August 22, 2025 • 8 mins
Tonight on the Huddle, sports reporter Nathan Limm and sports journalist Lavina Good join Heather duPlessis-Allan to discuss the latest sports news.
What does Sky's new broadcasting deal mean for viewers? And netballers are still leaving for Australia, what needs to change to keep Kiwis at home?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sports Tittle this evening, Nathan Limb newstalok z'd be sports
reporter and Lavina Good sports journalist. Hello you two, Hello
the Hello Kirot.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm nice to speak to you both.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now, Nathan, what do you think of those five floating games?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Bizarre? Right? I have no idea where they could go
with that if it lies outside of the regular scheduling
for tests every year. I mean, the All Blacks already
play quite a lot, so to have five more, you'd
think they'd be spaced out over a number of years.
So we're thinking maybe what one extra each year?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I've thought it was the five four the five years,
like five games over the five years, so maybe just
one a year.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So like, yeah,
I have no idea where they'd go with this or
what sort of opposition they look to do do you
look to someone that we don't normally play? And the
other aspect is who comes into the play in terms
of who's going to broadcast it, because obviously, you know
there's the obvious ones like our ones, TV and ZED
three that sort of thing. But I don't think we
should rule out the major overseas streaming platforms. We've seen
(00:57):
the likes of Dezone get really into sport lately. Obviously
they've done a lot of boxing. They've also got tennis.
Now Disney has all of ESPN. If you want to
watch the NBA, you get Disney Plus. So let's not
rule out them and the big guns in the NBA.
I don't think anyone from New Zealand's going to be
able to compete with them.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Now it'll be Saudi Arabia or something, won't it.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Levina?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, I think so as well. I mean there's no
competition in terms of those big sports. But yeah, I
mean you need to weigh up what's working and what
isn't working. And at the moment New Zealand Rugby are
saying we need to get us signing on the board.
We need to make sure we can expose everything that's
needed to be there. But you've also got to consider
like like the ninety three provincial matches that are free
(01:36):
to air on TV and said that's great for rugby.
You need to capture the fans and if you're not
capturing the fans, you've got no chance.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, isn't this a Levina isn't this a lesson that
we have learned about putting sport behind the paywall is
that it brings in the dollars up front, but long
term you start to lose the fans and the kids
want well.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I mean have that to be honest, that's what's happening
with netbul New Zealand at the moment. Yeah. And if
you don't capture that grassroots and investment and pathways, if
you're just all about let's get the broadcast deal, make
money and corporate bring it in, then then you'll lose
the audience. And if you lose the audience, as we've
seen for netbulls, and that's a massive concern, a massive contenter.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Now, Nathan, are you starting to get a little worried
about how many netbullers we're losing to Australia in the UK?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yes, it's got to the point where it is concerning
the number of players who are leaving. We knew that
there would be a handful of major players of silver fans,
sort of around five or six who would go to
Australia and have the exemptions. The issue is we are
now getting a lot of players who don't have the
exemption who aren't in the Silver fans, who are still
choosing to leave the A and Z Premiership.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Because Nathan, it's not just an exemption story, right. We
were talking about the exemptions what like a year ago,
but it's been exemption granted at the same time as
and we're not paying.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You one hundred percent. There are two There are two
issues to the broadcast deal and the exemptions, and I
think they're actually intertwined because if you're a broadcaster and
you're going do I want to broadcast the A and
Z Premiership, what you want to know is who's going
to be playing the A Z Premiership? Who are the
big stars who are going to attract the audience. And
if they know that actually they're going to be handing
out the exemptions and the six best players in New
(03:08):
Zealand are going to leave, then it's not going to
be as tantalizing a product for a broadcast to bid on.
And then you have less money to pay the players.
The players are going to be taking a pay cut,
So the players then have to make a decision of
do I want to stay here and take a pay
cut I'm not in the silver fans, or do I
want to go to Ossie, make bank play in a
better competition and live a better lifestyle.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
No, it's a no brainer, Levina. What about Kitty Wills
has said today that basically the ain Z Premiership has
become a development competition. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, I don't know if it's true, but it's like
she's touted it and asked many questions. But the thing
is if the ains HAD Premiership could attract even half
of the international talent that Australia has done, then it
would be a much better competition. And it's a real
kind of balancing act for netball New Zealand at the moment.
