August 28, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for 28th August 2025, the draw for the 2026 Super Rugby season was announced today! The magic round returns at the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch and it was announced the 'lucky loser' will work differently in 2026. The team who loses will drop to the 4th seed for the remainder of the playoffs. D'Arcy caught up with Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley to break it down.
D'Arcy speaks on the All Blacks' lack of discipline recently.
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss the updated 'lucky loser' ruling in Super Rugby, the Blues home games all being listed at a location TBC and the Panthers resting 16 of their front line players for tonight's clash against the Bulldogs.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, and welcome into Sports Fix. We're here in
association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
As the end of August rushes up towards us this Thursday,
the twenty eighth of August.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm Jason Pine Myriam's Darcy Waldergrave DJ will build a
little granny flat out the back too. If you've got
to live with someone like me, you can lock them
in there.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, as long as the locks are secure, I may
well explore.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
That possibility to reform the DJ Gardner Holmes behave fight this.
I'm just saying, sorry, Piney, how are you?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thanks, Darus ready good nah, looking forward to chatting some
sport with you. Want to talk over some aspects of
the Super Rugby draw which is out today. Also the
Panthers resting just about their entire thirst team for their
game against the Bulldogs. And we've got a guest around
the Super Rugby drawer as well.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here they call them Led from a shelf. Super Rugby
that's the Boss around CEO Jack Nessley joined to talk
about the draw that has just been released, right a
bit of what was leaked early doors, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It was good to see though, who's playing a magic round,
where teams are playing, when they're playing those teams, and
other bits and pieces as well, including a really interesting
little nugget about the sixteen playoff format and the tweak Tour,
which I know you're going to bring up with Jack
when you checked him shortly.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Latest of fourshus coming too, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
In other news, let's kick you off with some of
the big sports stories around today. Nineteen see Delise Merchants
has eased, passed Lulu Sun and.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Straight sets in the second round at the US Tennis Open.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Games firtles sixty six three seafely through into the third
rounds League Cup football humiliation for Manchester United.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Fourth tier Grimsby Town have.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Stunned the Red Devils twelve eleven on penalties in the
second round, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in
the club's history, and Warrior's coach Andrew Webster has reacted
to former boss Ivan Cleary's decision to rest almost his
(02:24):
entire frontline Panthers team two weeks out from the NRL playoffs.
The four time premiers have opted against using sixteen players
in tonight's match against the Bulldogs, as they now need
other results to go their way if they're to make
the top four, you have the right to do it.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
If they feel that's the best thing for them, then
then go for it. That's fine, there's no way around it.
And they have a right who they pick and they
don't have to announce it until four o'clock Tuesday afternoon
or six o'clock out time, so completely understand.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Us and a Vinion. It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine
and Dussy water Grave.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
That's a warm welcome to Jack Messi, CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific. Jack, Welcome into the Fix.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
How are you Heydussie?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
How are you on very well yourself?
Speaker 6 (03:07):
I'm great, mate, Yeah. A couple of months after the season,
really excited that we announced Super around a couple of
weeks ago and now following it up with the release
of the twenty twenty six Super agg Pacify draw.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
It was kind of leaked the weibit some of the
games were anyway, that's all by design.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
Right, absolutely, yeah, Or by design we want the clubs
to be able to have the first crack at the cherry,
bite at the cherry and get out some of their
key fixtures, which they did the other day. And now
we follow up with the main course and all games
out there.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Now polined to discuss jack. Let's talk about the Lucky
Loser first didn't go down? Well, something needed to be
done about it, and well you did something about it.
