Sports Huddle: Crusaders chance at a title, Auckland Council's Eden Park plans, Liam Lawson replaced
March 28, 2025 • 9 mins
Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson and Crusaders commentator Nick Bewley join Ryan Bridge on the Huddle.
Auckland Council has voted to go ahead with Eden Park upgrades, but they're hanging out for money elsewhere. Will they get it?
Liam Lawson has been dumped by Red Bull after two races. Has it been fair?
The Huddle discuss it all.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Friday Sports Huddle with New Zealand Subbody's International Realty
find your one of a kind all the board in
full steam ahead North America. New Zealand are going to
the Football World Cup. Our strategy and purpose is being.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
To demonstrate to our hybrid multi purpose stadium and its
deputy for a youth of Eden Park. It's the only
solution for Auckland and New Zealand National Stadium. This is
not a duty of care, is it, by any stretch
of the imagination, getting rid of someone up to two races.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
The duty of care is to give him a chance
to try and perform a bit better. Put your arm
around his shoulder, talk to him about what's going wrong.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Certainly a lot to discuss this week on the Sports Huddle.
News Talk zibb's Andrew Alison with us tonight, Hey, Andrew,
Greeting's Ryan, good to have you, and Nick Burley is
with us too. News Talk Zibe Crusaders commentator Nick, welcome
to you.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Good day.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Right, So are we confident because you know Eden Park. Yes,
they've got this vote from Auckland Council, but they're basically
now going cap and hand to council and going cap
in hand to government. It doesn't sound like anyone is
forthcoming with much money.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Andrew, Yeah, it seems a bit anemic, doesn't it. And
I just wonder around the carousel we go again, don't
we And it's sort of stadium fatigue at times when
you had that. Well that ends and are back to
Key Park down at the waterfront a bit more inspirational.
But as someone I think said in that council meeting,
it doesn't exist as yet whereas Eden Park does. And
(01:37):
Tim Murphy the newsroomicles former Herald editor in his column
saying it's experience over hope. So yeah, I guess we've
got to hope that this retractable roof times. My view
is that if you're going to use Eden Park, and
I think this has been referenced by Simeon Brown as
well at times, as you've got to make it multi purpose.
You've got to break down the regulatory structure and bring
(01:58):
in more concerts to make it pay its way and
allow it to pay its way to the next one capacity.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, well, and clearly no one else is going to
help pay for it, so you've got to do something. Nick,
What about the need? I mean, is there actually right now,
any urgent sporting need for us to do anything.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
That's a very good question, Ryan, and I think that's
probably part of the hesitancy at the moment. Albeit you
know that that financial issue and the unwillingness from government,
central government or the council to pay for it. But
I think the longer as as Andrew alluded to, the
longer we kicked the can down the road, which is
(02:42):
that the stadium issue. It's not it's not going to
go away, and it's not going to get any cheaper.
So we need some some willingness and decisiveness to grab
this issue face on, and at some stage someone's going
to have to take it on Otherwise it's going to,
as Andrew said, it's going to go round and around
the carousel. Issues are going to come up, feasibility studies, proposals,
(03:05):
you name it, and we're still going to be here
with the same issue.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those things, a perennial issue
that you would like to be sold, but you just
get the feeling of home people.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I'm lucky down here in christ Is Ryan where we've
finally got a stadium after well coming up fifteen years
post earthquake, and that's been an ongoing battle in itself.
So I'll tell you what. Just get on with it
would be my advice.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, and that's coming an on time on budget too,
isn't it next year?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Is it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Well it's sort of.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
It's one of those ones.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Ryan. We don't want to preach it too loud because
such has been the nature of the rebuild over the
last decade and a bit that something might happen last minute,
and it can be over budgets and off time. But yeah,
as things stand April twenty twenty six to Kaha open,
So I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Don't want to jinx it, do we? Andrew orders It
and Nick Uley on the Sports Huddle for your Friday Night.
We'll be back lots to discuss, including Rob Penny and
those Crusaders and Liam Lawson, Harby Norman.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
The FREDI Sports Title with New Zealand South Ofby's International
Reality the Ones with local and global reach.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Twelve to six. Andrew Ordison and Nick Buley on the
Sports Huddle tonight. Interesting peace in the Herald today from
Elliot Smith talking about Rob Penny and the Crusaders. Is
he Andrew do you think he is, in fact, although
many thought he might not be the man to lead
the Crusaders back to a title.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, let's states Ryan is looking promising, isn't it sitting
on the table there and up there with the chiefs.