You know, they need to start treating the league like
(03:58):
it's a product to it's not a stepping stone. If
it's a stepping stone, we've lost nine players, we'll lose
another twenty if we're not careful. Then we need to
make sure that New Zealand witness netble, watch netball and
support netball. And to do that, get the Aussi players
over here. Get more money. You've got to get more money,
get the Aussies over here and make it a better
(04:19):
competition to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It is becoming a development league though with the number
of play. There is not the depth in New Zealand
to keep the talent, to keep the level of competition
the same. The Tactics have lost seven players. There are
only seven players on the court at a time, right,
so that's the entire team, and the Pulse have lost
five and we're talking about five frontline starting player silver Ferns.
You can't just bring up an entire team's worth of
(04:42):
development players, girls who are coming out of school who
aren't at the Hay and Z level and expect them
to just play A and Z Premiership and be at
the same level. It's not going to be the same product.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No, You're going to have to import a lot of players.
At the Friday Sports Title with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty,
the ones fun results, you're back with the sports huddle,
Nathan Limb Levina, Good Levina, What are the chances the
Warriors end up in the top four?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Oh goodness, honestly, I think they'll make the top four.
And as for tomorrow against the Titans, it's great. They've
got Capewell back and to Mighty Martin and we all
know Jacksonville will not be playing. But like the Titans
beat them sixty six to six last year, Heather, and
it was like quite a flogging. And the Warrior you
(05:27):
know that, Yeah, the Warrior, Heather. The Warriors are fifth
and the Titans at seventeen. So here's the thing about
the Warriors. They win the games we expect them to win.
They lose the games that we think, you know, So
I just think, I don't know, like I reckon they
will beat the Titans tomorrow, but they certainly have a
couple of teams breathing down their necks, including the Roosters
(05:49):
and the Panthers and the Broncos. And what I've seen
from the Warriors so far, I do not think they
will finish in the top four when it comes to
the finals. And it's been like the last time a
top eight finals four that was introduced with nineteen ninety nine,
no team outside of the top five has won anything
for a premiership in nineteen ninety nine. But the product
is so good, it's so good to watch, it doesn't
(06:11):
really matter. I do not think they'll make the top four.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Nathan.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
The Warriors have the Titans, the Eels and the Seagulls left.
All three of those teams have really struggled this year.
If the Warriors loose to the Titans, it'll be the
seventh lost in the last eight games, and the Big
League podcast on Monday is going to be very morbid.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
But is that your podcast?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It is my podcast. It's z B though. We get them,
so we get the plug in. It's fine, but no,
Look the Warriors, it's been the whole thing all year
has been injuries. If you lose your half back and
you lose your best forward in Mitch Barnett, you are
going to struggle. The fact that Warriors are still in
the top four is remarkable in itself. If they can
(06:50):
get past the Titans, they'll still be top four with
two games to go. Look, I think they can do it,
but it feels a long way away. And the NRL
is a competent where you can have the seventeenth place
team knocking off one of the top four teams, which
is what makes it so good. That the thing is though,
if they limped through to the finals, it's still in
the same place and suddenly everything goes up a gear.
(07:12):
So if they finished top four, it's still not looking
likely that they make it very far in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Okay, well, they won't finish top four, they won't finish.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Okay, right, So it's just it's low expectations. You never
know what might happen.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
I'm told Levina that you were at the World Games
this week and my question is what are the World Games?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Well, the World Games are held every four years and
they consist of sports that have not been invited into
into the Olympics, and it's like a bative event. There's
four thousand athletes that are competing and trying to showcase
their sport. New Zealand did very well in life saving,
a couple of gold medals in fact. But I had
(07:51):
a chat with the life saving piece afterwards and said,
you guys did great, and they're like, you know what,
we actually we're not competing well enough against the European country.
So what The word I had Heather from the life
saving piece was why don't we join forces with Australia.