Speaker 6 (03:51):
Yeah, we did. And you know, I think this all
comes back to just some changes in structure of how
we're managing Super these days and the desire as we've
always talked about ad nausey and about getting the fan
back in the room. It literally was of a pub test,
you know, whether it was sitting in the pub down
in Canberra the night that the Canes played the Brumbies
(04:17):
after the Chiefs became the lucky loser, or being down
in bound in Christchurch for the final there was clearly
feedback coming at us that this this thing just didn't
quite look right, and you know, we committed to doing
a review and doing that review pretty quickly. Overall, we
were really happy with the final series. We thought the
sixteen final series which saw some unexpected results, which for
(04:41):
the first time in a long time, you know, we
saw some great results. Six beating one, you know, Blues
Blues Blues getting up over Chiefs was just compelling rugby.
But you know, we wanted to iron out a few
of the kinks, so so we've changed that for the
next season. The lucky loser, you know, will now just
(05:01):
become the fourth seed, ensuring that they get another chance,
but they don't get to benefits. They won't play at
home in the semi finals. And you know, we think
that's a smart way to play it.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Pragmatic. Of course. The trick was winning Super Rugby Pacific
titles is just don't keep beaten. Doesn't matter where you
are in the drugs, don't get beaten. Keep winning.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And we know how hard it is
to win away from home, right, so you know that
that is tough. And when it comes finals time, well
just don't lose. That's the point.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So how deeply did you dig into this? So you
consult a lot of people. You said you wanted to
get done in a hurry, and plainly you did. Did
you look at teams and organizations that players that punters
are to talk to.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think the initial feedback clearly came
in the form of media and fans as it was
playing out. So we took that and then within our
stakeholder group of the players, associations, the broadcasters, the unions,
the clubs, and US centrally as the competition got together,
reviewed the options. We did go back and review some
(06:06):
of the options that other people were talking about, including
going to four teams or you know, you know, maybe
one and two sitting out a week. We went back
and we did we looked at all of those. But
you know, with the feedback from all that stakeholder group,
we think this is the best way forward for Super.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
The draws come out, the Blues have got TBC, TBC,
TBC TBC right the way through the draw. The rumor
is that they will be taking some of their games
away from Eden part. When do you expect to confirm
the location of these fixtures, Jack.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
Yeah, I mean, I can't speak for the Blues in
terms of the timing of when they will announce that,
but I think they're doing a really important piece of
work in reviewing that and doing so in the best
interests of their fans and their stakeholder group. So you know,
clearly the stadium picture in Auckland is complex, you know,
(07:02):
but we support the Blues in taking the time to
do the right thing for them and their stakeholders. And yeah,
we'll support them in announcing that as soon as they're ready.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Complex. That's generous, Jack, move on. You mentioned before the
the the super Sex, the top Sex with the Lucky Loser.
You've still got to live in teams not ideal. There
may have been a thought to change that and look
at expansion, expansion. How far down the line are you
with the possibility of bringing a twelve team into the comp.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Well, I would say we're not even at the starting line, Darcy.
I mean it's it's it's not actually a focus of
ours to go and just find another team. You know,
our core focus is to make the competition and the
clubs within it right now as strong as they can be,
and we think we've we've still got a lot of
headroom and a lot of opportunity to make sure that works.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
You know.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
Thoughts about expansion, you know, they're very detailed and they
need a lot of strategic work, and you know, we
are looking at that into the long term, but right here,
right now, as I said, our focus is on doing
the right thing by the eleven teams within the comp
and making this comp as good as it can be.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Collecting All Blacks cards through a Cereal company has long
been a part of growing up here in New Zealand.
All Blacks collecting cards, though is not plainly this has
to stop. How the All Black management work this out?
I have no idea. There are extenuating circumstances around this. Yes,
(08:47):
some of the referees that are employed to referee the
gamer what out of their debt and they make stupid mistakes.
There is a narrative around world rugby that the All
Blacks get away with way too much and if you
throw an off pup at the wall regards complaints, some
of it is going to stick. You get the feeling
(09:08):
the refs are in there and they've got this pressure
to keep a hawk like view on what goes on
with the All Blacks. But the biggest thing here is discipline.