It's probably not Scott Robertson at the moment. I were
more like I think Elliot referencing and more of the
Todd Blackhead era at present, solid but not spectacular.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
But I think a.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Few more things probably come into his favor this year,
shrinking injury toll, and I think that it's been a
bit more of a natural order to stored a bit
more stability there. I mean, Nick will know more about this,
having followed the Crusaders close and commentating than I would.
But yeah, it just feels like Rob Pennie is gett
a bit more of his mojo back.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'd have to agree with that.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Well, you summar your summation there, orders, but it is
easy to forget last year guys that you know, without
the likes of Will Jordan for an entire season down
to their fifth first five only had Cody Taylor, Scott
Barrett to Mighty Williams to name a few. For a
handful of games it's pretty hard going. Just ask Blues
coach Veron Cootta at the moment how that goes when
you don't have some of your front mine all Blacks,
(05:19):
or the Hurricanes coach Clark Laidler when you're down to
your fifth ranked first five eights. So there was a
bit conspiring against someone. I don't think Rob Penny all
of a sudden has become a good coach compared to
being a bad coach last year. And look, there's still
a couple of areas which he's acknowledged too, where you know,
defensively and that they need to improve to be back
where they'd like to be. But there's certainly a scenario
(05:41):
where come June that they're back lifting the silverware. And yeah,
all of a sudden, we're going from a scenario where
very much felt like at the time Rob Penny was
there as a caretaker coach to a situation where when
we finally get into the Takaha Stadium, he's still the
coach in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Now, speaking of caretakers, poor old Liam Lawson for just
two races. What do you make of this, Andrew? What's
your take on it? And do you think we'll see
him back in the top flight.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Yeah, I think we call it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Mean he's still relatively young twenty three. I find an
absolutely extraordinary story that this can happen. But I guess
if you delve down into it, I mean it probably
raises more questions and answers about whether it's it's driving ability,
is it politics, the pragmatism of it. If you think
about Sunoda coming in in his form hasn't been that
flash either, But if he's coming with you eight figure
(06:34):
sum via Honda as well into the Red Bull coffers,
it's pretty hard to turn it down. I found the
duty of care excuse from Christian Horner. I mean, that's
fifth gear satire, isn't it really When you think protecting
and developing him according it really come on. I mean
just that was extraordinary, so to use that as the excuse.
(06:56):
So anyway, I think it's some. Yeah, it's gonna be
fascinating to see how pans out. I mean, there's been
plenty of gone before lawsom the seat. With the likes
of the Alex album, Pierre Ghasy, Sugio Peris, and Lawson
joins their ranks all bit temporarily.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, Nick.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Well Look, it made me think, Ryan, I know you're
covering Heather for paternity leave. Imagine if they just gave
you two shows. And then Jason, when Stanley came knocking
and said, you know, don't come back Monday. I think
we can all sympathize with Liam, and I know we're
incredibly proud of him here in New Zealand. But you're
even just reading some of the news articles at globally,
like even by Red Bull Standards orders mentioned their Pierre Ghasly.
(07:34):
You know, at least he got twelve races half a season.
You know it's two and a few things conspiring against
him as well in terms of unfamiliar tracks tracks he
never raced that before racing in the wheat in Melbourne. Look,
I really hope Liam, and by all accounts from people
whill know them, know him a great deal better than me.
He's got pretty thick skin and he'll take this on
the chin and hopefully he can prove people not wrong.
(07:55):
At least. The good thing is he's still in Formula
one and gets to go to a track and Sazz
next week where he is a bit more comfortable and
perhaps he can make a bit of a statement.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, I think it says more about red bull management
than it does about Liam Lawson personally.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Totally.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Now very quickly, Andrew will come to you on this.
The rowing at twenty thirty two Olympics is going to
be in the Fitzroy River. Now, this is a non
habitat for saltwater crocodiles. How on earth do you do
you concentrate? Do you take this seriously when these crocodiles
in the river.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, that's because you're going to have like a mic
crocodile dundee machete in your boat right as you go
down the course. I suspect you know that't a night
this is a knife. That's sort of style. I love that.
This has been my favorite story of the week. Actually,
this is diplomacy of the IOC. You know, sporting Bodies
will rowing going to issue a feasibility study now over this.