Why don't we join forces, Why don't we get all
the funding, all the pathways everything together and then we
(08:12):
can beat Belgium, Italy and Germany. And I'm like, that's
never going to happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Don't think I thought there was going to be the
vision for the future.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Jason, Hey, it might happen, It might happen, it might happen.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
All right, thank you very much. Guys. Nathan, what's the
name of the podcast we need to look out for
on Monday?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
The Big League Podcast on Monday, Heather.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Don't say I don't do him any favors. Thank you
to Nathan Limb and Levina Good for more from Heather
Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to news talks it'd be
from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Sports Tittle this evening, Nathan Limb newstalok z'd be sports
reporter and Lavina Good sports journalist. Hello you two, Hello
the Hello Kirot.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
I'm nice to speak to you both.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Now, Nathan, what do you think of those five floating games?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Bizarre? Right? I have no idea where they could go
with that if it lies outside of the regular scheduling
for tests every year. I mean, the All Blacks already
play quite a lot, so to have five more, you'd
think they'd be spaced out over a number of years.
So we're thinking maybe what one extra each year?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I've thought it was the five four the five years,
like five games over the five years, so maybe just
one a year.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So like, yeah,
I have no idea where they'd go with this or
what sort of opposition they look to do do you
look to someone that we don't normally play? And the
other aspect is who comes into the play in terms
of who's going to broadcast it, because obviously, you know
there's the obvious ones like our ones, TV and ZED
three that sort of thing. But I don't think we
should rule out the major overseas streaming platforms. We've seen
(00:57):
the likes of Dezone get really into sport lately. Obviously
they've done a lot of boxing. They've also got tennis.
Now Disney has all of ESPN. If you want to
watch the NBA, you get Disney Plus. So let's not
rule out them and the big guns in the NBA.
I don't think anyone from New Zealand's going to be
able to compete with them.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Now it'll be Saudi Arabia or something, won't it.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Levina?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, I think so as well. I mean there's no
competition in terms of those big sports. But yeah, I
mean you need to weigh up what's working and what
isn't working. And at the moment New Zealand Rugby are
saying we need to get us signing on the board.
We need to make sure we can expose everything that's
needed to be there. But you've also got to consider
like like the ninety three provincial matches that are free
(01:36):
to air on TV and said that's great for rugby.
You need to capture the fans and if you're not
capturing the fans, you've got no chance.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, isn't this a Levina isn't this a lesson that
we have learned about putting sport behind the paywall is
that it brings in the dollars up front, but long
term you start to lose the fans and the kids
want well.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I mean have that to be honest, that's what's happening
with netbul New Zealand at the moment. Yeah. And if
you don't capture that grassroots and investment and pathways, if
you're just all about let's get the broadcast deal, make
money and corporate bring it in, then then you'll lose
the audience. And if you lose the audience, as we've
seen for netbulls, and that's a massive concern, a massive contenter.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Now, Nathan, are you starting to get a little worried
about how many netbullers we're losing to Australia in the UK?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yes, it's got to the point where it is concerning
the number of players who are leaving. We knew that
there would be a handful of major players of silver fans,
sort of around five or six who would go to
Australia and have the exemptions. The issue is we are
now getting a lot of players who don't have the
exemption who aren't in the Silver fans, who are still
choosing to leave the A and Z Premiership.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Because Nathan, it's not just an exemption story, right. We
were talking about the exemptions what like a year ago,
but it's been exemption granted at the same time as
and we're not paying.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
You one hundred percent. There are two There are two
issues to the broadcast deal and the exemptions, and I
think they're actually intertwined because if you're a broadcaster and
you're going do I want to broadcast the A and
Z Premiership, what you want to know is who's going
to be playing the A Z Premiership? Who are the
big stars who are going to attract the audience. And
if they know that actually they're going to be handing
out the exemptions and the six best players in New
(03:08):
Zealand are going to leave, then it's not going to
be as tantalizing a product for a broadcast to bid on.
And then you have less money to pay the players.
The players are going to be taking a pay cut,
So the players then have to make a decision of
do I want to stay here and take a pay
cut I'm not in the silver fans, or do I
want to go to Ossie, make bank play in a
better competition and live a better lifestyle.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
No, it's a no brainer, Levina. What about Kitty Wills
has said today that basically the ain Z Premiership has
become a development competition. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, I don't know if it's true, but it's like
she's touted it and asked many questions. But the thing
is if the ains HAD Premiership could attract even half
of the international talent that Australia has done, then it
would be a much better competition. And it's a real
kind of balancing act for netball New Zealand at the moment.
