November 9, 2024 • 9 mins
The Kiwi Ferns are gearing up for a shot at the women's rugby league Pacific Championship title.
New Zealand face Australia in the final in Sydney from ten to four.
Kiwi Ferns centre Abi Roache joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalk EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Kiwi Ferns play the Pacific Championship Women's Rugby League
Final against Australia this afternoon ten to four New Zealand
Time at Combank Stadium in Sydney, looking to defend the
all they won last year when they beat the same opposition,
the jill ARUs twelve to six in the final in Melbourne.
This year, they had the fourteen nil loss to Australia
(00:34):
in christ Church, then went to Port Moresby in Papua
New Guinea and beat the home side thirty six nil
to qualify for the final this afternoon, Let's bring in
Kiwi Ferns Center, Abby Roach, Abby, thanks for taking the
time for a chat. How's the build up been to
this test since you arrived in Sydney after the win
over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Hey, it's been awesome.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I think our experience in PNG really brought us together
culturally and just it was an awesome experience what we
got to see over there and what we got to
do for the community over there, which was awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
So I think we really connected and we were firing
to go.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
And what about on the field a thirty six nil win,
it seems comprehensive. Do you take quite a bit of
confidence from the way you played in that game as well?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I think it was definitely a tough battle out there,
and there are a few things that we wanted to
improve on coming from that game. But I think the
last two trainings that we've had, we've tried to really
pretty much. I saw the things that we've had to
try and improve on, and I think it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
What sort of improvement areas have you been encouraged to
kind of work on by the coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I think it's just really owning our own individual roles
to kind of come together in the end. I think
that's been a massive focus, is just trying to nail
all the key individual roles to get us going all
together and just really connecting as a team.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Of course, you played Australia a couple of weeks ago,
they beat you fourteen nil. You take from that game
that'll be useful in this one.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I think it's just.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Staying in the grind and staying in the grind of
the cycle and just obviously there's going to be pressure,
but just connecting as a team and just working together
and finding that extra grit to get us over the line.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Do you take confidence in the fact that a year
ago you beat Australia in the in the final of
the Pacific Championship last year?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I think it definitely gives us confidence that we can
do it. But I think like every year is a
different year. There's new teams, there's new players, so I
think we've kind of we've kept that in the back
of our in the back of our minds, but we're
just starting fresh and we're just trying to grow with
what we have now and what we've learned this year.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
All right. For you personally, Abby, I know you've played
in the centers and in the halves. Do you have
a preference?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I think definitely the centers. I think.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
That's where I've kind of molded my stuff at the
moment and that's where I feel most comfortable.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
And of course you've played both rugby league and rugby
as well. I know at the moment, obviously you're focusing
on the thirteens game. Does it feel like where your
future lies in the thirteens game or can you see
yourself at some stage playing rugby union again.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
I think at the moment, all I'm focusing on is
rugby league. But I think I can't really tell what
will happen in the future, so I guess I don't
really know.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
I guess I'm open to it, but my focus is here.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Is there anything I don't know if it's a sleek
question or not. Are there things that are transferable across
the two.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I think definitely.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I think the foundational skills of rugby, just the catch,
pass and all that stuff, is definitely referrable and transitional.
But I think the contact in league is definitely the
difference in the harder part of it.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
But yeah, do you.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Enjoy that I'm not being contacted, but you know, joy
the physical contact side of rugby league?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I think I do.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I think I love just getting the ball in sort
of running, and I think in the fifteens game it's
a bit harder off I found myself to kind of
get involved in the game.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Whereas Lee you can just you can have a run
every set.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
You can kind of get over your mistakes a bit
earlier because you can just get a good tackle, you
can get a good run in You.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Come from a pretty high performing sporting family. Of course,
both your brothers, Nathaniel and Paul have played for the Warriors.
How big an influence have they been on you?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
They've been massive.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I think the eldest brother, Nathaniel, he really pretty much
paved the way for us. He provided so much for
us and he kind of showed us that there was
a pathway there, and he's he's been a massive role model,
I think to me and Paul, I think he's showed
us that it is, it can be done. And I
think I've drawn so much from them, just their perseverance
(05:02):
and resilience to keep going and.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Kind of their setbacks that they've had in life.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
This has never stopped them. They're still playing, And yeah,
I look up to them so much.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And talking about resilience and setbacks. You had some pretty
serious knee injuries yourself, didn't you, while you were still
a teenager. How challenging a time was that for you?
