October 21, 2025 • 15 mins
On Sports Fix with Elliot Smith for 21st October 2025, Labour MP Willie Jackson is the latest to speak out on the Dame Noeline Taurua situation, demanding that Sport NZ freeze their funding to Netball New Zealand until a resolution with the coach is reached. He caught up with Elliot Smith to discuss.
Elliot shares his thoughts on the Kiwis vs Samoa test and the nature of the Pacific Championship tournament.
And Elliot and NZ Herald sports journalist Nathan Limm discuss the Silver Ferns and the lack of transparency as well as the format of the Pacific Championship tournament.
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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.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Pop Sports Fix Sports Tuesday, the twenty first of October.
I'm Elligot Smith coming up on today's episode with DJ
Guard the Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. We've
talked to Labour MP Willie Jackson who's calling to Sport
New Zealand to freeze the funds of net for New
Zealand until they can resolve the Dame in Old and
Colderers situation. Nathan Lamb joins us from the New Zealand
(00:42):
Herald in the chamber as well to look at the
on court happenings with the Silver Ferns as well as
international rugby leg and we wrap up the last twenty
four hours in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Of sports in other news.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Sport Today Time on Sports Fix and England Something. The
Black Cats by sixty five runs in the second t
twenty in christ Church to take an unassailable one deer
lead in the free match series for the game to
play at Eden Park on Thursdays. The leads by Phil
Saltan Harry Brook who combined for one twenty nine. For
the third we get black Hats Canada Mitchell sat and
it says the peer combined well around Hackley Park.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Very hard to stop using the wind obviously took it
down down wind and then we're able to run hard,
run twos or hit the pockets onto the big side.
I think they had twenty on something twos, which when
it's tough to find dots, you know, you go to four,
you're kind of bleaking.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Them and grunt dolphins. Comparing the likes of developing young
sailors to Mantes United. You'll explain in a moment. The
America's cupholders have made four additions to the crew either
of their twenty twenty seven defense in Naples, including twenty
year old Jake Piede Dalton Grant goldeness Is has pointed
the Red Devil struggles in recent years as an area
(01:50):
he would like to avoid.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
All hopever, paid they're all old.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You couldn't get rid of them, and the team just
went because he can't get rid of these players.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
It's a great analogy because unless we do exactly.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
The same thing, there's just a bunch of old guys.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That are clinging on to their jobs. Interesting analogy hadn't
thought about myself, fan Canterbury's best efforts game, but All
Blacks coach Scott Robertson has come up short. Both Lock,
Sandarien and Hook and George Bell aren't being mad available
to play on Saturday's NBC final against Otago and christ
Gid Canaba coach Marti Burks' votes it'll be on the
plane with the All Blanks depart for Chicago fighting.
Speaker 7 (02:21):
That's something everyone our players to go on and it's
always been the Black chersey comes first. So I'm really
a good open dialogue with you all Black coaches, given
both those guys have been a part of this group
through the whole season. But it's all about elevating our
players and we're back to stock that we've got in
to fill their spots leading a VEX.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Vix News Talks
IVY today.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Nolean total saga has taken another twist today with Labor
MP Willie Jackson calling for Nepball New Zealand's funding from
Sport New Zealand to be paused until they can find
a resolution to the Dame Nolean that told or coaching saga.
Willie Jackson knows Dame Nolean well and your father even
better and joins us now to discuss Willie, thanks for your.
Speaker 8 (03:03):
Time, Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Why have you got involved in this snipball New Zealand saga?
Will he?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (03:09):
You know, I have a relationship with Noline.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I her father was my co mart at my Marie
you know, for teen years, a guy called Kingy Todo
and and it's sort of you know, I had a
lot of there's a lot of support for her, for
for her and King he's gone now.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
You might remember me. He used to be on the
Mariah White tonguey and I and I was singing about
it the other day. I thought Jeese'd be in my
office now saying, what are we going to do? What
are we going to do? Chief?
Speaker 7 (03:38):
You know?
