Full Show Podcast: 26 April 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB. The only place to discuss the biggest
sports issues on and afterfield. It's all on Weekend Sport
with Jason Vain on your home of Sport U Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hello, good afternoon, Kyna, and welcome into the Saturday edition
of Weekend Sport on News Talks EDB, April twenty six.
I hope the long weekend's going well, if in fact
you are enjoying one. I'm Jason Pine show producers. Today
is Bevan du We're here until three talking sport. Last
night at Cracker in christ Church Tower about a fact

(00:47):
take you here's.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Top tea, top tea.

Speaker 4 (00:52):
I think there's gonna be any doubt about that one.
I was in an away and that they don't argue
with bed.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Time on his chest, left there and did the for.

Speaker 5 (01:01):
Everyone to say.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Here a couple of tries for Adam Poppy last night.
He's on the show this hour. If you were there
on love to get the gauge from yours to how
it was, But the last time they play there at
that stadium, but next year and the brand new digs
in christ Church she'll be the warrior is playing down
there here. So christ Church based league fans be keen
to hear your thoughts on last night and in fact
anybody who watched the game. The Chiefs also doing the

(01:24):
damage at the unfamiliar surroundings of Bay Oval last night.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
A boy gets the head going he's taken centimeters short
of the line. Nawa fancies himself at the half becks
of ten other back Jacob Daniel runner.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Under the sixth ye fifty six points on the force
last night for the Chiefs. Josh Jacob excellent game, I
thought at first five is on the show, also checking
with Chiefs CEO Simon Grafis as part of our journey
around the Super Rugby boardrooms. Not such good news for
the Blues and Brisbane last night.

Speaker 4 (01:54):
The Rolling Mall, it's.

Speaker 6 (01:56):
Got two within six meters of the Blues line.

Speaker 5 (01:59):
This will be the game.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
They've got to stop it.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
The Rolling Mall.

Speaker 4 (02:03):
Oh, it's charging.

Speaker 7 (02:04):
Towards the Blues line.

Speaker 8 (02:06):
The line try the Reds will secure.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
The points they did. Indeed, So Rugby on the show
this afternoon. First Up today, though, the big story this
week was a groundbreaking new partnership for New Zealand Cricket.
They have joined forces with the financial backers of a
new franchise in North America's Major League Cricket. That's a
competition with a value of at least two hundred million dollars.
The new team going to make their debut in the

(02:30):
twenty twenty seven season. The first time a full member
of the International Cricket Council has partnered with a franchise
in a top level professional cricket league. So what does
it all mean? New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott winning on
the show shortly your thoughts Very welcome on this as
well other matters around today. The World Snooker Championships are on.

(02:52):
We'll get you to the UK for the latest from
the Crucible, Adam Peacock out of Australia and US sporting
matters as well after two, the NFL Draft and the
NBA Playoffs, speaking of which that's part of the live sport.
While we're only at this afternoon, the NBA playoffs continue.
We'll keep eyes on these for you. Magic v. Celtics.
This is best of seven, of course, the Celtics lead

(03:14):
to nil after the first two games. Game three is
an Orlando into the second quarter and the Magic forty
four forty over the Celtics. Also today the Pacers and
the Bucks. The Pacers are two nil up in this
best of seven series. Game three just underway in Milwaukee,
but later on Timberwolves Lakers. That series tied at one apiece.

(03:34):
Game three one thirty this afternoon in Minneapolis, closer to home,
own New Zealan National Basketball League one or two Jets
against the New Indian Panthers won thirty. Will keep eyes
on that and Chatham Cup football bunch of first round
ties to keep tabs on as well. So plenty happening.
We would love for you to join the show though,
if you would like to, oh, eight hundred and eighty

(03:55):
ten eighty, we'll get you throw on the phone nine two,
nine to two for your text messages emails into Jason
at newstalksb dot co dot NZ. Just gone ten past midday.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
The Voice of Sport on your home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Van and GJ. Gunn homes New Zealand's
most trusted own builder News talks'd be Yes.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Indeed, groundbreaking new partnership for New Zealand Cricket was announced
on Thursday, New Zealand Cricket have joined forces with the
financial backers of a new franchise in North America's Major
League Cricket competition. That competition has an estimated value of
at least two hundred million dollars now. The new team,

(04:39):
which is yet to be formally named or have their
location confirmed, will debut in the Major League Cricket twenty
twenty seven season. Great pleasure to welcome into the show
New Zealand Crickets CEO Scott Winning. Scott, thanks for taking
the time for a chat this afternoon. How did this
all come about and what was the rationale behind it?

Speaker 9 (05:01):
Well, look, initially, the thinking came about last year when
we were putting together our five year strategic plan and you know,
there was a realization that on the back of the
potential leaner squeeze on broadcast revenues and ICC distributions which
New Zealand Cricket is so heavily reliant on, that we

(05:23):
needed to start looking to try and diversify way and
find other new revenue streams and one of those the
idea that came up was looking at, you know, potentially
providing our high performance services into a league such.

Speaker 10 (05:41):
As the m l C.

Speaker 9 (05:43):
And earning some essentially service revenues on the back of that.
That then evolved to thinking, while if we're going to
do that, perhaps we also look at some sort of
equity stake in whatever franchise we might be providing those
services to. So then that was a catalyst for approaching

(06:04):
the founders of Major Lead Cricket about four months ago
to essentially offer up our high performance service services team,
and that then quickly sort of moved very very quickly forward.
Is that they they themselves that actually have been thinking
about the approaching New Zealand Cricket because you know, our

(06:24):
high performance unit and the success of our high performance
unit and our teams is obviously well known, but I've
actually been thinking about approaching us also. So it's all
saturated very quickly to this point where we've signed the partnership,
you know, to essentially for two things. One is providing
these high performance services and secondly, you know, potentially taking

(06:45):
equity stake in the franchise.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
Okay, so there's two parts to this as I understand it.
It allows you to diversify your revenue streams, but also
to create opportunities for New Zealand' high performance staff and players.
So can we look at both things. First of all,
how beneficial Scot is this to your balance sheet?

Speaker 9 (07:04):
This would be very beneficial. You know, we're talking about
receiving you know, seven figure sum and what is essentially
services revenue, and that is by providing our the high
performance unit to this franchise. There's also some down potential
downstream benefits on top of that, such as you know,

(07:26):
providing an opportunity for these the other franchise players from
from the US and Canada to actually come down and
train in New Zealand over our summer. That would be
a separate arrangement. And then there's also the opportunity to
you know, to to help them with building their stadiums
and developing cricket infrastructure in the US. So again sort

(07:49):
of additional opportunities for us.

Speaker 10 (07:51):
To earn revenue there.

Speaker 9 (07:54):
And what it also means is, you know, there is
a pathway and an opportunity for our high performance team
you know, coaches, managers, physios, et cetera, who actually go
and experience working in and building you know, an overseas
franchise and thereby that will also you know, although there

(08:14):
are no commitments around our players. They will need to
be separately contracted. There is an expectation that there will
be a very heavy New Zealand influence in this particular franchise,
just as there is becoming in the Major League cricket
across the board.

Speaker 2 (08:33):
So just to clarify the revenue, the seven figure some
you talked about there, Scott who who pays New Zealand Cricket.

Speaker 9 (08:42):
So the franchise will pay New Zealand Cricket for us
providing basically a high performance unit to the franchise, and
that higherformance unit will be made up of New Zealand
Cricket staff.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
So just coaches or does that include players as well?

Speaker 5 (09:00):
No, it doesn't.

Speaker 9 (09:01):
That part doesn't include players. That includes coaches, managers, physio
who is you know, psychologists, et cetera. The player element
will be on top of that. So if our players
sign contracts with that franchise, that'll be a separate arrangement.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
Gotcha. Okay, so you just in a pardon the ignorance,
but I just want to make sure where we'll get
this right. So New Zealand Cricket, it's complicated, especially for
somebody like me. Me are So New Zealand Cricket hasn't
you haven't bought a stake in this team.

Speaker 9 (09:37):
No, So, in addition to us providing those services, we
have an opportunity to buy a stake in the team
and that and the the consideration for that for that
stake in the team will be a mixture of cash
that New Zealand Cricket puts up, but also part of

(09:58):
the payment for providing those high performances services will be
in the form of what what you term sweet equity, So,
in other words, will be getting paid cash class equity
to provide those services. Gotcha, So that is that complicated warfware?

Speaker 2 (10:17):
No, no, no, no, no, I no, I get that,
I get the general jest. I mean, as I say,
I know, I know it's twofold. There's obviously the opportunity
is about for the players, which I'm going to chat about
in a sec. But yeah, So, so one we can
tick off is this is this is beneficial financially for
New Zealand Cricket. Let's get to the players. Yeah, I mean,
how many players do you foresee playing for the new franchise?

(10:39):
Will it be four or five? Half a dozen?

Speaker 11 (10:41):
More?

Speaker 5 (10:43):
Yeah?

Speaker 9 (10:43):
I mean there can be a maximum five overseas players
in each email team, so you know, there's no guarantee.
It might be that this franchise you know, wants to
have you know, some Australians playing as well, but you know,
our expectation is that this there will be heavy New
Zealand influence because you know it's gonna be New Zealand
coaches and support stuff. We'll also be encouraging you know,

(11:07):
New Zealand players to play for other MLC franchises. You know,
this is not a New Zealand team so to speak,
but a New Zealand theme team. And the opportunity, as
we said, is to support Major League Cricket becoming you know,
a bigger and more lucrative tournament, thereby opening up lots

(11:29):
of opportunities or our players across the board in you know,
a bigger and more good tournament in the time of
the year that doesn't conflict with the New Zealand home season.

Speaker 2 (11:43):
That's the key. But at the end then, isn't it
that's the key? But there at the end that this
won't conflict with with players turning out in front of
New Zealand crowds during the New Zealand home summer exactly.

Speaker 9 (11:55):
And the only time there would be a conflict is
when we're you know, potentially touring the West Indies or
England or you know, another country in northern Hemisphere, at
which point players are essentially contracted. Their obligations will be
played for New Zealand first and foremost, but otherwise, you know,
we're again trying to create opportunities for our players to

(12:18):
play in leagues at times that do not conflict with
our summer, and so thereby, you know, they are going
to be in New Zealand playing for New Zealand. We're
playing for New Zealand may in our summer.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
Is there any danger that you're exposing more New Zealand
players to the eyeballs of other T twenty franchises and
competitions around the world.

Speaker 9 (12:41):
I mean, look, the reality is that that's how it is.
We you know, we need to recognize that, you know,
New Zealand players are attractive to other leagues and franchises,
and look, we actively want to encourage that. We just
don't want to encourage it to the detriment of them
signing central contracts. So the best case scenario for us

(13:04):
is that players are essentially contracted, but we are helping
provide them with with other opportunities during parts of the
year where New Zealand is not playing to top up
their earnings.

Speaker 5 (13:17):
And it's fair to.

Speaker 9 (13:18):
Say, you know, black Caps of today and also the
White Terms, but particularly Black Caps, are you know, able
to earn significant sums of money still being contracted to
New Zealand because we give them the opportunity to play
in these overseas leagues as well.

Speaker 2 (13:36):
What does this mean for the average New Zealand cricket fan,
Apart from obviously, you know, hopefully having most of our
best players playing in the home summer, That is that
the major benefit to the New Zealand cricket fan, the
average fan.

Speaker 9 (13:48):
Yeah, it's and it's you know, the fact that we're
generating extra revenue to basically invest in our game back
in New Zealand. So essentially any revenue that we that
we get from this venture, whether it be by service
revenue or dividends, potentially will be getting invested back into
New Zealand, back into community cricket, back into pathways and

(14:12):
back into high performance. So that's that should be seen
as a huge benefit for our fans. Also you know,
we'd like to think it will create a bit of
an interest in you know, this franchise in Major League
Cricket and also Major League Cricket itself. You know that
was shown on Sky last season and the timing of

(14:33):
Major League Cricket is actually pretty good for New Zealand
cricket fans.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
We don't know where it's going to be based yet.

Speaker 9 (14:41):
No, I mean the two for twenty twenty seven. The
two places are potentially talking about Toronto or Atlanta, and
actually Las Vegas has been mentioned, so that's still to
be confirmed. Twenty thirty one. I think there's a strong
desire for that to be in San Francisco, but again

(15:03):
that's you know, that's all still be established. The key
point it needs to be in a major metropolitan area
in North America to make it work.

Speaker 2 (15:15):
Scott. I know you've done a lot of media this
week and explain this to a number of people. Thanks
for explaining it to our audience this afternoon, and we
look forward to tracking the progress towards twenty twenty seven.
Thanks for your time as always.

Speaker 10 (15:27):
My pleasure.

Speaker 9 (15:27):
Thanks s having me on as always, good.