If you don't give the opportunity for the referee to
blow his whistle. He won't blow his whistle.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
In most cases.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, there are some rogue cases, sure, but stop giving
people the chance. I'm not sure how the All Black
management deal with this. This is not a new phenomenon.
This has been going on for a long time, and this,
like last week, cost us the game up against the Argentines,
although in saying that the pressure they exerted on the
(09:48):
All Blacks probably had a lot to do with why
so many yellow cards were flicked. Regardless, this habitual situation
that the All Blacks find themselves, and it is habitual now,
has got to be nipped in the bud before it
costs the Rugby Championship, before it costs the Bledders Load Cup,
and right I say it, before it costs Scott Robertson
(10:11):
and his band of merry men their jobs. I don't
know how you're going to do it. It's none of
my business how you were going to do it. But
watching full grown professional athletes who get paid a fortune
to compete at that level make reckless mistakes in the
heat of the moment, surely the best of the best
(10:32):
can self police and make sure they don't keep falling
into this trap. Card collections are great, just not these ones.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
The Chamber is now in session on sportsfex.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Into the Chamber.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
We go great there from Jack Measley about the Super
Rugby drawer, and I think the sensible tweak to the
format of the playoffs. The highest ranked losing team will
drop down to fourth seed for the rest of the playoffs,
which means they can't have a home game for the
rest of the playoffs. I think that's sensible, particularly after
what happened this year with the Chiefs. As far as
the venues are concerned, are so. I note that the
(11:06):
Blues home games ven use are all tb C eden Park,
no longer some at eden Park, all at eden Park.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
What's your gut, there's some.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Balls in the air. The big fixtures will be at
eden Park. The smaller fixtures will be elsewhere, be that
out west or over it that can they fit them
in anyway? A mount's smart. Not entirely sure, but it
suggests talks are very much in action here. Just going
back to what Messi said around the nature of the
(11:39):
lucky loser, isn't it lovely that an organization is listening
to the teams, listening to the public, listening to the
broadcasters and acting on what they've heard. I just think
that's tremendous.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Yeah, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I thought exactly that as I was hearing from Jack,
and when I saw that this morning, I thought, they
haven't messed around the saying we need to consult with
all of our stakeholders.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
They just worked out.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
They just worked out.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
They just gave it the They gave it the smell
test and said, this doesn't smell quite right. The fans
don't like it. We're going to change it. It's being
nimble and I think a lot of sports organizations could
learn from them.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
So how nimble can the Blues be around where they're
going to put their games and how it's going to operate.
Because they've got a big drawer card like their Crusaders
for example, or the Chiefs or a quarter or a
semi final and lucky look whatever, they're going to go
to the big place, right.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
You have to, don't They have to?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And the other point you landed on before, which is
very valid, is can they squeeze into go media mount smart?
Because you know Super RAPI what starts in February. By
that stage, the A League season still has three months
to go. The NRL season gets underway, what April? So
so April May when all three seasons are in season
(12:50):
at the same time, can't you can't all play it
go media, can you?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
No?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
And I'd say that they've got DIBs on it already
in the form of the Wars and AKFC. They would
have had that book done long in advance. So do
they have to determine or is it a case of
their trying to get it deal done? And I've spoken
as well with the CEO of Eden Park and I'm
sure you would have done Nick Saunton as well. It
(13:16):
doesn't cost them a huge amount of money. We seem
to be under the misapprehension that they go backwards when
they play there, but they don't. They've got it sorted out,
so it doesn't cost them an arm and a leg
to do this. I think more the bigger thing here
is about customer satisfaction and optics how it actually looks
on the TV.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I think also you bang on about the big games.
There's no way on Saturday, the seventh of March, when
the Blues play the Crusaders that that's going to be
anywhere other than Eaton Park.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
It's just sensible, isn't it?
