Full Show Podcast: 01 June 2025

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
The only place for the.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Big names, the big issues, the big controversies and the
big conversations. It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vine
on your home of Sport News Talks EDB.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Hello there, CUNTI good afternoon. Welcome into Weekend Sport on
News Talks V for the first day of June twenty
twenty five. Happy birthday, World Cup winning former All Black
Ben Smith. I hope your long weekend's going well. I'm
Jason Pine Show producer Andy McDonald. We're here to talk
sport until three. The Super Rugby Pacific regular season is

(00:51):
all done, the top six are locked in and our
week one finals matchups are confirmed. Friday night seven o'clock
Crusaders v. Reds in christ Church, Saturday night seven o'clock
Chiefs the Blues and Hamilton Saturday night nine thirty five
Brumbes the Hurricanes in Canberra. The three winners and the

(01:14):
highest ranked loser go through to the semi finals. Three
of the four New Zealand based head coaches who are
still involved are with us this hour. Clayton McMillan standing
by Rob Penny. After that, Clark laidlaw a bit later on.
Blues assistant coach Paul Tettel is also on the show.
You'll feedback to this hour who wins it, or rather

(01:35):
who other than the Chiefs wins it? Other matters around
today Warriors rabbit Os four o'clock this afternoon, as the
Warriors look to bounce back from that defeat to the
Raiders a week ago. Half back Luke metcalf is with
us after one o'clock head of their match against rabbit Os.
William Lawson thirteenth in qualifying for Formula one's Spanish Grand Prix,
eliminated in the second qualifying session if One. Journalist and

(01:57):
broadcaster Chris Medland out of Barcelona. The big names all
safely through to the last sixteen of the French Tennis Open.
Our Man in Paris. Craig gave updates on that. James
mcconey as usual on a Sunday, and a wrap of
US sport the NHL and NBA at the business ends
of their respective seasons. Our American sports expertly on Buzzby

(02:19):
before we knock the show on the head at three
o'clock live sport this afternoon. Speaking of US sport, Game
six in the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals is just underway
in Indianapolis, Indiana Paces versus New York Knicks. The Pacers
can win the seven game series and advance to the
NBA Finals if they win this game. The Knicks need

(02:42):
to win it to take it to a deciding Game
seven back in New York. As I say, just underway,
only thirty seconds or so gone the next with a
nine to four lead at the moment. We'll keep eyes
on that for you this afternoon. I know it's a
holiday weekend, but if you want to, please get in touch.
If you don't want to, you don't have to, like say,
you might just want to sit back, relax and enjoy

(03:03):
what comes out of your speakers. But if you do
want to enter a couple of ways to do it. Oh,
eight hundred eighty ten eighty, we'll get you. Throw on
the phones nine two ninety two for your text messages
or emails into Jason at Newstalk, SEDB dot co dot
NZI bang on ten past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails weekends
fort with Jason nine News Talk zenb.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
So we have our Super Rugby Top six and at
the top of that pile, as they were two years ago,
we find the Chiefs.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
Strikes it down the middle, it goes Mackenzie's been good
tonight and it is all over here at four side
bars Stadium and the Chiefs running out winners by scoring
six tries to three against the gallant heart of the
side here.

Speaker 3 (03:54):
The Chiefs finishing with victory in Dunedin to finish top.
They will welcome the Blues to Hamilton next Saturday night.
Chiefs head coaches Clayton McMillan, who joins US now Clayton
top of the table. Ten wins, three losses, five wins
in your last six. How do you evaluate the base
that you've built over the last four months or so
as you head into the Super Rugby finals.

Speaker 5 (04:18):
Pretty happy, actually pointy. No, we haven't played perfect rugby,
but it's about playing your perfect rugby in the round robin.
It's about accumulating an understanding we want your game to
get to obviously, trying to keep as many of you
your main bodies out on the field and setting yourself

(04:40):
up to have a decent run when you get.

Speaker 6 (04:41):
To the finals.

Speaker 3 (04:43):
So you've scored the most points and conceded the fewest.
Which of those two things makes you happier?

Speaker 7 (04:51):
Probably the latter one.

Speaker 5 (04:53):
Yeah, Look, I think you know we're a team that
has an ability to be able to score tries, but
I want to limit the amount we need.

Speaker 8 (05:01):
To score.

Speaker 5 (05:03):
By reducing the amount that.

Speaker 9 (05:05):
The opposition scores.

Speaker 5 (05:07):
Tough. Tough at this time of year because he runs,
you know, as I said, understands the game well. Some
some quality teams left in the finals. So often I'll
come down to your defensive if it's accuracy.

Speaker 3 (05:19):
He said to me earlier this season when we spoke
that you'd never met a player who doesn't want to
start rugby matches, but you've often used the likes of
Summer Sauny Tokajo, Summer Penny, Female Courties, Latimar and others
off the bench. How have you framed those conversations with
those players?

Speaker 5 (05:37):
Pretty easy? Really, it's always tim first mentality, so they
understand that, you know, we're making decisions around selection and
the best interest of the team, and often those also
in the best interests of those individuals. So as much
as would all like to see them out there playing
eighty minutes, of every game. It's pretty unrealistic, I think,
especially if you want them firing at the at the

(06:00):
business end of the season. So you have managed to
rotate pretty well, he runs, you know how to fair
shake it, and from this point forward would love to
be in a position are able to stick down side.

Speaker 3 (06:11):
Just on that quinter pire, is he going to be
okay for the weekend ahead?

Speaker 5 (06:17):
I'm sure at the stage he pulled up pretty well
after the game, but it's got a mess of shiner
and you know, we wouldn't want to put him under
any unnecessary pressure around getting out the death. He's not
one hundred percent, so he's pasted all of us at
hiatus but passing that and then actually been physically and
ready to go out and play as another story, So

(06:39):
I've got a week under our bouts, so we'll give
them every opportunity.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
You've beaten the Blues twice this season, but that seems
like an awfully long time ago. I think rounds one
and five or something like that. Are those wins in
any way relevant now?

Speaker 9 (06:54):
Not really?

Speaker 5 (06:54):
No, you get the finals rugby and everyone the seer
has advanced the game and we know a lot more
about each other, so you know, there's no not too
many surprises, and now BRUEs have built the game nicely
over the last particularly over the last couple of weeks,
and I'll come on with a bit of momentum and

(07:14):
no shortage of confidence, so you know we'll need to
be at our best.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
The new finals format means that by finishing type effectively,
you get a second life. If you happen to lose
on Saturday night, you are still there for the following week.
Can you still treat this like a knockout game?

Speaker 9 (07:32):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (07:33):
Yeah, he'll playing the Blues at home, so it's a
bit of a no brainer for us. But you know
what it does do, is it sort of I wouldn't
say it releases the pressure valve, but you know, we're
the only team going into quarter finals week knowing that
we're going to be there the following week irrespective, but
mindset will remain the same when no, that's only going

(07:56):
to go through a solid preparation week and respecting the
Bruis what they bring and understanding that they're going to
be tough opposition.

Speaker 3 (08:04):
This feels a lot like twenty twenty three. I don't
know how you feel about that best team in the
regular season, you're host of the final that year lost
to the Crusaders. I mean that could happen again, you
could host the final against them again. Can you take
any lessons from twenty twenty three into finals in twenty
twenty five?

Speaker 5 (08:22):
Oh really, it's a long time ago now. Yeah, you're
learning lessons every week every year. You know, there's something
to be taken from from you know, the opportunity has
won and loss throughout seasons, and you know we've been
we've been here at the business end a number of
times now and we understand the presses that come with it.

(08:44):
We understand the expectation. I also understand that you've just
got to be at your best. You know, you can't
afford to have a pulled out the office otherwise good
night news. So every team, there's no team in this
competition coming in now that isn't aware of what's required
and there'll be last man standing the best menyments.

Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yeah, you're arriving good for that, aren't you. You must
be and you said it right at the start. You
must be happy with with where you are as we
sit here today, with you know, with finals football over
the next three weekends.

Speaker 5 (09:16):
Yeah, you're always searching for opportunity for growth. It's not
the time to sort of just you know, put the
foot on the on the on the break and think
you've got it all sorted. But you know, we've played
some good rugby over the last two or three weeks.
I found a bit of rhythm. I think we're probably
clearer on how we want to play the game and

(09:38):
where he just comes down to execution on the day,
so you know, we haven't need everything our own way.
Each team challenges you in different ways and mentioned that
Blues are going to be exactly the same.

Speaker 3 (09:49):
Spoke to Roger Randall a couple of weeks ago and
he said that if you didn't know, you wouldn't know
that you were leaving at the end of this season.
How have you kept that off to one side?

Speaker 7 (10:00):
Pretty easy?

Speaker 5 (10:01):
Really, it's that's that's a pretty focused team. And you
know we're has said before, we just put the team first.
In any one's individual journey is you know, a long
distance second. So we just enjoy coming into work every
day and we get really true to our sort of

(10:22):
premise of just focusing on the game that's directly in
front of us, and we prepare well, and we know
if we do that, then we give ourselves a fighting
chance and things about.

Speaker 10 (10:30):
The change, and there'll be other people that will.

Speaker 5 (10:32):
Move on and go into different roles and what not postseason,
but or worry about that when when that arives.

Speaker 3 (10:39):
Congrats on a terrific regular season, Clayton ors appreciate the chat.
All the best for the week ahead.

Speaker 5 (10:44):
Mate, andrama's piny thanks mate.

Speaker 3 (10:46):
No, thank you, Clayton. Clayton McMillan there, head coach of
the table topping Chiefs who will welcome the Blues on
Saturday night seven o five for commentary Gold Sport and
iHeartRadio of that one, Minte meat. I know we'll be
getting as vocal cords ready already for that one. Surely
it's the Chiefs here, isn't it. Surely is I know

(11:06):
Clayton mclin would ever say it, but they arrive in
really good form. It just feels as though it's their time,
doesn't it will. There be a few teams with a
bit to say about that, including the Crusaders, who locked
up second place on Friday night with a hard fought
thirty three thirty one win over the Brumbies and Canberra it's.

Speaker 11 (11:27):
Kick did's it's a thriller in the tiller and camera,
but the Crusaders came on to finish seconds and super
right be pacific.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yes, and by doing so, hosting rights against the Reds
Friday Nights in christ Church. Full commentary of that game
too on Gold Sport and Nightheartradio with Nick Buley and
the team. Crusaders head coach Rob Penny is with us.
Rob sort of occurs to me that that was a
tough game for you on Friday night and compared to
many of the other sides in the top six, you
come into the finals off the back of a real battle.

(11:59):
How helpful might that be to you as you now
tackle finals footy?

Speaker 9 (12:04):
As you say, we it was a really hard for
what physical encounter with with a great side. You know,
obviously Brumby's getting third, it was always going to be
pretty titanic and you know, we've looked at it as
as part of I guess part of the build up
to the to the playoffs. So who knows, but we

(12:25):
feel as though it's it's set us up really well.
We've come through you know, the game pretty well in
terms of the the physical nature and so forth, and
we've got some great learnings and we'll be you know,
pushing on with those this week. So hopefully we really
do believe it set us up nicely.

Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, well it's seven wins in your last eight. Do
you believe in the in the concept of momentum.

Speaker 9 (12:50):
Well, there's nothing to replace confidence and that's all. You know,
it's all tied up with that, With that concept of momentum,
I guess you get wins and then they it's sort
of self fulfilling prophecy. You know, the energy and excitement
and confidence you get from a win sort of turns
and gives you another opportunity the next week, and if
you can build on that, that's where it comes from. Really,

(13:13):
so there is an element to it, but that doesn't
mean that, you know, a team with quality can't bounce
really quickly if they've had a couple of bad runs
or bad outcomes. So there's something in it, but it's
not the beal on.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
The end, Did you know Seva Recee could drop goals?

Speaker 7 (13:31):
Did?

Speaker 9 (13:33):
He loves it? He's got a multifested skill set. It
does practice them at training and he practices goalkicking at
training and he's really good.

Speaker 3 (13:42):
All right, well, he's one from one this season, so
you can't do much better than that. Let's look ahead
the Reds Friday night. You beat them in a round four.
Is that now a little bit too long ago to
be relevant this weekend?

Speaker 9 (13:57):
Well, just reviewing the Reds again and watching them play
last night and listen to some of the comments. You know,
they're talking about a game twelve months ago where you
know they stung us here badly at home. So I mean,
if we're talking about a game three or four months ago,
is now irrelevant? Talking a game twelve months ago is

(14:17):
still relevant. Look, they're all pieces of the puddle puzzle.
It's how that's how you're tied all together to make
it relevant. And they're obviously feeding on that performance at
Orange Theory twelve months ago. And we'll dip into the
Reds game round I think was around four. But conditions
will be entirely different, you know, at the time of year.

(14:40):
You know, as you said, you know, the evolvement of
both teams during the campaign will be markedly different. So
lots of things to take into account. But yeah, you
can certainly reflect on those previous encounters and take a
bit out of it if.

Speaker 3 (14:54):
You talk about pieces in a puzzle, your selection puzzle,
if you can call it that. You got to Ethan
Black at a back. He'd missed the last four games.
I think I hadn't seen him since you went over
the blues. How critical us has returned to you?

Speaker 9 (15:10):
Yeah, Look, he's he in a number of ways. His
performances are you know, a top shop every time is
consistent to performance and what he delivers for the group,
and then you know you see him around the group
during the week and what he offers his teammates and
the jersey and the legacy of the Crusaders. I guess

(15:32):
as all the things that you want from your great
can crusader men. And to be fair, all the boys
embraced that element and but Ethan's right at the pinnacle
with two or three others that that real lead that
for us. So yep, it's great having back and we're
better for it.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
Will you have will Jordan back this week?

Speaker 9 (15:57):
We've still got a wee bit of water to go
under the bridge there, but it's all pretty positive at
this stage. But there were no confirmation until probably probably
when day before we are able to confirm or rule
that out. But it's all really positive at the stage.

Speaker 3 (16:13):
And David heavily didn't play against the Brombies. That was
just rest though was it.

Speaker 9 (16:18):
Had a tiny little bit of a tightness in his hemmy.
But so it was a combination massive workload. His stats are,
you know, going through the roof across the game, particularly
in the contact and the high meters he's attaining and games,
so his work rates off the scale, so double edge.

(16:39):
He didn't want to really have a week off, but
it's turned out to be the best thing we could
have done, and you know, we can't wait him back
in there leading us.

Speaker 3 (16:47):
And can I just ask you about the bloke who
most often has worn the twenty two jumper for you
this season, James O'Connor. Can you talk a bit about
his impact and influence on your side this year.

Speaker 9 (16:59):
Yeah, he's he's been a great asset for us. I
think you know, the question gets often asked about at
him because he's a He's a charismatic guy with a
with a fantastic rugby intellect and an attitude of you know,
wanting to give and express himself and be a part

(17:19):
of something far greater than himself, which is a which
is a wonderful attribute to have at his stage of
his career, because his knowledge is right up there and
his ability and confidence to share that and debate and
challenge is awesome. But there's also his ability to wrap
his arm around a couple of our younger blokes who are,
you know, finding their way in the professional arena and

(17:42):
support them and nurture and cajole has just been exactly
what we had hoped it would be. You know, he's
living the words he spoke to us about when he
when he best had the discussion with us about coming here.
And can't speak highly enough about the man.