Speaker 2 (15:29):
On your Scott. Thanks day, Scott, winning their CEO of
New Zealand Cricket. So I hope that's wrapped some context
around this for you in terms of what it means.
I think the back end of that was probably the
most valuable in terms of why they're doing it. Okay,
First of all, money. Of course, any revenue stream for
any sporting organization needs to be considered, and often it's

(15:52):
the traditional ones when it comes to professional sporting organizations. Broadcast, sponsorship,
ticket revenue. Okay, so none of those three are at
play here. From what I can understand, New Zealand Cricket
isn't buying a starf in this. They're not going to
get any broadcast revenue, they're not going to get any
sponsorship money, they're not going to get any ticket revenue.
But what they are going to get is money for

(16:14):
services provided by, as Scott Wenning called it, the high
Performance Unit, not players, coaching staff, etc. So that's an
exchange of services by New Zealand Cricket for money coming
back the other way. Seven figure sum, all right, So
money coming into our coffice has to be a good thing.
The second part of that is probably the more important

(16:36):
one as far as we as sports fans are concerned,
and that is that this won't be to the detriment
of our home summer, because in the summer just pasted.
As we already know, there were a couple of players
who decided they wouldn't play domestically, not take up a

(16:57):
central contract because they had an opportunity to play in
the South African T twenty franchise league. Devon Conway and
Kane Williamson were the two who were elected not to
pick up central contracts because they had opportunities to play
in South Africa. Clearly, what New Zealand Cricket are hoping
here is that there'll be players who, if they had

(17:18):
to choose between franchise opportunities, would choose Major League Cricket
because it happens in the middle of the year outside
of our summer. It happens in June and July, so
it doesn't conflict at all with the New Zealand summer.
That's what New Zealand Cricket are hoping in terms of
the player opportunities here. They get the money, the revenue

(17:41):
that's a big tick any revenue at the moment, and
have often said on the show that you cannot take
anything off the table when it comes to things like
revenue streams, innovation, looking to attract people to your games, etc.
So clearly New Zealand Cricket have looked outside outside of
the traditional revenue streams, ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast revenue, that sort

(18:06):
of thing your thought to welcome on this, Oh, eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty nine two nine two. If
you'd like to send a text any questions that you
might have, I'll try and answer them. I think Scott
when it was pretty you know, pretty detailed in his
explanation of it to the like I say, to the

(18:27):
average New Zealand cricket fan, this this initially doesn't mean
a heck of a lot. What it might mean is
that this new franchise, when it does come into being
in twenty twenty seven, becomes our team that we you know,
that we we watch it, that we watch this team
and it becomes our team, and maybe we buy some
merchandise and maybe it becomes a you know, a team

(18:50):
that we follow. Because there is a New Zealand's connection
to it, the other part of it, and it won't
we won't be able to quantify this until the team
is up and running. But there will be players, like
I say, who have the choice of playing in a
bunch of different T twenty leagues, and they may four

(19:11):
go playing in the South African one, which is in
our summer, if they've got an opportunity in Major League cricket.
That is what immediately springs to mind for me. So
a guy like Devon Conway might say, Yeah, I've got
the opportunity to go to South Africa and I've got
the opportunity to go to Major League cricket. I don't
have to do both. I still want to be centrally

(19:33):
contracted by New Zealand, so I'll go and play Major
League cricket, which is with the blessing of New Zealand Cricket,
and take up a central contract. That's how I kind
of see it, Have I got? I mean? Is this
how you understand it as well? Keen for your thoughts. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty is our number nine

(19:53):
two nine two. If you would prefer to correspond by text,
We're back with more of your calls in a moment
on Weekend Sport twelve twenty six.

Speaker 5 (20:01):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (20:02):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekends fort Jason Pain and GJ. Gunnomes New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, News Talks, AB.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
News Talks at B and Weekend Sport coming up huff
Past twelve or twelve twenty nine. If we want to
be precise to the phones at a moment of eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty. If you want to have
your say on New Zealand Cricket's new partnership with North
America's Major League Cricket and the new franchise which will
come into being in twenty twenty seven, Chris says, are
we had a lot more players than just those two

(20:34):
missing Black Cabs games due to franchise Cricket over the summer, Santna,
et cetera that last year as we played a second
string team. What about the massive unavailability due to other
T twenty comps around. Yeah, you're talking IPL there, Chris. Obviously, Yes, absolutely,
they're never going to stem the flow entirely, but at
least they're giving it a crack. At least they're saying, right,

(20:56):
here's one which we will endorse for you. And I
mean they're never The IPL is always going to be
one that takes a lot of our players away. Thankfully.
Where it falls in the calendar is what April May.
It's on at the moment, isn't it. It's it's at
the back end of our summer. So at the you know,
anyone who plays in the IPL is going to miss

(21:18):
the back end of our summer. But what your hope
is that the other ones around, the other franchise leagues
that might turn the heads of New Zealand players might
you know, be it might be a New Zealand player
might look at it and say, you know what, I'm
not going to play there. I'll play in the Major
League Cricket one because we've got a bit of an
association there. That's where I'll boost my income and I'll

(21:43):
ring fence the New Zealand summer for cricket for New
Zealand teams be at the Black Caps or my province.
Maybe that's roast tinted, Maybe that's a bit naive, but
like I say, at least they're giving it a crack. Hello, Phil, Okay,
good things, peel.

Speaker 11 (22:03):
Good nice one, nice one. Yeah, Like initially I thought
it sounded quite good, you know, because I've just listened
to you talking to the fella and that about it,
and I might be away off the mark here because
just when you were talking further about it just a
minute or two ago, I just had a we thought

(22:24):
when you mentioned like Conway, Devin Conway and Kane Williamson,
I thought, and I like, I said, I may be
way off the mark with this, because I would like
to think like the scenario that you've just painted, and
you said maybe you're looking at it with raised tinted
glasses a bit, well, I like to think that that
would be the scenario that the New Zealand players would

(22:46):
be thinking like that.

Speaker 10 (22:49):
But then I sort of had this we thought.

Speaker 11 (22:51):
I thought, maybe in this way I might be off
the mark. But I thought maybe guys like Conway and
Williamson might be thinking, no, I won't go and playing
Erica because the competition might be good enough with them,
if you know what I mean. I'd rather go to

(23:12):
South Africa play amongst the hardened players and the test
players that you know that play against if they were
going to play a Test against South Africa, if they
came here, and they'd rather keep their skills home by
playing what they might perceive as harder and top harder
and tougher opposition.

Speaker 5 (23:32):
Do you think I've.

Speaker 11 (23:33):
Sort of got a little bit of a point there,
or I'm thinking yes, way.

Speaker 2 (23:38):
No, I think you've definitely I think you've definitely got
a point, Phil, And I guess it remains to be
seen how big Major League cricket becomes in that regard,
because you're right, every player wants to test themselves against
the best opposition, and the more players there are of
high caliber in any competition, the more attractive it's going

(24:02):
to be to broadcasters and fans, and therefore the money
goes up and up. Devin Conways, actually you're really played
in Major league cricket. He's been involved in it, and
I'm just running an eye down the list of players
who who have been involved in it, you know, in
the past, and it ain't too bad. It's certainly not
ipl quality, and I'd probably be hard pressed to compare

(24:23):
it to the South African one, which from memory was
mainly South African based players with with you know, with
a few imports sprinkled in there. But I guess what
you'd hope to answer your question, if again we're going
to be roastinted about this, then what you'd hope is that,
is that a higher caliber of player continues to be
attracted to Major League cricket.

Speaker 6 (24:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (24:45):
Yeah, that's what I'm hyping because in terms of like,
like the fellow said that you were interviewing, it's great
and you've mentioned it too. It's great for New Zealand
cricket in terms of garning them garnering them revenue, you know,
for their organization and that like it's not going to

(25:05):
the player, is like the money that they're getting from
the deal, but it's going back into the if I
understand it right, it's going back into the actual cricket
from New Zealand cricket organization and and that. So yeah,
it's great for that, you know, for boosting the money.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Yeah, and the players themselves, Yeah, the players themselves will
be paid by the franchises. And look, that's the other
thing for is that is that not every New Zealand
player who's playing Major League cricket will play for this
New Zealand associated side. I think Scott Winning said there
were only you only allowed five imports in there anyway,
so if there were you know, if there were a

(25:41):
dozen who wanted to play, then clearly they can't all
play for this one franchise be interested to know too,
you know, because Major League Cricket, these these teams won't
just want New Zealand players, they'll want high quality players
from all countries. So you know, it's it's not as
though there'll be you know, like a I'm not sure

(26:01):
that every black cap would jump to the front of
the queue if you hit my drift.

Speaker 11 (26:05):
Yeah, yeah, I know. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah
I do get your drink. Yeah, because yeah, just I
was just primarily thinking of it from the New Zealand
players and point of viewer. And like you say, if
you're a sports person, you don't want to play easy
beats or people that aren't going to give you much competition, because,
like you know, if you play in someone who's better
than you, you subconsciously I know, as a golfer, you know,

(26:29):
and person who plays golf, I know that. And like
they say, sports people will say that you subconsciously actually
without even probably know, And it's lift your game yourself,
you know, because the last thing you want is to go, oh,
well we smash so and say well we bet I
bet so, and say but if you know that you're
a better player, there's not much satisfaction or victory in that,

(26:52):
you know, glory in that and you don't learn much
either sort of thing in terms of pushing the technique
and getting better. So yeah, but like you say, that's
a that's a good point that they go be probably
looking at other top players around the world from countries
like I was in South Africa there as well.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
So yeah, yeah, good stuff, Phil, good to chat as always, mate,
thanks for calling it. I just like the fact that
New Zealand Cricket has and all all ICC me memberinations,
anybody with skin in the cricket game has to realize,
as New Zealand Cricket do and have that T twenty franchise,

(27:29):
cricket ain't going anywhere. You know, it's not going to
go away. It's only going to grow. And we all
know the old thing about what happens when you stand
in the way of change, you just get run over.
You just get run over the top of So again,

(27:49):
like I say, I'm I admire New Zealand Cricket for
thinking outside the box on this one, for saying, look,
we're not going to stop our players looking for other
opportunities enfranchise legs. What we can do is at least
partner with them in some way, shape or form. On

(28:13):
this one. They're never going to stop players going, and
they're never going to stop you know, players who want
to be you know T twenty specialists, Guys who are
going to just travel the world, playing in all of
these leagues, playing in South Africa, playing in the IPL,

(28:33):
playing in Major League Cricket, you know, the Caribbean Premier League.
There's any number of them now. So you know, you
cannot stand in the way of people's ambition. Some people
are never going to want to be centrally contracted, but
if there's a way of at least keeping a few

(28:58):
tied up in a central contract or you know, the
relationship is there, but there's the T twenty opportunities as well,
then you have to admire it. I think you have
to admire it. Marie says it's better that experienced players
go off to franchise cricket at the back end of
the summer because it gives the new ones opportunities they
might not otherwise have. It was really exciting watching the

(29:20):
new players under Michael Bracewell, and a great change from
some of the same old ones. Marie, I totally agree
with that. It was it was great to get the
chance to watch some of those younger players get an opportunity. Mark,
Hello mate.

Speaker 3 (29:35):
Good afternoon, buddy, Long time no talk.

Speaker 2 (29:37):
There has been a while, Mark, I was beginning to
get a bit worried about you.

Speaker 12 (29:41):
Oh, you know, just getting over cancer, mate, and it's
all going good.

Speaker 2 (29:44):
I'm pleased to hear it, Mark, I am pleased to
hear it.

Speaker 13 (29:50):
With five players, does that mean it says eighteen, so
you can only have five players divided between the eighteens,
or that five players per team per team?

Speaker 12 (30:01):
Okay, so five per team? Yeah, okay, that's yeah, that's
that's not too bad.

Speaker 2 (30:07):
Then it tends to be it tends to be a
rule around these franchises because you know, the country in
which they're based needs to get some you know, some
benefit in terms of opportunities for their own players. So
it tends to be that even the IPL have restrictions.
I believe, I'm not exactly sure of the number, but
there are you know, a huge number of Indian players,
and of course there are millions and millions of them,

(30:29):
the same with the US. They want to they want
to promote the game internally as well, so there'll be
a number of American players playing, which will naturally drop
the standard down. Mark, they're not a cricketing superpower. But yeah,
five five per team.

Speaker 13 (30:44):
Okay, so that could take a lot of players from
New Zealand shores.

Speaker 12 (30:48):
But they're still contracted to New Zealand Cricket.

Speaker 2 (30:52):
Well, yes, that that's the that's the deal. Yeah, because
because the Major League cricket happens in the middle of
the year, when I mean most of the time, there
are no New Zealand cricket commitments apart from I guess
tours to the to the North and such like. Yeah,
they can. They can be contracted to New Zealand Cricket
and with pretty much the blessing of the national body,

(31:13):
go and play Major League cricket as well.

Speaker 3 (31:15):
Okay, now that's all good.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
No, thank you for that, Buddy, Good on your mate.
I'm glad you're keeping well. Mark, keep up the good fight,
my friend. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Now,
we do like to put the spotlight on on lots
of different sports on the show, and here's an opportunity. Actually, Mary,
you want to tell us about your granddaughter. You're a
proud grand grandmum or nana today.

Speaker 14 (31:35):
Yeah, I'm very proud, Granny. I'm here. There's three New
Zealand teams went to the World's Cheerleading Championship in Orlando
and yesterday two teams, one goal for New Zealand, New
Zealand and yeah, our granddaughter was one of them.

Speaker 2 (32:01):
Now I was sent through, Yeah, I was sent through
some information about this yesterday. Funnily enough, Mary, by somebody else.
I don't think it was you using a false name
sending it through to me. But this is this is tremendous.
So this is the World Cheerleading Championships.

Speaker 14 (32:17):
Yeah, how in America?

Speaker 2 (32:19):
Amazing?

Speaker 14 (32:21):
Good old Kiewe. Yeah, you know it was eighteen months
of hard training, trying to you know, spon not sponsorship,
but you know, doing odd jobs earning money. Yep, yeah, yep, amazing.

Speaker 2 (32:41):
Well, Mary, you're right to be proud. What's your what's
your what's your granddaughter's name? We better give her a
special shout out.

Speaker 14 (32:47):
Maddie Deacons World.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Done, Maddie and the rest of your team. Gold medalists
of the World Cheerleading Championships. A couple of golds there.
This is the ICU World Championships. In Orlando, Florida. Like
I said, I got sent some information on this yesterday,
So congratulations to everyone involved. We all know what fundraising
for book trips like this can be, like the Moriad

(33:11):
of car washers and sausage sizzles. Well done to everybody
involved in the two gold medal winning teams. It's twelve
forty two. We'll take a break, come back and get
you inside the Warriors camp. Adam Pompey a couple of
tries last night in game one oh one for him
with the Warriors. Jackson Ford got a couple of tries
too in his fiftieth game for the team and it's

(33:31):
taken the Warriors two five and two for the season,
which is one of their best ever starts to an
NRL campaign. How did the players feel about him? Adam Pompey,
Women come back on News Talks headb.

Speaker 5 (33:42):
It's more than just a game.