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
It is.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well they've got it, As you said, nimble, what do
we do. We've got a problem here. Let's recognize this
problem and let's do something about it, or at least
start talks. Anyway, that's the only sensible option. I'm talking
about New Zealand rugby and using the words like sensible
help me.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Well, look, it's a nice change. It's a nice change.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
How sensible is Ivan Cleary strat Tonight, when the Panthers
play the Bulldogs to start the penultimate round of the
NRL season, he has rested no fewer than sixteen of
as frontline players, the rationale being that they can't under
their own steam. Now the Panthers make the top four,
(14:25):
they need other results to go their way. So they're
almost throwing their hands up, aren't they, and saying, you
know what, we're just going to save our guys for
when it's really important.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
What did you make of this?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
The old mathematical chant say I love that on that
rehere as it's ugly head and it's nothing to do
with the warriors too. Sixteen players, it's the number of
the week, isn't it? Sixteen All blacks returning to MPC.
There's a couple of avenues you could take with this one.
The first one is the broadcasters would be a little
on the pissy side. Excuse my French, not that it's French,
(14:55):
because this is a big game. This is Penrith on
their charge on the way up and this Bulldogs team
that is providing great So whether people actually want to
tune into this or not, that's another story. You also
look at, ye, well, the broadcast is the fans as well,
But let's look at things like points differential akes. You
(15:15):
haven't done the math on this yet, Piney, but if
Pymouth get absolutely flogged, does that interfere with the pop
fum makeup with the Bulldogs? That might be worth looking at.
I think they're way ahead anyway, but that might bear
some fruit later on in the program when it comes
to that points differential.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
In the top eight cold well do The other thing
does is I want the Panthers to beat the Bulldogs.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I want the Bulldogs to lose.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
This game so they stay on thirty six points, two
ahead of the Warriors, and the Warriors have two games
to go. I want the Warriors to finish as high
as possible. It feels to me as though a second
string Penrith's side is not going to beat the Bulldogs
in Canterbury. That would be fair, wouldn't it. So if
the Bulldogs were to win tonight, they'd go to thirty
eight points. Rather the Warriors could catch them with two wins.
(16:02):
But you mentioned quite rightly the points diff at the
moment is about one hundred different in favor of the Bulldogs. Really,
what Penwith are doing are denying the worry is the
chance of finishing third?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Is that a big deal? I don't know. The thing
with this is it's not illegal. It doesn't break any laws.
I'm sure within the narl so they can, but should they?
And that's the philosophical debate that they would have had.
I'm sure at head office we can do this, but
should we do this? Does this bring the game into disrepute?
(16:36):
Dare I say it?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Have you seen there what it's done to the tab odds?
Just as an indication, the Bulldogs are now paying tonight
to beat the Panthers one dollar seven. The Panthers are
paying eight dollars fifty. When would the Panthers ever have
been paying eight dollars fifty to win a game of
rugby league.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Runs to the tab. I've seen teams paying a dollar
seven before. I think the All Blacks were paying a
dollar nine when they got Hey. They could fall over.
You never know, this secondary string team might turn up
and Bulldogs might go to sleep less. I remember, I
remind you what happened with the Titans and the Warriors,
you know, a month or so ago.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I mean, I'm hoping you weren't. I was hoping you
weren't going so, but you have. It's out of the back.
Now you've done it.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
You can't take it back. All right, Interesting times in
the NRL. That is us in the Chamber for today.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news
cow and by News Talks V.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
for today.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
We greatly appreciate those of you who subscribe to Sports
Fix because you know by now that a new episode
will drop in to your podcast feed around this time
tomorrow and every day Monday through Friday.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
So thank you so much for doing that.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, and thanks for joining us in the podcast. Also
in the Chamber, which I believe was built by GJ.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most Trusted Home Building. You like
what I did there. If you want to involve yourself
in live talk back on the radio, you can Monday
through Friday seven to eight News Talk ZB it's called
(18:07):
Sports Talk Piney On Monday, I've Got It, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and then it's the grand finale on Saturday and Sunday.
