Jason Pine: Sportstalk host on Dame Noeline Taurua's first interview since returning to the Silver Ferns

Dame Noeline Taurua insists she hasn't agreed to any changes in the Silver Ferns' high performance environment.

In announcing her return after being stood down for more than six weeks, Netball New Zealand said the two parties would be working in partnership to embed "agreed changes".

Sportstalk host Jason Pine raises questions about Netball NZ's statements.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jason pine Sports Talk Coasters with me Piney. Hello, Hello, Heather, Well,
that lot's got a lot worse for netball New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Didn't it It? Did it did?

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Why aren't they talking? What the hell is wrong with them?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
I don't know the answer to that question. What I
do know is that this is bound to go down
as one of the most shambolic sporting administrative chapters in
our history. I think the look try to put this
into terms we can all understand. If we're called into
a meeting by our boss to say that there is

(00:34):
a situation which has a risen, which is putting our
employment at risk, we're going to stand you down. We're
not going to tell you why we're standing you down,
but we are going to stand you down. No right
thinking person should have to accept that, Heather, that is
a completely ridiculous set of circumstances. So it's actually ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
It is so ridiculous. It sounds to me, reading based
on what I know and then listening to Dave Knowles
this morning, it sounds to me like she has been
told in general terms what's wrong right, which is that
players feel like they aren't safe talking to her about
things that, you know, just talking to her about the situation.
But then then where I think this becomes problematic is

(01:15):
perhaps where she says, okay, give me an example of
somewhere where a player didn't feel safe, and that they
can't do that.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Why can't we just be adults here? The why can't
the why can't people just sit around a table? Why
can't somebody tell Dame Nolen and let's let's say the
head of the players Association, step Bond, why can't she
sit down with Dave Nolean and outline the concerns, give
Dame Nolen a chance to respond to those concerns and
nut this out. Because is it.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Possible, Piney, that when you go back and you say
to the player, okay, give me an example, there aren't any.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well if that's well, if that's the case, then what
are we doing?

Speaker 1 (01:51):
Well, if that's the case, are we doing it doesn't
matter which like, it doesn't matter what conclusion you come
to in what has actually happened here. Someone at Netball
New Zealand needs to lose their job because this is
a shambles and the rejudge is now so like no
one has any faith.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
In their judgment, do they no, there has to be
some severe scrutiny. You're right over what has played out here.
There have to be consequences for, as I say, one
of the most unfortunate chapters and sporting administration in this country.
And heard you talk about Matt one to day. He's
the chair of the board, the board appoint the CEO,
they're in charge of the direction of the organization. And
of course on top of all of this here that,

(02:30):
as we've always said, they take tax payer money through
the high performance program, so they do need to be
held to account here. Shocker.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
Now, listen, I read a really interesting piece I don't
know where it might have been in one of the
Australian papers over the weekend or maybe one of the
UK papers, saying that if the point of that game
in America, this is the Ireland All Blacks game, was
to win over the American crowd, it will will not
have because in the first few minutes you've got an
inexplicable red card.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Well, it certainly didn't help, did it. If you're trying
to attract fans, causing confusion in the way that game
did yesterday isn't the best way to do it, you know,
the fact that the big screen wasn't working so the
reef could look up and see the incident, and therefore
it all played out and rather you know, messy, drawn
out fashion was one thing, but the fact that something
is only just a yellow and is then inexplicably upgraded

(03:18):
to a red just leaves everybody confused. It's where World
Rugby has got themselves to in this, in this absolute,
you know, stubborn desire to make sure that they can't
possibly be seen to be treating head injuries with anything
less than one hundred percent severity, that they've got to
the point where we're in a contact sport sometimes you
can't contact someone anymore. It's you know, it's a rugby incident.

(03:41):
You know, run either.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
Rugby's ridiculous, isn't it?

Speaker 2 (03:44):
Finey, What a segment? What a segment? Either?

Speaker 1 (03:48):
Everyone?

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Morning? Stuff?

Speaker 1 (03:49):
That finey? Thanks very much. I appreciate it. Jason Pines
Sports Talk Coast to be back at seven.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
This evening for more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen
live to news talks it'd be from four EM weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.