Speaker 1 (33:44):
Weekend sport with Jason Tyne and GJ. Gunnomes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (33:50):
News Dogs dB fourteen to one. The Warriors twenty six
twelve winners over the Newcastle Knights in their Anjac Day
NRL fixture in christ Church last night, Tower about it
back take one.

Speaker 5 (34:03):
He is top tea, top tech.

Speaker 15 (34:07):
I think there's gonna be any doubt about that one.

Speaker 16 (34:11):
I was in it away and that they don't argue
with bed time on his chest, left there indented for
everyone to see.

Speaker 2 (34:17):
Yeah, a couple of tries for Adam Pompey, two for
Jackson four, the Warriors running in five tries to one.
They led sixteen nil at halftime, the first time they've
won on Anzac Day since twenty fourteen and five wins
two losses to start the season. That record at the
stage of the season has only been betted once in
their history. That was in twenty eighteen. Adam Pompey joins

(34:40):
us just ahead of flying home. Adam, thanks for your time, mate,
Congratulations on the win last night. How happy do you
think the coaching staff and the playing group were with
the performance and the result in christ Church?

Speaker 16 (34:51):
Yeah, it was good and I thought the boys played
very well and no big occasion done in christ Church
and also had in Zach last night, so I'm glad
that the boys are got up last night.

Speaker 2 (35:05):
So yeah, twice this season you've suffered disappointing defeats. First
game against the Raiders in Vegas, then that lost to
the storm and both times you've bounced back. Really well,
what's behind the resilience and this Warriors team?

Speaker 5 (35:19):
Uh?

Speaker 16 (35:20):
Yeah, I think it's just coming down to our trainings.
No worrying about every day, not not just the game.
But yeah, I think the boys are really training it
hard to take take over them to the next level.
And yeah, which is good.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
So yeah, you've got a prize in nine games against Newcastle.
I'm not sure if you knew that or not, one
of your favorite opponents. What is it about the Knights
that you like so much? Not too sure.

Speaker 16 (35:49):
Yeah, just been putting myself in great positions and who
know the boys? Are you feeding me the chies? So yeah,
I put my hand off for that?

Speaker 2 (35:59):
Why not? Why not? Do you get equal satisfaction though
from being involved in tries for others, you know, like you,
you know, play a pretty key role in and Jackson
Ford's first try last night.

Speaker 16 (36:09):
Yeah nah, he came up with the obviously the nation.
I put up a home born and yeah I went
to go con contested and yeah, lucky enough that Jacko
was in the right spot at the right time. So yeah,
it's good.

Speaker 2 (36:26):
And a couple of tries for him on his fiftieth
appearance as well, so I guess he probably gets the
bragging rights afterwards. Does he gets a couple of tries,
You get a couple of tries. He's but he's got
the louder voice in the changing room awards.

Speaker 16 (36:38):
Yeah, yeah, no, proud to achievement for him, especially fifty
games for the club. It's a big moment. So now
I'm glad that he got over as well. So yeah,
he's feeling happy about that one.

Speaker 2 (36:52):
I bet, I bet, And you brought up a hundred
of course games for the club last weekend. How special
a milestone in a moment was that for you?

Speaker 12 (36:59):
Yeah?

Speaker 16 (36:59):
It was good, especially having a back in Auckland and
friends and family came, which was the best feeling, and
an awesome crowd out there too, So I made my
made my game a bit easier, and yeah it was
pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (37:16):
You look back on your career with the Warriors, you
played mainly in the centers, although you know on the
wing as well, the wing last night, of course, in
the last two or three games. Is that much of
a change. How big a change is it from the
centers to the wing?

Speaker 16 (37:29):
Yeah, I think just more kicking, I guess, And you
know you're dropping back around fourth and tackle, so yeah,
just it doesn't take a bit. It's not like as
no different, but yeah, you're just catching the boar quite
a lot, which is something I'll put my hand off

(37:51):
all the wingers job, And yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:55):
How do you reckon? Look Metcalf going in the seven
Jersey this year?

Speaker 16 (37:59):
Yeah he's going well and the backing them each each
and every day, but is going really well filling a
spot for Shawnee and who know, he's playing a really
good game this season.

Speaker 2 (38:13):
So without wanting to get too carried away, we're only
seven games into the season, of course, but if you
look back a couple of seasons to twenty twenty three,
we all know how successful that that season was and
you played a massive part in that. Of course, doesn't
feel but like twenty twenty three this year.

Speaker 16 (38:29):
Uh yeah, I guess so, especially like I know that
season was the best best season that we probably had
in the Jersey, And yeah, we want to go stip
further than making the Grand Finals. So you know, I'm
back in US this year, And yeah.

Speaker 2 (38:51):
How was the occasion in Christ here? Awesome? On TV?
How was the occasion there last night.

Speaker 5 (38:56):
Yeah, it was good.

Speaker 16 (38:57):
I had a lot of crowd out there, which was
pretty cool. No, first time done in christ Church for myself,
and yeah I'm grateful for that they turned out last night.

Speaker 2 (39:10):
Yeah, good leag fraternity down there and you gave them
a night to remember. Adam, congrats on the win, another
one for the Warriors. You look forward to Magic Round
now against the Cowboys. All the best, mate, Thanks for
taking the time for a chat today. Thank you, Thank
you mate. That's Adam Pompey joining us out of the
Warriors camp. Got to jump on a plane and get home,
but home with the points in their pockets. So well
done to the Warriors last night and a great crowd too.

(39:32):
Really good occasion there last night in christ Church from
what I can see on the telly. We'll take some
calls actually after one. Be particularly keen to chat to
anybody who was there last night and what it was like.
Of course, that's the last time the Warriors will play
at that particular venue, but with the new stadium Tikaha
set to be constructed in time for next season, I

(39:52):
think I read during the week a three year deal
to start with. Anyway, three games over the next three
seasons in christ Church at the new venue, and you'd
have to think, you know, pretty much beyond that if
they go well, and they will, that they'll go back
every ye The Warriors don't actually get back home to
Mount Smart will go Media Stadium until the back end
of May. So next weekend it's magic round. Every team

(40:15):
is in Brisbane. The Warriors taken the Cowboys Saturday nights,
so a week tonight seven point thirty. Then the following
week they're in Woollongong to take on the Dragons. That's Saturday,
May tenth, Saturday May seventeen back at sun Corpse Stadium
and Brisbane to take on the Dolphins. So next home
game is against the Raiders, so a chance for revenge

(40:35):
for what happened in Vegas on the night of Sunday,
May the twenty fifth, five past six. That's the next
time the Warriors have a game at their actual home
of Go Media Stadium. Seven Away from One. News talksb
Back in a moment.

Speaker 1 (40:51):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on eighty Weekends Sports with Jason Hine, News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
Just on four to one after one o'clock Josh Jacob,
who I thought round the cutter terrifically well for the
check last night and their big win over the Western
Force at Bay Oval in Mount Monganu. We good to
see the Chiefs taking a game there. I think it
was a success. Yes, so Josh Jacob after one o'clock,

(41:20):
how did he assess it? And did he ever think
Josh Jacob, you know what, I'm at a franchise where
Damien McKenzie is. Maybe I'd be better off elsewhere. I'm
like at a few games or a few more games
if there's not one of the best first fives in
the world blocking my way to the ten Jersey clearly
decided the Chiefs is the place to be, So I
just wonder about the internal dialogue that went on there.

(41:41):
I asked Josh Jacin that when he joins us after
one o'clock, will keep eyes on the NBA as well.
The Celtics and the Magic going at it in their
third game, the Magic sixty nine to sixty five ahead
coming towards the end of the third quarter.

Speaker 1 (41:56):
The only plays for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies, and the big conversations. It's all on
weekend sport with Jason him on your home of Sport
News Talks. It'd be.

Speaker 2 (42:13):
Welcome in one seventh the time. I'm Jason Pine Bevan
Jura's show producer. Today we're here till three talking sport.
Adam Peacock from across the Tasman in his regular slot
this hour, covering off all things Australian sport, including Oscar Pastre.
I wonder how much cut through he gets over there?
Probably quite a bit. Liam Lawson of course, particular early

(42:35):
on this Formula One season was getting all sorts of
what they used to call colin inches when it came
to newspapers. He's getting lots and lots of exposure. Not
so much now that he's sort of settled into his
career as a full time driver and is just finding
his way. But Oscar Pastre leads the Formula One Drivers
Championship after five rounds the Australians, how much cut through

(42:57):
does he get across there? And other sporting matters from Australia.
Can you hear from you as well this hour? If
you went to the Warriors last night in christ Juch,
what was the occasion like? And in fact Warriors fans
five and two as I mentioned before, we ch had
to Adam Pompey last hour. It is the joint best
ever start to an NRL season by the Warriors. Twenty

(43:20):
eighteen was the other time they went five and two
to start a season, even a couple of years ago,
and twenty twenty three in that magnificent season, they didn't
start that well in the first seven games. So, without
wanting to jinx, it is it our year. Who knows?
Who knows? But we can chat about it, can't. We

(43:40):
just updating you on some live sport. In the NBA Playoffs,
it's the first round, so we're going to break all
these down for you after two o'clock actually, when our
American sports expert Leon Busby joins us. But NBA Playoffs
Magic the Celtics. This is game three in Orlando. The

(44:02):
Celtics lead to nil after the first two games. Art
helped on by their home crowd, no doubt, the Orlando
Magic seventy three points to seventy ahead of the Celtics
nearing the end of the third quarter. So Orlando looking
good there. The other game, which is on right now
is between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers. This

(44:25):
is Game three in Milwaukee, the Pacers have a two
nil lead and lead fifty five forty five coming towards
the end of the second quarter there so the Pacers
looking to take a three nil lead in that particular series.
So we'll keep eyes on those for you. And in fact,
the game underway at one point thirty in Minneapolis as
the Timberwolves play host to the Los Angeles Lakers. But

(44:49):
we start this out with rugby, and for the second
week in a row, the Chiefs showed they are a
second half team to be feed, beating the Force fifty
six twenty two at Bay Oval to move five points
clear at the top of the Super Rugby table.

Speaker 4 (45:06):
Well a show of force from the Chiefs the top
ranked team and Super Rugby Pacific win and not mong
Anui to the tune of fifty six twenty two eight
tries to three in the end.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
Yeah, the Chiefs ran thirty one points in the second half,
having put the Highlanders to the sword in similar circumstances
in the second half last weekend. In the absence of
Damien Mackenzie, who was missing with a minor hand injury,
Josh Jacob started and played the entire game at first
five and was excellent in doing so, he joins us. Now, Josh,

(45:42):
I guess when you put fifty plus on somebody, everybody
would be reasonably happy with that. How do you evaluate
the performance of the side last night at Bayoval?

Speaker 17 (45:53):
Yeah, no, thanks for the intro, mate, very kind words.
In terms of the performance, I think, like you say,
putting fifty points on a team is always a good
luck and I think we really made some good shifts
in the second half that allowed us to put out

(46:13):
a performance that all of us, from coaches and players
could have been proud of, especially for Semasoni's one hundredth game.
It's a awesome player for us and put out a
performance for him like that was just as special. So yeah, and.

Speaker 2 (46:33):
A try for him as well, which is not unusual.
Of course, he normally gets one, doesn't he, So good
to have him get one on the occasion of it
was one hundredth As I mentioned, for the second straight week,
it was the second half that stood out the most.
You won the second half thirty one to seven last night.
You won at thirty three nil against the Highlanders last weekend.
Why do you think the Chiefs are such a good
second half side?

Speaker 17 (46:56):
Yeah, that's a good question, because we keep searching for
I guess that ability to play like that in the
first half is well, but I think the work we're
doing in the first half is kind of what's setting
us up in the second. We're staying true to our

(47:18):
game plan and our systems, and I guess being able
to break your team down over eighty minutes is pretty important.
And almost coming back together at halftime and having maybe
small conversations that we need to have to go out
and say like we're doing the second half has been

(47:41):
really beneficial. So I think, to put it bluntly, just
the work we're doing in the first half and staying
in the fight really and then being able to grind
a team down in the second half is pace evidence.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
The last couple of weeks anyway, certainly has Let's talk
about your performances. You've played every one of the Chiefs
teen games this season, six starts at first, five four
off the bench. You only had four games all last season.
How much are you and enjoying weekend wake out rugby
for the chase?

Speaker 17 (48:10):
Yeah, I'm loving today. It was definitely a goal at
the start of the year just to try and make
as mini MATCHDAYE twenty threes as I possibly could, and
obviously got a bit lucky in a sense at the
start of the year with we not lucky, but Shooter
was away still in Japan, and there was almost an

(48:32):
opportunity there for to get out on the field, which
was awesome for me. And then obviously last night as well,
unfortunately at the expense of Damian Tande in jury. Never
want that, but it kind of allowed me to dig
out there on the field. So yeah, I'm definitely loving

(48:52):
being out there with the boys and just experiencing the
whole season and trying to make an impact when I
can for the team.

Speaker 2 (49:04):
I guess some people in your situation, Josh, might have
looked at the squad and seen Damien McKenzie there and thought,
I'm not going to get a heck of a lot
of opportunity here, and you might have looked elsewhere. Were
you always keen to stay with the Chiefs?

Speaker 17 (49:18):
Yeah, well that was always always the plan when I
just came up last year for the wider group and
then again unfortunately for Trusk, it allowed me to come
in as an injury cover. So yeah, it was definitely
always the plan, And I mean being able to come

(49:40):
to work and learn some one of the if not
the best tin and world rugby at the moment is
as an awesome opportunity. So I think with that, just
making the most of every opportunity, like I say, out
on the field or training to learn and grow my

(50:02):
game as it is really important and that's a chief.
That's an awesome place to be able to try and
do that.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
How has he specifically helped you, Damien?