Pine This is when you come into your.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Own indeed weekend sport between midday and three on Saturday,
and we repeat the dose on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
See you tomorrow for more from News Talk sed B.
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello there, and welcome into Sports Fix. We're here in
association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
As the end of August rushes up towards us this Thursday,
the twenty eighth of August.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I'm Jason Pine Myriam's Darcy Waldergrave DJ will build a
little granny flat out the back too. If you've got
to live with someone like me, you can lock them
in there.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, as long as the locks are secure, I may
well explore.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
That possibility to reform the DJ Gardner Holmes behave fight this.
I'm just saying, sorry, Piney, how are you?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Thanks, Darus ready good nah, looking forward to chatting some
sport with you. Want to talk over some aspects of
the Super Rugby draw which is out today. Also the
Panthers resting just about their entire thirst team for their
game against the Bulldogs. And we've got a guest around
the Super Rugby drawer as well.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here they call them Led from a shelf. Super Rugby
that's the Boss around CEO Jack Nessley joined to talk
about the draw that has just been released, right a
bit of what was leaked early doors, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
It was good to see though, who's playing a magic round,
where teams are playing, when they're playing those teams, and
other bits and pieces as well, including a really interesting
little nugget about the sixteen playoff format and the tweak Tour,
which I know you're going to bring up with Jack
when you checked him shortly.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Latest of fourshus coming too, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
In other news, let's kick you off with some of
the big sports stories around today. Nineteen see Delise Merchants
has eased, passed Lulu Sun and.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Straight sets in the second round at the US Tennis Open.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Games firtles sixty six three seafely through into the third
rounds League Cup football humiliation for Manchester United.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Fourth tier Grimsby Town have.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Stunned the Red Devils twelve eleven on penalties in the
second round, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in
the club's history, and Warrior's coach Andrew Webster has reacted
to former boss Ivan Cleary's decision to rest almost his
(02:24):
entire frontline Panthers team two weeks out from the NRL playoffs.
The four time premiers have opted against using sixteen players
in tonight's match against the Bulldogs, as they now need
other results to go their way if they're to make
the top four, you have the right to do it.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
If they feel that's the best thing for them, then
then go for it. That's fine, there's no way around it.
And they have a right who they pick and they
don't have to announce it until four o'clock Tuesday afternoon
or six o'clock out time, so completely understand.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Us and a Vinion. It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine
and Dussy water Grave.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
That's a warm welcome to Jack Messi, CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific. Jack, Welcome into the Fix.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
How are you Heydussie?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
How are you on very well yourself?
Speaker 6 (03:07):
I'm great, mate, Yeah. A couple of months after the season,
really excited that we announced Super around a couple of
weeks ago and now following it up with the release
of the twenty twenty six Super agg Pacify draw.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
It was kind of leaked the weibit some of the
games were anyway, that's all by design.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
Right, absolutely, yeah, Or by design we want the clubs
to be able to have the first crack at the cherry,
bite at the cherry and get out some of their
key fixtures, which they did the other day. And now
we follow up with the main course and all games
out there.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Now polined to discuss jack. Let's talk about the Lucky
Loser first didn't go down? Well, something needed to be
done about it, and well you did something about it.
Speaker 6 (03:51):
Yeah, we did. And you know, I think this all
comes back to just some changes in structure of how
we're managing Super these days and the desire as we've
always talked about ad nausey and about getting the fan
back in the room. It literally was of a pub test,
you know, whether it was sitting in the pub down
in Canberra the night that the Canes played the Brumbies
(04:17):
after the Chiefs became the lucky loser, or being down
in bound in Christchurch for the final there was clearly
feedback coming at us that this this thing just didn't
quite look right, and you know, we committed to doing
a review and doing that review pretty quickly. Overall, we
were really happy with the final series. We thought the
sixteen final series which saw some unexpected results, which for
(04:41):
the first time in a long time, you know, we
saw some great results. Six beating one, you know, Blues
Blues Blues getting up over Chiefs was just compelling rugby.