And how did you get through that?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It was pretty challenging.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I kind of did both my acls and then had
to have further miniscus repairs. But I think it taught
me a lot. It kind of took away. I think
I from a young age, I was always striving to
kind of play footy, and I was always trying to
be the best. But I think it kind of took
the football player away and I realized that life's more
(05:48):
than just footy, and I had to really lean on
my faith as well to kind of get me through.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
And it's kind of how.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
The opportunity came up for me to play full of
QII friends back in the World Cup. And I guess
my inter LW opportunity as well came from just having
fun and I wasn't really trying to get anywhere. It
was just simply just having fun with my friends, and
I think that's when I played my best footing.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, what a great approach. Did it ever feel of
any stage that I as though you might not be
able to get back to the top again?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I know, definitely.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Like I honestly, when I did my last knee, I
think it was like my fourth operation. I think I
was twenty one at the age or twenty two, maybe
twenty two. I was kind of done with playing competitively,
if I'm being honest, I was kind of like, that's
me done.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I've been to focus on a proper career at that stage.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
But it wasn't until one of my mates, Kelly Alexander,
she was kind of like, hey, do you want to
come play? Like I think it was b grade at
that stage, like do you just want to come play league?
And at that stage I hadn't played it before, and
I was kind of like, you know what, I'm kind
of getting bored of this life. I'm just like sitting
on the sideline and like just gymming for fun. So
(06:58):
I just honestly just got back in for fun and
that's how it all started. So I think I probably
owe my friends a lot for getting me back into
the game.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Amazing you certainly do. We all do, I think for
having you where you are at the moment. So the
NRLW you've obviously been there with the Knights. How much
do you think playing in that competition has improved you
as a rugby league player?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Oh, it's been massive.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I think last year moving over to the Knights was
a pivotal part of my career. I think I wouldn't
be where I am today if it weren't for that opportunity.
Just I think the competitiveness and just the resources that
they have and the coaches that they have, it's just
different to club Foot you back home.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think that was the massive change. You just learned
so much.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
You're surrounded by so much talent and like people. I
was with Tamika Upton and she taught me heaps and
just was willing to share her knowledge and I think
that's where I grew the most.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
And your tackle of the Year at the dle Ems
as well.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yeah, that was kind of a surprise. I think I
was just in the right moment at the right time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh man, so humble, so humble, and of course were
not Warriors are coming back into the NRLW as well.
Any chance we might see you in a Warrior's jersey
at some stage in the future.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I think yes, like definitely down the track.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I'd love to come back home and sort of be
back with my family and back where I.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Was born and raised.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And it'd be awesome because my brothers both played there,
so I think I would love to eventually find my.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Way back home.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well, I think a lot of people over the side
of the Tasman would love that as well. In the meantime, though,
you've got this game against Australia to focus on and
We really appreciate you taking the time for a chat
to us. All the best in the final.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
No, thank you so much, really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
No, I appreciate you joining us. Abby Things indeed Abbie
Roach there Kiwi Fern's Center Australia are their opposition, the
jill Use Team to four this afternoon as they look
to defend the Pacific champ title that they won a
year ago.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk said B we can from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalk EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Kiwi Ferns play the Pacific Championship Women's Rugby League
Final against Australia this afternoon ten to four New Zealand
Time at Combank Stadium in Sydney, looking to defend the
all they won last year when they beat the same opposition,
the jill ARUs twelve to six in the final in Melbourne.
This year, they had the fourteen nil loss to Australia
(00:34):
in christ Church, then went to Port Moresby in Papua
New Guinea and beat the home side thirty six nil
to qualify for the final this afternoon, Let's bring in
Kiwi Ferns Center, Abby Roach, Abby, thanks for taking the
time for a chat. How's the build up been to
this test since you arrived in Sydney after the win
over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Hey, it's been awesome.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
I think our experience in PNG really brought us together
culturally and just it was an awesome experience what we
got to see over there and what we got to
do for the community over there, which was awesome.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
So I think we really connected and we were firing
to go.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
And what about on the field a thirty six nil win,
it seems comprehensive. Do you take quite a bit of
confidence from the way you played in that game as well?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I think it was definitely a tough battle out there,
and there are a few things that we wanted to
improve on coming from that game. But I think the
last two trainings that we've had, we've tried to really
pretty much. I saw the things that we've had to
try and improve on, and I think it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
What sort of improvement areas have you been encouraged to
kind of work on by the coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
I think it's just really owning our own individual roles
to kind of come together in the end. I think
that's been a massive focus, is just trying to nail
all the key individual roles to get us going all
together and just really connecting as a team.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Of course, you played Australia a couple of weeks ago,
they beat you fourteen nil. You take from that game
that'll be useful in this one.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
I think it's just.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Staying in the grind and staying in the grind of
the cycle and just obviously there's going to be pressure,
but just connecting as a team and just working together
and finding that extra grit to get us over the line.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Do you take confidence in the fact that a year
ago you beat Australia in the in the final of
the Pacific Championship last year?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I think it definitely gives us confidence that we can
do it. But I think like every year is a
different year. There's new teams, there's new players, so I
think we've kind of we've kept that in the back
of our in the back of our minds, but we're
just starting fresh and we're just trying to grow with
what we have now and what we've learned this year.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
All right. For you personally, Abby, I know you've played
in the centers and in the halves. Do you have
a preference?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I think definitely the centers. I think.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
That's where I've kind of molded my stuff at the
moment and that's where I feel most comfortable.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
And of course you've played both rugby league and rugby
as well. I know at the moment, obviously you're focusing
on the thirteens game. Does it feel like where your
future lies in the thirteens game or can you see
yourself at some stage playing rugby union again.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
I think at the moment, all I'm focusing on is
rugby league. But I think I can't really tell what
will happen in the future, so I guess I don't
really know.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
I guess I'm open to it, but my focus is here.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Is there anything I don't know if it's a sleek
question or not. Are there things that are transferable across
the two.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I think definitely.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I think the foundational skills of rugby, just the catch,
pass and all that stuff, is definitely referrable and transitional.
