April 12, 2025 • 6 mins
The coach of the Blues women, Willie Walker, says last night's victory was still a little too close for comfort.
An early 12-0 deficit and a late red card weren’t enough to prevent the defending champions from topping a strong Matatū side, clinging on to a 26-19 win at Eden Park.
Walker joined Piney to discuss further.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
By an early twelve nil deficit and a late red
card not enough to prevent the Blues from edging Mata
to twenty six nineteen in an excellent final at Eden
Park last night. Blues coach Willie Walker is with us
back to back. Will he congratulations as the second more
satisfying than the first or they both equally satisfying.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I think they're pretty similar in terms of where they rank.
Are obviously a different group to the crew we had
last year, but it's still special in the same breath.
We worked really hard for it. The girls week really
hard last night and we were put under pressure early
on from much to two, but we stuck him there
(00:53):
and we talked about that at half time that we
had to play through eighty minutes to get a result
in we came out on top.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So yeah, yeah, Master two did start better, didn't they? Twelve?
Narly head after twenty minutes? Any reason for the slow
slow start from your site?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now? I think we were starved a ball and much
too held onto it for long periods and that's first
twenty minutes, so we knew though, that if we got
hold of the board and we showed that we had
two scrums I think, scored two tries kind of back
to back, and we knew that was going to be
the case, and once we were able to build a
(01:29):
few phases and create a few opportunities, yeah, you know,
we kind of pulled away a little bit at the end,
but it's still a little bit too tight for my
for my liking, I.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Want to get to the closing stages in a moment.
But when you were down and then came back, how
big are your experienced heads out there when you know,
when when cool heads and experience are required.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, huge, I think. But it wasn't just our experienced
girls that stepped up. You know, we've got a young
girl at the back of Braxton again share some special
moments as well. So just across the board, just really
happy was the way obviously everybody performed and contributed to
what was a successful season.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, what a moment for your teenage fullback Braxton sign
and McGee. Ten minutes to go, she goes to lead
to the field to score a try. She's a pretty
special talented yes she is.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think we talked last night around generational players. Obviously
we've got a number of those in our team, and
it's quite a cool feeling. But perhaps somebody obviously starting
out her career footing it with the likes of pusha Woodman,
who obviously her accolades speak for themselves. It's a special
(02:45):
place to be and I know that these young these
young ladies are really enjoying that opportunity to be alongside
some of the legends of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So how were the emotions as Mutta to attack your
line late on while you were down to fourteen players.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, she was pretty tense. I think up obviously up
in the box, which talked about a half time we
needed to be disciplined, especially around that breakdown area, and
the girls just did beat showed a lot of hard
and we talked around how if we needed inspiration, just
look around at the circle and the people across from
(03:22):
you and and just dig and work hard for each other.
And that's what they did. It was really awesome to see.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I know you were firm favorites going in, you know,
top qualifiers, home advantage, that sort of thing, But did
you get the challenge you expected from Matatu last night?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, we definitely did. We we knew that they were well,
they were a quality side, a number of black fans
in there. They obviously beat us last time around, so
we knew we'd be in for a tough old night
and finals for these a little bit different to the rest.
So everybody listened their game and we just needed to
make sure that we controlled as much as we could
(03:56):
around our own stuff, and and you know, we got
the dunce of the ball on the night.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I try to ask about Carlos Spencer to who's obviously
part of your coaching group. I saw him cheering Braxton Honors.
She was sprinting down the field. A couple of expletives
in there, if I read his lips correctly as well,
I have you enjoyed having Evan Carlos Spencer as part
of your crew.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I'm obviously very lucky to have somebody off Carlos's experience
in Elkin, just the way he sees the game, you know,
his vision and his innovation. I think it's invaluable his experience,
and you know, the girls really thrive on that knowledge. Yeah,
(04:38):
he gets a little bit tense in the box, mate,
It's it's for sure. But well, I actually had to
get him off the sideline from last year wasn't allowed
to back down there, so it's a lot easier to keep
control of the bot.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
That's so good. And of course now you meet the
Warratas on Thursday, the first crossover match between the New
Zealand and Australian champions. How much you're looking forward to
that game?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah's huge, I think I think the whole idea of it,
the opportunity for the exposure of what potentially openly looks
like next year. If we can you know, involve the
Aussies and grow this competition too to what it needs
to be to be able to continue to improve the
game for these ladies is something special and we're looking
(05:21):
forward to it again. It's just a different challenge. We
get used to playing these same teams every year, but
to be able to play against an Australian side who
will bring something different, it's really exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Where is that game being played, will he?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's going to be at North Other Stadium seven five
seven five North Other Stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Good stuff. We'll put a ring around that. But you
still managed to have a well you and the team
managed to celebrate a little bit last night, even with
that that game coming up Thursday.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, we had a little b brief and then yeah
we are. I mean, we understand that we've got a
bit of work to do before then, but we've you know,
the girls deserve to to celebrate what has been a
really tough season and to the main goal was to
(06:08):
win the Soap Pickie Final, and you know they deserve
all the opportunity they can to have a couple of
quiet lemonades and reflect on what they've actually achieved.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Absolutely they do, as do you. Congratulations on going back
to back, Willy, Thanks for the chat this afternoon. All
the best against the Warritas on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Jeeers, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
By an early twelve nil deficit and a late red
card not enough to prevent the Blues from edging Mata
to twenty six nineteen in an excellent final at Eden
Park last night. Blues coach Willie Walker is with us
back to back. Will he congratulations as the second more
satisfying than the first or they both equally satisfying.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I think they're pretty similar in terms of where they rank.
