June 14, 2024 • 7 mins
The Blues have secured a spot in the Super Rugby final – but who will they play?
We’ll find out tonight, as the Hurricanes play the Chiefs at Sky Stadium.
Blues Assistant Coach Paul Titto reflects on last night’s game with Jason Pine...
Titto told Jason Pine “It was a big game and I couldn't get back to asleep afterwards – had to have another wine.”
Titto said “We’ve played this way since the start of the season.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason vine
from Newstalks EDB the scoop from the track, field and
the Court on your home of Sport. Weekend Sport with
Jason Vine News talks.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
The Blues a throw to their second Super Rugby finaland
three years thirty four to twenty they beat the Brumbies
last night. Assistant coach Paul Tito is with us. You
sleep okay after that last night, Paul, And.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
To be honest, it didn't, you know. I mean it
was one of those ones you but get up for
big game and couldn't get back to sleep afterwards. Should
have another wine.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Well, that always tends to help anything, in particular the
head you're tossing and turning or I mean, you must
be pretty pleased. It always felt like you were in
control or did it not?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah? I think you know, we had, like you said,
we had twenty five minutes of really good stuff and
then you know, we let the foot off the throat
there for fifteen minutes and didn't allow them back in
the game. But we just didn't take a hold of
the game like we had been doing. So you know,
there's always stuff to work on. As a team and
(01:14):
as a coaching group, we're always trying to get better.
So we just got to be better in those moments
and not give teams, you know, that down period that
we haven't given these teams opportunity.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Is that something that you were concerned about going in.
Had you talked about, you know, periods of games where
perhaps you hadn't been quite at optimum levels.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Well, I think that's the nature of the game. You know,
like you don't have it all your own way all
the time, So it's your ability to take control when
you do lose that control. Stacking good moments on good
moments is obviously the ideal, and then the reverse of
that is obviously bad moments on bad moments on bad moments.
So that's the thing that that's the cycle you want
(01:58):
to get out of. So yeah, I'm sure it's something
that we'll touch on this week and how that looks
for the final.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
The Blues blueprint is very obvious and has been really successful,
a brutal forwards based game plan. How have you and
the other coach has gone about imprinting that and maintaining it?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, I think you know, I mean, like we've we've
played this way since the start of the season. You
look back to the Crusaders and when they've won, you know,
their titles throughout the past years. You know, they most
really play quite expensive rugby in March February when when
the weather is good and by the time final footy comes,
(02:41):
you know they're they're closing up and squeezing things up
a bit and go back to their set piece. And
so I think that's the key to winning titles, is
a dominant set piece and been being nice and accurate
in the breakdown. So yeah, hey, we've implemented it well
throughout the year in various different ways and it's been
(03:05):
a real strength of ours.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So yeah, how much does it help Paul as well
that it's actually working when you have to reinforce these
messages week after week. How much does it help that
actually what you're asking the players to do is actually
working for you.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, it's critical as a coach, isn't it. You know
you've got a plan, you know you have the players
to implement that plan is the key, and you've got
there real buy and I think that's all we've had
from the group to share, especially the leaders. You know,
they really lead from the front and and really grabbed
the bull by the horns and taking us forward. And
(03:43):
you know it's basic footy done really well and they're
really lead in that space.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Every campaign, of course, has it setbacks and you talk
about your leaders. How have you dealt internally with the
loss of your captain Patrick Tepolts.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, he's a big loss. P He's a legend guy
and holds the group really well. But even this week,
you know, I used them a couple of times and
meetings and just keeping them involved because he does hold
that money within the group. So you know, here we
are on this Weekton to make sure we're in the
right direction.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And Dalton Papa that he failed in Hia last night.
I heard some narrative afterwards that he was more just
forgetting a couple of things which he might have done
under any circumstances, any fears that he'll be out for
the final dots.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, I'll leave that to the to the people that
get paid the big money. You know, I've got a
job to do and I'll leave the mid staff to
sort that one. I don't really need to be piping
up with that.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Fair enough, fair enough, Hoskins STUTU last night another try
for him. That's the equal most tries in a season
for a Blues player and the equal most by any
forward in a Super Rugby season. Are these the sorts
of things that are celebrated or are they more a
byproduct of performance?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah? I think you know, we celebrate as a team,
you know, a little milestones like this. But you know,
hoss has played well all yeah, you know, he's you know,
last year he was good at the start and most
surely hit had a bit of a blip there for
a bit and didn't get slipped in the World Cup squad.