Speaker 3 (17:57):
When we did this feature last year, Robin and spoke
to the coaches who were involved in Finals Football. We
didn't have to ring you. Did you always believe that
twenty twenty four was a blow that you could recover
immediately from.

Speaker 9 (18:10):
Yeah, we were. I think we were one one away
from being fixed, and had we been there, you know,
I had every faith that the group would have the
quality to push through and be a real challenger. You know,
you look at the Blues similar this year they've managed
to get into the top SI. They'll be massively motivated

(18:32):
and there'll be a massive challenge forever whoever they get
and you'd have to say, you know, they've had a
you know, a bit of I guess, a challenging season. Yeah. No,
I always had faith that the group would bounce.

Speaker 3 (18:46):
And there'll be guys on your side who are hoping
to hear their names read out in an all black
squad in a few weeks time. Do you talk to
your players specifically about their All black's ambitions?

Speaker 9 (18:58):
Everyone's aware. No, not specifically. I guess we all the
coaches capable of having really good communication or chats with
the boys about the bigger picture stuff and you know,
ensuring that the focus is on the here and now

(19:20):
and that the benefits that they'll get will be on
the back of performing really well for the Crusaders. And look,
without doubt and without any doubt in my mind in
terms of questioning approach, that the players here are deeply
invested in the Crusaders and you know what their time

(19:43):
and the jersey means, and that that one'm talking about
the players that have been great All Blacks, and it's
a real thrill. It's an incredible environment to be around
knowing that the you know, the people that have other
responsibilities and other teams are still so heavily invested in
this in this group and what it does, and it's

(20:06):
a real wanted to be a tiny week part of that.

Speaker 3 (20:08):
Congrats on the bounce you've overseen in twenty twenty five. Rob,
all the best for the week ahead. Thanks for your
time this afternoon, pleasure.

Speaker 9 (20:14):
Thanks very much, look forward to catching up again.

Speaker 3 (20:17):
Maybe maybe so, Rob, Maybe so, you're in yourself another
week and we'll certainly take you up on that offer.
Thanks indeed, Rob Penny, head coach of the Crusaders. So
they're through safely in the top two and we'll host
the Reds on Friday night. That's the first of the
finals matches in weekend.

Speaker 6 (20:35):
One.

Speaker 3 (20:35):
Look, Chiefs and Crusaders have been the best two sides,
haven't they. The records would say so, both eleven wins
from their fourteen games, both with really good points differentials.
The reason the Chiefs were top is that they got
a couple of extra bonus points. Both teams got five
try scoring bonus points during the season, so you get

(20:57):
that for scoring three more tries than your opponents in
any given match. The Chiefs picked up a couple of
losing bonus points so getting within seven two of their
three defeats, that's why they're top and the Crusaders are second.
I'm looking at the tab odds, Chiefs paying two dollars,
Crusaders two seventy five. Then you have to go back
to the Hurricanes that's seven dollars. Are we on track

(21:20):
for a repeat of twenty twenty three? Is that how
you're reading it? I eight hundred eighty ten eighty Chiefs fans,
Crusaders fans? Is this what we're destined for? And three
weeks from now? Is that what we'll be talking about?
The Chiefs against the Crusaders and Hamilton? Like I say,
I just feel as though it's the Chief year, But

(21:42):
I thought it was two years ago as well. Do
you have to lose two to win one? They say
you're going to lose one to win one? Do you
have to lose two to win one? Surely surely it's
the Chief shear I eight hundred eighty ten eighty. Lets
talk some super rugby. We'll get inside the Hurricanes and
the Blues camps before one o'clock, but keen to hear

(22:02):
your views on anything get picked up on over the
weekend or anything you want to predict for next weekend Chiefs, Blues, Crusaders, Reds,
Brumbi's Hurricanes. This is Weekend Sport twelve twenty nine. Back
after this, It's more than just a game.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
Garnomes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Dogs'd be.

Speaker 3 (22:24):
Twelve thirty one. Malcolm on text one could say the
Blues were fairly unlucky not to win at both the
Chiefs and Crusaders' home grounds this year. With the Blues
injury list pretty much over now, I wouldn't be surprised
if the Blues actually roll the Chiefs next Saturday. Malcolm.
Bullish from you, Bullish from you? Hello?

Speaker 8 (22:43):
Will?

Speaker 10 (22:45):
Yeah you get it mate?

Speaker 3 (22:46):
How we doing very good? Will, very good.

Speaker 12 (22:48):
That's a story.

Speaker 7 (22:49):
That's sorry.

Speaker 13 (22:50):
I love it.

Speaker 14 (22:51):
I love Super Rugby this year. I just want to say, like,
what a year it's been. All my mates, I'm in
the I'm thirty and we've all got into the Super
Rugby fantasy and I'm literally finding myself watching Ossie versus
Aussie games.

Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yeah, I'm the same mate, because I would never watch
the Force against the Waratars ordinarily. I've got to be honest,
you know, I'll watch I mean even even to be fair,
even last year. Normally you watch your team whoever they
are playing, and I'd watch New Zealand Derby's. But you're
right on the same wall. How are you going to fantasy?
Are you kicking us or not?

Speaker 5 (23:24):
Oh?

Speaker 14 (23:24):
I finished up third because it's all done now it's
the regular season. So we had a bit of a
money pop. We've split that out and I missed the cut.
So the gutters, But no, it's I've got mates that
don't really even follow rugby, or historically haven't, but this
year like they're on there and there they're messaging around
and go make sure your teams and these the guys

(23:45):
that have played like soccer growing up. So no, it's
been awesome. What are you it's the best year since
twenty and fifteen? Or the hind as an all black cool?

Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (23:53):
Oh look, yeah I agree. So so where are you
calling from? Who's your team?

Speaker 14 (23:58):
Oh? Highland As, Yeah mate, I'm down near Wonica Queensberry.

Speaker 3 (24:02):
Oh rightyo radio.

Speaker 6 (24:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
I thought at the start of the year and you
probably feel the same. I thought the Holland was going
to be quite good, you know, they had a couple
of wins in their first three games, they beat the Blues,
beat Mo Wanna, and then then what happened.

Speaker 14 (24:16):
I mean for me, I still really enjoyed their games
because they showed so much heart and they're not a
team with big names. You know, these guys are trying
to make a name for themselves, and that's sort of
been the monkey on the back for the Hoinders, you know,
since forever. I believe that they've been guys who have
come down, you know, the cold South and they're trying

(24:36):
to prove themselves and guys that perhaps didn't get an opportunity,
you know, up in the in the big Smoker and
in the bigger cities have come down and made a
real impact.

Speaker 6 (24:44):
You know.

Speaker 12 (24:45):
I always think of the twenty fifteen team, some of those.

Speaker 14 (24:48):
Names that came out of that and the All Blacks
that emerged, what you know, ended up being great, leave
us so longer and yeah may leam squire, Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:59):
Yeah, I mean you might, I mean you may well
be right. Well, you know you well, a guy likes
they've been Holland. I mean it's going to be in
All Black this year with almost you know, no out
that others. You're right, Caleb datl I was so guzzed
we lost fin Hurley so early on. He seems like
a real talent, you know you, I think you you
could be right if if you can have a bit
of patience, and I know down south you've got a
lot of that. You know, who knows what might happen

(25:20):
with his team in the next little while.

Speaker 14 (25:21):
Mate, Yeah, no, that's a that's an I like, yep,
that guy is. He is a monster. I'm not burg
I'm sick foot, and he's he's shorter than me. You know,
he went out, been on the field winter a couple
of Hinders games this year.

Speaker 10 (25:35):
But that man is just a breack.

Speaker 14 (25:37):
Like good luck to anyone trying to tackle him. And
no wonder he gets so many tearing overs getting over
that ball because he is just a monster. And I
really hope that he gets his chance on the on
the big stage at some point, because yeah, he's been
unbelievable for us this year.

Speaker 3 (25:50):
I do too. Hey, thanks for calling, We'll call back anytime.
Made all the best.

Speaker 14 (25:54):
Oh it's cheers, mate, love it, I'm listening good.

Speaker 3 (25:56):
I take it easy. So you're like eight one hundred
and eighty ten eighties our number as always good to
hear from a Highlanders fan, and y I think you
know as disappointed as I'm sure they are with the
finished position. Yeah, a little bit of a little bit
of patients. There's some green shoots there. Who knows, who
knows what the future might look like. The Hurricanes locked
up fourth spot last night full.

Speaker 15 (26:16):
Time at Sky Stadium at ten try demolition job by
the Hurricanes over Malwana pacifica as they storm into finals
football with an emphatic display tonight here and we'll face
the Brumbies and Canberra on Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
Hurricanes coach Clark laid Law is with us. How place
were you, Clark, with last night as your springboard into
the finals?

Speaker 7 (26:43):
Yeah, you know, we were happy to play as well
as we did.

Speaker 16 (26:49):
You know, I thought we showed good composure and sort
of patients in the first half where Moana defended well,
but you know, we we managed to keep that sort
of pressure on and get repeat sets, got a couple
of trieses before half time which probably give us the
reward for.

Speaker 7 (27:05):
As much ball as would have had.

Speaker 16 (27:06):
And then yeah, I guess that last twenty minutes, you know,
the sort of what we put into them paid off
and and you know, a bit more space opened up.
So so yeah, pretty happy to yeah, to get through
the game and no real you know, serious injuries, which
is always a nice little bonus at.

Speaker 7 (27:24):
This time of the year.

Speaker 3 (27:26):
There was a lot of aboution wrap around this game,
with a number of former Hurricanes returning as mwan applies
and coaching staff too. Did you have to manage that
in any why across the wake?

Speaker 16 (27:37):
No, not really, No, be honest, we didn't. No, we
didn't talk about it too much, you know, well aware
of you know, the quality of players, certainly with Hardy
playing the way he has been, and yeah, probably they
had a bit more emotion maybe than us coming down
and returning, as as you say, with a few boys
I've been here in the past. I've played for Walton
and NPC. So we were just really focused on what

(28:01):
we thought with important things for the week and the
big rocks and you know, so tried to narrow focus
really into our game, the little things that bring that
alive and and help.

Speaker 7 (28:12):
Us play well.

Speaker 16 (28:12):
So that was the focus for the week, and I thought,
you know, for the large parts of the game, we've
sort of seen that, so.

Speaker 3 (28:19):
You'll fights the Brombis on Saturday, not in camera. You
weren't there that long ago. You beat them over there
just over a month ago. Is is that recency helpful
as you head back there and Troy and win a game.

Speaker 7 (28:33):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 16 (28:33):
I mean I think, yeah, it's become like a little
bit when I've been missed at the Hurricanes cameon camera,
isn't I was? It seemed to be a tough place
for us to go and play and win. But yeah,
I thought we played particularly well that night. You know,
we're coming from the force, we were on the road
and spending time together, so we were really clear that

(28:55):
night how how we thought we wanted to play.

Speaker 6 (28:57):
You know, we had a good look.

Speaker 16 (28:58):
At the Brumbies as a coaching group the last few
days and you know, I think quarterfinals are always different,
you know.

Speaker 7 (29:06):
Play offs.

Speaker 16 (29:08):
I went off game, you know, the competition starts again.
We're all, you know, of all the three games to
try and win it. So yeah, we just take a
breath and last night sort of flash that today and
have a couple of catch ups as coaches and and
when we come back to what just really prepared well
for the Brumbies over there, and I think the way
they get their game finished is probably going to fuel
their their energy.

Speaker 9 (29:29):
You know.

Speaker 16 (29:29):
I'm sure they're feeling a little bit hard done by
around what happened at the back end of that game,
and we just got to match that when we get
there and look forward to an excite week.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
I look at that one and it came off the
back of a couple of losses to Blows and Cruse
Eiders and that drawer against the Force, but it was
the first of five wins in a row leading up
to last night. So was that victory over the Brandies
in some ways a bit of a kickstart for the
back end of view season.

Speaker 7 (29:58):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 16 (29:58):
I think I think last night to somebody, I think
the time in Australia was the kickstart we were. We
were definitely scratching around for for form. We played poorly
against the Blues, we started well against Crusaders, then they
got really on top in the middle part of the
game and then we.

Speaker 7 (30:15):
Came back strong.

Speaker 16 (30:16):
But there was signs against the Force that we were
slightly better. Sad we fell on golden point or we
could have got a win or got a panety to
get the win. So we had a bit of confidence
a wee a bit from that week and then we
as usually rugby team spending time together and.

Speaker 7 (30:32):
Working hard, we got.

Speaker 16 (30:34):
Yeah, we we got the rewards against the Brumbies and
and probably ironically it's often the end point for us
as a as a team, maybe it was a standpoint
this year to as you say, springboard from that performance.

Speaker 7 (30:47):
So, yeah, it was. It was a timely time on
the road going to Australia. I think you.

Speaker 3 (30:52):
Said just before that there's no serious injuries. We did
say pet Umanga, Jenson and Rubin Love lead the field
last night with what looked to be sort of little niggles.
They're both going to be.

Speaker 7 (31:00):
A kai, Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 16 (31:02):
I mean there's a heap of guys with niggles at
this time of the year when he played voting games,
you know, so yeah, we'll just I'm pretty sure they'll
be they'll be ready to play come saturly.

Speaker 3 (31:13):
Just on Peter, you know, he he played, you know,
I think pretty much every game until Riley Higgins became
available again, then had to drop out of the side,
came back in against the Raids and I thought was
terrific last night. Well, what have you Saiyn from Peter
Umanga Jinson this season.

Speaker 16 (31:29):
Yeah, but of all that, you know, he actually you know,
he did get can cast against the Force and had
he showed us, so that was the reason he dropped
out of the team.

Speaker 7 (31:37):
You know, we were really happy the way he was playing.

Speaker 16 (31:41):
You know, I said again last night he showed it
a lot of the work the early part of the
year without Riley and obviously Jordy overseas, so you know,
we were we were really happy with the way he
was playing. You know, he's seen last night. When he's
decisive and he he makes any decisions to carry or
move the ball on then he's a real threat, you
know with with the bone hand or his passing game.

(32:04):
He's got a nice shot passing game. So so yeah,
Righty's you know injury was you know, it's unfortunate to
have them both in the squad.

Speaker 7 (32:11):
Would you know, would have that real depth. But I
think he got performance last night that showed how good
rugby player.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
Is and we seem to talk him out to ma
very white, but I think it is worth mentioning Duplessy
copy again. He finished last night with the blood all
down the shoot not that's that the note that that's
an indication of a good game or not. But what
have you saying from him in terms of his growth
this season?

Speaker 7 (32:33):
Yeah, it's just the maturity, isn't it.

Speaker 16 (32:35):
The consistency He's always for as long as I've watched
Duke's player rugby can have impact in the game. But
he's having continual impacts. His work off the balls improved.
You know, I thought a couple of times last night
you see his ball carrying, but also you know it's
some real link play where he moved the ball and
a couple of times and got the ball to the
edge and the men really respond well to them. He's

(32:58):
got a real sort of yeah, which again is a
mature and a more calm leadership approach at the minute.
You know, he can still where he's heart on the
sleeve and still have massive impacts in the game, but
can also stay really calm.

Speaker 7 (33:11):
And and help others.