Speaker 17 (50:15):
And I think just you know, for a teen I
think the more time you get in the settle, the
more easy the game comes or the game slows down
to you. And it's just getting another perspective on what
he might be seen or what he might be feeling,
even when he's not playing, Like last night, I was

(50:38):
asking him at halftime if he had anything. I mean,
it's just those little chats. I think in those small
concept can go a long way and it might just
open up your mind or it might something might just
going to the becky in mind that might pop up
later in the game. So yeah, it's a small chat.
And then just that we all know how good he

(51:02):
is with ball in hands, so him giving me confidence,
it's just to go out and enjoy myself and back
myself has been really awesome as well.

Speaker 2 (51:13):
The Chiefs back line. You look at it, man, it's
stack day, one of the best in the competition at
first five. How tempting is it just to spin it
out every time you get it?

Speaker 17 (51:23):
Yeah, I mean very lucky in the first five position
with the boys in the back line, even our forwards.
There's big names all over the park, so pretty fortunate
position to be in as a teen. And yes it's
very tempting, but there's no hesitation from the boys outside.

(51:44):
I mean, letting them know that they're want the ball,
so it makes my job. It makes my job pretty easy,
and the boys are all up for the book.

Speaker 16 (51:53):
Are you?

Speaker 2 (51:53):
Are you at the at the at the stage though,
where you can call the shots? I mean, as you say,
you look outside, you see Quinta Paiyer, Anton Lennard brown A.
But further out you know, I'm on another way, Shawn Stephenson,
big names. As you say, Are you confident enough though
to call the shots with these guys outside you?

Speaker 17 (52:12):
Yeah, I think I'm in a position now that I am.
I think last year one of our coaches, Marty Burke,
who I worked with closely at the Chiefs kind of
described my year last year as an apprentice year and
now this year, whenever I get an opportunity, it's up
to me to really put my foot down and use

(52:34):
my voice and call the shots that you're saying. But
there're awesome thing is I've got all those people with
a full circle and our back lind that can, I
guess offer their advice or maybe a different opinion, and
then that's also growing my game because they're also seeing

(52:56):
things from a different point of view as well. So
I think, to put it short, I am, but also
I'm not don't shy away from asking for a second
opinion here and here and there from the boys that
I think if the point might be valuable.

Speaker 2 (53:19):
How much of your week are you spending on your
goal kicking?

Speaker 17 (53:24):
Uh, I'd say, well, depending on our week, if it's
a Monday, Monday time, play on Saturday, maybe including captain
from three, two or three times a week.

Speaker 2 (53:37):
Yeah, happy with the with the way you're kicking. I mean,
it's obviously a big part of playing at first five.
You you're happy with your goal kicking?

Speaker 17 (53:47):
Yeah, I think I was quite disappointed in the way
I was goal kicking. The empty c season just gone
and got them to one of those slumps and kind
of just getting back to my routine and things like
that this season. So just all about trusting the process.

(54:10):
And I think I'm in a good place with my
goalkicking there. Even if I'm missing I'm pretty happy with
how I'm striking it. So I think it's just it's
coming back to me. And yeah, i think I'm in
a good place.

Speaker 2 (54:24):
Good stuff, and good to see Wallace and Titi back
out there last night. He's obviously worked hard on his recovery.
Good to see him back on the grass last night.

Speaker 17 (54:33):
Yeah, it was awesome to see Wally Beck and a
few of the other boys too, like Lordie and Trickle
Tea and John and Trusty all back as well. So, man,
I was talking to Wally yesterday morning before the game
and to just hear how excited he was and his

(54:54):
voice and just how keen he was to get out there.
And I think with the first touch of the boy
he ran fifty meters or something. So no, he's an
awesome man and awesome player. So very grateful to Heaven back,
especially when he's in the same team as as yourself. Yeah,

(55:16):
it was some seven back.

Speaker 2 (55:17):
You reckon you guys can win the whole thing.

Speaker 17 (55:21):
Yeah, definitely, the beliefs there and almost that confidence is
there as well. I think we're we started really well
and then I mean we're still playing all right, but
kind of not had a slump, but got into a
bit of a funny gray are and I think we've

(55:43):
just come out of that really nicely in the last
few weeks and just kids taking sticks forward each week
in the right direction to hopefully a final and I
win a championship at the end of the at the
end of the season.

Speaker 2 (55:58):
Congrats on a terrific performance last night from you, Josh,
and the chiefs as well. Really appreciate you taking the
time for a chat this afternoon.

Speaker 17 (56:05):
Mate, n chess mate, really appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (56:08):
I appreciate your time, Josh. Thanks indeed, Josh Jacob there
first chance I think I've had to jet to Josh
Jacob seems like a very level headed young man, doesn't
He doesn't seem to be affected by it all. Would
he be actually be keen for your thoughts on this? Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Would Josh Jacob be
our third first five if we're talking all blacks right now,

(56:31):
Damien McKenzie, Bowden Barrett. Would Josh Jacob be the third one?
I think he probably would be, wouldn't he. You look
around the New Zealand Super Rugby franchises and the players
who are wearing the ten jersey most often. And even
though he's in the same team as Damien McKenzie, he's

(56:51):
actually played ten more than dmac has. He's had six
starts there whereas Damien McKenzie's had the other four and
the ten games they've played this season, and as Josh
jack and there, you know, the start of the season
before Shawn Stephenson came back, it was I guess the

(57:13):
cards fell in his favor a little bit in that
there was, you know, there was a ten to fifteen
gap and Damien McKenzie clearly able to play both. So
he wore the fifteen jumper for the first three games
and then took over once Shawn Stephenson got back. But
I just think he's a yeah, he's a good he's

(57:35):
a very good prospect. Josh Jacob. If you've seen him
play more often than perhaps the rest of us have,
you've been a Chiefs fan for a while, even for
taranak Be. Came to get your thoughts on this, Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Chiefs fans, your you
are notoriously and traditionally reticent to sing your own praises,
But again last night another terrific second half performance. The

(57:59):
loss of the Warrators a couple of weeks ago seems
like a distant memory now. It is quite a quite
a challengeing running though for the Chiefs. I have to say,
you look at who they've got left to play. And
I mentioned the Blues before before one o'clock as are
running for them, and it's not as challenging the Blues

(58:23):
running Force Drewer, Maana Pacifica Waratahs. That's the Blues running.
The Chiefs running Hurricanes, Crusaders Majana Pacifica Highlanders. That is
a lot tougher. And I think the derbies are might
all be away, the traditional derbies, I mean Hurricanes away

(58:46):
next Saturday, Crusaders away the following Saturday, Maana Pacifica at
home once they've had a buy, and then Highlanders away.
That is a tough running for the Chiefs. But I
still think their favorite. You watch the way they play,
they just seem to be and this is probably fairly

(59:07):
self evident. They just seem to be better than everybody else.
And with Wallace Tatiti now coming back, and as Josh
Jacob mentioned there with them coming back and pretty much
straight away doing what we saw Wallace Atiti do so
often last year, running with ball in hand, seemingly like
he'd never been away. When you can add the you know,

(59:28):
the player of the year back into your team for
the run into finals and then finals themselves, you've got
to be favorite, don't you. You got to be definitely
a level headed ten says this text must there's no
piney think you guys from the Hurricanes Rubin Love. I
haven't seen enough of a body of work from Ruben Love.

(59:49):
I have to say I think he'll be in the
All Blacks he was last year. I think we back
there and maybe he'll wear ten for the All Blacks
at some stage. But as a specialist first five eight
Josh Jacob, I thinks your man like what I see
from the guy, oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty,
if you'd like to comment on that, And also are
the Warriors. We didn't get the chance to take too
many calls before one o'clock. We ran out of time,

(01:00:11):
but can take them now. On a couple of issues.
One the Warriors in christ Church, it just looked amazing.
I know it's it's not the same as when you
play somewhere every week, although the Warriors fan base are
great wherever they play, but it just seemed like there's
just an appetite down there for high quality sport of

(01:00:33):
all types. And if you were there last night, how
was it, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty and
if you weren't, but you want to give us your
view on the Warriors as far as their season is concerned.
Five and two joint best ever start after seven games,
joint with twenty eighteen when they were also five and two.

(01:00:54):
They made it to the playoffs that year but didn't
get much further than the first round. From memory, how
do you assess? How do you evaluate where the Warriors are?
Seven games into their season? It still too early to tell.
I don't think it is Seven games is a reasonable
body of work, isn't it. It's a reasonable number of
games to make an assessment, especially, like I said to

(01:01:19):
Adam Pompe before one o'clock, the fact that they bounced
back from disappointment. First up that Raiders game, they you know,
they just flushed it. Beat the Seagles, beat the Roosters,
beat the Tigers, then lost to the Storm after that
horrendous first half. But then bounce back beat the Broncos,
beat the Knights. They've got resilience, They've got bounced back ability.

(01:01:43):
Is it our year? Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty nine, two ninety two if you would like to
correspond by text talking about a Super Rugby and a
bit of NRL and the Warriors. When we come back
on Weekend Sports, the.

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Speaker 1 (01:03:01):
Weekends for it.

Speaker 2 (01:03:03):
On news talks there'd be one thirty talking Warriors and
super Rugby. You are well. You choose Paul Warrior's chat
from you, no doubt?

Speaker 8 (01:03:12):
Yeah, opponent, Yeah, absolutely. Atmosphere fantastic down there.

Speaker 5 (01:03:18):
Last night.

Speaker 8 (01:03:18):
I watched it down at the Viaduct in Auckland and
one of the bars down there and it was it
was going off. The atmosphere was going off there too.
So but you mentioned the word when you were talking
to Adam Pompey. I've been trying to think of words
to sum up where they are at the moment and
you said the word resilient, and to me that.

Speaker 12 (01:03:37):
That's that sums them up.

Speaker 8 (01:03:38):
They just got this resilience about them. It's it's a
never no surrender, you know, like they have, say maybe
in the past. You know, you look back to that
Storm game where they were blown off the park on
the first half and they came back and held the
Storm trialists in the second half, you know, and and
the following week obviously, you know, we touch up teams
like the Broncos and the Roosters, and very very happy

(01:04:01):
with where they're at, you know. And and they're talking
about the interviewed Charms Nickel clock stand and he's had
offers from from England to going under pound, but he
elected to stay here because you know, and I've heard
I've heard them say that they're building on something at
the club. You know, they're building. Something's brewing, something's building.
And it's not just the top side. It's the Harold

(01:04:22):
Matthews that are in the finals below them. It's the
new South Wales Cup. It's a very exciting time for
the club mate.

Speaker 2 (01:04:28):
Yeah, Oh look, I couldn't agree more. And you look
at the ages of some of the players, and you know,
players come and go obviously, and there are still some
experienced heads out there, likes of Wade Egan and Mitch
Barnett and guys are that, but some of these young
young girl players, you know Hella Seema, I mean, what
a player he could be.

Speaker 3 (01:04:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (01:04:48):
Yeah, And when you look at what we've got to
come back, and that's the other good thing about that
win last week. That just goes to show the normally
of that win last week. We saw the Broncos have
a big win on the weekend, you know, and you
know we dealt to the Broncos last week. We were
under strength. They were at full strength. So that puts
the came into perspective. And we've got players to come back,

(01:05:09):
you know, Roger and Dyllan and so forth. So you know,
we don't want to sort of get ahead of ourselves.
But like they keep saying, they're building and yeah, it's exciting, mate, I.

Speaker 2 (01:05:18):
Said just for you saying that. Roger, Toy Basshek and
Dellan what tennis early. Yeah, I hadn't forgotten about them necessarily, Paul,
but I almost had forgotten about them. Of course they're
coming back at some stage, aren't they.

Speaker 8 (01:05:29):
Yeah, Yeah, and then you've got James Fisher Harris to
come back in. It's good to see Rocco, you know,
I think with the Roco with us a few more
games than it was about. You know, when that ball
goes downtown, you know he's the first one down.

Speaker 12 (01:05:43):
They're putting pressure on.

Speaker 8 (01:05:46):
But yeah, I mean, if there's one criticism, I suppose
that's our finishing. Some of our attack.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
Is a bit.

Speaker 8 (01:05:56):
These are things that are fixable, mate, And yeah, so
I'm looking forward to the magic round. I'm counting on
him to fu stuck the cowboys up there and and
he knows where we go from here.

Speaker 5 (01:06:06):
Mate.

Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
Indeed, Paul, good the chat league with you as always, Mate,
Always enjoy your analysis. Thanks for calling in Our eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty is our number if you
like to comment on the Warriors or or on Super Rugby,
but of a two pronged talk back scenario at the moment,
I think you want to talk about both, Jamie. Shall
we start with the Warriors?

Speaker 12 (01:06:27):
Yeah, definitely, yeah, yeah, definitely liking what I'm seeing, especially
you're missing a few key players. It's yeah, great to
see that the next players are sort of, you know,
senor the senior players or obviously leaving the way. But
then the others is steeping up as well.

Speaker 2 (01:06:47):
Oh look I couldn't yeah, yeah, no, look I was
just nodding my head in agreement, Jamie. I couldn't agree more.
You look at at when you lose players. Like I
said to Paul when we were just chatting, there you've
almost forgotten in the last couple of games that there's
been no Delan watenis Eis knee act. There's been no
Roger doing vasachek, there's been no James Fisher, Harris. They've

(01:07:09):
all got double barrel soon names. Haven't know these guys
you forget? You forget, don't you because other guys? They
always say in any sporting team, and the Warriors are
no different. It's a next man up mentality because injuries happen,
particularly in a physical game like rugby league. And I've
just been utterly impressed with the guys who have stepped up.

Speaker 5 (01:07:29):
Yep.

Speaker 12 (01:07:29):
I think they should should make the top eight this
year if they win most of their home games and
some on the road. I mean that would be people
of a challenge over the next few weeks with a
couple of games on the road. But yeah, they're looking goods.
And also that young guy from the Chiefs, Yes, I
saw them, remember seeing them last year in the NBC

(01:07:50):
and what I was quite impressed with them the air
and I think with what's his name the guy from
the Godfrey from the Blues is sort of leaving at
the end of Super Rugby, I think years probably the
best candidate to be the number three two for the
or Blicks.