But you know, we wanted to iron out a few
of the kinks, so so we've changed that for the
next season. The lucky loser, you know, will now just
(05:01):
become the fourth seed, ensuring that they get another chance,
but they don't get to benefits. They won't play at
home in the semi finals. And you know, we think
that's a smart way to play it.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Pragmatic. Of course. The trick was winning Super Rugby Pacific
titles is just don't keep beaten. Doesn't matter where you
are in the drugs, don't get beaten. Keep winning.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And we know how hard it is
to win away from home, right, so you know that
that is tough. And when it comes finals time, well
just don't lose. That's the point.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
So how deeply did you dig into this? So you
consult a lot of people. You said you wanted to
get done in a hurry, and plainly you did. Did
you look at teams and organizations that players that punters
are to talk to.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think the initial feedback clearly came
in the form of media and fans as it was
playing out. So we took that and then within our
stakeholder group of the players, associations, the broadcasters, the unions,
the clubs, and US centrally as the competition got together,
reviewed the options. We did go back and review some
(06:06):
of the options that other people were talking about, including
going to four teams or you know, you know, maybe
one and two sitting out a week. We went back
and we did we looked at all of those. But
you know, with the feedback from all that stakeholder group,
we think this is the best way forward for Super.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
The draws come out, the Blues have got TBC, TBC,
TBC TBC right the way through the draw. The rumor
is that they will be taking some of their games
away from Eden part. When do you expect to confirm
the location of these fixtures, Jack.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
Yeah, I mean, I can't speak for the Blues in
terms of the timing of when they will announce that,
but I think they're doing a really important piece of
work in reviewing that and doing so in the best
interests of their fans and their stakeholder group. So you know,
clearly the stadium picture in Auckland is complex, you know,
(07:02):
but we support the Blues in taking the time to
do the right thing for them and their stakeholders. And yeah,
we'll support them in announcing that as soon as they're ready.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Complex. That's generous, Jack, move on. You mentioned before the
the the super Sex, the top Sex with the Lucky Loser.
You've still got to live in teams not ideal. There
may have been a thought to change that and look
at expansion, expansion. How far down the line are you
with the possibility of bringing a twelve team into the comp.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Well, I would say we're not even at the starting line, Darcy.
I mean it's it's it's not actually a focus of
ours to go and just find another team. You know,
our core focus is to make the competition and the
clubs within it right now as strong as they can be,
and we think we've we've still got a lot of
headroom and a lot of opportunity to make sure that works.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
You know.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
Thoughts about expansion, you know, they're very detailed and they
need a lot of strategic work, and you know, we
are looking at that into the long term, but right here,
right now, as I said, our focus is on doing
the right thing by the eleven teams within the comp
and making this comp as good as it can be.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Collecting All Blacks cards through a Cereal company has long
been a part of growing up here in New Zealand.
All Blacks collecting cards, though is not plainly this has
to stop. How the All Black management work this out?
I have no idea. There are extenuating circumstances around this. Yes,
(08:47):
some of the referees that are employed to referee the
gamer what out of their debt and they make stupid mistakes.
There is a narrative around world rugby that the All
Blacks get away with way too much and if you
throw an off pup at the wall regards complaints, some
of it is going to stick. You get the feeling
(09:08):
the refs are in there and they've got this pressure
to keep a hawk like view on what goes on
with the All Blacks. But the biggest thing here is discipline.
If you don't give the opportunity for the referee to
blow his whistle. He won't blow his whistle.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
In most cases.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, there are some rogue cases, sure, but stop giving
people the chance. I'm not sure how the All Black
management deal with this. This is not a new phenomenon.