Speaker 16 (33:14):
You know, he's always had to say that the ability
to do his own stuff, but now he's also got
the ability to bring other people with them.

Speaker 3 (33:21):
Will you get a supple a mo back this week?

Speaker 9 (33:24):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (33:24):
I think so. He's back training.

Speaker 16 (33:27):
So he was just a twelve day standdown from the concussion.
So yeah, he was back training at the back end
of the week. So we'll just continue with those protocols.
But all signs would be that that he's available, and
you know, maybe one or two others that have been out.
I say we'll we convene tomorrow and getting up there
and where all the buddies are all based.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
As you are playing your wike, Clark, hope you can
earn yourself another manday. Thanks for taking the time this afternoon.

Speaker 7 (33:51):
As always, all good.

Speaker 3 (33:54):
Now, thank you Clark, Clark liedlow there, Hurricanes head coach
Bromby's Saturday Night nine thirty five Gold Sport and iHeart
Radio for your commentary seventeen to one. So what's that Chiefs, Crusiders, Hurricanes,
Blues next Paul Title on the show right after.

Speaker 1 (34:09):
This, the Tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sport with
Jason Tyne and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most Trusted home Builder.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
News coming up thirteen to one. The defending champion Blues
going to travel down the motorway play the Chiefs and
Hamilton on Saturday Night, and we'll do so with some
confidence after yesterday's outing against the war Atars at Eden Park.

Speaker 13 (34:32):
Over it goes.

Speaker 17 (34:34):
That is full time, the Blues do their bets, but
will it be enough? Forty six six a bonus point
When seven tries to none the Blues out class the war.

Speaker 3 (34:47):
Tarze it was enough, Blues assistant coach Paul Tittle is
with us. Paul, that one over the war Tars forty
six to six a good result. How happy were you
to finish the regular season with such an emphatic win.

Speaker 18 (34:59):
Yeah, hey, you know, we knew we had to get
the job done. I think, first and foremost where to
win the game, and then they worry about that bonus
point secondary, So you know, it was pleasing to score
those couple of tries just for half time, which potentially
took the windowut of the sales for the Warratas. But
on your question, you know, pleasing to get the result

(35:21):
and we earn the right to go on a Monday,
and you know we're all day to day to make sure.

Speaker 6 (35:26):
We're ready to go down the highway.

Speaker 3 (35:28):
Like you said, of course you knew that I want to.
Pacifica could jump back over the top of you if
they beat the Hurricanes with a bonus point, which obviously
didn't happen any any nervous moments. They went up early,
but after that you always felt confident Hurricanes would do
you a favor.

Speaker 6 (35:41):
Well, I definitely thought Moana on the day could win
that game. But you know, I mean to.

Speaker 18 (35:45):
Beat the Hurricanes by three tries I felt was always
a big ask for them. But you know, I think
you know everyone's touched on it. They've had an outstanding season.
You know, they miss out, but they'll be better for that,
and you know next year they'll they'll grow another league.

Speaker 3 (36:01):
Absolutely right. Funny our regular season for you guys, six wins,
eight losses. What are the most valuable reflections she can
take from the regular season heading into the finals.

Speaker 6 (36:12):
Well, I think we just look at the Chiefs.

Speaker 18 (36:13):
You know, we played them first round and then first
round around after the buy. You know that first round
we've met a lot of boys that were undercooked and
the Chiefs were in a similar position and they backed
their squad. So you know, that's most really learning for
us moving forward. But in that last game, we went
Hamilton and we were competitive, there.

Speaker 6 (36:34):
Wasn't much in it. We know we have to be
at our best to compete with the Chiefs.

Speaker 18 (36:40):
At the moment, I think, especially the last couple of weeks,
I've really gone up a level. So you know that
they're starting while they're starting fast, so we know we're hunting.
No illusion how tough it will be to go to
Hamilton to win. But also on this on the flip side,
is actually taking some confidence that we have gone down
and they're informed. So no, we looked as a coaching

(37:02):
group to set up a week to make sure we
get things right and head down the road with confidence.

Speaker 3 (37:08):
In terms of personnel, you lost off the Fussy Fair
early on. Sam Dowry hasn't played at all this season
after being a big influence for you last season. How
significant has the loss of those two players in particular being.

Speaker 6 (37:23):
I think what they bring to the team is huge.

Speaker 18 (37:26):
Obviously different parts of the game, but really own their
own space and we've definitely missed him.

Speaker 6 (37:32):
But you know.

Speaker 18 (37:32):
That's rugby and all teams are like this, so you
know we can't really look back. They're still they still
have influence in our group.

Speaker 6 (37:40):
The top men.

Speaker 18 (37:40):
They care about the Blues and they'll be in this
week fear the boys, so they're ready.

Speaker 6 (37:45):
To go on did they not.

Speaker 3 (37:47):
I guess with Offer dropping out, it's opened the door
for Josh for Stur to play a much more significant role.
In fact, he's played every game for you, Paul. You reckon,
he's look chet around about him, You reckon, he's ready
for the next step up.

Speaker 18 (38:02):
Yeah, he's a great human, Josh one of the hardest
guys in our team, always here on a day off,
preparing himself to go on the weekend. You know, you
look at his b stats, He's he's right up there
as we're great huge. So yeah, I think he's taking
his opportunities this year with Opper out, Like you said, Yeah,

(38:23):
I think he's there or thereabouts.

Speaker 6 (38:25):
And you know, in these big games.

Speaker 18 (38:27):
That's where you can really put your hand up and
cement your spot on that in that dat Jersey. But
you know, I think Josh him South will just known him.
He'll just begin his head down on making sure he's
ready to go for said date.

Speaker 3 (38:38):
I look at the team you put out yesterday, I
think is the first time at about six games you've
had Caleb, Clark and Mike to lay a start together.
He got other guys coming back, and you actually arrived,
do you, Paul, at finals time with pretty much your
first choice side available.

Speaker 18 (38:52):
Yeah, I think apart from those two that you mentioned
that we're season long in injuries, I think we're there
or thereabouts. So I mean, I was a nice see
the Backs last night playing was a bit more confidence
and then getting the ball to Wit, then getting the
ball to those guys like you've just mentioned, you know,
massive influence in the game and you know went on one.
They're pretty good themselves, so you know, it's it's exciting

(39:16):
week and we've got to nailed as.

Speaker 6 (39:18):
A coaching group to make sure we set them up
for the weekend.

Speaker 3 (39:21):
Is this niggle between the Blues and Mawana pacifica real
or is this just about a social media banter going on?

Speaker 6 (39:28):
Well, I'm not really on social media.

Speaker 3 (39:29):
You're probably the wrong guy to ask.

Speaker 18 (39:34):
The first thing I walked in this morning and one
of the boys said, jeez, is getting out of hand.
But you know, I mean, I think that it's all
about likes and thumbs up and stuff like this is
what I understand.

Speaker 6 (39:44):
So mard enough that's good for the game or bad
for the game.

Speaker 18 (39:48):
But you know, I mean, all all I say is,
you know, let's get on with it and you know,
I mean tip your hat to Mowana. They've had a
good year and we've made it and we've got a
big game on set that.

Speaker 19 (40:00):
Yeah you're doing.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
Hey, thanks, Paul, got to leave it there. I appreciate
your time though. Paul Tittle, assistant coach of the Blues.
They all the Chiefs Saturday night at FMG Stadium in
Hamilton for a place in the semi final, seven and
a half away from one New stalks By when.

Speaker 1 (40:15):
It's down to the line and you made a call
on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sports with
Jason Pine News Talk Zibby, I.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
Just want to finish the Super Rugby where the comment
clark Lydlaw might after the game last night Hurricanes coach
clarke Ldlaw about the return of Ardie and Julian Savilla
to Wellington in mo Wanna Colors.

Speaker 16 (40:34):
Hardie did play ten years for the Hurricanes, Julian ten years.
They've played close to three hundred games between them and
other the Hurricanes legends.

Speaker 7 (40:43):
You know, so yeah they're playing from Juana now.

Speaker 16 (40:44):
But we were really proud of Ardi the way he's played,
and you know, maybe it was the right thing for
everybody already going up to Moana. They've been successful. He's
played probably his best Super rugby season in a long time,
and we've got duplec Criefy and Bryan Yosse and Devin
Flanders and so on, and we might have had to
lose a couple of those players. So yeah, maybe it's

(41:07):
just I went on around and you know, we get
twenty thousand here and we make some money off the
gate and so on, so we're happy. Asked to keep
your heads down. Maybe flying under the radars the way
the way it needs to be this year.

Speaker 3 (41:19):
Yep, maybe it was the best thing all around for
Ardi to go to Mauana Pacifica. You might get an
argument from me, wouldn't affect his head on them? Look
Metcalff after one o'clock.

Speaker 1 (41:29):
It's the only place to discuss the biggest Fours issues
on and after fields.

Speaker 6 (41:34):
It's all on week.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
James Sport with Jason Hyde on your home of Sport
US Talk.

Speaker 3 (41:40):
Sibby, Hello there, welcome into Weekend Sport on News Talks.
He'd be for June one. I'm Jason Pine with any
McDonald alongside. We're hit till three. Luke Metcalfe out of
the Warriors standing by for a chat rabbidos there opposition
four o'clock this afternoon, New Zealand time. That game's in Sydney.
The Warriors winning streak came to an end last Sunday,

(42:04):
going down sixteen ten to the Raiders at Go Media.
Just a couple of residual text messages from last hour.

Speaker 7 (42:13):
Though.

Speaker 3 (42:13):
Regarding the rugby, Balen Sullivan must be in the All
Black says this one he's intimidating. Can play twelve thirteen
or on both wings to Mothy Tavatava Nahwai as well
at twelve thirteen or fourteen. This All Black selection, as
they always are, the first All Black selection of the year,
will be fascinating for a couple of reasons. Look, I

(42:36):
think to Mothy Tava Tava Nahway is absolutely in the conversation,
isn't he? His utility value has just outlined on that
text puts him in the conversation. He's played most of
his rugby this year at twelve. There's a lot of
competition for those midfield spots, but you kind of feel
like if you know you can only do what to

(42:59):
Mothy Tavatava nah, why has done what others in the
all Blacks frame can do and have done. I go
back to DUPLASKARDTHI look what else can he do to
turn the head or heads rather of the All Black selectors.
All you can do is play brilliantly at Super rugby level.
Tava Tavanah White's done that. Duplasikarithi has done that. Others

(43:23):
have done that, They've turned heads. The All Black squad, incidentally,
for the French Tests is named on the Monday after
the Super Rugby Final, so that's what three weeks tomorrow.
It's being named in New Plymouth, as I understand it,
around lunchtime on that Monday, So that's when we'll find

(43:45):
out the thirty five I think thirty five. Did I
hear Elliott Smith say on the Rugby Direct podcast last week?
Thirty five players for those three tests. It seems like
a lot. It seems like a lot of players, doesn't it. Anyway,
that's all ahead of us, Gunna says Piney. You've given
my chiefs the kiss of death. Gunna. You and I

(44:05):
both know I don't have that power, but I hear
what you're saying. You've given them because of death, says Gonna,
by saying, surely it's their year by leading the round
robin and being beaten finalists in the last two seasons.
It's finals footy, says Gonna. It doesn't matter who plays,
who forms irrelevant. I'm picking it'll be eighty minutes of knockdown, brutal,

(44:28):
last man standing.

Speaker 2 (44:31):
Football.

Speaker 3 (44:32):
Just look at Auckland FC. At least is gone. The
Chiefs do have a bonus of losing next week to
have another crack. I love that rule, says Gonna. I've
more concerned about the Chiefs midfield, especially at twelve. I'll
be surprised if Quinn plays, and I'm not sure if
or when Anton Lennart Brown will be back. The Chiefs
forward pack and their reserve forwards, to me, should give
them the edge. I'm quietly confident for a win because

(44:53):
we are a humble lost. You are Gonna and I
always enjoy your text. Matt says. The whole final series
is are face now. After the gifted win to the
Crusaders over the Brumbies, which has lot sid of the
event for our New Zealand teams, I would love for
the Brumbis to get a home playoff game well, they
do get a home playoff game map, but I think
you've made a home playoff semi, don't you if they win,
which would have rarely thrown a cat amongst the pigeons. Yeah,

(45:16):
I think the Brumbies are a bit dirty on what
happened the other night. They thought there was a knock
on and the lead up to George Bell's try which
won the Crusaders the game. Can't relitigate it now, but yeah,
that would certainly have changed the dynamic of the finals
if the Brumbies had been second. Just to explain the
finals to you and you might still be catching up

(45:38):
with this. I was having conversations as recently as yesterday
with people who I thought would know the finals format
and didn't know the finals format. So here's what we
are looking at. The top six go through one play
six that's Chiefs Blues. Two plays five that's Crusaders, Reds.
Three plays four that is Brumby's Hurricanes. The winners of

(46:03):
those three games go through to the semifinals, and also
going through the highest ranked loser. Are you with me?
So you look at the losers of those three games
and you say, right, who finished highest of those three
on the regular season ladder. So for the Chiefs, that's

(46:23):
why is going to point it out, they have effectively
another life, because if the Chiefs were to lose to
the Blues, they would, by virtue of being top of
the table, be the highest ranked loser and would go through. Now,
the other interesting part of this is that if these
games go to form, and on Friday night the Crusaders

(46:47):
beat the Reds and on Saturday night the Chiefs beat
the Blues, the Brumbies and the Hurricanes know that regardless
of the result in their game, they're both going through.
I'm not sure that'll change the dynamic of the way
they play, but it's an interesting little layer. By the
time they kick off in Canberra on Saturday night, they

(47:10):
will know if there's actually anything on the line as
far as elimination is concerned, because it may well be.
It may well be that the Chiefs and the Crusaders
both win their games, right, that'd be favor that'd be
the favored way of thinking about it. So then the
winner of the Brumby's Hurricanes go through, and by virtue
of the fact that whoever losers would be the highest

(47:31):
ranked loser, they also go through. It's all ahead of us.
That is all ahead of us. We will wrap it
all up for you during our shows next weekend. I'm
picking the Hurricanes to win this comp Now, there are
some brilliant players in this team. That's not my words.
That's a text, by the way, that's not me saying that.

(47:52):
It's a text. I would love to say, Hurricanes, one
of my Hurricanes are fan of course. Updating you on
the NBA. It's Game six in the in the East
between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. The Paces,
if they win this, were secure their place in the
final or the NBA Finals against OKC Oklahoma City Thunder.

(48:13):
The Knicks have to win it to take it back
to New York for a Game seven halftime. The Pacers
leave fifty eight to fifty four. Pretty tight, Game fifty four.
Matthew asks, if the Chiefs lose, do they still have
a home semi Yeah. So that's the other part of
this is that the lucky loser, if you want to
call them, that, drops down a position. Stay with me

(48:34):
on this drops down a position in the second week.
So yes, the Chiefs would still host a home semi final.
But if they were to make the final, they might
not host that. So let's just say the Chiefs lose.
Let's take that hypothetical situation. Let's say the Chiefs lose,
they would in the semi finals drop down below the

(48:55):
Crusaders in the rankings. So yeah, winning that first game
for the Chiefs, I mean, the Chiefs can They've got
their destiny in their own hands if they win their
first round finals match and when their semi final they
host the final. If they lose next weekend, they run

(49:15):
the risk of not having a home final if they
make it that far, all right, So yeah, it's interesting,
Bob says, heys my prediction. The Blues beat the Chiefs
next week and beat them in the final. Go on, Bob,
that's the kind of bullish support that teams need. I've
got to say the Blues they're getting guys back at

(49:36):
the right time. They were good yesterday against an albeit
rather woeful war a Task team. The war Tasks just
weren't great yesterday the Eden Park were they They were
not great. But the Blues, like Paul Tekto was saying,
they're getting guys back at the right time. First time
in five or six games they've had Mark Delayer and
Caleb Clark both starting on the wings, their first choice wingers.

