October 24, 2025 • 9 mins
Canterbury are set to face Otago in the NPC final this weekend.
Canterbury progressed to the final after beating Hawke's bay 43-19.
Canterbury Winger Ngane Punivai told Elliott Smith that the team has been focused on keeping morale high ahead of the big game.
'We've put a real emphasis on, just really loving what we do each day and enjoying every day we're at work together.'
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tree on Gold Sports with our team Nick Buley are
captaining our commentary team this afternoon alongside former All Black
Matt Todd, who's alongside Craig cur running sideline. We'll chat
with Nick Buley next hour on the program. But first
and foremostly it's head into Cannabary camp here on news
Talks EDB. And it's a one turnover Canterbury back with
(00:33):
position or gardener had numbers down the short side left,
couldn't get the offload free. But here comes Jamie Hennah
up over halfway, gets a pass three to put a bye.
He's over the ten, he's over the twenty two. He
will not be stopped.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Canterbury scot the first child the day and it's ninety
put him by who runs the best part of forty
minutes at such.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And he is the man that is joining us now
on news Talk ZEDB. Naney Poonavie, thanks for your time
this afternoon here on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, no, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
The Big Dance ninety counting down to that again, Otago
the Southern rivalry. How excited Are you for the final
this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, you know, I hear that it's almost sold out,
so it should be a good crowd. Hopefully it's a
good day and yeah, excited to play some finals footy.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
How have you built it as a team this season Canterbury?
Obviously the one loss will get to that in a
moment or two. But what's been important for you as
a Canterbury side this season as you've gone through the campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We've put a Yeah, well, I think we've put a
real emphasis on just really loving what we do each
day and enjoying every day were at work together and
just really connecting as a group off the field, so
that you know when we were on the field, we're
we're good mates and we're willing to work hard for
each other.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
You're black said no to Sam Darry or George Bell
this week. How quickly do you not necessarily move on
from them not being there but move into that next
men up mentality? How quickly is the team do you
welcome in Brian McAllister Hooker and the other changes that
you've made.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, yeah, no, We're absolutely staked for Dairy and Bally
to get the call up to the big black jersey,
and we're happy for them to go and do that.
But yeah, like you say, you know, we trust the
next man man up, and everyone's been working hard all season,
so no matter what who's wearing the jersey, we know
that they would do the job.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There have been some tough games along the way. A
couple of weeks ago, Counties Monco pushed you right to
the limit into extra time. The Otago game we lost
the shield as well. How have you dealt with the
challenges and the adversity that's been throwing your way?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, I think, you know, each week we've we've learned
a lot about ourselves and about who we are as
a team. And yeah, I think those those challenges, as
you say, have set us up nicely for whatever is
going to come on this Saturday. So you know, we
feel that we're well prepared and we're really ready to
take it on.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
What are your expectations throw O Tigo in this afternoon's final.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know, they'll be full of confidence that they've had
a really good season, and obviously last time they're up here,
they they got the chocolates, So you know, we're expecting
a really good battle and they definitely won't give it
to us very easily, So you know we're up for that.