Speaker 2 (01:08:09):
Yeah. Harry Plumber, Yeah, Harry Plumber leaving the Blues to
go overseas. Yeah. And Josh Jacob. Look I I and
not just because you look around and there and there
aren't others who are playing at first five and playing
pretty well. But I was just, like I say, again
below the Warriors. Actually, I was just really impressed with
a call head on his relatively young shoulders. I mean,
it can't be easy, you know, to step into Damien

(01:08:32):
McKenzie's position when the blokes all around you are established players.
But then again, maybe that is it. Maybe they're they
just wrapped such a such a secure blanket around the guy.
Give him the keys to the carringers. Let him do
his thing. I yeah, he's been playing well for Tallanhaky
for a while now. Deserved his chance to the wider
training group last year, deserves his chance as a fully
fledging member this year.

Speaker 6 (01:08:52):
Look.

Speaker 2 (01:08:53):
I fully expected at some stage you'll be in all black.
It could even be this year, Jamie.

Speaker 12 (01:08:57):
Yeah, yep, it's one hundred percent. Never got afternoon plenty you.

Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
Ever got afternoon to Jamie? Good to chat to you,
O eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. If you've seen
a bit of Josh Jacob, like the cut of the
guy's gibbi, you know he's. Yeah, he's as good as
anybody else going around at the moment in terms of
first fives, isn't he. The Crusaders will beat the Chiefs
since this text and go on to win the comp, well,

(01:09:21):
they may well do. We may well be on target
for a Crusaders Chiefs final. Again. We had that two
years ago, didn't we. When the Chiefs had that really
good season they won I can't even remember how many
games they won in a row. They might have lost
one right at the end of the season. The regular
season went through and hosted the final against the Crusaders.

(01:09:44):
But the Crusaders went up to Hamilton and did a
number on them. That was raisers last year, wasn't it.
As Crusaders coach, they are looking as good this year.
I reckon they've got a full suite of very, very
good players. They've actually gone quite deep into their squad.
I noticed this the other day. They've used thirty eight

(01:10:05):
players already the Chiefs. By contrast, if you look at
some of the other sides, the Hurricanes have only used
thirty five for example, the Blues have used thirty seven.
The Highlanders. Actually, the Highlanders have used plenty forty one
different players for the Highlanders this year, so I guess
they're all getting deep at the stage of the season.

(01:10:25):
But next man up I talked about it before. The
Chiefs have certainly got that mentality as well. Next man
up guys are performing. Andre says the Warriors won't win
anything without a seventy five percent kicker. Yeah, that's the
only thing about I guess that Luke Metcalf has to
work on his kicking. He landed that one. I think
he converted the first try from Adam Pompey last night,

(01:10:48):
which was scored quite wide out. He missed the conversion
from a similar position after Jackson Ford's first try. Second
troll was under the sticks. That was an easy conversion.
He got that one. He missed the one of Wade Egans,
and then Taine tu old Pike took over and converted
Adam Pompey's second try. I was sort of wondering during

(01:11:12):
the week why Adam Pompey himself wasn't kicking. I seem
to remember last year. I'm pretty sure I'm right on
this that when Sean Johnson wasn't playing, it was Adam
Pompey who was doing the kicking, wasn't he. I'm just
going to check whether I've completely made that up. No,
I haven't. Last year he kicked twenty two conversions and

(01:11:35):
three penalties. So Sean Johnson was the kicker obviously when
he was playing, but it was Adam Pompey who stepped
up to I should have actually asked Adam Pompy that one.
I had him on the phone last hour, Why aren't
your kicking mate? I like that Luke Metcalfur's you know,
wants the responsibility, and that was evidenced no better way

(01:11:56):
than last week when he took that golden point penalty
to beat the Broncos. But the fact remains, he does
have to He does have to kick a few more,
doesn't he He does have to kick a few more.
It's a good point that you make. Andre Derek thoughts
on the Warriors.

Speaker 6 (01:12:13):
Oh look, I loved it, loving watching the Warriors this year.
Obviously going away to Vegas is always going to be
a weird experience, so sort of chalk that off. And
I mean I love the way the New Zealand media
described their lost down in Melbourne. Anyone will think that
people go down to Melbourne all the time and when
I think they've lost twenty in a.

Speaker 2 (01:12:32):
Row or something, yeah, I think we just write it
off every year. I just think, look what I got
to win that game. That's okay, It's a collateral damage,
you know.

Speaker 6 (01:12:40):
Like they're just such a hardened professional outfit in a
city where I'm pretty sure I read something where they
say they've only had two home ground players in the
last twenty years. I mean, they just they bring in
their players.

Speaker 5 (01:12:52):
That's sort of like.

Speaker 6 (01:12:52):
An isolation in AFL country, aren't they. And it's not
like they get distracted the players they're fully focused, especially
when you consider the coach they've got is, shall we say,
a little bit on agent times. And now you've got
the Warriors traveling down last night down to Cristation and
putting on a real show in front of them, and
once again another packed crowd. They really packed the crowds

(01:13:13):
out in this country, don't they. I haven't concern though
with the comment just before the game where they said
that they've they've done us and now look correct me
if I'm wrong, but it looks like they've signed a
three game deal with the new stadium over the next
three years. So that's just one game every year in
the next three years. And I was talking to a
couple of guys at work. We were having an argument

(01:13:34):
about that this was a home game for the Warriors
or not. And of course two of these guys I
was talking to are both season ticket holders, and they're
looking to get a season ticket again for next year.
And I was sicking of it, and they were sort
of saying, well, if they're going to take our you know,
the Mount Smart games away from the home, away from
the base, I mean, how how's that an incentive? Ore

(01:13:55):
they going to get some kind of incentive when they
get their season tickets and of course this year when
it comes to Aalkland their sea. I haven't bought a
season ticket. I've just been going to all the games
and I'm actually a moment of preparing to go to
tomorrow's game and really looking for or do it actually
as I have for all the games. But they if
I was to get a season ticket next year, which
is my plan, I would be pretty disappointed to think

(01:14:15):
that they'll they'll be taken away our home games around
the rest of the country. I mean, it's a slightly
different situation. Whereas it's Auckland FC. You know they named Auckland,
so it's an Auckland club. But this is slightly different
Warriors more of like a New Zealand club. Even though
David Moffatt doesn't probably probably disagree with me, but I
wonder how Warriors fans would think at the moment when

(01:14:37):
they come down from all the adrenaliness the club has
been given them in the last this season so far,
where they've been winning some great games. I mean, come on,
I mean I saw the Roosters had that wonderful win
away at Penrith and then the Warriors turned them over
the next week. And I saw a fantastic match at
Brookvale with Manly early in the season after the Warriors
had lost in Vegas, and then they came them out
smart and they got turned over again by the Warriors.

(01:14:59):
And now the Warriors turned over the Broncos last week
and one of the most exciting guys I've ever seen.
You know. So things are great at the moment for
the club. But if you're a season ticket Jason, the
big question is are they gonna What's this about taking
home games away from Mount Smart Stadium?

Speaker 5 (01:15:14):
Is that?

Speaker 6 (01:15:15):
I mean, I don't want to question what the club
is doing because clearly off the field they're doing making
a lot of good decisions, but it would concern me
if I was a Warrior season ticket holder looking to
buy a season ticket for next year.

Speaker 2 (01:15:26):
Yeah, Eric, I totally get what you're saying. And look,
as you'll know that, you know, the Wellington Phoenix have
taken games away pretty much every year, and it's the
great It's the great conundrum, isn't it spreading the spreading
the good word around the country versus as you say,
remaining you know, remaining available every week or every other
week to your loyal fan base, and I guess every

(01:15:47):
elite sporting team has to has to come up with
a solution. Only twelve home games for for all of
the NRL teams, so yeah, what I mean eleven eleven
go Media and one in christ Church. That's going to
be the situation over the next three years. For a
while the Ore the Phoenix were taking two and sometimes
three three games away. I think that's kind of stretching

(01:16:09):
at a bit. I'm not sure you want to take
too many more than that away from your loyal fans,
but it's a good point you makee Derek, thanks for
calling through, mate. Phil says, I don't know if it's
our year, Pinety, but the Warriors do seem to be
showing some resilience and the teams they've lost to have
been pretty good teams. Yeah, that's right, Phil and Warriors comment.
Maryland from Maryland. I think the young bench players have

(01:16:30):
made a big difference this year. They make very few errors,
which in the past how bench players have made. I'm
missing to Mighty Martin, but in guse, you can't change
what's going well. Maryland, great point, yet, tomadow Martin has
he he's had I think he's had one game, did
he I remember he played He played one game off
the interchange bench against the Broncos. That was last week. Yeah,
only time we've seen them. I think a lot of

(01:16:52):
people expected him to be in the halves this year,
didn't they? But Shanelle Harris to beat a Luke metcalf.
As you say, Maryland, it's hard to change what has been.
For the most part, are winning Formula sixteen. Away from two,
let's take a break, come back and head across the
Tasman Adam Peacock in his regular settle.

Speaker 1 (01:17:07):
Don't get caught off Weekend Sports with Jason Pie and
GJ guvnerhoes New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Dogs v.

Speaker 2 (01:17:17):
Coming up twelve to two. Let's get you across the
tas when a regular catch up with Australian correspondent Adam Peacock. Am,
we've been talking about the rugby league over here, the NRL,
so let's start the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs finally lost the game,
stumped by the Broncos the other night.

Speaker 10 (01:17:32):
Oh my goodness, I could not believe this on When
was that Thursday night? How are you pinting? By the
way all good over this part of the world that
the Dogs just came from nowhere basically weird conditions. It
was monsoonal, it was slippery. It was a horrible pitched
there at San Court Stadium, which they're relaying for. We
know about that in a leage football, don't we But

(01:17:52):
they're relaying it for Magic Round next weekend they need to.
But no excuse for the Dogs. They lost three players
being their discipline was all over the place, and yeah,
kind of out of nowhere because defensively they've been the
best team so far this season and they just got
blind part by Brisbane without rus Wolfe.

Speaker 2 (01:18:07):
Weird, it was weird. The Rooster speak the Dragons last
night quite comfortably as well. Was this a surprise a
little bit?

Speaker 10 (01:18:15):
Yeah, I was at that game. Actually, fantastic occasion, like
forty five thousand here and really really loud and properly
done with the Anak commemorations before the game. It was
just a spine tingling atmosphere before the game. But now
rust is too quick, too good. Dragons just didn't compete

(01:18:35):
at the same intensity as the Rooster, and I reckon
that was about the difference. Isn't a pointy. We do
all these things in football or any kind of sport,
and there's time of ol was you're trying to look
at all the one percenters data and in our physical performance.
But the team is in a sport like regular league.
If you run hard to tackle harder, I think good
things happened. So that was the case, definitely.

Speaker 2 (01:18:54):
All right, let's some go to Formula one where your
man Oscar PST three leads the drivers championship after five rounds?
Is he he'd be a fairly popular chairp wouldn't he?
Oscar on your side of the ditch?

Speaker 5 (01:19:06):
Yeah? Yeah, he is.

Speaker 10 (01:19:07):
Actually, I think everyone's pleasantly surprised that he's come from nowhere,
and everyone's kind of forgotten how he got the seat
in the first place, which is basically a bit of
F one typical F one contract work, that one guy's
got the seat and then all of a sudden he
doesn't because the deal has been done behind the scenes.
And that was when Daniel Riccardo moved aside and Oscar
Piastre got a lift with McLaren thanks to Mark Webber's

(01:19:30):
agent and others. Anyway, that's all forgotten about this guy.
I was talking to a few people over here who
love their Formula one as well. And this guy is
in and up to his neck about winning a world title,
which is extraordinary. You wouldn't have thought though two years ago.
But yeah, the kids on fire and he's in the
right car. So that's what you need in Formula one.

Speaker 2 (01:19:48):
And to football where Autland the FC could win the
A League's Premier's plate actually as early as tonight. If
Melbourne City don't beat Adelaide tonight, they'll win it before
having to kick a ball against Perth tomorrow. Even when
they do kick a ball against Perth tomorrow, they'll probably
how would orphand FC winning the pre years plate go
down on your side of the taskment in.

Speaker 10 (01:20:09):
Football circles, it'll be deserved the people who pay attend
to the A League.

Speaker 5 (01:20:13):
I've realized that they've they've hit.

Speaker 10 (01:20:15):
The ground running. I don't think there's enough being made though,
especially in football circles, about how they've done it behind
the scenes, and enormous credit has to go to everyone
involved with setting up that football club, to getting a
community activated involved a football community. From what I understand,
it might be you know, a little bits and pieces

(01:20:35):
here and there, but the football community kind of accepting
of a new kid in town coming in out of nowhere,
and you know, being the everyone else kind of feeding
their best kids into a system, but not taking them
too soon that you're going to tick people off. It's
certainly what happens over here in Australia that there's a
bit of a disconnect between the local MPL clubs and.

Speaker 3 (01:20:55):
The A League clubs.

Speaker 10 (01:20:56):
But over there it looks to have worked so well.
And I note that the possibility of a new stand
up the stadium happening over there as well. So yeah,
all things pointing in the right direction. It couldn't have
gone any better, could it?

Speaker 2 (01:21:10):
No, it could not have. It could not have. Steve
Coricker is a guy I know you had a bit
to do with when he was at Sydney FC. Has
the way he's guided this team so quickly to the
heights that they have achieved. Has that surprised you at all?

Speaker 10 (01:21:25):
Well, not surprised, But there was a watch on Steve
Coricker whether or not he could do it outside his
comfort zone of Sydney FC. And he took over Graham
Arnold and it was a pretty hot side, let's be honest.
And he had a bit of restructuring to do as
players moved on. I don't think they ever really replaced
Alex Wilbinson when he left, how can you, because he
was such a great player and a great leader. So

(01:21:46):
it was actually, in my opinion, a good thing to
Steve Coriker. It was maybe six months after the fact
that he kind of left Sydney f C because he
needed that fresh challenge. He's come so well, so yeah,
absolutely proven himself and it's great to see. Like I
get excited when young Australian players do well, and I
get excited when Australian managers do well and open up

(01:22:08):
opportunities for themselves, which is definitely what Steve Kayk has
gone over there in Auckland.