So he's had a real point to prove. This year
(05:17):
he's been consistent. For me, he's he's carried really well
and you know he's got great skill set to get
the bad of space and we saw that again last night.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Do you talk to players like Hoskins and others about
about higher honors and use that as a carrot or not?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Not really? You know, we're we're just all about us
and performing well. And I think there's a good old
saying if you perform well as a team, they normally
you do well as individuals. So you know, so if
you go along deep in this competition, and there's a
couple of you know what I late in the in
the in the selection process and what that looks like.
(05:55):
And you normally get the nod because you're playing and
you're going deep in the comp What.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Did you think of Tofa Funaki's little backwards chip kick.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
It was an interesting time box if anyone saw the.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
We all saw it, man, we all saw it.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the three of us look quite calm. Actually, yeah,
it was an interesting one. But hey, I am I'll
just worry about getting the ball to the back, so
I won't have too much to say that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Good stuff, And now you can sit back and and
watch these other two teams beat each other other up
this afternoon. I know you started your Super Rugby career
at the Chiefs, but surely the the eighth season Hurricanes
player and you wants the Canes to win this afternoon,
even if it means you won't get a home final.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's tough. It's tough. Obviously, I've had a lot
to do with both of the franchises, being involved with
my coaching days and coach a lot of those guys
that are in the Chiefs team. So but how are
you going to put, I think you've got to be selfish,
you know. I think for us as a Blues organization,
it would be great if that's the Chiefs got up
(07:03):
for us, you know, so we can so we can
play at home. And it's a massive of amur.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, no, that's natural, natural to feel that way. Hey, Paul,
Thanks mate, Hope you have a relaxing weekend. All the
best for the week ahead. It's an exciting time for
the franchise in for its coaching staff. Thanks for taking
the time for a chat.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Mate, A good day.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thank you, no, thank you, Paul Tito There from the Blues.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason vine
from Newstalks EDB the scoop from the track, field and
the Court on your home of Sport. Weekend Sport with
Jason Vine News talks.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
The Blues a throw to their second Super Rugby finaland
three years thirty four to twenty they beat the Brumbies
last night. Assistant coach Paul Tito is with us. You
sleep okay after that last night, Paul, And.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
To be honest, it didn't, you know. I mean it
was one of those ones you but get up for
big game and couldn't get back to sleep afterwards. Should
have another wine.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Well, that always tends to help anything, in particular the
head you're tossing and turning or I mean, you must
be pretty pleased. It always felt like you were in
control or did it not?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah? I think you know, we had, like you said,
we had twenty five minutes of really good stuff and
then you know, we let the foot off the throat
there for fifteen minutes and didn't allow them back in
the game. But we just didn't take a hold of
the game like we had been doing. So you know,
there's always stuff to work on. As a team and
(01:14):
as a coaching group, we're always trying to get better.
So we just got to be better in those moments
and not give teams, you know, that down period that
we haven't given these teams opportunity.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Is that something that you were concerned about going in.
Had you talked about, you know, periods of games where
perhaps you hadn't been quite at optimum levels.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Well, I think that's the nature of the game. You know,
like you don't have it all your own way all
the time, So it's your ability to take control when
you do lose that control. Stacking good moments on good
moments is obviously the ideal, and then the reverse of
that is obviously bad moments on bad moments on bad moments.