Are obviously a different group to the crew we had
last year, but it's still special in the same breath.
We worked really hard for it. The girls week really
hard last night and we were put under pressure early
on from much to two, but we stuck him there
(00:53):
and we talked about that at half time that we
had to play through eighty minutes to get a result
in we came out on top.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
So yeah, yeah, Master two did start better, didn't they? Twelve?
Narly head after twenty minutes? Any reason for the slow
slow start from your site?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now? I think we were starved a ball and much
too held onto it for long periods and that's first
twenty minutes, so we knew though, that if we got
hold of the board and we showed that we had
two scrums I think, scored two tries kind of back
to back, and we knew that was going to be
the case, and once we were able to build a
(01:29):
few phases and create a few opportunities, yeah, you know,
we kind of pulled away a little bit at the end,
but it's still a little bit too tight for my
for my liking, I.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Want to get to the closing stages in a moment.
But when you were down and then came back, how
big are your experienced heads out there when you know,
when when cool heads and experience are required.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Yeah, huge, I think. But it wasn't just our experienced
girls that stepped up. You know, we've got a young
girl at the back of Braxton again share some special
moments as well. So just across the board, just really
happy was the way obviously everybody performed and contributed to
what was a successful season.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, what a moment for your teenage fullback Braxton sign
and McGee. Ten minutes to go, she goes to lead
to the field to score a try. She's a pretty
special talented yes she is.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think we talked last night around generational players. Obviously
we've got a number of those in our team, and
it's quite a cool feeling. But perhaps somebody obviously starting
out her career footing it with the likes of pusha Woodman,
who obviously her accolades speak for themselves. It's a special
(02:45):
place to be and I know that these young these
young ladies are really enjoying that opportunity to be alongside
some of the legends of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
So how were the emotions as Mutta to attack your
line late on while you were down to fourteen players.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, she was pretty tense. I think up obviously up
in the box, which talked about a half time we
needed to be disciplined, especially around that breakdown area, and
the girls just did beat showed a lot of hard
and we talked around how if we needed inspiration, just
look around at the circle and the people across from
(03:22):
you and and just dig and work hard for each other.
And that's what they did. It was really awesome to see.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I know you were firm favorites going in, you know,
top qualifiers, home advantage, that sort of thing, But did
you get the challenge you expected from Matatu last night?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, we definitely did. We we knew that they were well,
they were a quality side, a number of black fans
in there. They obviously beat us last time around, so
we knew we'd be in for a tough old night
and finals for these a little bit different to the rest.
So everybody listened their game and we just needed to
make sure that we controlled as much as we could
(03:56):
around our own stuff, and and you know, we got
the dunce of the ball on the night.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I try to ask about Carlos Spencer to who's obviously
part of your coaching group. I saw him cheering Braxton Honors.
She was sprinting down the field. A couple of expletives
in there, if I read his lips correctly as well,
I have you enjoyed having Evan Carlos Spencer as part
of your crew.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
I'm obviously very lucky to have somebody off Carlos's experience
in Elkin, just the way he sees the game, you know,
his vision and his innovation. I think it's invaluable his experience,
and you know, the girls really thrive on that knowledge. Yeah,
(04:38):
he gets a little bit tense in the box, mate,
It's it's for sure. But well, I actually had to
get him off the sideline from last year wasn't allowed
to back down there, so it's a lot easier to keep
control of the bot.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
That's so good. And of course now you meet the
Warratas on Thursday, the first crossover match between the New
Zealand and Australian champions. How much you're looking forward to
that game?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah's huge, I think I think the whole idea of it,
the opportunity for the exposure of what potentially openly looks
like next year. If we can you know, involve the
Aussies and grow this competition too to what it needs
to be to be able to continue to improve the
game for these ladies is something special and we're looking
(05:21):
forward to it again. It's just a different challenge. We
get used to playing these same teams every year, but
to be able to play against an Australian side who
will bring something different, it's really exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Where is that game being played, will he?
Speaker 3 (05:36):
It's going to be at North Other Stadium seven five
seven five North Other Stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Good stuff. We'll put a ring around that. But you
still managed to have a well you and the team
managed to celebrate a little bit last night, even with
that that game coming up Thursday.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, we had a little b brief and then yeah
we are. I mean, we understand that we've got a
bit of work to do before then, but we've you know,
the girls deserve to to celebrate what has been a
really tough season and to the main goal was to
(06:08):
win the Soap Pickie Final, and you know they deserve
all the opportunity they can to have a couple of
quiet lemonades and reflect on what they've actually achieved.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Absolutely they do, as do you. Congratulations on going back
to back, Willy, Thanks for the chat this afternoon. All
the best against the Warritas on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Jeeers, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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