You know, they need to start treating the league like
(03:58):
it's a product to it's not a stepping stone. If
it's a stepping stone, we've lost nine players, we'll lose
another twenty if we're not careful. Then we need to
make sure that New Zealand witness netble, watch netball and
support netball. And to do that, get the Aussi players
over here. Get more money. You've got to get more money,
get the Aussies over here and make it a better
(04:19):
competition to watch.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It is becoming a development league though with the number
of play. There is not the depth in New Zealand
to keep the talent, to keep the level of competition
the same. The Tactics have lost seven players. There are
only seven players on the court at a time, right,
so that's the entire team, and the Pulse have lost
five and we're talking about five frontline starting player silver Ferns.
You can't just bring up an entire team's worth of
(04:42):
development players, girls who are coming out of school who
aren't at the Hay and Z level and expect them
to just play A and Z Premiership and be at
the same level. It's not going to be the same product.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No, You're going to have to import a lot of players.
At the Friday Sports Title with New Zealand Southeby's International Realty,
the ones fun results, you're back with the sports huddle,
Nathan Limb Levina, Good Levina, What are the chances the
Warriors end up in the top four?
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Oh goodness, honestly, I think they'll make the top four.
And as for tomorrow against the Titans, it's great. They've
got Capewell back and to Mighty Martin and we all
know Jacksonville will not be playing. But like the Titans
beat them sixty six to six last year, Heather, and
it was like quite a flogging. And the Warrior you
(05:27):
know that, Yeah, the Warrior, Heather. The Warriors are fifth
and the Titans at seventeen. So here's the thing about
the Warriors. They win the games we expect them to win.
They lose the games that we think, you know, So
I just think, I don't know, like I reckon they
will beat the Titans tomorrow, but they certainly have a
couple of teams breathing down their necks, including the Roosters
(05:49):
and the Panthers and the Broncos. And what I've seen
from the Warriors so far, I do not think they
will finish in the top four when it comes to
the finals. And it's been like the last time a
top eight finals four that was introduced with nineteen ninety nine,
no team outside of the top five has won anything
for a premiership in nineteen ninety nine. But the product
is so good, it's so good to watch, it doesn't
(06:11):
really matter. I do not think they'll make the top four.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Nathan.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
The Warriors have the Titans, the Eels and the Seagulls left.
All three of those teams have really struggled this year.
If the Warriors loose to the Titans, it'll be the
seventh lost in the last eight games, and the Big
League podcast on Monday is going to be very morbid.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
But is that your podcast?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
It is my podcast. It's z B though. We get them,
so we get the plug in. It's fine, but no,
Look the Warriors, it's been the whole thing all year
has been injuries. If you lose your half back and
you lose your best forward in Mitch Barnett, you are
going to struggle. The fact that Warriors are still in
the top four is remarkable in itself. If they can
(06:50):
get past the Titans, they'll still be top four with
two games to go. Look, I think they can do it,
but it feels a long way away. And the NRL
is a competent where you can have the seventeenth place
team knocking off one of the top four teams, which
is what makes it so good. That the thing is though,
if they limped through to the finals, it's still in
the same place and suddenly everything goes up a gear.
(07:12):
So if they finished top four, it's still not looking
likely that they make it very far in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Okay, well, they won't finish top four, they won't finish.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Okay, right, So it's just it's low expectations. You never
know what might happen.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Now.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
I'm told Levina that you were at the World Games
this week and my question is what are the World Games?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Well, the World Games are held every four years and
they consist of sports that have not been invited into
into the Olympics, and it's like a bative event. There's
four thousand athletes that are competing and trying to showcase
their sport. New Zealand did very well in life saving,
a couple of gold medals in fact. But I had
(07:51):
a chat with the life saving piece afterwards and said,
you guys did great, and they're like, you know what,
we actually we're not competing well enough against the European country.
So what The word I had Heather from the life
saving piece was why don't we join forces with Australia.
Why don't we join forces, Why don't we get all
the funding, all the pathways everything together and then we
(08:12):
can beat Belgium, Italy and Germany. And I'm like, that's
never going to happen.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Don't think I thought there was going to be the
vision for the future.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Jason, Hey, it might happen, It might happen, it might happen.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
All right, thank you very much. Guys. Nathan, what's the
name of the podcast we need to look out for
on Monday?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
The Big League Podcast on Monday, Heather.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Don't say I don't do him any favors. Thank you
to Nathan Limb and Levina Good for more from Heather
Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to news talks it'd be
from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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