(08:47):
I mean, I think I'll come up against your current
problems as well. But it would be probably easy if
I just said, yeah, cut the pr and just say
we're not going to race alongside six meters human chompers,
thanks very much, and leave it there, go and raise
at Penrith Lake.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Yeah, I think they might have a lot of fans
support for that move too. Andrew, thanks Mate, to God,
to heavy On, Andrew Ldison, News Talks, ABI Sports Reader
Nick Buley News Talks, ABI Crusader's Commentator. That's the sports
hurdle for your Friday night.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
News Talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
The Friday Sports Huddle with New Zealand Subbody's International Realty
find your one of a kind all the board in
full steam ahead North America. New Zealand are going to
the Football World Cup. Our strategy and purpose is being.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
To demonstrate to our hybrid multi purpose stadium and its
deputy for a youth of Eden Park. It's the only
solution for Auckland and New Zealand National Stadium. This is
not a duty of care, is it, by any stretch
of the imagination, getting rid of someone up to two races.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
The duty of care is to give him a chance
to try and perform a bit better. Put your arm
around his shoulder, talk to him about what's going wrong.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Certainly a lot to discuss this week on the Sports Huddle.
News Talk zibb's Andrew Alison with us tonight, Hey, Andrew,
Greeting's Ryan, good to have you, and Nick Burley is
with us too. News Talk Zibe Crusaders commentator Nick, welcome
to you.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Good day.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Right, So are we confident because you know Eden Park. Yes,
they've got this vote from Auckland Council, but they're basically
now going cap and hand to council and going cap
in hand to government. It doesn't sound like anyone is
forthcoming with much money.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Andrew, Yeah, it seems a bit anemic, doesn't it. And
I just wonder around the carousel we go again, don't
we And it's sort of stadium fatigue at times when
you had that. Well that ends and are back to
Key Park down at the waterfront a bit more inspirational.
But as someone I think said in that council meeting,
it doesn't exist as yet whereas Eden Park does. And
(01:37):
Tim Murphy the newsroomicles former Herald editor in his column
saying it's experience over hope. So yeah, I guess we've
got to hope that this retractable roof times. My view
is that if you're going to use Eden Park, and
I think this has been referenced by Simeon Brown as
well at times, as you've got to make it multi purpose.
You've got to break down the regulatory structure and bring
(01:58):
in more concerts to make it pay its way and
allow it to pay its way to the next one capacity.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, well, and clearly no one else is going to
help pay for it, so you've got to do something. Nick,
What about the need? I mean, is there actually right now,
any urgent sporting need for us to do anything.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
That's a very good question, Ryan, and I think that's
probably part of the hesitancy at the moment. Albeit you
know that that financial issue and the unwillingness from government,
central government or the council to pay for it. But
I think the longer as as Andrew alluded to, the
longer we kicked the can down the road, which is
(02:42):
that the stadium issue. It's not it's not going to
go away, and it's not going to get any cheaper.
So we need some some willingness and decisiveness to grab
this issue face on, and at some stage someone's going
to have to take it on Otherwise it's going to,
as Andrew said, it's going to go round and around
the carousel. Issues are going to come up, feasibility studies, proposals,
(03:05):
you name it, and we're still going to be here
with the same issue.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah. Yeah, it's one of those things, a perennial issue
that you would like to be sold, but you just
get the feeling of home people.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I'm lucky down here in christ Is Ryan where we've
finally got a stadium after well coming up fifteen years
post earthquake, and that's been an ongoing battle in itself.
So I'll tell you what. Just get on with it
would be my advice.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, and that's coming an on time on budget too,
isn't it next year?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Is it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Well it's sort of.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
It's one of those ones.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Ryan. We don't want to preach it too loud because
such has been the nature of the rebuild over the
last decade and a bit that something might happen last minute,
and it can be over budgets and off time. But yeah,
as things stand April twenty twenty six to Kaha open,
So I can't wait.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Don't want to jinx it, do we? Andrew orders It
and Nick Uley on the Sports Huddle for your Friday Night.
We'll be back lots to discuss, including Rob Penny and
those Crusaders and Liam Lawson, Harby Norman.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
The FREDI Sports Title with New Zealand South Ofby's International
Reality the Ones with local and global reach.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Twelve to six. Andrew Ordison and Nick Buley on the
Sports Huddle tonight. Interesting peace in the Herald today from
Elliot Smith talking about Rob Penny and the Crusaders. Is
he Andrew do you think he is, in fact, although
many thought he might not be the man to lead
the Crusaders back to a title.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Well, let's states Ryan is looking promising, isn't it sitting
on the table there and up there with the chiefs.
It's probably not Scott Robertson at the moment. I were
more like I think Elliot referencing and more of the
Todd Blackhead era at present, solid but not spectacular.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
But I think a.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Few more things probably come into his favor this year,
shrinking injury toll, and I think that it's been a
bit more of a natural order to stored a bit
more stability there. I mean, Nick will know more about this,
having followed the Crusaders close and commentating than I would.