Speaker 8 (03:39):
And and of course you know, I know Nolene and
met her through the years, and and I just thought
about the injustice of this, and and I thought about
me old mat Kingy and then and then when I
looked at it, I keep looking, I keep looking at
this and thinking this is just disgraceful. There's you know,
what's the process it's unprecedented, you know. So you know
(04:01):
I've got a personal there's a personal I suppose a
relationship there. But also you know, I've been a union official,
I've been a politician for many years, being an employer,
and I've never seen this type of I've never seen
a coach treated like this ever.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
You know.
Speaker 8 (04:18):
And on top of that, you know, you should know
I was a sports broadcaster for many years also, and
so I bring like over fifty years of watching sport
and my experience and I can't ever think of a coach,
whether its netball, rugby, whatever ever, being treated so disrespectfully.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Why do you think the funding should be frozen? What
would that achieve?
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Well, well, we want some answers, you know, Like I spoke.
I spoke to Noline the other day and she's no wiser.
I don't think anybody deserves to be treated like this,
you know, anyone in any sport. You know, do you
think that an organization, a major organization, should be treating
(05:04):
our premier coach like this? Give us some answers, or
why should we be giving you your funding? I know
that communities everywhere are appalled by the treatment of no Leine,
absolutely appalled. So you know what I'm requesting in investigate
(05:25):
the review process and its findings and ensure that the
natural justice and venus are a power because there's no
natural justices. She doesn't even know what she's done wrong.
You know's you're talking about someone who's an absolute shop mate,
you know, and just wants your job back. So you
know they get taxpayers money. You know that we're a
(05:47):
mad sporting nation netboards of you know, one of the
most favorite sports of New Zealander is right up there
with right up there with rugby. We deserve answers. And
you've been a long time sports broadcaster, have you ever
seen or heard of a coach being treated like this?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, no, I haven't and my years of doing this.
Mirk Mitchell told here the s on her show this
afternoon that the funding freezing the funding your idea to
freeze the funding could hurt the players and others at Needle,
New Zealand if they were to do that. What do
you think of that, Well, you don't want to hurt
the players.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
But if they're not going to freeze the if they're
not going to freeze the funding, do something right because
quite right, right right now, you know, I don't want
to I don't want the players to be hurt. I
want our key. I want our silver fans to keep winning.
You know we want that. But you've got to traumatized
side here. When the best player in the side comes
(06:44):
out and says what you said the other night, now
that's that. That's unprecedented. This is unprecedented stuff, mate. You know,
can you imagine a group of players, a group of
all blacks, saying, oh, we're unhappy, we want we want
to get rid of the coach. When does that happen?
When does it happen with the Warriors? When when does
this ever happen? And it is just uncalled for, unt
(07:08):
professional and and Netball New Zealand has to rectify this.
You know, they they You're talking about significant funding that
goes to them. You got you're talking about a mad
New Zealand public. We all support our Silver Ferns, but
we support this coach too. This is she's one of Nolan's,
one of the most successful coaches in New Zealand netball history.
(07:30):
She's one I said World Cup. She doesn't deserve to
be treated like this and when I spoke with her,
she's in shop she deserves some answers. She deserves some support.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news, how
and by news talks.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Every international rugby league shot over the weekend. Why it's
a wonderful yet maddening product. The Kiwis playing some well,
the Kiwi Ferns playing fit to some more in a
double head of the positives. Well, two great games, of course,
both teams with quality players, some top shelf players at
the peak of their powers of representing some more so
even when the Australians and Kiwis were after them. It's
(08:07):
a fantastic advertisement for the international game. When the Kiwis
supposedly with a lot more resources, although I don't know
how much more can just sneak home over some more
who have fewer resources. But the negative six o'clock on
a Sunday night to play the men's game was ridiculous.
A move to support the Australian market, whose kangaroos aren't
even in this competition, playing on a day of religious
(08:31):
significance to plenty of Pacificer people hurt what could have
been otherwise to sell out as well. Then, the most
frustrating thing in my mind, the kiwis don't even play
again this weekend and have to wait a fortnight untill
they're back out on the field against Tonga at Eaton Park.
That will be a wonderful occasion, Somemore and Tonga will
be a cracker this weekend, but having the Kiwi sidelined
this weekend is frustrating. A quad series would make so
(08:53):
much more sense and keep the international Rugby League conversation
going because we don't get a lot of it and
we need to make the most of it while it lasts.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax for Into.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
The Chamber now and joining us New Zealand Herald sports
journalist Nathan Lerm. Nathan, Welcome to the Chamber under a
different guys, different job title, but still the same chamber.