(50:01):
So you know, Boden Barrett was out for but some
pieces of that of the season, so were others. But
look at the team they put out yesterday and it's
pretty close to what they would probably say as their
best team. Sorry, Piney, says Brendan Brumby's winging as a joke.
They had another seventy five minutes in that game, plus
thirteen other games to control their final placing to blame

(50:23):
that on one decision as a joke. Every team has
some rough calls, well said, Well said, Will says, why
why don't one and two go through to the Semis
and the rest playoff? Will? That is a very good question,
because if you've got a top six, you'd think, okay,

(50:44):
one and two go through. By virtue of finishing the
top two, you earn yourself direct entry into the Semis.
Then three plays six, four plays five, and those winners
go through to the Semis. That would be more logical
and much easier to explain. The reason. Well, as I
understand it is that they wanted an extra game in
Week one of the finals. They have three games under

(51:06):
this format, they would have only had two under what
you're suggesting. So for the for the sake of one
extra game for broadcasters, for fans, that sort of thing.
That's why they've come up with this format. But you're right,
a top six the most logical and easiest to understand
is exactly what you've outlined. One and two, go straight

(51:27):
through to the semis three v six, four v five knockout,
and then you have your semage in.

Speaker 13 (51:32):
Your final.

Speaker 3 (51:35):
Must says, are you going to talk about the Warrior's party?

Speaker 13 (51:37):
I'm pretty sure they've.

Speaker 3 (51:38):
Played today, Yes, I am musk. Let's do that now.
They're back at action this afternoon. They play the Rabbit
O's in Sydney from four o'clock. Warriors half back Luke
Metcalf turning a lot of heads this season.

Speaker 13 (51:48):
So NETCLF to the game.

Speaker 2 (51:51):
Distance is good?

Speaker 13 (51:54):
It does these legs go out from? Yes they do. Yes,
surprise favor from medtalth. It's a beauty medtime.

Speaker 11 (52:06):
He is thinking one pointer and he's got it.

Speaker 3 (52:09):
It stays inside the right up right they go early.
Metcalf takes them one.

Speaker 11 (52:15):
A try saving tackle from Metcalf on tw Luggy has
proven to be the difference and may those tense.

Speaker 3 (52:23):
Celebrate here some of his many highlights this season. Luke
metcalf as willis, thanks for joining us on game day. Luke,
your five game winning streak came to an end last
weekend against Canberra. As you've reviewed that, what sort of
things has the review of that game thrown up ahead
of this next game this afternoon against the rabbit Os.

Speaker 20 (52:42):
Yeah, obviously it was good to we went on we'll
run there to gets and wins. But yeah, no, just
sort of like we'll have you like with our defense
against the Raiders, But yeah, just sort of want to
get back to what wins us games and on amandas
like all that hard sort of effort stuff that we've
been priding ourselves signed in attack and defense.

Speaker 21 (52:59):
Get back to that and hopefully get back in the
winner circle.

Speaker 3 (53:02):
Each time you've lost this season, which hasn't been very often,
you've bounced back with an oppressive and you beat the
Sea Eagles after losing to the Raiders in Vegas, you
beat the Broncos after losing to the Storm. How much
do defeats fuel you as a team to quickly put
things right the next week?

Speaker 2 (53:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 20 (53:17):
Yeah, you're right, it's pretty easy to sort of recreate
a bit of hunger after you do have a loss, Yes,
because you always what you want to go there and
right you're wrong. So yeah, it's never nice to lose.
But yeah, that's sort of a positive comes out of it,
is that you're pretty hungry to get stuck in for
your next game.

Speaker 3 (53:34):
So, looking at the season as a whole, you've partnered
Chanelle Harris Tavita in the halves every game this season.
How much has that partnership developed between the two of
you over the last eleven or twelve games.

Speaker 21 (53:46):
Yes, it's been cool. I've long been playing with Chanel.

Speaker 20 (53:49):
It's been cool to sort of like training together in
the preseason and then come out into these games and
sort of nearly halfway through the season now I feel
like it's a combination that's getting better every week. And yeah,
I'm loving sort of playing with him and then got
weighed and a dummy half.

Speaker 21 (54:03):
As well who helps helps us out there. So yeah,
I'm loving it.

Speaker 3 (54:07):
Look back to last year and even the year before,
and all of your starts for the Warriors were at
five eighth. This year they've all been at half back.
How big an adjustment? Does that look come to wear
seven compared to wearing six.

Speaker 20 (54:19):
Yeah, so yeah, it's a lot different obviously in terms
of a lot more organizing and you're sort of the
main the main voice of the team.

Speaker 21 (54:26):
But yeah, no, I've been I've been loving.

Speaker 20 (54:27):
It's something that I did when I was younger, has
come up through the grades, and something I always wanted
to get back to once I got the chance. So yeah,
I'm just happy I've been able to get that chance,
and yeah, I've been loving doing that. And yeah, so
it's pretty it's pretty different, it is, but yeah, yeah,
I like I feel like the more responsibility I have,
the better.

Speaker 3 (54:44):
So you're always keen to do it. I mean, did
you did you feel as though there might be a
possibility you'd you'd wear six again, someone like tomto Martin
might might wear seven, or you know, we've alerted fairly
early on that you'd be the man and the seven jumper.

Speaker 21 (54:57):
I was sure.

Speaker 20 (54:57):
I was pretty vocal, like like we're ready that I
wanted to do it, and then yeah, I just sort
of had to go out this preseason and just just
do of the things that I knew that that I
sort of needed to show to be able to do that,
and yeah, I felt like I did that, and yeah,
try trusted in me to give me, give me a crack,
and yeah it's been going good so far.

Speaker 3 (55:17):
Just speaking of Andrew Webster, whenever he gets asked about you,
he always talks, you know, he's obviously happy with the
way you're going, but talks about the potential for growth
in your game or where do you think you can
still get better?

Speaker 20 (55:29):
Yeah, I just sort of want to just keep going.
Like I said, you're like I say, sort of the
people will now as my questions, they're always going to
chaste perfection, you know what I mean, Like you want it,
You want to be the best player you can be,
So just sort of molding all the fastest of my
game together words, whether it's I run my running game,
my passing and my kicking, just sort of being the
complete player, like the complete half back back and do

(55:49):
all those sort of things.

Speaker 21 (55:50):
So that's probably the thing that I just want to
have a game keep bothing on.

Speaker 3 (55:55):
Is there a way of responsibility that comes with that
Warriors number seven jersey? Given some of the iconic players
who have worn it in the past.

Speaker 20 (56:05):
You could you could say that, but no, I don't
really look at it that way, Like it's obviously it's
a privilege to be able to where the jersey they said,
like Greg Alexander, Brandy was here and then you Stacy
Jones stepped in and after that you got Sean Johnson. Like,
so you've had some great number seven's come play over
here so far.

Speaker 21 (56:22):
Find there's a privilege to sort of be another person
to wear that jersey.

Speaker 20 (56:26):
And just like those guys I mentioned it, like some
of the greatest players ever played the game. So to
be able to sort of look at them and strive
to be as good as amy some I fine, that's yeah,
it's on not to be able to do it.

Speaker 3 (56:39):
And Stacy Jones obviously part of the coaching staff. Now,
how how much help has he been to you as
you look to develop your craft in that position?

Speaker 21 (56:47):
Yeah, he's been massive. So yeah, he's really big.

Speaker 20 (56:49):
He's so good at just like on the field and
off the field just helping your watching video or staying
out with you doing your kicking and it's all the
pointers around the kick kick game and stuff like that.

Speaker 21 (57:00):
It's it's it's awesome.

Speaker 20 (57:01):
I love talking footy with Stace like he's someone obviously
one of the best halfacks to ever play the game.

Speaker 21 (57:09):
So yeah, it's so cool. I'm lucky.

Speaker 20 (57:10):
It's really lucky that I've got him in my corner
to sort of lean on and ask some questions.

Speaker 3 (57:15):
So over the next month or so, Luke, you've got
the rabbit Os today, then the Sharks and Broncos, and
they're both in the top eight at the moment. The
Panther's in there as well, having a tough season but
still four time defending champions. Does it feel like this
little period over the next month or so could be
quite important in the context of your top four aspirations?

Speaker 20 (57:33):
Yeah, I suppose so yeah, Like obviously sort of every
week in then and are always sort of looking like
it's never going to be easy, so yeah, sort of
taking it each week as it comes. Like, I know,
we've got two games and a buy, so you can
sort of package and then we have the same thing
after buy two games, another one, so you can sort
of package him in two and I suppose like look
at this week and then trying to win there next week.

Speaker 21 (57:54):
You know, then you get the old four point weekend
with the buyers.

Speaker 20 (57:56):
So yeah, no, it's sort of says take each game
as it comes, and yeah, we'll be fine.

Speaker 3 (58:03):
And you're leading the delim voting after twelve rounds. I
know you probably look at these things but aren't driven
by by things like that. But is it something you
take pride in the fact that you've obviously been playing
well in the first dozen games or so.

Speaker 21 (58:15):
Yeah, it's pretty as cool. Obviously, like would be lying
if I said like it wasn't cool.

Speaker 20 (58:18):
But I mean I just got to go out there
and just just say how I've been playing and just like, yeah,
keep keep striving to get better, and yeah that that
sort of stuff comes that, that's that's pretty cool. Yeah,
it'd be It's an honor to sort of be mentioned
amongst like those sort of guys that are at the
top there. So yeah, I just got to hopefully keep
playing good footing and yeah to see what happens.

Speaker 3 (58:39):
And you welcome you to co Captains back this week.
Mitch Barnett's come through origin. Okay has he Yeah?

Speaker 16 (58:44):
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 20 (58:45):
I spoke to him the morning after the game. He
said he was all good, He said he was fine.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
And James Fisher Harris too. Can you talk a bit
about his influence in the in the playing group.

Speaker 20 (58:54):
Yeah, he's awesome fishing and how he's brought us like
a massive experience to us, and just his leadership off
the field has been awesome. Man on the field, but yeah,
just the sort of impact he's had I feel like
on a lot of our younger boys just in terms
of like taking the next step in their leadership skills
amongst the group has been.

Speaker 21 (59:14):
Yeah, it's been awesome.

Speaker 20 (59:15):
You can tell just see with his intent and stuff
like that is he's just someone that have around the
Group's been been awesome and you can just notice the
difference this year compared to last year.

Speaker 3 (59:25):
And just to finish, like, does this feel about like
twenty twenty three we all know the Rider took us
on a couple of years ago. Does it feel like
like a similar kind of feeling, you know, eleven or
twelve games into twenty twenty five.

Speaker 20 (59:40):
I feel like, yeah, that's a little bit different that
twenty twenty three was like that was the Warrior's first
year back home and it was Yeah, it was sort
of that. There's like a bit of a different sort
of feel. Yeah, I feel like this year was, yeah,
just just taking it as it comes, and yeah, a
couple a couple of years later. Yeah, probably has a
little bit of a different feel, but yeah, it's a

(01:00:01):
bit early in the season to sort of sort of
put your finger on yeah, if it is or not.

Speaker 3 (01:00:06):
Well, congrats on an impressive season so far for you,
Luke personally and for the team as well. All the
best against the Rabbit o's. Thanks for taking the time
for a chat.

Speaker 21 (01:00:12):
Mate, sweet thanks mate, No worries, thank you.

Speaker 3 (01:00:15):
No, thank you, Luke. Luke Metcalf there ahead of the
Warriors against the Rabbit o's this afternoon four o'clock Warrior's
favorites dollar sixty eight at our tab Rabbit os two twenty.
Can you give us your assessment of Luke Metcalf. I
think he's been tremendous. The dai M panel obviously agree,
but I think there may be divided opinion on this

(01:00:38):
means a hard jump at a step into isn't it the seven?
I forgot? What when you look back at seven? I
hain't forgotten them. But you think I obviously you think
of Stacy Jones. You think it's on Johnson, but yeah,
Brandy Greg Alexander was in that jumper as well. The
weight of it on your shoulders must be significant. But
Luke Metcalf, well, he's he's been good for me. How

(01:01:02):
do you assess his growth? Where are his area of improvement?
And could he be the man to guide this warrior's
side deep deep into twenty twenty five oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty is our number.

Speaker 19 (01:01:17):
Hello, Frank, good a, honey, my flag didn't fly last week?

Speaker 3 (01:01:24):
No, Frank, no, I thought of you. What do you
do with it when it's not flying? I mean, yeah,
better practice last year?

Speaker 19 (01:01:30):
Of course, Now it stays in the bag.

Speaker 13 (01:01:32):
Okay, it nearly did.

Speaker 19 (01:01:34):
Anyway, this week though, we're going bunny hunting. Hey, and
we've got some good guns in our in our camp.
Having we got the two the two power in the
power in the engine room. We've got the two powerhouses back.
We've got James Fisher Harris. We've got Mitch bern and Back,

(01:01:56):
I mean, along with Clark and Egan. God, what a
combination that is. We got the speedy try getters of Roger.
Two of ours is Shak and Zellen. It's on the act.
Come in there. They're due for a few tries. Roger's
already scored one. Anyway, all that interchange, we've got a
couple of sharp shooters there with with Tyra Martin and Halosimo.

(01:02:20):
I like Halosimo coming off the bench. He was bloody
good for eighty I'm sorry, was he was very good
for eighty minutes, but I mean coming off the bench,
he's going to be an absolute sharp shooter.

Speaker 3 (01:02:31):
Yeah, I like him.

Speaker 19 (01:02:33):
I mean the backs, we've got nickel clocks there there.
I mean, he's a cast iron guy. He always gets something,
shakes himself and goes again. We've got Pompeii, Rocco berries back.
Oh god on it's it's just Harrison, I mean Harris
of Ea and and Luke. I mean they're a great combination.
I say, how can we lose? But Wayne Bennett he's

(01:02:55):
the He's the he's the master of the rabbit hutch.
So you can't write them off. But I just got
a feeling about this team today. I've just got a
feeling that they you know, they've got that, They've got boys,
bag Roger. I mean, they've just got so much depth. Poney,
I think it's going to be a great game.

Speaker 3 (01:03:17):
Frank, I agree. And I love the way you've got
You've basically named everybody. I love that there's no favoritism,
but what it does describe as a very good team.
Even as you were saying the names, I was sort
of thinking to myself, this is a very very good
rugby league team, and I agree with you. I think
I think there is something about this team. I think
we'll learn a lot about them over the next sort

(01:03:37):
of while starting today, and as outlined during the chat
with Luke, it's the Sharks next weekend, then the bye,
then the Panthers at home, then the Broncos away, and
then another bye. So I kind of feel it as
like June might almost be season, not season defining, but
certainly very significant for the Warriors.

