straight away. First year I made a
court finals of the World Championships beating Rob Cross, which
is the reigning champion. So my career started off really
(08:36):
well and I never looked back. After that.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Sports Fixed sale GP turned up and it shook the
foundations of traditional sailing and the biggest foundation shaped for
the skyscraper, the tower of global sailing, the America's Cup,
and they felt that shake. Team New Zealand felt that
shake when one man by the name of Peter Berling
(08:59):
decided to eject himself from Team New Zealand and carry
on with his focus as the CEO of a sale
GP team. Always going to be a reaction to the dominance,
to the airtime, to the social media, to the profile
of sale GP from the old school at the America's Cup.
(09:20):
We all know tradition is the illusion of permanence. Yet
the America's Cup have leaned on one hundred and seventy
plus years of tradition to keep the event relevant now.
They have made changes in the past, but the changes
now that are going to be put in place the
next America's Cup are huge. And it is even though
(09:42):
these people will say no, it's not a massive reaction
to what's happened in sale GP They've shown the future.
They've shown what competitive sailing can do. They've shown how
to engage the youth, how to capture the market, how
to make the profile of their sport lift well beyond
(10:02):
the sum of its parts. America's Cup had no choice
but to react to what sale gps are doing. They
are two very different regattas, they are two very different
series that sale GP is looking to the future, sale
GP is looking to the youth, and that's what the
America's Cup is doing now, cutting down the huge budgets,
(10:23):
increasing the frequency of the racing, introducing women to the fort,
opening opportunity for social media influencers to climb on board,
and then some so much to look at. And they
should be applauded for understanding that sale GP is a
threat and unless they act fast, their event is going
(10:47):
to sync without a trace.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Into the Chamber we go. Eight thirty tomorrow morning. New
Zealand time is when the All Blacks team to take
on Argentina in Cordoba on Sunday morning. New Zealand time
is unveiled, of course, they've known the team for the
last few days. The players in it and the players
not in it. Do you expect any surprises when that
All Blacks team is unveiled to the rest of us
(11:13):
tomorrow morning?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Does it's like their Spanish Inquisition?
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Right?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
You know what I'm referencing here Old Monty, Bith and
fan But episode no. One expects that what they do
there will be I'm sure something for us to scratch
our heads over. What iking here is what Rasi Harasmus
is doing. He's releasing this team on a Monday. Now,
it's like just getting it out. Who cares about the suspense.
Let's talk about the team we have got, I think
(11:41):
points of interest for me right across the park. We
don't know what they learned out of that French series.
We don't know what they want to put down where
they want to go. I'm presuming Rica was going to
stay out near the wing. I'm presuming that Will Jordan
is going to come in at fallback. I'm presuming that
Boden Barrett and both Barrett boys are going to be Okay,
(12:02):
the six seven and eight, anyone's guess.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, no, that that's and That's where I'm landing actually
is the six seven eight. I'll go back to Tuporvai
for this one anyway? Does I kind of think he
will be given another go in that shirt? Artie Savia,
as we know, will almost certainly where the seven jersey.
Number eight is really interesting for me. I wonder whether
this big bopper Simon Parker might find himself starting on
(12:25):
test aboo while a Tatiti not quite ready to go yet,
So the options have come down unless you put Ardi there,
which I know they don't want to. Simon Parker could
find himself on test day boo.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
That would be quite a place to day boo. We're
not expecting Are we expecting a great deal from Argentina.
They haven't had the most vintage of times in the
last year or so. We do know that they can
come up and bite us on the backside because they've
done it a couple of times at home. But this game,
you'd hope would be a settling in period it Maybe
it might be a great place for Simon park at
(12:57):
the start, But that's asking a hell of a lot,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
No, it is it is I and he only arrived
after everybody else because he stayed back to play for
the tunny far last weekend. So I wonder whether the
lightly shorter time on the ground and Argentina might play
against him as well. So we wait to see what
they what they do there. As you say, the Barrett's back,
which is great news. Still a couple of out Wallace
(13:20):
a TT has mentioned to Mighty Williams. Still not quite
ready to go on the question of Argentina. They did
beat the British and Irish Lions at twicken And before
they set off to Australia, but then they've had back
to back losses to England and that's in England without
their Lions players. So yeah, I don't really know what
to expect from the permis why they've.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Never beaten New Zealand at home. Well, I'll tell you what.
You remember this too, way back in the day, watching
these games early in the morning, and you go Porter
nearly kicking us out of the game, and there's been
a couple of occasions where last minute tries have saved
the day. Joh, I'm thinking, was it was it the
fullback Ben Blair way back when the ex Canterbury player
(13:59):
that managed to pull us out of the fire? Am
I just imagining that?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
You're not imagining it because he stepped off his right
foot and throw a right foot pass to none other
then current coach Scott Robinson, who went over in the
corner to seal New Zealander wins. I know your your
mind's not playing tricks on you, and it's a bit
of a full circle for Raser. In fact, I think
it might even be on on this ground. I might
be my mind might be playing tricks on me now,
(14:23):
but certainly Blair and Robertson combined to break some Argentinian hearts.