This has been going on for a long time, and this,
like last week, cost us the game up against the Argentines,
although in saying that the pressure they exerted on the
(09:48):
All Blacks probably had a lot to do with why
so many yellow cards were flicked. Regardless, this habitual situation
that the All Blacks find themselves, and it is habitual now,
has got to be nipped in the bud before it
costs the Rugby Championship, before it costs the Bledders Load Cup,
and right I say it, before it costs Scott Robertson
(10:11):
and his band of merry men their jobs. I don't
know how you're going to do it. It's none of
my business how you were going to do it. But
watching full grown professional athletes who get paid a fortune
to compete at that level make reckless mistakes in the
heat of the moment, surely the best of the best
(10:32):
can self police and make sure they don't keep falling
into this trap. Card collections are great, just not these ones.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
The Chamber is now in session on sportsfex.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Into the Chamber.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
We go great there from Jack Measley about the Super
Rugby drawer, and I think the sensible tweak to the
format of the playoffs. The highest ranked losing team will
drop down to fourth seed for the rest of the playoffs,
which means they can't have a home game for the
rest of the playoffs. I think that's sensible, particularly after
what happened this year with the Chiefs. As far as
the venues are concerned, are so. I note that the
(11:06):
Blues home games ven use are all tb C eden Park,
no longer some at eden Park, all at eden Park.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
What's your gut, there's some.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Balls in the air. The big fixtures will be at
eden Park. The smaller fixtures will be elsewhere, be that
out west or over it that can they fit them
in anyway? A mount's smart. Not entirely sure, but it
suggests talks are very much in action here. Just going
back to what Messi said around the nature of the
(11:39):
lucky loser, isn't it lovely that an organization is listening
to the teams, listening to the public, listening to the
broadcasters and acting on what they've heard. I just think
that's tremendous.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Yeah, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I thought exactly that as I was hearing from Jack,
and when I saw that this morning, I thought, they
haven't messed around the saying we need to consult with
all of our stakeholders.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
They just worked out.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
They just worked out.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
They just gave it the They gave it the smell
test and said, this doesn't smell quite right. The fans
don't like it. We're going to change it. It's being
nimble and I think a lot of sports organizations could
learn from them.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
So how nimble can the Blues be around where they're
going to put their games and how it's going to operate.
Because they've got a big drawer card like their Crusaders
for example, or the Chiefs or a quarter or a
semi final and lucky look whatever, they're going to go
to the big place, right.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
You have to, don't They have to?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And the other point you landed on before, which is
very valid, is can they squeeze into go media mount smart?
Because you know Super RAPI what starts in February. By
that stage, the A League season still has three months
to go. The NRL season gets underway, what April? So
so April May when all three seasons are in season
(12:50):
at the same time, can't you can't all play it
go media, can you?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
No?
Speaker 3 (12:55):
And I'd say that they've got DIBs on it already
in the form of the Wars and AKFC. They would
have had that book done long in advance. So do
they have to determine or is it a case of
their trying to get it deal done? And I've spoken
as well with the CEO of Eden Park and I'm
sure you would have done Nick Saunton as well. It
(13:16):
doesn't cost them a huge amount of money. We seem
to be under the misapprehension that they go backwards when
they play there, but they don't. They've got it sorted out,
so it doesn't cost them an arm and a leg
to do this. I think more the bigger thing here
is about customer satisfaction and optics how it actually looks
on the TV.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
I think also you bang on about the big games.
There's no way on Saturday, the seventh of March, when
the Blues play the Crusaders that that's going to be
anywhere other than Eaton Park.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
It's just sensible, isn't it?