Speaker 19 (01:03:57):
Anyway, Pineer, the flag will hopefully be flying at the
tennis next Friday.

Speaker 3 (01:04:03):
I'm gonna have to come and have a look at
it for myself one day, Frank, take them with my
own eyes. I've heard so much about it for you
on the phone, I'm going to have to get out
there and and have a look for myself. Good to
Chet to you as always, mate, Enjoy the game. One
thirty News Talk, sa'd be I eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty got a time talk Warriors. James mcconi before too.
But if you want to give us your assessment of
Luke Metcalf, that would be good. Your thoughts for today's game,

(01:04:25):
that'd be good. And as I said to Luke as well,
the Warriors have only lost three times this season. On
the other two occasions they have bounced back very well
with wins. When they lost to the Raiders first up,
they beat the Sea Eagles back home thirty six sixteen.
When they lost to the Storm, it was the Broncos
who they beat the following week by twenty points to eighteen.

(01:04:48):
So the trenders after a loss this season, the Warriors
have shown their bounce back ability. Will that be the
case this afternoon? I weight on hundred and eighty ten
eighty nine two nine to two one texts one thirty
back after this.

Speaker 2 (01:05:00):
The biggest seams and spores are on Weekend.

Speaker 1 (01:05:03):
Spores with Jason Pain and GJ Gunno, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, News Talks.

Speaker 3 (01:05:09):
The News Talks They Be and Weekend Sport twenty seven
away from two talking Warriors. Jackie says on text, I
think we need to remember Luke is still learning his
craft at number seven. He's only played thirty seven NRL
games in total. The coaching team have faith in him,
and I think he's doing great up the wise. Yeah,
I agree, Jackie, I agree, and you do forget. I
mean a guy you know who looks so assured there.

(01:05:32):
You're right, he's still pretty early on in his career
with as you say, just the thirty seven games under
his belt. May there be many more? Can I mark?

Speaker 12 (01:05:41):
Hey pony? Yeah, I'm a big fan. I don't think
it's feed us to compare him with other players. I mean,
he's his own person, really, and I think he's developing
quite well this year. I mean top of the WMS.
You can't get any better than that. I think you'll score.

Speaker 10 (01:05:53):
Try today.

Speaker 12 (01:05:54):
There's my tip for you.

Speaker 3 (01:05:55):
Right, I've written that down. I've written that down. I'll go,
I'll shall I take, shall I shall I invest? Shall
I invest some of my some of my meager salary
in that or not?

Speaker 17 (01:06:05):
Yeah?

Speaker 12 (01:06:06):
Your Kiwi saver out and catching them and put it
all on store and try by.

Speaker 3 (01:06:10):
You that's allowed. I don't know. I don't know if
it's allowed, but you know I know, Oh, all right,
that's that's it's all the faith I which are seven
already this season. I think he might be the leading
is it a leading Warriors tri score. I think he
is here, so he's he's shouldering that load as well.

Speaker 12 (01:06:26):
Yeah, oh you know, I just I just can't say
enough a bit of the guy. I mean, you know,
the pressure has been on him, I mean, taking over
from Seawn Johnson. He's a club legend. But I just
think he's done a fairlous job.

Speaker 10 (01:06:39):
On today's game.

Speaker 12 (01:06:39):
I think Barnett, to me, is quite a key. I
think he has a real influence on the game. And
I think it's quite good that he said sort of
an extra day or two to get over the state
of origin. Professher Harris would be great to have him back.
But I mean every game is difficult at the moment,
and the Rabbits can be a bit of a tricky team.
To me, it's sort of it's a very important game

(01:07:00):
for them to win because I mean, you've got to
you've got to finish in that top four. And to me,
I think it's a worrys want to make the final.
I think they've got to be in the top two really,
and I know what happened with Auckland. If C we
all thought the home advantage was going to be in
their favor last week. But I mean, I think you're warriors.
If they got a home STEMI final, I think there
would be a huge advantage for them to make it go.

(01:07:22):
I know I'm looking ahead into the maybe into the
fad distant future, but I think, you know, getting in
that top two would be good. So definitely the top four.
You've got to be in the top four to win
the competition or have any chance, don't you.

Speaker 3 (01:07:34):
Yeah, yeah it is. I mean history would tell you
it's hard to come from anywhere outside the top four
and and go deep. It's funny you meet the Rabbinus
because I kind of find myself, like you know, at
the startup, because I go, Okay, the Warriors are playing
the ravenue. I couldn't tell you how the how the
Rabbin revenues are going. Most of the time, you know,
I don't. I don't want you a very close eye
on them. I think, are they good? Are they not good?
Are they okay? They're what they're ninth I'm not sure

(01:07:56):
whether they're good or not.

Speaker 12 (01:07:58):
You said it would be a bit like lead. Do
you know that if you said the pents were going
to be like maybe fighting from Wooden Spoon. This year,
someone would just take you after the looney bits. Yeah,
I mean, it's it has been a crazy season in
the NRAL and you cannot take any team rightly. I mean,
I know they're going to this as slight favorites, but

(01:08:19):
I mean, yeah, over there, rabbit Os, I mean, it's
just yeah, there's just too many factors and too much
unpredictability in the NRAL this year. Anyone could beat anyone.
And Broncos are looking terrible as well. Last night they
got smashed and they.

Speaker 3 (01:08:33):
They did, they did. I saw that and the other
thing that you. I know, the table only tells you
so much, but well, it does tell the tale of
an inconsistent season for the rabbit Os. Six wins and
five defeats, but their pointstiff is minus fifty two. You know,
a couple of the teams below them, the Dolphins and
the Broncos, still have a positive points differential. The Roosters

(01:08:55):
have got a better point stuff. So I guess that
suggests that some of their losses have been quite heavy.
I know they had quite a heavy defeat by the Bulldogs.
I think there was thirty two nil to the Bulldogs
middle of last month. So yeah, look, we're Warriors fans,
right Mark, we think that our team will win, and
I look at that team on paper, I think, you know,
it's certainly the way they're played, and the bounce back
from the last two defeats does give me confidence. Up

(01:09:18):
there was up the wis Mark always good to chat mate.
I maybe I'll put five bucks on Luke Metcalff to
score a try. He said, Yeah, like I said, seven
this season eighty nine points. He might bring up his
hundred points for the season this afternoon. Luke Metcalf, what
are we twenty two away from? Two? Max says Metca

(01:09:41):
has been good, he still needs to take a bit
more control. I'd like to see to Mighty Martin given
some time alongside and thanks Mack. Yeah, they seem to
be all in, don't they. They are all in on
the Harris Ta Vita Metcalf combo. That's been the situation
right across the season. Those two have started in the
six and seven jumpers and will again this afternoon for

(01:10:03):
the entirety of the season. To Mighty Martin has come
off the interchange in the last three games. You would
expect that he would do that again this afternoon. He's
certainly been named in that position. I know that can
sometimes change things close to kick off, etc. But yeah,
Tomighty Martin's role to play in this Warriors season is interesting.
I saw Andrew Webster during the week saying he's just

(01:10:24):
got to be patient. He just has to be a
little bit patient. I'm sure Tomighty Martin thought after last
season with Shawn Johnson going that he might get a
crack at that seven jumper. Hasn't yet. Luke Metcalf's your
man at the moment, but as we know, you know,
injuries happen often, and I know I certainly don't want
to put the jinks on Luke Metcalf, but you know,

(01:10:46):
physical game, Luke Metcalf, you know at some point may
well succumb to an injury. To Mighty Martin just has
to be patient. And it's good that he's back in
the in the seventeen now because he wasn't for a
long time. It took him a long time to get
a game. Even trying to remember his first game, I
think it was against the Broncos after they lost to
the Storm and then won. That was his first game,

(01:11:08):
and then a couple more he missed and then as
I say, he's been involved the last three weeks, so
maybe he you know, his influence in this playing group
is starting to grow. You'dhaps so, because he's very, very
handy player to have around twenty to two. Let's get
a breakaway, James mcconey after this on News Talks NB.

Speaker 1 (01:11:25):
Don't get caught off side eighty eight Weekend Sport US
with Jason Paine and GJ. Gardnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted
home builder.

Speaker 3 (01:11:34):
News Talks, NB, News TALKSB and Weekend Sport. Just updating
you from Game six in the Eastern Conference NBA Finals.
The Indiana Pacers can sow this series up with victory.
They're in the middle of the third quarter at the moment.
They lead seventy eight sixty three, so a handy lead
over the New York next but still plenty of time
to go. The Pacers seventy eight sixty three ahead of

(01:11:56):
the New York Knicks in Game six of the Eastern
Conference Finals. James mcconey is here.

Speaker 10 (01:12:02):
Hello, mateka pony, how I own I'm live? Come to
you like from aucands via that basin?

Speaker 3 (01:12:09):
Are you what's the occasion, just.

Speaker 10 (01:12:12):
Having lunch with an American friend of mine is over here,
a rugby guy. Yeah, he's from La Rugby and he's
just you know, he's taking an interest in what's going
on in New Zealand.

Speaker 3 (01:12:23):
Good stuff. Well, thank you for stepping away and joining
us in your regular slot. I won't hold you up
for too long from your from your lunch. Should we
just give Should we just give the Chiefs the Super
Rugby Trophy?

Speaker 22 (01:12:33):
Now?

Speaker 3 (01:12:34):
Should we do that?

Speaker 9 (01:12:35):
Come on, pony.

Speaker 10 (01:12:36):
You know what I've been telling you that you can't
count your chickens, all your cows or whatever you've got,
whatever livestock you've got, They have to hatch first. At
the moment, the Chiefs are looking fine, but I mean,
nobody wants to play the Hurricanes. You know, I've said
that they look like, you know, a good French team.
They slept, they still seem to score points at well.

(01:12:58):
I think they'll probably win in Canberra and come back
and terrorize whoever they've got nats. So no, I'm not
gaving the Chiefs yourself ah lo.

Speaker 3 (01:13:06):
I mean I was just trying to jinx them more
than anything, not that I have the power, of course
to do such things. But yeah, I enjoyed the Hurricanes
last night. You know, look, Moe and Pacific I have
had an absolutely tremendous season, but you look at the
last couple of games. They just kind of ran out
of gas, didn't they. And that's probably understandable. But you know,
what a season they have produced. It'll be one I'm

(01:13:29):
sure they look back on as a bit of a
turning point for that whole franchise.

Speaker 10 (01:13:34):
Really exactly, I think what they've done and just you know,
captured the imagination of fans and provided some fac rugby
highlight reels. Ardie Savier, miracle fire Lungny. Even I look
at CALLEGREENI and to say, well, was he one of
the best newcomers really in Super rugby along with their

(01:13:57):
number eight to MISSI Tupo a law and in fact,
I mean I was going to do something Promptu Rugby would,
so I would say in terms of newcomers, you know
Callum Harkin, Finana Norful for the Hurricanes and then even
the likes of Cam Presty for the for the Blues.
There's been some really cool things that have that have

(01:14:18):
happened throughout Silver Rugby with new.

Speaker 3 (01:14:20):
Faces Leroy Carter. Would you call them a new face?
Leroy Carter. I know he's been around the seven circu
but he'sn't that the one, isn't he?

Speaker 10 (01:14:27):
Yeah, Leroy exactly. I mean there are even Carl Preston
for the Crusaders, right like finally getting his chance. So look,
that's the other thing is. And then there's You've got
your boulterers, and I think I've now my bolters to
your master. Is that the right terminology party? I'm not
quite sure, but let's use it.

Speaker 6 (01:14:47):
Let's use it.

Speaker 10 (01:14:48):
I've gone with Simon Parker, Brody McAllister both from the
Chiefs that's Blindside and the Hooker Baby and Holland can
you call him a bolter? He's going to get picked
the Big Landers lock.

Speaker 9 (01:15:00):
Again.

Speaker 10 (01:15:01):
He's just an all black and waiting. And Caleb Taneytowel.
I think they might just go to some averick out wide.

Speaker 9 (01:15:08):
Those are my bolters, all right.

Speaker 3 (01:15:10):
I'm going to add Josh Fussitur to that, although I'm
not sure he's a bolter either. He is in the
fact that he's never been an all black before. But
he looks every inch and all black, doesn't he? This
time last year it was Xavier Numa, who I think
everybody was picking until he picked up that calf injury.
I really like Josh for tour, and Paul Tito an
hour or so ago said he's one of the hardest
workers in the Blues changing room. You know, he's always

(01:15:32):
doing the extra, is always there on days off. I
think he deserves a crack agreed.

Speaker 10 (01:15:36):
And I think Josh has probably shown just in terms
of being that workhorse, the unsung hero, he still he
actually shows up on the stats and surprises you. I
think it was twenty three tackles the other day in
that epic Artie Savier game against Wana. And by the way,
how about the spicy banter between those two franchises that
we're going to touch on that. Yes, please the Instagram

(01:15:59):
post where a while ago onea Pacifica when they beat
the Blue Seat keep on doubting us. We're just the
right time. Don't care whose side you're on. There's only
one team in Auckland that represents all the PACIFICA. And
then the Blues replied last night with the same post

(01:16:20):
that the last sentence was there's only one team in
Auckland in the playoffs and suddenly art is piling in
talking about lions, don't listen to sheep or don't follow sheep,
and then the band I just posted the popcorn guests
the popcorn me because they're all in there, Hoskins of two,

(01:16:40):
who Rico Yojuani. So I'm not sure if I'm recommending
Instagram to the wrong audience, but it's it's kicking off
right now.

Speaker 3 (01:16:48):
Absolutely no, you're not at all. There's a lot of
Instagram users in our audience and they'll be having a
look once they're finished listening to you. Can we just
touch on another couple of topics. Costa Barbarusis is leaving
Wellington Phoenix. Was this a surprise when you heard this news?

Speaker 10 (01:17:04):
Well, I mean he is. He's very much a Wellington lad.
He's you know, he's love being back there with his
daughters and reconnecting with the family and going to the
many Greek restaurants around Wellington. But this is the thing
that's cutting for the Phoenix. I actually think they were
brilliant last year, easily as good as awkwad they see

(01:17:26):
where this year and now you just watch it crumbling.
And what's even sadder for them is there's players who
you'd say, young players who will take another couple of
years to develop, but they're going to lead as soon
as there is any interest from Europe. So they're in
a really bad cycle right now. You lose your best

(01:17:46):
senior pro which is kind of what the A League
has built on that. You know, the final last night
was won by Melbourne City with the guy wholled as
he's Beheitch or you might remember from the World Cup,
had a run like Maradona. He's Argentina didn't score. But
these guys that come back and bolster teams that you
need them to win in the A League, and that
is pretty bad for the Phoenix, wouldn't you say?

Speaker 3 (01:18:08):
Yep, let's hope they can use the salary they'll save
in an effective way. That is the upside of this.
I've got some money freed up from cost a salary,
but now they have to spend it wisely. Hey, on
your show notes today, I've got here being great without winning.
What was that aimed at me in any way?

Speaker 7 (01:18:26):
Of course?