Speaker 2 (01:22:12):
Absolutely right. Sounds like a bit of grassroots sport going
on in the background there as you chat to us.

Speaker 10 (01:22:18):
I've got four games of football in four different locations
on my radar today.

Speaker 17 (01:22:22):
So this is the first of which.

Speaker 10 (01:22:23):
My nephew playing under elevens in the local park, which
is good to see.

Speaker 2 (01:22:28):
Yeah, what a way to spend a weekend. Thanks for
taking time for a chat with us, Adam, I always
appreciate it. We'll do it again next Saturday.

Speaker 10 (01:22:35):
Well good thanks, Pony, have a good one.

Speaker 2 (01:22:37):
You have a good one too, mate, Adam Peacock, our
Australian correspondent around this time every Saturday afternoon here on
news Talk ZEDB seven to two.

Speaker 1 (01:22:44):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic field weekend
sport with Jason nine News Talk ZENB.

Speaker 2 (01:22:53):
Four to two. Steve says on text Pinty hits up
the Trans Tasman Touch Rugby series on Aunwai or Tel
Tahi this weekend. Amazing talent on display future NRL and
Rugby seven stars. First time back on New Zealand soil.
Since people are christ Church, get on down. Second round
under way at two o'clock, so very shortly. Final round
tomorrow morning at ten. Thanks Steve, appreciate you bringing that

(01:23:15):
to our attention. After the news at two, Back in
to the Chiefs camp we go this time into the boardroom.
I guess you'd say Simon grafis CEO of the Chiefs,
how is he feeling about the team's on field success?
And we'll take it to the World Snooker Championships at
the Crucible in Sheffield.

Speaker 1 (01:23:32):
Truly, it's the only place to discuss the biggest sports
issues on and after field. It's all on Weekends Forward
with Jason Vaide on your home of Sports new Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:23:45):
Ben Hi there, welcome into the show. Well, welcome back
to the show. As the case may be. Two seven
it is. I'm Jason Pine Bevan Jewey Show producer here
until three when Tim Beveridge takes over with the Saturday
edition of the Weekend Collective. A bit to get through
before we get there. We're going to get your stage
site talking NFL Draft and NBA Playoffs with our man
lyon Buzzby. We'll also get you to the UK where

(01:24:08):
the World Snooker Championship has been going for a week orse.
So the business end is in the week ahead. Michael Day,
chief snooker writer for Totally Snooker, is going to join
us to have a chat about what's happened in the
first week, including a couple of big big upsets and
prospects for week two. The final is Monday week and

(01:24:33):
chiefs CEO Simon grafis with us shortly as well. Quite
a bit of correspondence to get through it, which I'll
do shortly, and we'll update you on some live sport too,
including the NBA playoff games which are ongoing. A bunch
of Chatham Cup football matches, first round matches have just
kicked off around the country all sorts of different places,
some of the smaller clubs in the competition getting a

(01:24:54):
cool day against maybe what you describe as slightly higher
credentialed opposition. But everybody loves a giant killer when it
comes to the Chatham Cup. Try and find one or
two of those for you this afternoon as well. You
can continue to call the show if you want to.
Are eight hundred and eighty ten eighty text messages to

(01:25:15):
nine two ninety two or emails to Jason at Newstalk
SEDB dot co dot nz. But as we tick past
eight past two, as we always do head around about
this time on weekend sport, we like to bring you
up tonight with some of the stuff you might have
missed in case she mist at. Starting with Super Rugby,
the Chiefs accounting for the force last night in Mount Monganui.

Speaker 4 (01:25:37):
Har Boy gets the head going he's taken centimeters short
of the line. Naawa fancies himself at the half becks
of ten other back Jacum Daniel right under.

Speaker 2 (01:25:46):
The sixth Yeah, fifty odd fifty six in factive be
precise points put on by the Chiefs last night, a
five point gap at the top of the table. Of course,
the Crusaders played the Highlanders tonight. I've heard already fifteen
thousand sold for that game. Big crowd and coming and
danedin tonight for the Crusaders against the Highlanders last night
in Brisbane. The loose going down to the Reds.

Speaker 8 (01:26:08):
The rolling mall, it's got two within six meters of
the Blues line.

Speaker 2 (01:26:13):
This will be the game.

Speaker 4 (01:26:14):
They've got to stop it.

Speaker 6 (01:26:15):
The rolling mall.

Speaker 4 (01:26:16):
Oh, it's charging.

Speaker 2 (01:26:17):
Towards the Blues line, up.

Speaker 3 (01:26:19):
To the line.

Speaker 4 (01:26:20):
Try the Reds.

Speaker 2 (01:26:23):
We'll secure the points. They certainly did to the NRL.

Speaker 17 (01:26:26):
We know.

Speaker 2 (01:26:26):
The Warriors got their fifth win of the season last
night betting the Knights in christ Church. Shortly after that,
the Storm up to second with victory over the Rabbit Oats.

Speaker 4 (01:26:34):
Are wonderful hands.

Speaker 7 (01:26:35):
Hughes Pappa housing out to Cutta cut All. One's up
and links up with Benie media wife. They're lighting up
on It's a love more past, but this time it's
clear head.

Speaker 2 (01:26:46):
We're sellers over and staying in Australia Melbourne victory, ceiling
of finals birth in Football's Men's A League two one
winners over MacArthur and Sydney. Sanni's threadeds pass fights, Ma
Sha Shaw, the Little.

Speaker 18 (01:27:00):
Rafona, the queueing up here and Casey Voss drilled it
into the bottom corner just his second of a goal
for Albert victory the end of another flowing sweeping move
find the visitors add victory late by two.

Speaker 1 (01:27:16):
The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport, Weekend
Sport with Jason Vane and GJ. Gunner Homes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (01:27:26):
News Talks EV and Weekend Sport. It is ten past two.
Just wanted to get to a few of the text
messages that have come through. A lot of variety on
text this afternoon, which I always love from Gunner Pineer
groupie comments about Josh Jacob just like to add he
has a rare quality time to make the right decisions
which match winning number tens must have. With more time

(01:27:48):
in the saddle his game, his confidence will definitely improve.
As far as the final for my Chiefs, They'll be
there and hoping to go one better, not really looking
for another ground hog Day experience. I bet you're not gunna.
I bet you're not looking for another groundhog Day. There
was another text that came through about Josh Jacob as well,

(01:28:08):
from Nicholas Young Chiefs first five sounded like a young
Dan Carter talking about Mertz respectful. I like his high
kicking action looks a bit like Alan Huson A good player.
Thanks Nicholas. Glenn has told me to not forget about
the FA Cup semifinals. Glenn, I certainly haven't forgotten about
the FA Cup semi finals, one tomorrow morning and one

(01:28:30):
on Monday morning. The one tomorrow morning is your team,
isn't it, Glenn? Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace in the semifinals
of the FA Cup up against aston Villa. This one
is at Wembley, as is the second of the semifinals,
Nottingham Forrest Chris Wood up against Manchester City. That's on
Monday morning, three point thirty. The Palace Aston Villa game

(01:28:52):
tomorrow morning at four fifteen. So best of luck to
the fans of those four sights. I patched can tab here.
Chiefs have the best pack, excellent body positioning on the
tight drive. Injuries star are the key Vadas Chiefs Final
in the Garden City Crusader's Golden point win. Regarding some
of our players, the locks Holland and Lord send them

(01:29:15):
on a coast to coast with Sir Richie harden them up.
Could be the business pairing in the future. Scott Barrett
to six Setiti number eight Rdisavs seven on the bench.
I'd have Tupulvai and not Todd Blackada, Ethan Blackadder or Jacobson.
Just some random thoughts seys Nicholas, thank you, Nicholas, Hi Jason,
great show. Oscar pr Strie achieved a hat trick several

(01:29:37):
weeks ago in Bahrain, getting pole, winning the race and
getting the fastest lap during the race. The last Australian
to do that was Alan Jones in nineteen eighty. He
went on to win the championship and from Dino Piney
the coach has been a master stroke for Auckland FC.
They've always had massive football support, a lot out West

(01:29:58):
with around six to eight clubs and all over Auckland,
so in a way it's no surprise for me. After
the Kings in ninety nine, great to see bad luck
about the Phoenix. I told you we'd do well, says Dino.
Good on your Dino, you did. I remember you're telling
me all those months ago that this team would do well,
and so it proved to be. That game is tomorrow, incidentally,

(01:30:18):
the Auckland f C Perth Glory game. We'll have a
good focus on that game on the show tomorrow, just
reminding you of the equation here. If Melbourne City don't
win tonight, they play Adelaide at nine point thirty. If
they don't win that game tonight Melbourne City, then Auckland
FC will win the Premier's Plate with two games to spare.

(01:30:39):
If Melbourne City do win tonight and it's at home
for them, and Adelaide have been a bit average recently,
so let's just say that Melbourne City do win that tonight,
then Auckland FC tomorrow only need to draw against Perth
Glory and they will lift the Premier's Plate, that is
the regular season silverware for the A League. What an

(01:31:00):
occasion it promises to be at go Media Stadium tomorrow
five o'clock kickoff. Will as I say, focus on that
game tomorrow, take some course and talk to a couple
of the Auckland FC players as they look to list
some self aware at the first time of asking. Two
fourteen here on news Talk said, b let's continue our

(01:31:21):
journey around the New Zealand based Super Rugby franchises and
their CEOs. We had the chance to chat to Roger
Clark out of the Highlanders, have and Leave from the Hurricanes,
and Colin Mansbridge from the Crusaders last weekend. We've got
Andrew Whore on the show tomorrow from the Blues. But
today chiefs CEO Simon Graffis is joining us. Simon, you
be a phirly happy CEO, I would imagine today after

(01:31:45):
watching your side put fifty on the force last night
and open up a five point gap at the top.

Speaker 19 (01:31:51):
Yeah, yeah, very happy. I mean yeah, a five point
gap halfway through the round. So we'll see, we'll see
what happens over the next the course of the next day.

Speaker 2 (01:32:00):
Playing at bay Oval for the first time in over
a decade. How did that come about?

Speaker 19 (01:32:07):
Well, I mean we we tried to look for some
options with the holiday weekend Hamilton. Hamilton's a bit tough
and and so you know, I thought some of the
destinations around the region that people go to might be
a good option. So yeah, theay Oval and we became
aware of the opportunity of bay Oval and yeah and.

Speaker 5 (01:32:29):
The team team there.

Speaker 19 (01:32:31):
We're really easy to work with them and made things happen,
so fantastic to take a game there. Obviously we can't
control the time, so lights, having good lights there was
a factor, so there's pretty limited options to take games away.
But yeah, Bayoval was was brilliant with that really well.

Speaker 2 (01:32:49):
Yeah, no, I look good on the TV. Good crowd
by the looks of things as well. I think it
was a salad. Are you likely to repeat it? Do
you think you'll you'll you'll look to take take further
games there?

Speaker 19 (01:33:00):
Look, I think yeah, it was a huge, huge success.
I think absolutely keen to look at taking other games there,
you know, you know, the timing is important, I think
obviously with I mean cricket was only played on there
four weeks ago, so there's probably a limited opportunity when
we can have games there. But I think that the

(01:33:23):
community got the behind us, you know, the council and
TechEd and and Prairie one will help get the game there,
and the crew from bay Oval bent over backwards to
make it happen, which which is fantastic. So it was
for a new venue actually worked really well.

Speaker 2 (01:33:38):
Good to hear. Good to hear, Chiefs were the best
team in twenty twenty three, beaten in the final, made
the final last year, beaten by the Blues. Surely this
is your year, Simon.

Speaker 19 (01:33:48):
Oh yeah, that's a big call. I mean, I think
we've all seen Yeah, I mean we've been pretty consistent
and haven't quite got the job done, which is obviously
disappointing in those occasions. But yeah, you have to be
the best team on the night in the final if
you can get there. And we've still got a pretty
tough run into I think we've got three local derbies

(01:34:11):
to go all the way, so we've all seen how
hard it is to win on the road. So yeah,
there's a little bit of rugbyder to get to get
into the finals. And you know, to make a finals
a big achievement too. So we're not we're not.

Speaker 5 (01:34:23):
We're not counting on that yet.

Speaker 2 (01:34:24):
It's what a good answer, good answer. How much is
is your off field success commercially linked to the sides
on field performances?

Speaker 19 (01:34:36):
Are They're really they're really linked? I think, I mean
everyone likes to back winners, don't they, So if you're winning,
you get more fans along, so so huge influence and
none of us are in it to come second. So yeah,
there's all eleven teams that on the day are good

(01:34:57):
enough to beat each other, and they run at the
start of the season thinks you're going to win it,
which is which is what what's sports to about, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:35:02):
Indeed you must also it must be a lot easier
to have discussions with your commercial partners too when things
are going well. But I guess you also have to
installate yourself against the roller coaster that is elite sport
when you're talking to your partners, because you can't win
every week, can you?

Speaker 5 (01:35:19):
No?

Speaker 19 (01:35:20):
No, And it's it's tough. I mean, I think they've
been successful. Helps, but commercially, you know, there's there's big
parts of the economy that are doing that.

Speaker 5 (01:35:31):
They are doing it tough at the moment too, So
there's there's a whole he perfect as that play here too.

Speaker 19 (01:35:35):
Yeah, but the team is certainly doing their bit on
the on the park and that helps us get fans
in and it helps it helps talk to partners as well.

Speaker 2 (01:35:44):
One of your big players obviously is Damien McKenzie who
has been retained by yourselves and New Zealand Rugby. How
significant role do the Chiefs play in those negotiations.

Speaker 5 (01:35:57):
I mean we play our role.

Speaker 19 (01:36:01):
Obviously, the the user Rugby all Black component is the
big part of as part of his deal. But no,
we were certainly putting as much pressure on as we
could to make sure we retained someone like Damien's pretty
pretty special for a club and he's a pretty special talent.