Speaker 6 (09:14):
Welcome.
Speaker 9 (09:15):
I moved one desk to my left Smith, so we're
all good. I'm still part of the team.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Well, I want to talk to you about moving one
desk because you've moved to the desk and put an
opinion piece out about the Silver Fern's saga. Say the
witch hunt must end around this. This is this ongoing
saga around Dave Nolan told her or the players that
are involved I guess where do we stand at the
moment around this and is this doing you know, I
(09:39):
guess more harm again to Netblen New Zealand's reputation.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Yeah, what's doing harms in Netballe New Zealand's reputation is
the complete lack of transparency.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
So what's happened is what we know is very limited.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
The some players complained we now thinking up up to
seven five senior to junior. According to Gail Padata, the
selector who stepped down, and understandably a fan base who
is very loyal to Dame Nolean Todor has gone right well,
who are the players who complained, who threw Dame Nolean Toad?
Who are under the bus and nepble New Zealand's unwillingness
to provide any information as to the context of what
(10:14):
the complaints were has led to fans making assumptions and
allegations which are based on rumor rather than actual facts.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
And you see in the comments of these sil Ferns
posts it's supporting Dame Nolan told I was saying we're
not watching the game until Dame nol leans back. Throwing players'
names out there which do get deleted I've seen some appear,
but this isn't good for anyone. The current silver Foon
scene focusing on the constellation Cup, of which they are
now one kneel down, and probably not good for Dame
Noling told who are not definitely not good for Niple
(10:42):
and New Zealand. And then you're all these players who
are having their names dragged through the mud. It's a
shambles all round. That's the issue is. I feel really
bad for the players who aren't involved, who weren't involved
in any of this, because Nipple New Zealand's unwillingness to
give any information means that the players who weren't even
involved are also, as you said, getting dragged through the mud,
(11:03):
and it's nothing to do with them. I even have
empathy for the players who did complain, who probably went
to the Players Association with a problem, because look, workplace
disagreements happen. I don't think anyone's questioning the players pursuit
of excellence or the coaches pursuit of excellence. They've gone
to the Players Association and anonymously lodged a complaint, and
then this thing has just spiraled out of control and
(11:25):
it's turned into this enormous, embarrassing saga that has made
le Nipple in New Zealand a laughing stock. Really, if
the rest of the world we have this great coach
and no one knows what is going on. The issue
is people making sweeping judgments about players without actually having
the details. No one apart from the people involved, the
(11:46):
players involved, the coaches involved, have the who, what, when, where,
why how? That is necessary to determine who is actually
at fault. And even people like Silver Fan's great Laura
Langman and ex coaches have come out and given their opinions.
Those opinions are valuable and they're necessary for this whole
sort of environment, but they don't have the context either.
They had the full fiction. No one does no on
(12:06):
the court. How do the sol fans out of this
one nill hole? Is it as simple as fixing that
final quarter because they were right in it for three
quarters of that game. They're behind, but they went out
of it and then the fourth quarter just.
Speaker 6 (12:18):
Well that's the thing, right.
Speaker 9 (12:20):
You look at the score and go, oh, well they
got flogged, but they actually stuck with the Aussies all
the way through to three quarter time.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
They had a really bad start to the fourth quarter.
Speaker 9 (12:27):
The scoreline got away on them and then Evet mcausonjury
was like, you know, I'll empty the bench. I'll give
players like Amelia warm Sea and that a bit of
time on the court against the Australians, which.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Is necessary for their growth.
Speaker 9 (12:36):
The Silver Ferns were plagued by unforced eras during that game,
and part of that was due to the Australian defensive pressure.