We've been prepared all week and you know, we're just
(03:23):
excited to get out there and play in front of
our fans.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Do you consider it maybe a little bit of revenge
for what happened with the Ranfurlly Shield going their way
a few weeks back when they played.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Last Well, you know, i'd be lying if it wasn't
sitting in the back of my mind. You know, definitely
want to repay them, I guess, But you know, we've
just really focused on on what we're going to do
this week and how we're going to you know, get
the result that we want to.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Were there any listens out of that game in terms
of how you might approach this afternoon or maybe even
o Targo approach it, because there was what fifteen minutes
of the game they took away from you with some
really good rugby. Were there lessons that you can take
into this afternoon that will be valuable?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I think, well, well, we obviously know that they're not
going to go away, so no matter what the score is,
no matter the time on the clock, they're going to
keep coming and throwing everything at us. So we've just
got to be stay on for the whole eighty minutes
or one hundred minutes if that's what it takes, as
we saw a couple of weeks ago, So yeah, just
just knowing that they're never going to die, so we
(04:27):
can't die either.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
How much did it take out of the leagues a
couple of weeks ago, that one hundred minute game against
Counties in the quarter finals, And do you think it's
good preparation that if today does come down to an
extra time scenario that you've been there before in recent games.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, I think we've took a lot of confidence out
of it, you know that we can go that deep
and that we can handle that. So yeah, No, we're
feeling really good, refresh and ready this week, so if
that's what it takes, then we're willing to go there.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Well sold that crowd. As you mentioned this afternoon, it's
the last time as well Canterbury will play at Apollo
Project Stadium. How much does that mean to you and
the team that you're getting this sort of send off
the this aftter dinner.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, it's obviously, you know, something that we spoke about
at the start of the season with this been the
last Canary season at Apollo, and you know, it's been
very special, and yeah, I think it's pretty cool that
we can play one more game there and hopefully it's
a full house and it's it's going to be a
(05:27):
very special occasion to send off the stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Canterbury wing ninety Punavia with us on News Talk zib Noney.
I was looking at the stats a little bit earlier.
I think you debuted in twenty seventeen at a Shield
game in pre season. Canterbury went on to win the
title that year, but I know you didn't play a
further part in that campaign, but you're obviously around the team.
Do you take much out of that eight years ago
what it took to win a title on that occasion?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah, I know that was very special to I
remember when on the stadium first went up and I
was a young fellow going along and watching the Canobary
games and then, like you say, to get my debut
there and be a part of that twenty seventeen was
very special and I think, if anything, it's just not
taking it for granted. You know, like finals don't get
(06:14):
to be in the final that often, so it's just
been enjoying every moment this week and enjoying what said
today will bring what.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Did to touch on Tom Christie as well, his last
game for the province. He's been a workhorse for a
number of seasons for Canterbury. He was there in that
twenty seventeen winning team, so you've seen him up close
for a number of years. What does he mean to Canterbury?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, Tom's massive, He's you know, obviously with losing Cohen
Grace earlier in the season, Tom's just stepped into that
centancy role and he's taken it in his stride and
he just leaves by example when it's easy to follow him.
All the boys love playing alongside him because you just
know what you're going to get from him and he's
he's going to go and give everything for us. So
(06:56):
hopefully we can send him off in style in the
way that he deserves.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
What are going to be the key this afternoon? Is
it a quick start stamping your authority on the game
if you possibly can.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, I think you know. You always want to no
matter what the game is, you want to have a
good start and and not be chasing. But we're prepared
for all situations and we know that it's going to
take the full eighty minutes to get a result that
we want, so just being prepared for that.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I know, as a team you went to Lancaster Park
or Jade Stadium or Ami Stadium depending on what generation
you grew up in, but you obviously didn't play at
that ground, but as a team going there earlier in
the week, what was the reasoning behind that and what
did you get out of it?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah, that was you know, pretty special to go there
and had guys like Ryan Croddy share a few memories
there and obviously a few of the boys were young
kids going watching the Kenary games there, so it was
pretty special to hear those sort of stories. And it
was more about just you know, connecting as a as
(08:02):
a team and knowing, you know what a poll actually
as sort of stood in for you know, Lancaster Park
was a huge place and massive part of Canterbury rugby
and Crusaders rugby, so but then acknowledging what the significance
of a polo standing in there as a sort of
(08:22):
a long term makeshift stadium and just recognizing the you know,
what it's done for our community, especially through those those
first couple of years of the earthquakes.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Do you have any memories of going along to that
ground as a as a youngster Nari pre earthquakes.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, I remember going to a couple of games
and yeah, just just the crowds, you know, it used
to pack out and it was a huge stadium, and
I just remember being really inspired as a as a
little kid watching Canterbury go to work and score tries
and win games, and yeah, it was pretty special.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
It's gonna be a doozy of a final. Nanni, thanks
so much of your time on News Talk zb and
best like as you try to send a poo project
stadium off with a bang this afternoon. Thanks to your
time on news Talk zib appreciate.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It awesome, Thank you very much, shoving me.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Thank you Nanny for your time on News Talk ZIBB.