Speaker 2 (01:36:18):
When will you announce your new coach?

Speaker 19 (01:36:22):
We'll go through a process post season, and I mean
I think you know, at this stage, everyone's focused on
doing the best this year and that'll that will probably
help determine determine the outcome if we get anything right.

Speaker 2 (01:36:35):
Is it likely you'll promote internally?

Speaker 19 (01:36:39):
Look, I think we've got some really good internal candidates,
but it's in you know, public. We have said that
before too, but I think for everyone's sake, we need
to just focus on the season. And yeah, and we'll
let that run its course post season.

Speaker 2 (01:36:54):
You must, yeah, you must expect though that that there'll
be high interest in the role externally as well. I mean,
coaching the Chiefs, it's a terrific job with a great
bunch of players. You must be expecting high interest, are you.

Speaker 5 (01:37:10):
Yeah, you would do absolutely for us.

Speaker 19 (01:37:14):
Fit and and and cultural fit is big for us.
So the list of candidates may not be quite as
big as people might think. You know, I think you know,
Clayton has done a fantastic job and huge, huge shoes
to fill. But you know, we've seen how good he

(01:37:35):
is off the field as well and what he does.
You know, he's pretty special individual. So he's probably said
a bit of a benchmark of of of what we
what we need in the club and and we've seen
the success that that's driven.

Speaker 2 (01:37:49):
He's a pretty uh, pretty understided character too, isn't he
Did he just knock on your door and say, Simon,
I'm off to Ireland.

Speaker 19 (01:37:57):
Yeah, I mean, you know he's you know, he's Clayton's
pretty specially he is. He is quite quiet, but he's
you know, everything he does he does with with big
the end, with respect.

Speaker 5 (01:38:07):
And he's you know, he's very very good individual ever
in the club.

Speaker 2 (01:38:13):
As far as you're concerned. You know, when when somebody
who has been so influential on your team like Clayton
comes to you and says, look, I've made this career decision.
I've been given this opportunity with Munster, I can't really
turn it down. It's it's going to be the right
move for me. Did any part of you want to
try and convince him to stay from me?

Speaker 5 (01:38:33):
Every part to be honest, But.

Speaker 19 (01:38:37):
The reality is, you know, like he he he was
upfront and open the whole way through the process. And
in many ways we're development. You know, we try to develop,
you know, we try to develop all our people, whether
that's players or coaches.

Speaker 5 (01:38:52):
Or Edmund staff.

Speaker 19 (01:38:54):
And you know, this is part of his journey and
his coaching career. So at some point we knew that
he was going to go, and but I would have
loved to loock him and on term, but I'm not
sure that would have been the right thing for his
coaching journey.

Speaker 2 (01:39:09):
Dead right, dead right. So what takes up most of
your time on a week to week basis, Simon.

Speaker 19 (01:39:15):
Oh, a number of a number of things, you know,
Like I mean, I probably gave a obviously all areas
of the organization, so you know, from the from the
rugby to the commercial to whether it's sponsors, whether it's
you know, helping with helping the team set up a
game at a new venue like the day over, dealing

(01:39:38):
with dealing with shareholders and key partners and stakeholders and
rugby and out of rugby, and yeah, it's a reasonably
interesting and pretty fruitful sort of industry to be involved in.

Speaker 2 (01:39:52):
Can you still watch a game as a fan or
is that just not possible anymore?

Speaker 12 (01:39:57):
Uh?

Speaker 19 (01:39:59):
Absolutely watching as a fan, but I probably watched games
a bit different now too. You know, you'll watch a
game and you have a look at what's the field peace,
what are the fans engaging, and what are the.

Speaker 5 (01:40:11):
What's the hospitality offerings?

Speaker 19 (01:40:12):
But you know, I'm on the courmander for the weekend,
so I'll pop down to the follow rugby club and
watch some club footy this afternoon as well. So I
still love the game, but I'll probably watched it a
little bit differently now to word Winster, good.

Speaker 2 (01:40:27):
To see your man Wallace. So Titi back out there
last night?

Speaker 5 (01:40:31):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (01:40:31):
Yeah, and the he didn't really look like he'd been
off the pack for too long too, did. He sort
of just slotted straight back And so I think that's
going to cause Clayton and the coach up group, if
you selection, problems.

Speaker 5 (01:40:44):
But it's as good as you'd have.

Speaker 2 (01:40:45):
That's what you're after, Simon. Great to get the chance
to tattoo today. Enjoy your club rugby viewing this afternoon.
I bet that must be quite nice to get down
to the grassroots and watch some club rugby. All the
best for the rest of the Chiefs season, and let's
hope it's the third time lucky for your franchise.

Speaker 5 (01:41:01):
Yeah, fingers crossed. Yeah, a little bit of work to
do before we get there.

Speaker 2 (01:41:05):
No, thanks for the time, Thank you for your time, Simon.
Simon graffis there, he's the CEO of the Chiefs. Tomorrow
Andrew Hort, the CEO of the Blues. Are interesting to
talk to him tomorrow with things not going quite so
well this season. Obviously a drought breaking title win for
the Blues last season, but here they are this season
with a bit of work to do even to make

(01:41:26):
the six. So Andrew Hoare completes our our round of
the New Zealand based super rugby CEOs when he joins
us on the show tomorrow to twenty four, we'll take
a break, come back and talk from American sport, the
NFL Draft and the NBA playoffs with our Americans. American
sports expert Leon Busby. He's with us right after this.

Speaker 1 (01:41:46):
The big issues on and after fields call, Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason.

Speaker 2 (01:41:52):
Fine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:41:53):
Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home Miilder News Talks ABBY.

Speaker 2 (01:41:58):
News Talks AB and Weekend Sport to twenty seven. Let's
get your state side with our US sports expert Leon Busby,
who joins us now. Leon, thanks for your time, Good afternoon,
he finance.

Speaker 3 (01:42:10):
Great to be back. As always, We've got a lot
to cover today to let's starve straight in today.

Speaker 2 (01:42:14):
Yeah, why not, mate, Let's go with the NFL Draft.
I want to get to the NBA playoffs, but let's
start with the NFL Draft, which is basically ongoing as
we speak. Maybe to start with Liam, can you just
explain to us how the NFL draft actually works.

Speaker 3 (01:42:30):
Yes, a bit of background for your listening audience. So
first hold of nineteen thirty six. It's in its ninetieth year.
The NFL's draft is the most highly anticipated player recruitment
event anywhere in team sports. Basically how it works as
each team is given a position in the drafting order
in reverse order relative to its record the previous season,

(01:42:51):
which means that the team with the worst regular season
record picks first and the Super Bowl champion last. From
this position, the team can either select a player or
trade its position to another team for other draft positions,
a player or players, or any combination thereof. The rounder
is compete when each team has either selected a player

(01:43:12):
or created its position in the draft. Now, certain aspects
of the draft, including team positioning and the number of
rounds in the draft, have been revised since it's created,
but the fundamental method has remained the same. Currently, there
are seven rounds taking plays in Wisconsin this year homes
of the historical Green Bay Package, which I'm sure a
lot of people have heard of before. The twenty twenty

(01:43:33):
five draft will see two hundred and fifty seven players chosen.
The original rationale and creating a draft was to increase
the competitive parity between the teams, as the worst team
would ideally be able to choose the best player available.
One of the big factors today are the importance of
full time scouts who provide detailed, in depth reports on
prospective players entering the league.

Speaker 2 (01:43:56):
Yeah, the rationale is good, isn't it? It helps I guess
the teams, you know, the weaker teams get the better players.
Well that's the theory anyway, does it always work that way?
How important is getting your draft picks right if you
are one of the one of the teams down the
bottom to try and get yourself bag up.

Speaker 3 (01:44:13):
Yes, thos are alluded to just previously, pinning the drafters
intended to provide greater charity in terms of leveling out
the playing field. So in that respect, it's vitally important
for teams to get their picks right for their franchise
and to be more competitive all around, and it's a
better product for the viewing audience. It's also worth mentioning
pinting back for the players themselves hoping to be drafted

(01:44:35):
this week, and if you're fortunate enough to be taken
by a team, it's literally a life changing moment as
a professional athlete, particularly in the NFL. You and your
family are set for life financially with generational wealth. So
it's almost the kin to winning the lottery.

Speaker 2 (01:44:50):
All right, So tell us about the top few picks
this year and if there were any surprises among them.

Speaker 3 (01:44:56):
Yes, the first round there were thirty two picks, as expected,
University of Miami quarterback Cameron Ward was the number one
overall pick taken by the Titans. He's expected to make
a big difference to Tennessee's pass game, which has struggled
in recent years. Nickname off the board was Heisman Trophy
winner Travis Hunter, who is an exceptional counant on both

(01:45:17):
sides of the ball. The former Colorado Buffalo is a
two way athlete and very unique and that he plays
both offense and defense. He goes to the Jacksonville Jaguars,
and rounding out the top three, the Giants named penn
State linebacker each Russia Abdul Carter to their roster. Like
the first two picks, he's going to make a huge
difference in New York's defense up front of the trenches.

(01:45:40):
On a personal right for you, Pioneer, I know your
son's a Minnesota fan, and his team selected well, drafting
five star recruit and former Ohio State Buckeye guard Donovan Jackson.
The new Viking recruited fresh of a national total and
when they had much needed to steal up front of
an already impressive offensive line. Now you mentioned they're surprises.
Now I'm glad you asked finally, because the biggest story

(01:46:03):
coming out of the draft this year so far is
the non selection of a certain individual player. Teammate to
Travis Hunter and former Colorado Buffalo star player should do
at Sanders was expected by most mock drafts to go
in the first round by teams that are looking or
get their quarterback. Now, surprisingly, he was passed up by
no less than five teams at picked three, six, seven, nine,

(01:46:27):
and twenty one. Now there's a lot of speculation as
to why his stock fell so badly, but that aside,
he was expected to go early in round two earlier today,
Now as we speak, well into the third round and
hard to believe he's still his name still on the
board as he was also our Heisman Trophy finances. Did
that incredible that some of your lifting audience may be

(01:46:48):
familiar with us should do his last name, his father's
pro football Hall of Fame man, current Colorado head coach.
Beyond Sanders, if we consider past history pintying, just how
unpredictable the NFL draft is. Here are a few examples,
and twenty twenty two San Francisco forty nine Ers quarterback
was a final thicket number two sixty two unfortunately being

(01:47:10):
tagged mister Irrelevant Now, he led his team to the
super Bowl the following year. In twenty eighteen, two time
regular season MVP and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was passed
by multiple teams before Baltimore, who earlier passed on him,
drafted them thirty second at the end of round one.
And by far the biggest selection of non selection in

(01:47:30):
NFL draft history was in the two thousand NFL Draft. Now,
a lot of your listeners will definitely have heard of
this guy taken off the board in round six and
selected at number one, ninety nine by the New England Patriots,
a quarterback by the name of Tom Brady. As they say,
the rest of history. The unpredictability of a draft, as weld,
makes it so compellion and a fascinating watch. Piney, even

(01:47:51):
if we expect it's run into round three and it's
more drama to follow over the next couple of days.
Pinty really TV at It's beast.

Speaker 2 (01:47:57):
If you ask me absolutely, I can hear it in
your voice. I could hear it in your voice better
than any Love Island already, these other reality shows the NFL.
After I know you've also had divided focus because the
NBA Playoffs are on eight teams from the Eastern Conference
eight from the West. In our first round matchups best
of seven. We'll get through as many of these as

(01:48:18):
we can. Some of the games are ongoing at the moment.
Let's start in the East. The top seeds in the East,
the Caves up against the Heats, who must have gone
through the playing because they finished tenth and the regular season,
but tied up at one all after the first two games,
with Game three tomorrow back in Miami.

Speaker 3 (01:48:40):
Okay, so I don't normally correct you, pony, but actually
the Cavaliers, the number one seed over the number eight
seed Heat, hold a two to no advantage in games.

Speaker 2 (01:48:50):
Good tomorrow, gotcha? Okay?

Speaker 3 (01:48:51):
Good, Yeah, no worries. I'm happy to do that. Cleveland
should easily wrap up the series in four or five.
So I've got the second best regular season record and
the best road record of any other team in the
league this year.

Speaker 2 (01:49:05):
Let's go to the Celtic, who finished second in the
Eastern Conference. Are pretty sure that they were too nil up,
although Game three has just finished in Orlando. They're up
against the Magic, and the Magic have won a tight one,
ninety five ninety three. So that makes it two one
to the Celtics after three games. I think yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:49:24):
So the number two Celtics against number seven Magic, both
another defending champions. They should wrap the series up in five,
even though they dropped today's game. But that said, their
finals experience in a deeper bench should see them overcome
the inexperienced Orlando from here on.

Speaker 2 (01:49:38):
It all right, Bucks paces Paces were two nil ahead
going into Game three, which was in Milwaukee. But I
think again, the Milwaukee Bucks, helped by the home crowd,
no doubt, have picked up. But when there you're still
back the Paces over the Bucks. Or is this one
a bit harder to pick?

Speaker 13 (01:49:58):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (01:49:58):
So the number four Paces against the number five Bucks.
As you said, you know, the Bucks managed to pick
up the game today, but if you look at the
depth of the team Indian they have them. They've been
the more consistent team throughout the regular season, and they
had the edge should they take the seat even though
they lost today. However, Pony, the biggest storyline from this
is that there are underlying rumors that superstar for the Bucks,

(01:50:20):
Gianna started the compound, always had trouble pronouncing his name
unfictionately known as the Greek Freak. He may move on
at the end of the season. He's one of the
most dominant players in the association. But it's hungry for
another ring and unfortunately their bucks aren't in the conversation
one as a legitimate championship contender for him. So yeah,
there's a lot of rumors swerling that he may move

(01:50:42):
on to another team.

Speaker 2 (01:50:43):
All right, final game in the East or final matchups?
Next Pistons next to one ahead. They've had three games here.
Game four is on Monday back in Detroit. Next to
go through in five or six games here.