So there were drop balls, there were passes Maddy Gordon
was throwing that went way over the top of Grace
wiki out of bounds, so needless turnovers. And if they
can pull those back and reel those and those are
very fixable eras areas, and if they can reel that
and keep stick with the Aussies into that fourth quarter,
(12:58):
they are definitely within chance at a win. The biggest
area that I think they'll be looking at in the
days leading into Tests two is the connection between the
mid court and the attacking circle. Maddi Gordon at center
was struggling to find a wing attack. I think they need,
so yeah, just sort of a better connection, better communication
moving from the mid court into the attacking circle so
that they're not just lobbing passes from half court into wiki,
(13:20):
which is the option that they do backer to win
a one on one battle.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
But we need other strategies.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Speaking of well, not speaking of Nebule entirely. I was
going to try and sig my way way through the
rugby league. International ruga league couldn't quite do it. But
the Kiwi is getting a win against some more tight
run thing. It was great, I thought, having this at
Mount Smart Stadium, the kiwis, I guess though International rugby
league they've got it now week off. It's to me
this whole format seems weird that they can play one week,
(13:47):
have a buy the next and they've got tongue and
then they've got a potential final the week later, were's Australia.
Australias are playing the Ashes. This whole thing makes no
sense to me. Mate well in Australia, Finals in Australia.
Speaker 9 (13:57):
No, Yeah, the final being in Australia is the weird
part about all of this. And you're right, they wouldn't
be having the buy if Australia was part of the competition.
So I think it just goes to show how far
down the ladder in terms of priority international rugby league
is to the people organizing it. Obviously state of origin
is top Burns. That's what everyone is focused on, and
it seems like NRL comes second and then International Test
(14:19):
Rugby League, which is you'd think would be the pinnacle
of the sport, comes last. So yeah, it is sort
of disappointing because the Kiwi saw some more game. What
an atmosphere that could have been played in RP here
that was great.
Speaker 6 (14:32):
I found it.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
I found it crazy that at the end of the
game Kiwi's playing at home, the stadium was just silent.
It was like they lost, but that's because there were
so many toism on fans and so that atmosphere was
really really good.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
But it does feel like they created.
Speaker 9 (14:46):
All of that momentum and then for New Zealand fans
at least, then there's just nothing for next week and
really looking forward to the some more Tonga game that'll
be that'll be epic. I think that battle, especially the
battle between the groups of fans as well.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Goodness stopper, and then next week Tonga and Eden Park
should be pretty special. Nathan, thank you very much for
your time in the chamber. Is always thanks many of.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
X we've gone just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered
by News Talks IVB.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode
of Sports Fix. Courd to see of our good friends
at GJ. Gardner Holmes Between the end. You can catch
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a week in Sport with Jason Pine midday till three
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Speaker 1 (15:27):
For more from News Talk EDB listen live on air
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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.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Pop Sports Fix Sports Tuesday, the twenty first of October.
I'm Elligot Smith coming up on today's episode with DJ
Guard the Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. We've
talked to Labour MP Willie Jackson who's calling to Sport
New Zealand to freeze the funds of net for New
Zealand until they can resolve the Dame in Old and
Colderers situation. Nathan Lamb joins us from the New Zealand
(00:42):
Herald in the chamber as well to look at the
on court happenings with the Silver Ferns as well as
international rugby leg and we wrap up the last twenty
four hours in the world.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Of sports in other news.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Sport Today Time on Sports Fix and England Something. The
Black Cats by sixty five runs in the second t
twenty in christ Church to take an unassailable one deer
lead in the free match series for the game to
play at Eden Park on Thursdays. The leads by Phil
Saltan Harry Brook who combined for one twenty nine. For
the third we get black Hats Canada Mitchell sat and
it says the peer combined well around Hackley Park.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Very hard to stop using the wind obviously took it
down down wind and then we're able to run hard,
run twos or hit the pockets onto the big side.
I think they had twenty on something twos, which when
it's tough to find dots, you know, you go to four,
you're kind of bleaking.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Them and grunt dolphins. Comparing the likes of developing young
sailors to Mantes United. You'll explain in a moment. The
America's cupholders have made four additions to the crew either
of their twenty twenty seven defense in Naples, including twenty
year old Jake Piede Dalton Grant goldeness Is has pointed
the Red Devil struggles in recent years as an area
(01:50):
he would like to avoid.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
All hopever, paid they're all old.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You couldn't get rid of them, and the team just
went because he can't get rid of these players.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
It's a great analogy because unless we do exactly.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
The same thing, there's just a bunch of old guys.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That are clinging on to their jobs. Interesting analogy hadn't
thought about myself, fan Canterbury's best efforts game, but All
Blacks coach Scott Robertson has come up short. Both Lock,
Sandarien and Hook and George Bell aren't being mad available
to play on Saturday's NBC final against Otago and christ
Gid Canaba coach Marti Burks' votes it'll be on the
plane with the All Blanks depart for Chicago fighting.