Speaker 10 (01:18:26):
Party, Yeah, it's right. I'm sure you'll pick up a
goal that the radio would so you'll finally be great
And when makes you are the raigning champion, so you
can just stand down. This isn't about you, pony. There's
a more about teams that I just sort of think
you have to give them recognition. And this I think
Aukan the f C sort of remind me of that.
One of Pacifica reminded me that for all the amazing

(01:18:47):
things that they did, you have to remember that you
can be great without winning. We've got, obviously the ultimate example,
which is the the All Whites of twenty ten. They
didn't they didn't win, but they didn't lose. And I
think there's a couple of silver feans netball teams where
you know, one dollar lof Hagen goal would have turned
them into all time greats and they just missed out.
But it doesn't change the fact that that team was great.

(01:19:09):
The nineteen ninety five All Blacks that made the World
Cup final, we're a great side. So I know we love.
You want the w and the column, you want the win,
you want the trophy to be lifted. But I'm staying
here and now you can still be great without winning.

Speaker 3 (01:19:23):
Yeah, I love that. I love that, And actually ninety
five that's where my mind went automatically. Man, that was
Yes's thirty years ago. Now that Jonah ran over the
top of Mike care that's mental, isn't it thirty years ago?

Speaker 10 (01:19:37):
It's crazy And that team changed All Black rugby and
so you know all those guys. Actually, I think Sky's
working on a documentary right now that'll be really worth
a watch where they talk about, you know, the loss
of ninety four in France, how it sort of triggered
everything that tried from the end of the year that
France scored the last time the All Blacks lost to

(01:19:57):
Eden Park and since then it triggered many things, including
a change in style and being more adventurous. And yeah,
that ninety five team was epic, but hey, they didn't win.
It gave one of the actually provided because theously one
of the greatest moments terrible movie though in Victis Zero
Stars one of the greatest moments in sport with Nelson

(01:20:19):
Mandela and Francois Pina enjoying the William Mudballence Trophy being lifted.

Speaker 3 (01:20:25):
Yep, it was iconic stuff. I feel like I've kept
you from your American friend for far too long, James,
I feel like I've released you back.

Speaker 10 (01:20:34):
Thank you very much. Yeah, tag and release that's fine, Piney,
I'll be back swimming back to you next week. Like
salmon upstream.

Speaker 3 (01:20:41):
All right, mate, We'll go and enjoy some smoke salmon
and the viaduct or whatever it is your fancy for
lunch and we'll chat next week. James mccony huge part
of our Sundays here on News Talks head be catch
him on the Craig Goes Wild Alternative commentary collective and
across your social media as well. The Pacers eighty two
seventy one ahead of the New York next with three
and a half minutes left in the third quarter. This

(01:21:02):
is Game six in the Eastern Conference Finals for the NBA.
More American sport actually for you after two o'clock in
about forty five minutes from now, we'll go stateside with
our man Leon Buzsby. It's eight to.

Speaker 1 (01:21:14):
Two SUO from the trag Fields and the course on
your homeo Lord, the weekend sport with Jason Vine the
US Talks.

Speaker 3 (01:21:23):
eNB coming up one fifty six, Tony says on text, Jason,
lots of similarities between the current Hurricanes and those champions
from twenty sixteen. Fingers crossed. They can go all the way,
great atmosphere at the stadium last night. Just a shame
we won't have our home playoff. There is a scenario
under which the Hurricanes could have a home playoff. In fact, look,

(01:21:46):
this isn't likely, but if the Reds beat the Crusaders
and the Hurricanes beat the Brumbies, then the Hurricanes would
host a semi final. Like I say, it doesn't seem
the most likely scenario. I think the Crusaders will comfortably
account for the Reds in christ Chatch on Friday night,
but it can happen. So yeah, I hadn't compared the

(01:22:08):
current Canes to those in twenty sixteen, but yeah, well,
if it ends up the same way, Tony, you and
I will both be very happy Hurricanes fans. After two o'clock,
we're going to get you to the Spanish Grand Prix,
where Liam Lawson has qualified thirteenth for tomorrow morning's race.
Chris Medland, highly respected Formula one journo on that, Craig
Gabriel while we're in Europe, will also stopping from the

(01:22:30):
French Tennis Open, and we'll take your state site covering
off the Stanley Cup playoffs and the NBA playoffs with
our man le On.

Speaker 1 (01:22:37):
Busby the only place to discuss the biggest sports issues
on and afterfield.

Speaker 2 (01:22:44):
It's all on WI James Ford with Jason Vane on
your home of Sport US talk.

Speaker 3 (01:22:52):
Hello then and welcome into Weekend Sport. Welcome back to
Weekend Sport. It's good to have you with a seven
past two. I'm Jason Pine Show produced by Andy McDonald.
We're here till three. Then Tim Beveridge in the chair
for the Weekend Collective Sunday edition June one. Skipping an
eye on the NBA Finals Eastern Conference Indiana Pacers, New

(01:23:15):
York Knicks. This game is in Indianapolis. Pacers can secure
their spot in the NBA Finals with victory. The Knicks
consented back to New York for a deciding game seven
ninety two to eighty one. The Pacers lead early in
the fourth quarter. Leon Busby, this out our US sports
expert not only on the NBA, but the NHL Ice

(01:23:37):
Hockey Stanley Cup. We've got our participants in that as well.
We can talk about also this out but of tennis
for you, Craig Gabriel out of Paris where at Roland Garros.
It's pretty much been to script hasn't it In the
first week of the French Tennis Open men's and women's singles.
I think caspell Loud is the only one who's really
dropped out as far as the you know, the top

(01:23:59):
top seeds are concerned. Carlos Alcarez looks like he's living
up to his favoritism. He's not even top seed Youanick Cinereas,
but Alcarez is the defending champion. I see Alexanders Verev
this morning said after his win that he expects Carlos
Alcarez to make the final. We're only in the fourth round,
so there's still sixteen players left, but he said, I

(01:24:20):
he'll be that. No one on his side's going to stop him.
Zvere would know. He lost to Elcarez in the final
last year, of course, very shortly where in Barcelona with
Chris Medland Formula one journalists as we look back at
qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, which goes in the
early hours of tomorrow morning, New Zealand time. After being
really good in practice, Liam Lawson couldn't back it up

(01:24:42):
and qualifying he did go quite fast. In fact, I
think his last qualifying lap was the fastest had been
all weekends, but it wasn't enough to get him any
higher than thirteenth on the grid. So Chris Medland shortly
talking formula one. You can call through it anytime, oh
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, send your thoughts via
text to nineteen nine and two or emails to Jason

(01:25:03):
at NEWSTALKHADB dot co dot enz. But as we tack
towards nine past two, let's get you across some of
the stuff that's happened in the last twenty four hours
or so which you may not have caught up with
in case you missed it. And a dead robber finished
to Super Rugby's regular season. The Reds, who were already

(01:25:23):
confirmed in fifth place, dished out one last bit of
misery to the Fiji and drewer, it's really scrapping out
for down Yunu.

Speaker 13 (01:25:33):
He almost gets through, in fact.

Speaker 10 (01:25:35):
He does, but he can't get it.

Speaker 11 (01:25:37):
Down telling four years hey chat.

Speaker 15 (01:25:41):
He's all musclefullyfo and there is the expirmation point.

Speaker 3 (01:25:48):
Fifty two points to seven. Fifty two to seven, the
Reds beating the drawer. That is a very ordinary season
for the Fijian drawer, particularly given the fact they've made
the quarter finals in the last two seasons, so a
step back was unfortunately for them. It's so they reset,
refresh and come again. In twenty twenty six the NRL,
the Melbourne Storm showed their class against the Gold Coast Titans.

Speaker 15 (01:26:10):
Last tackle Adam Tummingha Munster kicks it's a.

Speaker 23 (01:26:14):
Good one and coming through.

Speaker 3 (01:26:16):
Brant Anderson is there. Just to mphasize the.

Speaker 13 (01:26:20):
Point versatility for the Melbourne Storm.

Speaker 2 (01:26:23):
We can play anywhere.

Speaker 3 (01:26:24):
The Backlove winners twenty eight to sixteen on the Gold Coast.
The Cowboys, meantime, after leading thirty two six with less
than twenty minutes to go, had to withstand an epic
comeback from the Tigers.

Speaker 11 (01:26:36):
Love shit kick Rason coming through taken drink Water cuts
it off and the Cowboys are gonna hold on.

Speaker 3 (01:26:44):
Masons going on through drink Water points up. It's the border.

Speaker 11 (01:26:48):
It's a braze comeback.

Speaker 2 (01:26:49):
But in the end that's it's.

Speaker 11 (01:26:52):
Joy from the North points Land Cowboys.

Speaker 3 (01:26:54):
Here the Cowboys eventually winning at thirty two to twenty
eight and manly thrashing the Broncos at Brookvale sigillating point.

Speaker 4 (01:27:01):
Last tackle, big shift, big shift Cherry.

Speaker 17 (01:27:04):
Evans kicks for the pau the four.

Speaker 3 (01:27:13):
On a fifty one game.

Speaker 2 (01:27:15):
Ride rough scores.

Speaker 5 (01:27:16):
The profile for Shutter is.

Speaker 3 (01:27:18):
Over thirty four six the final scots of the Sea Eagles.
They're there on the top eight. The Broncos are down
in eleventh. And in football, a couple of champions to
crown and the A League Melbourne City might just be
time to vict you to get the board how the acts,
but no, the whistle goes.

Speaker 2 (01:27:36):
And now that cities after.

Speaker 17 (01:27:38):
The Bridesmans are not tonights as they shut off.

Speaker 3 (01:27:44):
They're many maintain and with their first Garthy in seven
hundred and eighty seven days and winnings the championship Chimphy.
And there is also the last time and sident you
will hear that voice in the A League. That's Simon
Hill who after twenty two years in Australia is departing
back to England. So we won't hear him calling A

(01:28:04):
league matches anymore. That is unfortunate. The best of the
best as far as that is concerned. And Paris Germain
are champions of Europe. On the Gabba coll.

Speaker 8 (01:28:15):
Up, that's five and it's been a five star show.

Speaker 5 (01:28:22):
And the role will tell you that Parasanjeran.

Speaker 24 (01:28:25):
Are you afer champions League winners are twenty twenty five.

Speaker 1 (01:28:31):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on ten eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Pine News.

Speaker 2 (01:28:38):
Talk zeb the coming up.

Speaker 3 (01:28:39):
Thirteen minutes past two. Liam Lawson has qualified thirteenth for
the Spanish Formula one Grand Prix. He was eliminated in
the second qualifying session. See where Larson can do down well.

Speaker 25 (01:28:52):
Losses on a decent lap here This could be two
racing balls in the top ten as he crosses the
line though lost a bit of time in that final
sector only p thirteen.

Speaker 3 (01:29:01):
So McLaren's Oscar Piastre grabbing pole position, his fourth pole
of the Sea season, ahead of his teammate Lando Norris
de finning champion Red Bull driver Mets for step and
we'll start from third on the grid Mercedes George Russell
qualifying fourth. Let's get you to Spain with highly respected
Formula one journalist in broadcaster Chris Midland. Chris can be

(01:29:22):
start with Liam laws and it was very fast and practice.
So what happened to them and qualifying?

Speaker 13 (01:29:28):
Yeah, it just didn't quite come together.

Speaker 25 (01:29:29):
And it's always tricky when you're watching practice about whether
you're seeing everything from every driver, every team, and certain
teams do turn the wick up a little bit more
when we get into qualifying.

Speaker 13 (01:29:38):
With Liam, I think he just didn't quite put the
lap together.

Speaker 25 (01:29:41):
There's some very sensitive tires we have here in Barcelona,
and it's been very, very hot, so it's so hot
that the tires you're using over just one qualifying lap
start to overheat and you lose grip and performance towards
the end of that lap. So if you can't manage
the temperadge is well enough, you just lose lap time
very very easily.

Speaker 13 (01:29:58):
And it just got away from me in a little bit.

Speaker 25 (01:30:00):
But it was also a massively competitive session and if
you didn't hook it up at all times, you didn't
get all the way through. But as you say, he'd
shown he had the pace in the practice session, so
he was a little bit disappointed not to make it
through the Q three.

Speaker 3 (01:30:12):
He also, I see, registered his fastest lap and his
final qualifying lip, so he's going fast enough. Is that
something that will encourage him ahead of the race itself. Yeah.

Speaker 25 (01:30:26):
I think one thing that's been quite encouraging, even as
someone watching Lim has been the fact he says his
confidence has not taken a hit from the year he's
had yet, and he's just not always had the results
he thought he's capable of getting. But he's had the
pace in there, and he's had the confidence in the car. Well,
we saw it in Monaco. He put it all together
on the track last weekend where you have to put
it together, where you have to be confident, where you

(01:30:46):
can't afford any mistakes, and that really, I think convinced
a lot of people that yep, that's all in there,
just needs to bring it out consistently, and he had
continued to do that going through this weekend up until qualifying.
So that's why I think he's actually going to be
more frustrated that when it really mattered, when he really
wanted to get through the Q three, he didn't quite
get the same nap time as his teammate Isaac Hadja

(01:31:06):
got out the car. But it still was encouraging that
that potential was there for him. So he will know
that he's able to move forward in the race as
well because the Racing Bulls car has been competitive all season.

Speaker 3 (01:31:16):
Yeah, and promisingly as well. It's not like Monico is
that there are places to pass in Barcelona there are
two drag reduction system zones as well. How do you
a seious evaluate Liam's ability to move up from thirteenth
during the rice.

Speaker 13 (01:31:31):
Yeah, I think he's got every chance.

Speaker 25 (01:31:32):
I mean, you know, we've talked about it before where
Liam is more than happy to get his elbows out
if he's feeling confident and there's a past to be made,
and he will need to do that around here. But
you can make a lot of positions at the start.
You can also get caught up in incidence there. So
the main thing there is getting through it cleanly. But
it looks like strategically it might be a bit of
a tricky race as well, some of the more boring races.
If anyone's been watching and thought there hasn't been a

(01:31:52):
lot of action in any Grand Prix at certain times
this year have been just one pit stop. Well, it
looks like there'll be at least two tomorrow with different
strategies playing out because as I said, the tires have
been overheating, it's been very hot. That gives you more
potential as well to move forward, not only by making
moves on track, but strategically with the timing of your
pit stops, the tires you're running on, and the pace
you can be doing at different points in the race.

(01:32:14):
So I think there's a lot of opportunities for him
and if he keeps it clean, gets a good solid
start and the team as well get the strategy right.
He's got every chance is still picking up a point or.

Speaker 3 (01:32:22):
Two on the front of the grid. Oskar Pstree and
Lando Norris one two for McLaren. How much faster Chris
and your assessment are McLaren than anybody else in terms
of their cars.

Speaker 25 (01:32:33):
It's a tricky once to answer that, I will admit,
because over one lap we see it in every qualifying
session essentially, and it's no more than a quarter of
a second at at the tracks that they are best
at and others.

Speaker 13 (01:32:45):
Are not so good at.

Speaker 25 (01:32:47):
But the average qualifying margin between first and second before
today was less than a tenth of a second. Today
PS three was two tenths quick than the Norris. But
it's not always been between the two McLaren drivers either.
We've had George Russell up there, Max of Staffan has
three poles. It's very close on raw pace over one lap.
The McLaren strength is being able to go close to
that role over a race distance and not ruin their tires,

(01:33:09):
not burn them up, not wear them out too quickly,
so they keep that pace for longer, and that advantage
opens up over Grand Prix distance, and I think when
they're somewhere that they're really comfortable and confident, that's like
a half a second advantage that they've got. So it
fluctuates trac to track depending on the characteristics of the circuit,
whether it suits the car they have or suits some
of their rivals. But the one thing we have seen

(01:33:30):
is that everywhere we go they have a car capable
of winning races. For every other team they're much more
up and down.