And you're right that eighty five game who go porter,
four penalties, three drop goals, twenty one all draw incredible
look at bat.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I'm loving the that I can still pull that out
of the depths of my gray matter. I'm quite stunned,
quite frankly, planning I wasn't prepared. I was just hoping
that you were, and you knew so we were right.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
They were right now and now we wait to see
what iteration of the All Blacks is named the twenty
three man squad you out tomorrow morning, Friday morning, New
Zealand Time, eight thirty. We'll have it for you across
our news talks. He'd be platforms. Another matter I wanted
to discuss with you in the chamber today, Darre. So
I see Maddie Gordon has become the latest New Zealand
netballer to join the netball exodus across the ditch. She's
(15:09):
joining Kellie Jackson at the Queensland Firebirds. We know Grace
Wicki is also there already. There's been rumors about Karen
Berger looking at options over there. Should we be worried
or was this always going to happen When the eligibility
rules were changed.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
No one messed around, didn't they As soon as they
changed there was basically that all fell on the cliff.
Everybody was there. It set the ball rolling. So many
athletes and I've been talking earlier in this week were
basically prepared and ready to go. They were just waiting
for that tick off. Is it. I don't know if
it's a mass exodus because I got some of the
(15:47):
best players in the world, and of course Newzella and
Nepple have to okay this long term. But if they don't,
will the players leave anyway? That's where my concern is.
Because of course we had Grace Wicki she went like
I'm out, and Kelly Jackson she was already prepared and
ready to go, and what she needed was that was
(16:07):
that green flag and the same with that. So maybe
we've reached the end. They see much more. I think
the exodus it started and it's been big enough, but
I think maybe it ends. I mean, what are we
looking at? Who else have we got left to go?
A Karen Berger the possibility? Who else?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think that's about I think you're right. I think
that's about it, because let's not forget that you don't
just walk into one of these Super netball teams in Australia.
They're good teams over there. You know you have to
you know, you have to be a decent player. So
we're talking about the upper echelon of our players. So
there will still be plenty back here playing in our
domestic competition. And I think we have to accept that
(16:47):
this was what was going to happen as soon as
those eligibility rules changed, especially given that there is still
a bit of uncertainty around the future of our an
Zet Premiership. So you can hardly blame our top players
for looking to secure their future.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Kim got to love Keddy Wills over there, coach in
the fire, but he's been picking them. I couldn't believe. Yep,
I can work with you, yep, I know you. Yeah,
well take you on board as well. So destruction, I'm
not sure the future or the premiership. They've changed now
so you can get a couple of overseas players in
the a ZID Premiership over here, so that's a positive.
(17:23):
The question really, though, is do you want your best
players at an am ZID Premiership level that you can
see every week, week in, week out, or do you
want the silver ferns to start winning World Cups and
gold medals. That's where you've got to lie, because I
don't think you can have both.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
No. I was going to say to myself or say
to you, can you have both? But I'm not sure
you can have They're not necessarily mutually exclusive. They can
cross over. But you're right, I don't think you can
have one or the other or sorry, you can't have both,
but I think you can have more than one or
the other. Gee, I'm getting myself a notz here. I
(18:02):
just hope that we do okay in the future and
that these rules benefit the players who have earned the
right to, you know, to command interest from overseas, but
also the next wave of players here in New Zealand
coming through to replace them.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
It's a waiting brief and Netball New Zealand carries on
in the headlines and has been there for weeks, which
has got to be a good thing for the sport, right.
I guess so, I guess so? And that is us
in the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Eating of X. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports
Fix powered by News Talks IV.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
And that is us on the Sports Fix podcast for today.
We greatly appreciate those of you who subscribe to sports Fix.
You'll know by now that a fresh episode appears at
around about this time every weekday, and we're greatly appreciated
if you maybe suggested subscribing to your friends because the
more the.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Area right does absolutely and if you want to join
on and will you can. We're not in a podcast, right,
we can do it. Sports Talk that's Monday to Friday
seven eight pm on News Talks EB. Piney's Got Control.
On a Monday, I'm let loose, Tuesday Weds and Thursday Friday.
And on the weekend, Piney, It's all about you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Weekend Sport Middata three, Saturday and Sunday and as you say, Dus,
we love it when our listeners jump on board and
interact with us. It's not a one way conversation. We
like having it going both ways. We will see you
on Sports Fix tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
For more from News Talk sed B. Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!