Speaker 7 (02:21):
That's something everyone our players to go on and it's
always been the Black chersey comes first. So I'm really
a good open dialogue with you all Black coaches, given
both those guys have been a part of this group
through the whole season. But it's all about elevating our
players and we're back to stock that we've got in
to fill their spots leading a VEX.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Vix News Talks
IVY today.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Nolean total saga has taken another twist today with Labor
MP Willie Jackson calling for Nepball New Zealand's funding from
Sport New Zealand to be paused until they can find
a resolution to the Dame Nolean that told or coaching saga.
Willie Jackson knows Dame Nolean well and your father even
better and joins us now to discuss Willie, thanks for your.
Speaker 8 (03:03):
Time, Thanks very much.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Why have you got involved in this snipball New Zealand saga?
Will he?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Uh?
Speaker 8 (03:09):
You know, I have a relationship with Noline.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
I her father was my co mart at my Marie
you know, for teen years, a guy called Kingy Todo
and and it's sort of you know, I had a
lot of there's a lot of support for her, for
for her and King he's gone now.
Speaker 8 (03:30):
You might remember me. He used to be on the
Mariah White tonguey and I and I was singing about
it the other day. I thought Jeese'd be in my
office now saying, what are we going to do? What
are we going to do? Chief?
Speaker 7 (03:38):
You know?
Speaker 8 (03:39):
And and of course you know, I know Nolene and
met her through the years, and and I just thought
about the injustice of this, and and I thought about
me old mat Kingy and then and then when I
looked at it, I keep looking, I keep looking at
this and thinking this is just disgraceful. There's you know,
what's the process it's unprecedented, you know. So you know
(04:01):
I've got a personal there's a personal I suppose a
relationship there. But also you know, I've been a union official,
I've been a politician for many years, being an employer,
and I've never seen this type of I've never seen
a coach treated like this ever.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
You know.
Speaker 8 (04:18):
And on top of that, you know, you should know
I was a sports broadcaster for many years also, and
so I bring like over fifty years of watching sport
and my experience and I can't ever think of a coach,
whether its netball, rugby, whatever ever, being treated so disrespectfully.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Why do you think the funding should be frozen? What
would that achieve?
Speaker 8 (04:43):
Well, well, we want some answers, you know, Like I spoke.
I spoke to Noline the other day and she's no wiser.
I don't think anybody deserves to be treated like this,
you know, anyone in any sport. You know, do you
think that an organization, a major organization, should be treating
(05:04):
our premier coach like this? Give us some answers, or
why should we be giving you your funding? I know
that communities everywhere are appalled by the treatment of no Leine,
absolutely appalled. So you know what I'm requesting in investigate
(05:25):
the review process and its findings and ensure that the
natural justice and venus are a power because there's no
natural justices. She doesn't even know what she's done wrong.
You know's you're talking about someone who's an absolute shop mate,
you know, and just wants your job back. So you
know they get taxpayers money. You know that we're a
(05:47):
mad sporting nation netboards of you know, one of the
most favorite sports of New Zealander is right up there
with right up there with rugby. We deserve answers. And
you've been a long time sports broadcaster, have you ever
seen or heard of a coach being treated like this?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Well, no, I haven't and my years of doing this.
Mirk Mitchell told here the s on her show this
afternoon that the funding freezing the funding your idea to
freeze the funding could hurt the players and others at Needle,
New Zealand if they were to do that. What do
you think of that, Well, you don't want to hurt
the players.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
But if they're not going to freeze the if they're
not going to freeze the funding, do something right because
quite right, right right now, you know, I don't want
to I don't want the players to be hurt. I
want our key. I want our silver fans to keep winning.
You know we want that. But you've got to traumatized
side here. When the best player in the side comes
(06:44):
out and says what you said the other night, now
that's that. That's unprecedented. This is unprecedented stuff, mate. You know,
can you imagine a group of players, a group of
all blacks, saying, oh, we're unhappy, we want we want
to get rid of the coach. When does that happen?