But I think the contact in league is definitely the
difference in the harder part of it.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
But yeah, do you.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Enjoy that I'm not being contacted, but you know, joy
the physical contact side of rugby league?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
I think I do.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I think I love just getting the ball in sort
of running, and I think in the fifteens game it's
a bit harder off I found myself to kind of
get involved in the game.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Whereas Lee you can just you can have a run
every set.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
You can kind of get over your mistakes a bit
earlier because you can just get a good tackle, you
can get a good run in You.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Come from a pretty high performing sporting family. Of course,
both your brothers, Nathaniel and Paul have played for the Warriors.
How big an influence have they been on you?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
They've been massive.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I think the eldest brother, Nathaniel, he really pretty much
paved the way for us. He provided so much for
us and he kind of showed us that there was
a pathway there, and he's he's been a massive role model,
I think to me and Paul, I think he's showed
us that it is, it can be done. And I
think I've drawn so much from them, just their perseverance
(05:02):
and resilience to keep going and.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Kind of their setbacks that they've had in life.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
This has never stopped them. They're still playing, And yeah,
I look up to them so much.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And talking about resilience and setbacks. You had some pretty
serious knee injuries yourself, didn't you, while you were still
a teenager. How challenging a time was that for you?
And how did you get through that?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It was pretty challenging.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I kind of did both my acls and then had
to have further miniscus repairs. But I think it taught
me a lot. It kind of took away. I think
I from a young age, I was always striving to
kind of play footy, and I was always trying to
be the best. But I think it kind of took
the football player away and I realized that life's more
(05:48):
than just footy, and I had to really lean on
my faith as well to kind of get me through.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
And it's kind of how.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
The opportunity came up for me to play full of
QII friends back in the World Cup. And I guess
my inter LW opportunity as well came from just having
fun and I wasn't really trying to get anywhere. It
was just simply just having fun with my friends, and
I think that's when I played my best footing.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, what a great approach. Did it ever feel of
any stage that I as though you might not be
able to get back to the top again?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I know, definitely.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Like I honestly, when I did my last knee, I
think it was like my fourth operation. I think I
was twenty one at the age or twenty two, maybe
twenty two. I was kind of done with playing competitively,
if I'm being honest, I was kind of like, that's
me done.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
I've been to focus on a proper career at that stage.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
But it wasn't until one of my mates, Kelly Alexander,
she was kind of like, hey, do you want to
come play? Like I think it was b grade at
that stage, like do you just want to come play league?
And at that stage I hadn't played it before, and
I was kind of like, you know what, I'm kind
of getting bored of this life. I'm just like sitting
on the sideline and like just gymming for fun. So
(06:58):
I just honestly just got back in for fun and
that's how it all started. So I think I probably
owe my friends a lot for getting me back into
the game.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Amazing you certainly do. We all do, I think for
having you where you are at the moment. So the
NRLW you've obviously been there with the Knights. How much
do you think playing in that competition has improved you
as a rugby league player?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Oh, it's been massive.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
I think last year moving over to the Knights was
a pivotal part of my career. I think I wouldn't
be where I am today if it weren't for that opportunity.
Just I think the competitiveness and just the resources that
they have and the coaches that they have, it's just
different to club Foot you back home.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I think that was the massive change. You just learned
so much.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
You're surrounded by so much talent and like people. I
was with Tamika Upton and she taught me heaps and
just was willing to share her knowledge and I think
that's where I grew the most.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
And your tackle of the Year at the dle Ems
as well.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yeah, that was kind of a surprise. I think I
was just in the right moment at the right time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh man, so humble, so humble, and of course were
not Warriors are coming back into the NRLW as well.
Any chance we might see you in a Warrior's jersey
at some stage in the future.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I think yes, like definitely down the track.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I'd love to come back home and sort of be
back with my family and back where I.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Was born and raised.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
And it'd be awesome because my brothers both played there,
so I think I would love to eventually find my.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Way back home.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Well, I think a lot of people over the side
of the Tasman would love that as well. In the meantime, though,
you've got this game against Australia to focus on and
We really appreciate you taking the time for a chat
to us. All the best in the final.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
No, thank you so much, really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
No, I appreciate you joining us. Abby Things indeed Abbie
Roach there Kiwi Fern's Center Australia are their opposition, the
jill Use Team to four this afternoon as they look
to defend the Pacific champ title that they won a
year ago.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk said B we can from midday or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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