So that's the thing that that's the cycle you want
(01:58):
to get out of. So yeah, I'm sure it's something
that we'll touch on this week and how that looks
for the final.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
The Blues blueprint is very obvious and has been really successful,
a brutal forwards based game plan. How have you and
the other coach has gone about imprinting that and maintaining it?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, I think you know, I mean, like we've we've
played this way since the start of the season. You
look back to the Crusaders and when they've won, you know,
their titles throughout the past years. You know, they most
really play quite expensive rugby in March February when when
the weather is good and by the time final footy comes,
(02:41):
you know they're they're closing up and squeezing things up
a bit and go back to their set piece. And
so I think that's the key to winning titles, is
a dominant set piece and been being nice and accurate
in the breakdown. So yeah, hey, we've implemented it well
throughout the year in various different ways and it's been
(03:05):
a real strength of ours.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So yeah, how much does it help Paul as well
that it's actually working when you have to reinforce these
messages week after week. How much does it help that
actually what you're asking the players to do is actually
working for you.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, it's critical as a coach, isn't it. You know
you've got a plan, you know you have the players
to implement that plan is the key, and you've got
there real buy and I think that's all we've had
from the group to share, especially the leaders. You know,
they really lead from the front and and really grabbed
the bull by the horns and taking us forward. And
(03:43):
you know it's basic footy done really well and they're
really lead in that space.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Every campaign, of course, has it setbacks and you talk
about your leaders. How have you dealt internally with the
loss of your captain Patrick Tepolts.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, he's a big loss. P He's a legend guy
and holds the group really well. But even this week,
you know, I used them a couple of times and
meetings and just keeping them involved because he does hold
that money within the group. So you know, here we
are on this Weekton to make sure we're in the
right direction.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And Dalton Papa that he failed in Hia last night.
I heard some narrative afterwards that he was more just
forgetting a couple of things which he might have done
under any circumstances, any fears that he'll be out for
the final dots.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, I'll leave that to the to the people that
get paid the big money. You know, I've got a
job to do and I'll leave the mid staff to
sort that one. I don't really need to be piping
up with that.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Fair enough, fair enough, Hoskins STUTU last night another try
for him. That's the equal most tries in a season
for a Blues player and the equal most by any
forward in a Super Rugby season. Are these the sorts
of things that are celebrated or are they more a
byproduct of performance?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah? I think you know, we celebrate as a team,
you know, a little milestones like this. But you know,
hoss has played well all yeah, you know, he's you know,
last year he was good at the start and most
surely hit had a bit of a blip there for
a bit and didn't get slipped in the World Cup squad.
So he's had a real point to prove. This year
(05:17):
he's been consistent. For me, he's he's carried really well
and you know he's got great skill set to get
the bad of space and we saw that again last night.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Do you talk to players like Hoskins and others about
about higher honors and use that as a carrot or not?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Not really? You know, we're we're just all about us
and performing well. And I think there's a good old
saying if you perform well as a team, they normally
you do well as individuals. So you know, so if
you go along deep in this competition, and there's a
couple of you know what I late in the in
the in the selection process and what that looks like.
(05:55):
And you normally get the nod because you're playing and
you're going deep in the comp What.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Did you think of Tofa Funaki's little backwards chip kick.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
It was an interesting time box if anyone saw the.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
We all saw it, man, we all saw it.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the three of us look quite calm. Actually, yeah,
it was an interesting one. But hey, I am I'll
just worry about getting the ball to the back, so
I won't have too much to say that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Good stuff, And now you can sit back and and
watch these other two teams beat each other other up
this afternoon. I know you started your Super Rugby career
at the Chiefs, but surely the the eighth season Hurricanes
player and you wants the Canes to win this afternoon,
even if it means you won't get a home final.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, it's tough. It's tough. Obviously, I've had a lot
to do with both of the franchises, being involved with
my coaching days and coach a lot of those guys
that are in the Chiefs team. So but how are
you going to put, I think you've got to be selfish,
you know. I think for us as a Blues organization,
it would be great if that's the Chiefs got up
(07:03):
for us, you know, so we can so we can
play at home. And it's a massive of amur.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, no, that's natural, natural to feel that way. Hey, Paul,
Thanks mate, Hope you have a relaxing weekend. All the
best for the week ahead. It's an exciting time for
the franchise in for its coaching staff. Thanks for taking
the time for a chat.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Mate, A good day.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Thank you, no, thank you, Paul Tito There from the Blues.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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