When does it happen with the Warriors? When when does
this ever happen? And it is just uncalled for, unt
(07:08):
professional and and Netball New Zealand has to rectify this.
You know, they they You're talking about significant funding that
goes to them. You got you're talking about a mad
New Zealand public. We all support our Silver Ferns, but
we support this coach too. This is she's one of Nolan's,
one of the most successful coaches in New Zealand netball history.
(07:30):
She's one I said World Cup. She doesn't deserve to
be treated like this and when I spoke with her,
she's in shop she deserves some answers. She deserves some support.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news, how
and by news talks.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Every international rugby league shot over the weekend. Why it's
a wonderful yet maddening product. The Kiwis playing some well,
the Kiwi Ferns playing fit to some more in a
double head of the positives. Well, two great games, of course,
both teams with quality players, some top shelf players at
the peak of their powers of representing some more so
even when the Australians and Kiwis were after them. It's
(08:07):
a fantastic advertisement for the international game. When the Kiwis
supposedly with a lot more resources, although I don't know
how much more can just sneak home over some more
who have fewer resources. But the negative six o'clock on
a Sunday night to play the men's game was ridiculous.
A move to support the Australian market, whose kangaroos aren't
even in this competition, playing on a day of religious
(08:31):
significance to plenty of Pacificer people hurt what could have
been otherwise to sell out as well. Then, the most
frustrating thing in my mind, the kiwis don't even play
again this weekend and have to wait a fortnight untill
they're back out on the field against Tonga at Eaton Park.
That will be a wonderful occasion, Somemore and Tonga will
be a cracker this weekend, but having the Kiwi sidelined
this weekend is frustrating. A quad series would make so
(08:53):
much more sense and keep the international Rugby League conversation
going because we don't get a lot of it and
we need to make the most of it while it lasts.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax for Into.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
The Chamber now and joining us New Zealand Herald sports
journalist Nathan Lerm. Nathan, Welcome to the Chamber under a
different guys, different job title, but still the same chamber.
Speaker 6 (09:14):
Welcome.
Speaker 9 (09:15):
I moved one desk to my left Smith, so we're
all good. I'm still part of the team.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Well, I want to talk to you about moving one
desk because you've moved to the desk and put an
opinion piece out about the Silver Fern's saga. Say the
witch hunt must end around this. This is this ongoing
saga around Dave Nolan told her or the players that
are involved I guess where do we stand at the
moment around this and is this doing you know, I
(09:39):
guess more harm again to Netblen New Zealand's reputation.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
Yeah, what's doing harms in Netballe New Zealand's reputation is
the complete lack of transparency.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
So what's happened is what we know is very limited.
Speaker 9 (09:52):
The some players complained we now thinking up up to
seven five senior to junior. According to Gail Padata, the
selector who stepped down, and understandably a fan base who
is very loyal to Dame Nolean Todor has gone right well,
who are the players who complained, who threw Dame Nolean Toad?
Who are under the bus and nepble New Zealand's unwillingness
to provide any information as to the context of what
(10:14):
the complaints were has led to fans making assumptions and
allegations which are based on rumor rather than actual facts.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
And you see in the comments of these sil Ferns
posts it's supporting Dame Nolan told I was saying we're
not watching the game until Dame nol leans back. Throwing players'
names out there which do get deleted I've seen some appear,
but this isn't good for anyone. The current silver Foon
scene focusing on the constellation Cup, of which they are
now one kneel down, and probably not good for Dame
Noling told who are not definitely not good for Niple
(10:42):
and New Zealand. And then you're all these players who
are having their names dragged through the mud. It's a
shambles all round. That's the issue is. I feel really
bad for the players who aren't involved, who weren't involved
in any of this, because Nipple New Zealand's unwillingness to
give any information means that the players who weren't even
involved are also, as you said, getting dragged through the mud,
(11:03):
and it's nothing to do with them. I even have
empathy for the players who did complain, who probably went
to the Players Association with a problem, because look, workplace
disagreements happen. I don't think anyone's questioning the players pursuit
of excellence or the coaches pursuit of excellence. They've gone
to the Players Association and anonymously lodged a complaint, and
then this thing has just spiraled out of control and
(11:25):
it's turned into this enormous, embarrassing saga that has made
le Nipple in New Zealand a laughing stock. Really, if
the rest of the world we have this great coach
and no one knows what is going on. The issue
is people making sweeping judgments about players without actually having
the details. No one apart from the people involved, the
(11:46):
players involved, the coaches involved, have the who, what, when, where,
why how? That is necessary to determine who is actually
at fault. And even people like Silver Fan's great Laura
Langman and ex coaches have come out and given their opinions.