Speaker 3 (01:50:57):
Yeah, so the third rank next against the sixth rank
Piston in the Eastern Conference. This is probably the most
even series in the East. So it's a hard one
to pick by I'm going to give New York for
slight edges. They have home court advantage should it go
to a series deciding game seven.

Speaker 2 (01:51:13):
Let's go to the Western Conference Clippers Nuggets. Clippers lead
to one with game four tomorrow. This is the four
v five matchup, I guess, of all of them, when
four plays five, it's probably the hardest one to pick,
isn't it.

Speaker 3 (01:51:26):
Yes, you know, I'm a bit of a Nuggets fan,
but unfortunately for Denver, I've been through a bit of
change recently, the surprise frown of their head coach. They're
playing against the form team of the competition and despite
him the best plan of the league. I don't see
the series going their way, so I expect the al
Clippers to wrap up the series sooner than later year.

Speaker 2 (01:51:49):
The other LA side, the Lakers. They're in action as
we speak, actually in Game three of their series against
the Minnesota Timberwolves. The series tied at one apiece, the
Lakers narrowly ahead in the second quarter. Lakers third seed,
Timberwolves sixth, so Lakers eventually to go through the thin.

Speaker 3 (01:52:07):
Yeah, the series could go either way, pine even probably
to seven games. On paper, you'd have to lean towards
LA with Lebron and Luca, even though the Timberwolves do
have some star players. But if you look at the roster,
LA have the much deeper roster, and if it does
go to a designing game, I think I'll leave with
the Lakers here in a close series.

Speaker 2 (01:52:28):
All right, Grizzly Thunder, this is one way traffic. Oklahoma
City Thunder three nill ahead after three games, Game four
is in Memphis. But are the Thunder going to sweep this,
aren't they?

Speaker 16 (01:52:41):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:52:41):
I think it's time to get the brim up piney. Okay,
he should wrap the series up tomorrow in or four
games three. Memphis had the worst regular season record coming
into the postseason, whereas the Thunder had the best regular
season record. And I'm looking ominous. I'd be rusurprize of Okay, See,
don't come out of the Western Conference and make the
NBA Finals this year?

Speaker 2 (01:53:00):
All right? And the final matchup is the Golden State
Warriors against the Houston Rockets, tie at one apiece after
two games. Game three is tomorrow. Which one do you
see this one going?

Speaker 3 (01:53:14):
Yeah? Finally, out of all the Round one series, this
will be the reskin cunning to watch in the closest.
You have championship pedigree and outside shooting and future Hall
of Famous Steph Curry and Golden State State up against
the physical inside game of TV Stephen Adams Houston. I
can certainly see this going to seven games at the
Harnes Series for the winner. So whever I'm going to

(01:53:34):
lean in favor of Golden Step because of their championship,
DNA pedigree and their finals experience.

Speaker 2 (01:53:40):
Great to get your expertise, Leon, covering off so much
basketball while you're also keeping your eyes on the NFL draft,
pronouncing names correctly and even correcting these. I think we'll
give you. We'll give you an A plus for today, Mate,
Thanks for joining us with your state side segments as
always so awesome.

Speaker 3 (01:53:57):
Thank you for having me on today, Pony, A lot
to digest and I look forward to sharing my insights
with you and your audience agetting as soon. Have a
great day, mate, you.

Speaker 2 (01:54:04):
Have a great day to Leon. We look forward to
your next contribution to the show too. It's Lee on
Busby Stateside here on Weekend Sport. It's twenty to three
when we come back. It's the Snooker.

Speaker 1 (01:54:15):
One cruch Hold Engage Weekend Sport with Jason Hive and GJ. Gunderholmes,
New Zealand's first trusted home builder.

Speaker 5 (01:54:24):
News Talk to Bailey.

Speaker 2 (01:54:25):
The twenty twenty five World Snooker Championship started at the
Crucible Theater in Sheffield last weekend. We'll run through until
next Monday. Great pleasure to welcome to the show. Chief
snooker writer for Totally Snookered Michael Day Michael, thanks for
joining us. First of all, where are we in the
tournament in terms of completed matches?

Speaker 15 (01:54:46):
Thanks for having me on, Jason. Yeah, we're currently at
the second round stage. So actually the Championship as a whole,
we had ten days of qualifying before the main event
at the Crucible Theater, so it's a real sort of
like month long extravaganza of snooker. But we've just completed
the first round, so that's the last statue at the
Crucible and we're currently at the last sixteenth stage that

(01:55:08):
will carry on until Tuesday, and then Tuesday Wednesdays the
quarterfinals and from there it will be the one table
set for the last four and semi finals.

Speaker 2 (01:55:18):
Major shock on the opening day defending champion, top seed
Tyron Wilson, who won last year, of course against Jack Jones,
knocked out by a Chinese qualifier in the first round.
How big a shock surprise was this?

Speaker 15 (01:55:33):
It's incredible really. Obviously we talk about the Crucible curse,
so no first time champion at the crucibill has successfully
defended the title the following year. But Kyron, I mean,
he was my tip for the tournament. He's been in
fantastic form since winning the world title last year, He's
taken his game up several levels, won four big ranking

(01:55:53):
events this season, and he really was, you know, a
pick for many people to win the whole tournament.

Speaker 5 (01:55:58):
But Laipei Fan, the player.

Speaker 15 (01:56:00):
He played, is a really good young Chinese player making
his Crucible debut, and he actually won a torn earlier
on in the season down I think he was ranked
in the seventies. That was a big shot, but yet
big upset. Kiraroen was six straight up. Leape Fan played
exceptionally well. Kiron come back at him but went to
deciding frame and fair credit to Lay because he stayed positive,

(01:56:24):
and it really was a big upset.

Speaker 2 (01:56:25):
All right. Well, ask about a couple of other players
in around one. Seven time winner Ronego Sullivan. This is
this thirty third consecutive edition of the tournament. He says, though,
despite battling stage fright and nerves over the last couple
of years, how did he looking around one?

Speaker 15 (01:56:43):
Yeah, it's an interesting one because we haven't seen Ronnie
since the start of January. He was playing in the
Championship League invitation and he actually snapped his queue deliberately.
I hear that he actually chucked it in the toilet
as well, and so we've not seen him on the
professional circuit since then. Come back using a new queue,
which is quite big for Ronnie because his old Q
he'd won world titles with. It was a bit of

(01:57:06):
a he actually performance in the first session from Ronnie.
His opponent Ali Carter wasn't it wasn't on top gear either.
But the second session Ronnie was exceptional. He made three
centuries in space of four frames, a seventy, a couple
of fifties, and from a position of where it was
five to four, where it's looking like it could be
a tight finish, Ronnie just he just ran away with

(01:57:27):
the match and it was a very very impressive performance,
and you know, all of a sudden we're talking about
a potentially eight tworld title for the Rocket.

Speaker 2 (01:57:34):
Is he still pretty popular with snooker fans, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Speaker 15 (01:57:40):
Oh, one hundred percent. You know, he is the flag bearer,
he is, you know, he is the top draw.

Speaker 5 (01:57:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (01:57:47):
I mean he does say things in the media and
sometimes his actions are a little bit unhelpful for the
sport perhaps, but you know, when he gets on the
table and he performs like he did in the second
session of his open real match.

Speaker 2 (01:58:00):
We just were.

Speaker 15 (01:58:01):
Reminded, while we love Ronnie, you know he's been at
the top of the sport now for over three decades.
You know, he's just an absolute Hollywood sporting superstar. Yeah,
and I mean, you know, he's forty nine years old. Now,
most sports people would be you know, they'd be retired
and have their feet up and point and slippers and
all that. But Ronnie, at times, even though he's not

(01:58:21):
as consistent as he was in the past, at times
he just looks as best as he's ever been before.
And hopefully he'll be around for many more years yet.

Speaker 2 (01:58:30):
Neil It's type. So another upset in the final round
my match qualifier, Ben Wallaston beating Mark Selby teen eight.
I think there was Wollaston's first match victory at the Crucible.
Tell us about that one.

Speaker 15 (01:58:42):
Yes, another really interesting match that Mark Selby's had a
really rejuvenating season, won three events, so a bit like
Cora and Wilson. He come into the tournament, as you know,
one of the real serious contenders for the title. But
he actually drew Ben Willison, who's a fellow Leicester player,
so they're both from the same cities. They knew each
other very well, and I actually think that was a

(01:59:03):
bad draw for Mark because obviously when you play someone
you know very well, a mate or a practice partner,
it can sometimes take the intensity away. But for Ben Williston,
he'd not been at the crucill for twelve years. This
was his second appearance. He qualified and Sawby just did
not perform. It was a very very strange, scrappy performance
from him, and the fair credit to Ben Williston. He

(01:59:25):
managed to get the job done ten eight and that's
a really big win for him and it'd be interesting
how he gets on for the remainder of the competition.

Speaker 2 (01:59:33):
World number one Judd Trump, he didn't have any issues
study five centuries I see here during a team four
round one victory. Would Trump be favorite to win the
whole thing?

Speaker 17 (01:59:43):
Now?

Speaker 3 (01:59:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (01:59:46):
Again, it's another really interesting point because he's the runaway
world number one. He's won three massive events this season.
Second half of the season his form has been a
little bit more patchy, but he comes in. He was
a tournament favorite and it was a bit weird because
several of the players were sort of being talked ahead
of him. But you've got jud Trump, like I say,
he's the world number one, and his performance against Julie

(02:00:08):
Long was fantastic. He made five centuries. He actually equaled
the record for the most centuries made by one player
in a round one match. That just proves how well
he is playing. He's actually up to ninety eight centuries
for the season, so if he gets two more at
the Crucible over the coming days, he actually pockets one
hundred thousand pounds bonus. So he's also got that little

(02:00:29):
bit of added pressure as well. Yes, he's rightfully the favorite.
There are question marks. Obviously he's won this before, but
there are question marks around his reliability over longer matches,
multi session matches, and he's got Sean Murphy in the
last sixteen so that's a real blockbuster tie. If he
can get past Murphy, then I think, you know, he

(02:00:53):
could go all the way and get the second World crown,
all right?

Speaker 2 (02:00:55):
And who else, Michael, who else has We've talked about
a couple of players who are still there, but who
else that we haven't mentioned might yet go deep into
this tournament.

Speaker 3 (02:01:06):
Well.

Speaker 15 (02:01:06):
One of the running stories throughout the tournament, even from
the very first qualifying round, was China's Xiaoxing Tong and
now Zoo is a former UK champion, former top six player,
but he was involved in the Chinese match fixing scandal
from a few years ago. He wasn't found to fixed

(02:01:27):
any matches himself, but he was evolved in the scandal
and he was banned from the sport for two years.
So he actually come back at the start of this
year on the amateur circuit, managed to get his professional
tour card back, so he's actually competing here at the
Crucibill as an amateur. He won four qualifying rounds, so
he's coming through the sort of labyrinth of preliminary ratches

(02:01:49):
at the Cruise. We beat Jack Jones quite comfortably really
to get into the last sixteen, and as we speak
now he's winning his last sixteen match against Laypey Fan.
The player beat Kyan Wilson. So I think Chao zing
Tong is somebody who I've seen like Ronnie O'SULLIVM. He's
li likened him to like a glitler of snooker, even
though he show's a few years older than Luke. So

(02:02:11):
very interesting what happens with Jiao. Obviously, we've never had
a Chinese world champion. This year We've had a record
number of Chinese players at the Cruise will We've had ten.
Previously it was six, so that perhaps sort of shows
you with the direction of you know where snooker is going.
But we've got so many other great players there, Like
I say, we've got Murphy, We've got Luca Prissell, you

(02:02:31):
won the tournament two years ago, Dingenui and another top
Chinese player class ninety two is still there, John Higgins,
Mark Williams. We really do have a stacked tournament and
it's it's shaping up to be possibly one of the
most exciting world championships and years.

Speaker 2 (02:02:46):
Absolutely even hearing the names that it makes you look
forward to the week you hear in just to finish Michael,
the tournament itself, the World Snooker Championship, the sitting at
the Crucible Theater in Sheffield. Still plenty of prestige, still
plenty of interest. Tickets relatively hard to come by, are
they They're like gold dust, they really are.

Speaker 15 (02:03:07):
They get pretty much sold out pretty much a year
in advance. It really is if you've never been to
the crucib but it is a very very special atmosphere.
It is like a cauldron especially in these early rounds
where you've got two tables. If you're in the front row,
you could actually stick your arm out and you know,
touch the player. It's such a fantastic atmosphere's it's an

(02:03:29):
electric atmosphere. Obviously, there's there's talks and conversations whether the
Crucilli will will still host this tournament because the contract
runs out in twenty twenty seven, and we've had bosses
of the sport talking about this last year. In this year,
it would be a big pity if you know, it
was to leave the Crucible, but the fans absolutely love it.

(02:03:52):
The players it's you know, the players is mixed bad
because you know, the pressure. The facilities probably aren't what
you would expect for a World Championship, but that adds
to its character and that's what makes it such a
unique test in the snooker and sporting world.

Speaker 2 (02:04:07):
Michael, thank you so much for joining us across New
Zealand and giving us some really great insight into the
World Snooker Championship. We look forward to the second round matches,
onto the quarters and the Royal Business end of the tournament. Again,
thank you for your time this afternoon.

Speaker 15 (02:04:20):
Thank you Jason, I really appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (02:04:22):
No appreciate your time. Michael Michael day There, chief snooker
writer for Totally Snookered seven to three.

Speaker 20 (02:04:27):
News Talks endby analyzing every view from every angle in
the morning World Weekend Sport with Jason pie Nicoll eighty
eight News Talk Envy.

Speaker 2 (02:04:38):
Four to three that is asked for today. Bevin jew
has been producing the show and gets the exit song
is gone with an absolute banger Bob Dylan and Joke
a man to take us out. Thanks for listening. Join
us tomorrow's well built towards Aukland FC, perhaps claiming silver
ware out at go Media Stadium at the first time
of asking Ti Beverige after three sem right

Speaker 1 (02:05:14):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talks at b Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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