But yeah, it just feels like Rob Pennie is gett
a bit more of his mojo back.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'd have to agree with that.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Well, you summar your summation there, orders, but it is
easy to forget last year guys that you know, without
the likes of Will Jordan for an entire season down
to their fifth first five only had Cody Taylor, Scott
Barrett to Mighty Williams to name a few. For a
handful of games it's pretty hard going. Just ask Blues
coach Veron Cootta at the moment how that goes when
you don't have some of your front mine all Blacks,
(05:19):
or the Hurricanes coach Clark Laidler when you're down to
your fifth ranked first five eights. So there was a
bit conspiring against someone. I don't think Rob Penny all
of a sudden has become a good coach compared to
being a bad coach last year. And look, there's still
a couple of areas which he's acknowledged too, where you know,
defensively and that they need to improve to be back
where they'd like to be. But there's certainly a scenario
(05:41):
where come June that they're back lifting the silverware. And yeah,
all of a sudden, we're going from a scenario where
very much felt like at the time Rob Penny was
there as a caretaker coach to a situation where when
we finally get into the Takaha Stadium, he's still the
coach in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Now, speaking of caretakers, poor old Liam Lawson for just
two races. What do you make of this, Andrew? What's
your take on it? And do you think we'll see
him back in the top flight.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Yeah, I think we call it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Mean he's still relatively young twenty three. I find an
absolutely extraordinary story that this can happen. But I guess
if you delve down into it, I mean it probably
raises more questions and answers about whether it's it's driving ability,
is it politics, the pragmatism of it. If you think
about Sunoda coming in in his form hasn't been that
flash either, But if he's coming with you eight figure
(06:34):
sum via Honda as well into the Red Bull coffers,
it's pretty hard to turn it down. I found the
duty of care excuse from Christian Horner. I mean, that's
fifth gear satire, isn't it really When you think protecting
and developing him according it really come on. I mean
just that was extraordinary, so to use that as the excuse.
(06:56):
So anyway, I think it's some. Yeah, it's gonna be
fascinating to see how pans out. I mean, there's been
plenty of gone before lawsom the seat. With the likes
of the Alex album, Pierre Ghasy, Sugio Peris, and Lawson
joins their ranks all bit temporarily.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, Nick.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Well Look, it made me think, Ryan, I know you're
covering Heather for paternity leave. Imagine if they just gave
you two shows. And then Jason, when Stanley came knocking
and said, you know, don't come back Monday. I think
we can all sympathize with Liam, and I know we're
incredibly proud of him here in New Zealand. But you're
even just reading some of the news articles at globally,
like even by Red Bull Standards orders mentioned their Pierre Ghasly.
(07:34):
You know, at least he got twelve races half a season.
You know it's two and a few things conspiring against
him as well in terms of unfamiliar tracks tracks he
never raced that before racing in the wheat in Melbourne. Look,
I really hope Liam, and by all accounts from people
whill know them, know him a great deal better than me.
He's got pretty thick skin and he'll take this on
the chin and hopefully he can prove people not wrong.
(07:55):
At least. The good thing is he's still in Formula
one and gets to go to a track and Sazz
next week where he is a bit more comfortable and
perhaps he can make a bit of a statement.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, I think it says more about red bull management
than it does about Liam Lawson personally.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Totally.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Now very quickly, Andrew will come to you on this.
The rowing at twenty thirty two Olympics is going to
be in the Fitzroy River. Now, this is a non
habitat for saltwater crocodiles. How on earth do you do
you concentrate? Do you take this seriously when these crocodiles
in the river.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, that's because you're going to have like a mic
crocodile dundee machete in your boat right as you go
down the course. I suspect you know that't a night
this is a knife. That's sort of style. I love that.
This has been my favorite story of the week. Actually,
this is diplomacy of the IOC. You know, sporting Bodies
will rowing going to issue a feasibility study now over this.
(08:47):
I mean, I think I'll come up against your current
problems as well. But it would be probably easy if
I just said, yeah, cut the pr and just say
we're not going to race alongside six meters human chompers,
thanks very much, and leave it there, go and raise
at Penrith Lake.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Yeah, I think they might have a lot of fans
support for that move too. Andrew, thanks Mate, to God,
to heavy On, Andrew Ldison, News Talks, ABI Sports Reader
Nick Buley News Talks, ABI Crusader's Commentator. That's the sports
hurdle for your Friday night.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Hither 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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