Those opinions are valuable and they're necessary for this whole
sort of environment, but they don't have the context either.
They had the full fiction. No one does no on
(12:06):
the court. How do the sol fans out of this
one nill hole? Is it as simple as fixing that
final quarter because they were right in it for three
quarters of that game. They're behind, but they went out
of it and then the fourth quarter just.
Speaker 6 (12:18):
Well that's the thing, right.
Speaker 9 (12:20):
You look at the score and go, oh, well they
got flogged, but they actually stuck with the Aussies all
the way through to three quarter time.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
They had a really bad start to the fourth quarter.
Speaker 9 (12:27):
The scoreline got away on them and then Evet mcausonjury
was like, you know, I'll empty the bench. I'll give
players like Amelia warm Sea and that a bit of
time on the court against the Australians, which.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Is necessary for their growth.
Speaker 9 (12:36):
The Silver Ferns were plagued by unforced eras during that game,
and part of that was due to the Australian defensive pressure.
So there were drop balls, there were passes Maddy Gordon
was throwing that went way over the top of Grace
wiki out of bounds, so needless turnovers. And if they
can pull those back and reel those and those are
very fixable eras areas, and if they can reel that
and keep stick with the Aussies into that fourth quarter,
(12:58):
they are definitely within chance at a win. The biggest
area that I think they'll be looking at in the
days leading into Tests two is the connection between the
mid court and the attacking circle. Maddi Gordon at center
was struggling to find a wing attack. I think they need,
so yeah, just sort of a better connection, better communication
moving from the mid court into the attacking circle so
that they're not just lobbing passes from half court into wiki,
(13:20):
which is the option that they do backer to win
a one on one battle.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
But we need other strategies.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Speaking of well, not speaking of Nebule entirely. I was
going to try and sig my way way through the
rugby league. International ruga league couldn't quite do it. But
the Kiwi is getting a win against some more tight
run thing. It was great, I thought, having this at
Mount Smart Stadium, the kiwis, I guess though International rugby
league they've got it now week off. It's to me
this whole format seems weird that they can play one week,
(13:47):
have a buy the next and they've got tongue and
then they've got a potential final the week later, were's Australia.
Australias are playing the Ashes. This whole thing makes no
sense to me. Mate well in Australia, Finals in Australia.
Speaker 9 (13:57):
No, Yeah, the final being in Australia is the weird
part about all of this. And you're right, they wouldn't
be having the buy if Australia was part of the competition.
So I think it just goes to show how far
down the ladder in terms of priority international rugby league
is to the people organizing it. Obviously state of origin
is top Burns. That's what everyone is focused on, and
it seems like NRL comes second and then International Test
(14:19):
Rugby League, which is you'd think would be the pinnacle
of the sport, comes last. So yeah, it is sort
of disappointing because the Kiwi saw some more game. What
an atmosphere that could have been played in RP here
that was great.
Speaker 6 (14:32):
I found it.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
I found it crazy that at the end of the
game Kiwi's playing at home, the stadium was just silent.
It was like they lost, but that's because there were
so many toism on fans and so that atmosphere was
really really good.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
But it does feel like they created.
Speaker 9 (14:46):
All of that momentum and then for New Zealand fans
at least, then there's just nothing for next week and
really looking forward to the some more Tonga game that'll
be that'll be epic. I think that battle, especially the
battle between the groups of fans as well.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Goodness stopper, and then next week Tonga and Eden Park
should be pretty special. Nathan, thank you very much for
your time in the chamber. Is always thanks many of.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
X we've gone just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered
by News Talks IVB.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode
of Sports Fix. Courd to see of our good friends
at GJ. Gardner Holmes Between the end. You can catch
sports Talk on news Talk ZBB seven till eight weekdays
a week in Sport with Jason Pine midday till three
Saturday and Sunday.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
For more from News Talk EDB listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
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