Speaker 3 (01:33:36):
And I'll say twenty four of thirty four a Spanish
Grand Priise at this trek have been won by the Pulse,
So I guess that gives Pstree an historical advantage. Anyway,
how do you avalue added ability to win it from
the front of the grid.

Speaker 25 (01:33:50):
Well, certainly he's got the ability, and he does have
the quickest car on the grid right now, so starting
from P one, it's everything you'd ask for. But at
the same time, this is a track where as you
mentioned earlier, you can overtake, certainly a lot easier than Monaco.
But the start is crucial because we've seen it a
couple times and we actually saw it last year. Cars
starting on the second row have a good chance of

(01:34:11):
getting into the lead at the start.

Speaker 13 (01:34:12):
You get a long run to turn one.

Speaker 25 (01:34:14):
Here there's a long period of accelerating up to fall
through Otto before hating the breaks through the first corner,
so you get a big slipstream effect and the cars
in third and fourth directly behind the front row get
a good toe and that can give them a sling
shot to try and make a move. And George Russell
went from fourth to first at the start last year
and George Russell is starting fourth again tomorrow, so that's
going to be exciting. Max Forstappen in third as well,

(01:34:35):
always a threat. If he gets a sniff at the start,
he'll go for it. We saw it in Immler where
the Stafton was in a position where really he shouldn't
have been challenging for the lead at turn one and
he found a way to overtake Oscar and take the
lead and he won that race. So I don't think
it's a foregone conclusion, but you're right, statistically and historically
he's in the best place. I just don't think this
is quite the certainty it used to be around here.

Speaker 3 (01:34:54):
All right, and they're only being nineteen cars and the
race as I understand it, you'll be able to film
me in here. Lance stroll Eston, Madden's driver won't compete.
What's the story here?

Speaker 13 (01:35:05):
Yeah, he was a big shock actually, and it's quite
a funny one.

Speaker 25 (01:35:08):
Just before I've spoken to you that the news dropped
and you might be able to hear in the background.
I'm out grabbing a late bite to eat in the
middle of Barcelona, and sudden everyone's on their mobile phones
filing stories.

Speaker 13 (01:35:18):
Because Lance took part in qualifying.

Speaker 25 (01:35:20):
He got up the cart and didn't get weighed, so
he was in trouble for not going to the waybridge
to do all of the checks that you have to
do with the governing body. And he'd been summoned to
the stewards and I saw that that hearing got delayed
and the stewards said it was due to unforeseen circumstances.
So something was going on, but we didn't know what.
And then it turned out it was because he's been
in discomfort with his hands and his wrist, and he's

(01:35:40):
been in pain over the last six weeks.

Speaker 19 (01:35:42):
Now.

Speaker 25 (01:35:42):
For anyone who doesn't know, and you do well to
remember this, but Lancerell had a cycling accident two years
ago in pre season, broke both of his wrists. He
had to have surgery on them. He also broke a
toe in that, but he came back and raced very quickly,
and he had some very good surgery. But the team
seemed to think the pain he now has is related
to the procedures that were done in twenty twenty three,

(01:36:03):
so he's going to go to another prostidure to try
and rectify it as soon as possible. So they've pulled
him out of this race on medical grounds. I assume
that means tomorrow or Monday he'll be going through some
sort of surgery or medical procedure to try and get
him fit as quickly as possible. The challenge there is
the next race is in two weeks time, and it's
his home Grand Prix in Montreal, so I don't know
at this point total speculation, whether he'll be fit for that.

(01:36:24):
Aston Martin can replace him in the future, but they
can't do that this weekend because you have to qualify
the car in order to race it. So because Lance
took part in qualifying, therefore only he can race. If
he's withdrawn, they can't put anyone else in.

Speaker 3 (01:36:36):
All right, nice and warm and Barcelona as a christ
You've got the shorts on, mate, no need for a
jacket tonight.

Speaker 13 (01:36:42):
You're no need for a jacket. But I'm always trousers.

Speaker 25 (01:36:45):
I'm all professional when I've been working, so it's always
the long trousers are out.

Speaker 13 (01:36:48):
But no, you're right.

Speaker 25 (01:36:49):
It's a thin polo and nothing else and still pretty
toasty for a brit abroad. So it's been it's been
nice in that sense. But yeah it'll be it'll be
a hot one tomorrow and that'd be a challenge for
the drivers but fun for us.

Speaker 9 (01:36:59):
Chris.

Speaker 3 (01:36:59):
He expertise and analysis greatly appreciated. Mate. Thanks for tacking
the time to join.

Speaker 13 (01:37:03):
Us across New Zealand, no worries, Thanks for having me on.

Speaker 3 (01:37:06):
No thanks for joining us, Chris. Chris medland there from Barcelona,
where Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The McLaren drivers will
start on the front two positions on the starting grid.
Liam Lawson in thirteenth position, his teammate at Racing Balls,
Isaac Hadja ninth on the grid, Max Forstappan his third,
George Russell fourth, Yuki Sonoda, the second of the Red

(01:37:27):
Bull drivers, was twentieth and last in qualifying. But it'll
move up a place due to the withdrawal of Lance Stroll.
As you just heard Chris Medland outlined, there a troubled
wrist or hand injury for Lance Stroll, so he will
not be on the grid and they can't bring anybody
else in Aston Martin because you have to be in
qualifying in order to race the race itself. He can

(01:37:51):
be replaced for the next race if that's what is required,
but not for this one. So Fernando Alonso will be
the only Aston Martin driver on the grid when that
race is underway around one o'clock tomorrow morning. From memory,
I think that's the start. Let me just check exactly
here one o'clock tomorrow morning, the Spanish Grand Prix and Barcelona.

(01:38:11):
Plenty of places to pass on this racetrack compared to Monico,
where there's basically nowhere to pass. So have Liam Lawson,
Canon and the racing terminology get his elbows out and
who knows maybe he can move up the field a
little bit. At the Spanish Grand Prix one eight ninety four,
Indiana lead New York. So what's that? A fourteen point
lead with only five and a bit minutes left in

(01:38:35):
game six at the Eastern Conference NBA Finals, and New
York is going to have to get a move on
if they're going to peg back that lead. Otherwise, Indiana
are going to the NBA Finals. When we come back,
we'll stay in Europe, actually to France. We go to
Paris for Roland Garross and the French Tennis Opened. Craig
Gabriel on the show after.

Speaker 1 (01:38:55):
This The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport
Weekend Sport with Jason Vain and GJ. Gunnomes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder news.

Speaker 3 (01:39:05):
DOGSV coming up to twenty six on King's Birthday Sunday,
the big names have all safely advanced to the last
sixteen that the French Tennis Open, including the men's top seed.

Speaker 2 (01:39:15):
Too much points.

Speaker 3 (01:39:20):
That is imperious. Beast roll Gas is the world number one,
looking sharp that see wents for the loss of just
three games. Our man in Paris is Craig Gabriel. Who
joins us. Now, before we talk about any of the
matchups overnight, Craig, can we start with the conditions as
I understand it quite hot, quite humid today.

Speaker 8 (01:39:43):
Yeah, pretty warm and humid. A lot of the players
who are feeling it. The temperature was in the high
twenties yesterday, I think it was yesterday day before it
went up to thirty, so a lot of them were
using ice packs around their necks, under their arms. So
you know, most of them have made a comment on

(01:40:03):
the conditions being very humid and not the easiest to
get through.

Speaker 3 (01:40:08):
All right, Well, I guess the idea is to stay
out there for as short a time as possible. Which
top seed Yannick Sinner did throw and strike see its
how's he looking?

Speaker 7 (01:40:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 8 (01:40:18):
Well, I mean I'm thinking that he should have gone
for the triple bagel gone for love, love and love,
and it was love one in two, so very impressive.
But he did warn don't think that that's what's going
to happen every match, and he used the comparison to Rome.
He absolutely wiped the court with Caspar Rude over there.

(01:40:41):
I think that was like sixty one six Love and
Casper's top ten and then the next match he played
got tight. So he says, you know, that is very
very likely and quite possible and you know, could very
well happen. So while he was pretty pleased with this
because it's given him less time on court, so it
keeps fresh. If there's you know, he made it clear

(01:41:03):
this is not what's going to happen every match.

Speaker 3 (01:41:05):
Alexander's reap the third seed and beaten finalists last year
also through. How did he look in his straight seats one?

Speaker 8 (01:41:13):
Yeah, relatively good, because Sasha there has been very up
and down this year since reaching the final of the
Australian Open. He's won one title. Yeah, all well and good,
but most of the other tournaments he's played, he's gone
out very early and he's admitted that it's really been
it had really been bothering him and he was concerned

(01:41:35):
about it. But today no such issues for him and
he was through six two seven, six six one against
Flavia Kobali.

Speaker 3 (01:41:45):
He said afterwards, I note that he expects Carlos al Karez,
who beat him, of course in the final last year,
to be in the final again. Is it there's no
one on that side who can stop him? Is he right?

Speaker 9 (01:41:57):
Well?

Speaker 8 (01:41:57):
Pretty much. Yeah, but you never know what can happen.
And seriously, so this is these are these majors, anything
is possible. So yeah, he's absolutely right in that Alcaraz
is the defending champion, is the favorite for the title.
But you know, you don't discount anybody.

Speaker 3 (01:42:17):
How has Alcarez looked to you in the first week.

Speaker 8 (01:42:21):
Solid? I mean he's dropped one set, that was last night,
my time, and he was down a break in the
fourth as well. I thought match was going to go
five sets against Damiel Zuma, but he certainly recovered very
very smartly to close it out in force. So overall,
I'd say Alcirez is looking very solid, all right.

Speaker 3 (01:42:43):
The others who advanced safely, Jack Draper Is through cam
Norius through It's been very few upsets and the means
singles Craig.

Speaker 8 (01:42:53):
Yeah, oh but remember Casper Rud's gone out and he's
been a finalist here on two occasions. So that was
a couple of days ago, so there had been the upsets,
but you know, off the ultimate big guns, no, things
have been relatively smooth. Saying about Jack Draper, he beat
this young Brazilian, this eighteen year old Jean Fonseca, who's
just a marvelous player, but so much to learn and

(01:43:15):
that's what's exciting. And to see him develop even from
the Australian Open to now, he's come on gangbusters and
has already won a title in the in the in
that period and the way he was talking, you could
see how excited he is to keep on learning and
seeing new things and developing new things. But Draper pretty solid.

(01:43:35):
Two four and two.

Speaker 3 (01:43:37):
Can we go to the women's singles. I see the
battle of the former Australian Open champions, in fact the
current champion Medicine case Sofia Cannon. They went the distance
Madison case, where did she have the advantage?

Speaker 8 (01:43:50):
Well, I mean she was down to break in the
third set, so she really had to battle to come
back and four six six, three seven five against Sophia Kennan,
who's not one of my favorites by any means. So
I was very happy that Maddy got through that one.
But that's a good test for her and we'll see
what happens in the next round. But ye, yes, so

(01:44:13):
I think it's gonna be pretty pleased with it, you know,
and the people around her, the other players like Jessica Bogula,
who's one of her close friends, Cocoa Golf another friend.
All got through.

Speaker 3 (01:44:25):
Coco Goff remembered her rackets this time, did she?

Speaker 8 (01:44:28):
Yes, she's been doing that. Now he's been doing that.
He's been remembering the rackets. He's probably not gonna live
it down. I'm sure that I remember Francis Tiaff were
doing the same thing at a tournament. Whether it was
that the US Open last year or earlier this year,
I can't remember that. But yeah, there's Pony's situation when
it happens. I remember many years ago Paul McNamee was

(01:44:53):
was due to play John McEnroe in the first round
of Wimbledon, and ye know with how strict they are
with the dress rules, and McNamee had noticed this, and
Johnny mack had put blue shorts on instead of all white,
and he walked on court, took out his trucksuit pants
and the referee said, off the court, you go and

(01:45:15):
change your shorts.

Speaker 3 (01:45:18):
It's not Coca Goffer forgetting her records the sort of thing,
as you say, you only do once. I've just been
noting Arena Sabalinka's performances in the first week Craig Man.
She has been imperious, straight to it's ones, right the
way through, seemingly untroubled. Is she the woman's favorite?

Speaker 8 (01:45:37):
I think there are a couple. Obviously she has to
be one of the favorites. She is the world number one.
She's run a couple of tournaments like this, a couple
of majors, the US Open and the Australian Open. And
you know you'd also throw an Egoshontek as a four
time champion over here, so you know, don't forget her,

(01:45:58):
and also trying to think I just mean Paulini another one,
but Saberlenka. Tomorrow we'll be playing a Manda and a Samova.
And when I was just doing some resurch this afternoon
looking ahead to that match, I was actually taken aback
by the head to head. They've played seven times and

(01:46:19):
Saberlenka's only won twice. So you know, we'll see how
that one panther. I'd still go with Sablenka, but that
could be a tight one.

Speaker 3 (01:46:30):
Just to finish, Craig always like to get you know,
your assessment. You've been to all the Grand Slams many many, many,
many times. How do you enjoy the French Open.

Speaker 8 (01:46:40):
It's it's it's a terrific event. It it really is
so stylish. It's I think it's just class I think
this tournament probably has the best looking merchandise of any
of the events. And it's just the whole layout. It's
just chic, you know, to use a French word, it's

(01:47:00):
just classy. And and you know the way the tournament
staff are retired a tired, not retired, and you know,
all the teams will have a certain type of uniform
and then the next team will have another type of
uniform and then they'll you know, they'll change colors on
days and stuff. So it's just it is really glassy, seriously.

(01:47:26):
So I mean Wimbledon is all tradition and there, and
you know their their merchandise as well English, whereas this
is French.

Speaker 3 (01:47:37):
Very chic. As they say, Craig, thank you so much
for your time, as always, really appreciate it. No worries
Craig Gabriel from Roland Garros. Where As Craig mentioned, most
of the top players are through cast about the only
one we've lost in the first week just on cam Norri,
the Kiwi born brit He got past Jacob Fernley, his
fellow British player in straight seats. But there was a

(01:48:00):
bit of disruption to the game in terms of fireworks
because only a couple of streets over from Roland Garros
there was a street party with fans watching parisint Cherman
in the Champions League final and they were letting off
all sorts of fireworks and that head, as Cam Norri
describes here, a bit of an impact on the game.

Speaker 22 (01:48:20):
I haven't and actually I was putting my back down
and the umpire, so yeah, there's is just a couple
of fireworks. Yeah, it would just play on, not no worries,
and I was thinking it was just going to be
like a few of them in the warm up and
then but it was the most random times, you know,
it would go away. It would go away for kind

(01:48:41):
of fifteen to twenty minutes and then come back. And
then I think I was six' five serving and about
to hit a second serve and then suddenly one literally
felt like it was right next to me went.

Speaker 21 (01:48:54):
OFF i had to, stop.

Speaker 9 (01:48:57):
But, yeah it.

Speaker 22 (01:48:58):
Was it was another fact that pretty difficult for both
of us to be playing with with that going. On
it felt like it was happening within the the. Stadium
it was a different, factor but, No i've not had
that one.