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
It is.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Well they've got it, As you said, nimble, what do
we do. We've got a problem here. Let's recognize this
problem and let's do something about it, or at least
start talks. Anyway, that's the only sensible option. I'm talking
about New Zealand rugby and using the words like sensible
help me.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Well, look, it's a nice change. It's a nice change.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
How sensible is Ivan Cleary strat Tonight, when the Panthers
play the Bulldogs to start the penultimate round of the
NRL season, he has rested no fewer than sixteen of
as frontline players, the rationale being that they can't under
their own steam. Now the Panthers make the top four,
(14:25):
they need other results to go their way. So they're
almost throwing their hands up, aren't they, and saying, you
know what, we're just going to save our guys for
when it's really important.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
What did you make of this?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
The old mathematical chant say I love that on that
rehere as it's ugly head and it's nothing to do
with the warriors too. Sixteen players, it's the number of
the week, isn't it? Sixteen All blacks returning to MPC.
There's a couple of avenues you could take with this one.
The first one is the broadcasters would be a little
on the pissy side. Excuse my French, not that it's French,
(14:55):
because this is a big game. This is Penrith on
their charge on the way up and this Bulldogs team
that is providing great So whether people actually want to
tune into this or not, that's another story. You also
look at, ye, well, the broadcast is the fans as well,
But let's look at things like points differential akes. You
(15:15):
haven't done the math on this yet, Piney, but if
Pymouth get absolutely flogged, does that interfere with the pop
fum makeup with the Bulldogs? That might be worth looking at.
I think they're way ahead anyway, but that might bear
some fruit later on in the program when it comes
to that points differential.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
In the top eight cold well do The other thing
does is I want the Panthers to beat the Bulldogs.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I want the Bulldogs to lose.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
This game so they stay on thirty six points, two
ahead of the Warriors, and the Warriors have two games
to go. I want the Warriors to finish as high
as possible. It feels to me as though a second
string Penrith's side is not going to beat the Bulldogs
in Canterbury. That would be fair, wouldn't it. So if
the Bulldogs were to win tonight, they'd go to thirty
eight points. Rather the Warriors could catch them with two wins.
(16:02):
But you mentioned quite rightly the points diff at the
moment is about one hundred different in favor of the Bulldogs. Really,
what Penwith are doing are denying the worry is the
chance of finishing third?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Is that a big deal? I don't know. The thing
with this is it's not illegal. It doesn't break any laws.
I'm sure within the narl so they can, but should they?
And that's the philosophical debate that they would have had.
I'm sure at head office we can do this, but
should we do this? Does this bring the game into disrepute?
(16:36):
Dare I say it?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Have you seen there what it's done to the tab odds?
Just as an indication, the Bulldogs are now paying tonight
to beat the Panthers one dollar seven. The Panthers are
paying eight dollars fifty. When would the Panthers ever have
been paying eight dollars fifty to win a game of
rugby league.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Runs to the tab. I've seen teams paying a dollar
seven before. I think the All Blacks were paying a
dollar nine when they got Hey. They could fall over.
You never know, this secondary string team might turn up
and Bulldogs might go to sleep less. I remember, I
remind you what happened with the Titans and the Warriors,
you know, a month or so ago.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I mean, I'm hoping you weren't. I was hoping you
weren't going so, but you have. It's out of the back.
Now you've done it.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
You can't take it back. All right, Interesting times in
the NRL. That is us in the Chamber for today.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news
cow and by News Talks V.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And that brings to an end the Sports Fix podcast
for today.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
We greatly appreciate those of you who subscribe to Sports
Fix because you know by now that a new episode
will drop in to your podcast feed around this time
tomorrow and every day Monday through Friday.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
So thank you so much for doing that.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, and thanks for joining us in the podcast. Also
in the Chamber, which I believe was built by GJ.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most Trusted Home Building. You like
what I did there. If you want to involve yourself
in live talk back on the radio, you can Monday
through Friday seven to eight News Talk ZB it's called
(18:07):
Sports Talk Piney On Monday, I've Got It, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and then it's the grand finale on Saturday and Sunday.
Pine This is when you come into your.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Own indeed weekend sport between midday and three on Saturday,
and we repeat the dose on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
See you tomorrow for more from News Talk sed B.
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