Speaker 3 (01:49:11):
Before So Cam nori into the fourth. Round he's now
made the fourth round at all four. Majors.

Speaker 22 (01:49:16):
Yeah nice to make the fourth round here in a
match With daniel was was so so. Tough it was
such a big test for, me and to get through,
THAT i FELT i can take a lot of confidence from,
that and to make the second week for the first
time so so, good you, know and at a time
WHERE i was not not really stringing a lot of
matches and a lot of wins, together so we came

(01:49:37):
at a at a pretty different time AND i was
able to build it from the momentum That i've really
struggled to get the end of from the last year
and a, half you, know not being able to get
momentum with for different. Reasons SO i, Think, yeah it
was really fun and really good week so, far and

(01:49:58):
there's still plenty of tennis to be, played Which i'm excited.

Speaker 3 (01:50:00):
For that is the voice Of Cam. Norrie let's got
To Yannick center the top seed in The means, single
so we had absolutely no issues getting past the check.
Player Yuri lehshka in the third round Sex love six
one six. Two As craig, mentioned he could have gone
for the the the triple, bagel the Sex love Six

(01:50:21):
love six. Love maybe east off a little bit in
seats two and three Onix.

Speaker 24 (01:50:25):
Center, yes it was a very great match from my.
SIDE i think that the start of each, set you,
know with dirly, break gave me then the confidence to keep.
Going And i'm very happy about today's.

Speaker 3 (01:50:39):
Match but he did go on to, Say Youick, center
that just because he won easily, here it doesn't mean
that his next match Against Andrei rublev will be the.

Speaker 24 (01:50:47):
Same things can change so quickly from one day to the.
Other we saw this In. Rome nobody believed, me but
you know it's IT'S i was in half an. HOUR
i lost the first set six to, one SO i
have to be very. Careful andre is an incredible.

Speaker 6 (01:51:03):
PLAYER i have to be.

Speaker 24 (01:51:05):
Focused he's, rested so let's see what's what's.

Speaker 3 (01:51:08):
Coming that is the voice Of Yarnick, sinner who's doing
all the right. Things early, on it seems as though
he's on a collision course With Carlos alcaraz for a,
place or rather to meet in the. Final elkaz the second,
Seed ciner is the top. Seed wouldn't be at all
surprising if a week from now we're talking about a
Sinner El coraz. Final The Indiana pacers have beaten The

(01:51:31):
New York knicks In game six of THE Nba Eastern
Conference finals and therefore advanced to THE Nba, finals where
they will take on The Oklahoma City thunder and a
best of seven series to crown OUR nba. Champion they
did it fairly comfortably in the, end Winning game six
on their home court one hundred and twenty five to

(01:51:53):
one hundred and, Eight No game seven. Required it'll be
The paces against The thunder FOR nba supremacy in twenty twenty,
four twenty. Five and on that, note we'll take a,
break can come back and unpack it a bit more for,
you as well as The Stanley cup the ice hockey
finals which are about to begin as. Well we go

(01:52:14):
stateside With Leon. Busby after, this.

Speaker 1 (01:52:17):
The big issues on and After Fields call oh eight
hundred and eighty ten Eighty Weekend sport With Jason fain AND. Gj,
Gunderholmes New zealand's most trusted Home Miilder news talks a.

Speaker 3 (01:52:28):
Bb News talks A b and Weekend, sport closing out
the show today with Some american. Sport eighteen to three
in THE. Nhl Our Stanley cup matchup has confirmed a
repeat of last, season the defending Champion Florida panthers against
five time, winners but not since nineteen ninety The Edmonton,

(01:52:49):
oilers best of seven games starting On. Thursday our, Time
let's bring in Our american sport Expert Leon. Busby, hey
you doing lyon good.

Speaker 23 (01:52:58):
Afternoon, Jason i'm, Well mate's great to be back after short.
Hiatus got lots to. Covis so let's get straight into.

Speaker 3 (01:53:04):
Today why not the conference final which led us to
The Stanley cup in The, east The Florida panthers four
to one over The Carolina. Hurricanes that sounds. Convincing talk
us through The Eastern. Conference first of, all.

Speaker 23 (01:53:16):
Yes as you alluded, to The Stanley cup's going to
be repeated last.

Speaker 3 (01:53:20):
Year so at The.

Speaker 23 (01:53:21):
Eastern, conference the REIGNING nhl Champion panthers easily dispatched The
Carolina hurricanes and what they call a gentleman's sweep four
games to. One so over this, Series florida won by
an average of four goals to two And i'm looking
quite ominous to repeat peeking at the right. Time The
panthers will be leaning on Their All stars Center Sam,
bennett who is also the league's leading goal scorer in the.

(01:53:43):
Postseason The canadian native and Former Calgary flame has really
Transformed florida's attack and it's no Coincidence i've now punched
their ticket to a third straight finals appearance since he
arrived in The Sunshine.

Speaker 3 (01:53:55):
State let's go to The Western. Conference The Edmonton oilers
another gentleman's sweep air for one over The Dallas stars
in The Western. Conference.

Speaker 23 (01:54:05):
Leon, yeah there seems to be a pattern of developing
into The Winston. Conference we see The oilers back for
another crack at top in The champs after falling short last,
year and one of the most compelling series In Stanley
cupp history go to a seventh and deciding. Game Now
edmonton also defeated The Dallas stars and a gentleman's sweep
four games so onnth so over the, series the oil

(01:54:26):
is much like The Florida, panthers won by an average
of four goals to two in dominant. Fashion edmonton will
again be led from the front by the NHL's best,
Player colin, McDavid who has pretty much won every single
award except the one that he hungers for the, most
The Stanley. Cup it's also important to, Note poney that
The oilers captain is seeming to enter free agency and

(01:54:47):
the outcome of this final series could well dictate whether
he stays In edmonton or moves, on as most teams
would pay a kings ransom for McDavid's. Services, now in
terms of which side will lift The Stanley, cupp, Well
i'm gonna side with The oilers this, time taking this
series in six maybe seven games to finally break the
thirty five year got For canadian, teams a champion championship

(01:55:09):
long over, due where ice hockey is their national.

Speaker 3 (01:55:12):
Sport absolutely, WELL i think, YEAH i think most people
would think that was a good idea if it went
back To. Canada we'll keep an eye on The Stanley
cup best of seven starting in the week. Ahead can
we go to THE Nba? Finals want to get to
The EASTERN a moment where The Indiana pacers have just
won The Eastern conference and qualified for the, finals but
Out West Oklahoma City thunder securing their place after The

(01:55:35):
Western Conference. Finals speaking of gentlemen, sweeps leon is another.
One they made pretty sure work of The Minnesota.

Speaker 23 (01:55:42):
Timberwolves, Yes angel, listeners a week of. Plony The Western
conference champions ARE okac and they Dismantled minnesota and a gentleman's,
sweep and now they take on The Eastern conference Champion.
Indiana Paces now The thunder after a dominant performance against The,
timberwolves the second youngest team with an average age of
only twenty five point five, YEARS i had to put

(01:56:03):
in the twenty five point five to reach THE Nba
finals since nineteen seventy. Seven LEAGUE mvp Shaped Gildis alexander
Led oklahoma to only their second year Of finals appearance
in thirteen, years on the back of AN nba regular
season best sixty eight twelve.

Speaker 7 (01:56:19):
Record now The.

Speaker 23 (01:56:20):
Thunder have the best defensive team all. Season even more impressive,
though in the current, playoffs that their average margin of
victory at home has been a whopping twenty four point
six points despite their. Inexperience so whoever actually comes out
of The east as we know It's indiana now will
be huge.

Speaker 3 (01:56:36):
Underdogs, ABSOLUTELY i actually THOUGHT i was Watching Oklahoma City.
Thunder they took seven games to get Past, denver didn't
they in the semi? Finals were they just kind of
warming up against The nuggets and getting ready for the
real point?

Speaker 23 (01:56:51):
End, yeah The nugget series was actually surprising, because as you,
know or your listeners would, know The nuggets were in
a bit of. Turmoil would they fired their coach IN
Gm and there was a lot of murmurs between the
players about what was going to happen and a lot
of disruption. There but that it was actually the best
series Of winter seven games and as we, Know oklahoma
got it, done and you, know and they deserve. IT i,

(01:57:13):
mean they're a young, team BUT i think they're building
something here which could be generational for many years to.

Speaker 3 (01:57:17):
Come let's go out, east where in the last few
moments it has been The Indiana pacers confirming their Place
Eastern conference winners by four games to two over The
New York. Knicks you, know a closely fought, series but
as the best team going through In. Indiana, yes so The.

Speaker 23 (01:57:34):
Eastern conference Champion Indiana. PACERS i, mean they got their
blowout win today AND i think it says the let
it lie a lot about them because before this series
actually BEGAN i was Picking New york to win in
six maybe, seven but it certainly The pacers who have
really lifted their game to another, level led By All
Star Tyres, tallibritton who earlier in the year was voted
the NBA's most overhetted. PLAYER i don't Think i'd be

(01:57:56):
happy being voted that. Anyway he's played with a tip
on a shoulder in this, series and In game four
he CREATED nba. History he recorded a triple double which
included thirty two, points fifteen, rebounds and travelers sists put
four steals to round up a historic performance only ever
matched By hall Of Famer Oscar robertson and Future hall

(01:58:17):
Of Famer jokis from The. Nuggets, However halliburton set himself
apart with no turnovers in the, game which had never
been done in playoff history. Before he's apolarizing player at,
times but is absolutely balling right now And i'm not
surprised The pacers. Advanced now another stat to get your head, Around,
pony AND i know you love, stats. Yep this, season
When indiana have scored one hundred and twenty points or,

(01:58:39):
more they are thirty two and two either. Way if
the thunder had pass do meet in THE nba, Finals
as we, know we'll see a first time. Champion both
franchises have never lifted The larry O'Brien trophy, before so
in terms of a, Winner i'm leaning slightly Towards, Okay.
Sears they've got home court advantage if the series does
go through a deciding game.

Speaker 3 (01:58:59):
Seven all, Right, okay, SEE i hope it goes to.
SEVEN i hope these two going have a seven. Game
wouldn't that be? Great? Hey a couple of other piece running? Series, yeah, yeah,
yeah a couple of other pieces of. NEWS i wanted
to get your views. On speaking Of Indiana Indiana, fever
this is The WOMEN'S nba Side Caitlin, clarke of, course
who has, just you, know just been this, huge enormous

(01:59:22):
star in The WOMEN'S. NBA i say she's out with an.
Injury this might not just affect the. Fever this might
affect the Whole WOMAN'S, nba mightn't.

Speaker 23 (01:59:31):
It, yes they're sticking with the Hardcourt. Piineyer earlier this,
week defense of THE Wnba Indiana fever Star Caitlin clark
suffered a lead condrastps, injury sidelining her for at least two.
Weeks the injury occurred during a practice session and a
return date is. Unclear Thats clark will be reevaluated at
the two week mark to further understand injury. Timeline, now

(01:59:53):
this is a big blow for the league in terms
of THE tv viewing audience and The fever's next two,
games As arenas normally sell out when she's. Playing clark
will be reevaluated after the first week Of, june but
that doesn't Mean sheilbert, too and at that point The
fever medical staff will determine whether she can return to
action immediately or whether she'll need more time to rehab or.

(02:00:13):
Recover plus return date will be determined by the severity
of her quad, injury which The fever have not made public.
YET A grade one quad injury typically takes a couple
of weeks to, recover while A grade two injury means
the player would miss closer to a month of. Recovery so,
thankfully this will only be a short term regression for
both The fever and THE. Wnba, economically this unforeseen injury

(02:00:36):
only reinforces her star power and the so Called Capelin clark.

Speaker 3 (02:00:40):
Effect and, Finally Aaron rodgers and The Pittsburgh. Steelers what
is going on? Here can you explain this to?

Speaker 9 (02:00:48):
Us?

Speaker 23 (02:00:49):
Oh, yeah, well The finnish. Shop in THE, nfl we
have the Ongoing Aaron rodgers. Staga one of the most
storied football, organizations The Pittsburgh steelers have made headlines, pony
but unfortunately for all the wrong. Reasons while the expectation
is that full TIME Mvp Aaron rodgers will signed With
pittsburgh solely based on a verbal agreement and, handshake there's

(02:01:11):
still a lot of. Uncertainty rogers are still mully over his,
future and one of the options includes retirement.

Speaker 3 (02:01:17):
If he does.

Speaker 23 (02:01:17):
Play The steelers figured to be the last option available
to the Future hall Of fame, quarterback at least in
terms of teams he'd have interest in playing. For a
lot of people are very upset with The pittsburgh ownership
and front office who have dragged this out to seemingly
no end and an indictment really on their proud. History
it almost feels Like rogers is holding The steelers to
ransom as he decided on his playing career. Now just

(02:01:39):
to complicate, matters pointing during the RECENT nfl, Draft pittsburgh
had no less than seven picks and baffled their fan
base when they chose to pass On Colorado buffalo staff
quarterback should do a standards three times when they had
the opportunity to sign them to their weak quarterback room.
Standards late drafting was the headline of THE Nfl, draft

(02:02:00):
and even more surprising we That pittsburgh eventually signed a
quarterback for their fifth, pick number one eighty. Five it
can't make sense of. That so this confumed in a
way that The stealers are risking all of their hopes
On Aaron rodgers being their starting quarterback for the upcoming,
season which is troubling for the, franchise and THE nfl
teams have already started assembling and. Training i've made to

(02:02:22):
state you, obvious but Wherever rogers, goes drama seems to
follow him.

Speaker 7 (02:02:26):
Around.

Speaker 23 (02:02:26):
Now in another related, Note, pony BEFORE i wrap this,
up it's now less than one hundred days until THE
nfl and college football seasons, kickoff WHICH i know your
son will be excited about being a Huge Minnesota wakings.
Fan So i'm assuming you've already paid for the spiritual game.

Speaker 10 (02:02:40):
Pass can't we.

Speaker 3 (02:02:43):
Ly on you assume? Correctly you assume, CORRECTLY i have
forked out for that and quite happy to do. So
lovely chatting to you is Always Leon busby stateside a
big part of our show here On Weekend sports seven
and a half to.

Speaker 1 (02:02:56):
Three analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting.
World Weekend sport With Jason. Hie they call eight hundred
and eighty Eight Us talks.

Speaker 3 (02:03:07):
And that is us for another show another wee can
now No Sports talk tomorrow. Night It's king's, birthday so
they've given us the night, off which is a bit
of a shame actual because there would have been quite
a bit to talk. About, however we have to follow
the roster and we have to do what we're. Told
we're back On Weekend sport next weekend As Super Rugby
finals get. Underway thanks for, listening And Tim beverage after

(02:03:27):
three huge things To anna McDonald for producing the. Show
you enjoy an extra day off as, well. MATE i
hope it's a relaxing one for you taking us out. Today,
well the worries in about an hour or so are
taking on the rabbit. Os so this Is Eddie rabbit
AND i love for rainy. Nights goodbye.

Speaker 2 (02:04:23):
For more From Weekends sport With Jason.

Speaker 1 (02:04:25):
Fine listen live To News talks IT b weekends from,
midday or follow the podcast On iHeartRadio