Canterbury Wing Nuney per advice. We count down to this
afternoon's NPC final. That was the Canterbury perspective.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Tree on Gold Sports with our team Nick Buley are
captaining our commentary team this afternoon alongside former All Black
Matt Todd, who's alongside Craig cur running sideline. We'll chat
with Nick Buley next hour on the program. But first
and foremostly it's head into Cannabary camp here on news
Talks EDB. And it's a one turnover Canterbury back with
(00:33):
position or gardener had numbers down the short side left,
couldn't get the offload free. But here comes Jamie Hennah
up over halfway, gets a pass three to put a bye.
He's over the ten, he's over the twenty two. He
will not be stopped.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Canterbury scot the first child the day and it's ninety
put him by who runs the best part of forty
minutes at such.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And he is the man that is joining us now
on news Talk ZEDB. Naney Poonavie, thanks for your time
this afternoon here on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, no, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
The Big Dance ninety counting down to that again, Otago
the Southern rivalry. How excited Are you for the final
this afternoon?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, you know, I hear that it's almost sold out,
so it should be a good crowd. Hopefully it's a
good day and yeah, excited to play some finals footy.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
How have you built it as a team this season Canterbury?
Obviously the one loss will get to that in a
moment or two. But what's been important for you as
a Canterbury side this season as you've gone through the campaign.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
We've put a Yeah, well, I think we've put a
real emphasis on just really loving what we do each
day and enjoying every day were at work together and
just really connecting as a group off the field, so
that you know when we were on the field, we're
we're good mates and we're willing to work hard for
each other.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
You're black said no to Sam Darry or George Bell
this week. How quickly do you not necessarily move on
from them not being there but move into that next
men up mentality? How quickly is the team do you
welcome in Brian McAllister Hooker and the other changes that
you've made.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, yeah, no, We're absolutely staked for Dairy and Bally
to get the call up to the big black jersey,
and we're happy for them to go and do that.
But yeah, like you say, you know, we trust the
next man man up, and everyone's been working hard all season,
so no matter what who's wearing the jersey, we know
that they would do the job.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There have been some tough games along the way. A
couple of weeks ago, Counties Monco pushed you right to
the limit into extra time. The Otago game we lost
the shield as well. How have you dealt with the
challenges and the adversity that's been throwing your way?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, I think, you know, each week we've we've learned
a lot about ourselves and about who we are as
a team. And yeah, I think those those challenges, as
you say, have set us up nicely for whatever is
going to come on this Saturday. So you know, we
feel that we're well prepared and we're really ready to
take it on.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
What are your expectations throw O Tigo in this afternoon's final.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You know, they'll be full of confidence that they've had
a really good season, and obviously last time they're up here,
they they got the chocolates, So you know, we're expecting
a really good battle and they definitely won't give it
to us very easily, So you know we're up for that.
We've been prepared all week and you know, we're just
(03:23):
excited to get out there and play in front of
our fans.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Do you consider it maybe a little bit of revenge
for what happened with the Ranfurlly Shield going their way
a few weeks back when they played.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Last Well, you know, i'd be lying if it wasn't
sitting in the back of my mind. You know, definitely
want to repay them, I guess, But you know, we've
just really focused on on what we're going to do
this week and how we're going to you know, get
the result that we want to.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Were there any listens out of that game in terms
of how you might approach this afternoon or maybe even
o Targo approach it, because there was what fifteen minutes
of the game they took away from you with some
really good rugby. Were there lessons that you can take
into this afternoon that will be valuable?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I think, well, well, we obviously know that they're not
going to go away, so no matter what the score is,
no matter the time on the clock, they're going to
keep coming and throwing everything at us. So we've just
got to be stay on for the whole eighty minutes
or one hundred minutes if that's what it takes, as
we saw a couple of weeks ago, So yeah, just
just knowing that they're never going to die, so we
(04:27):
can't die either.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
How much did it take out of the leagues a
couple of weeks ago, that one hundred minute game against
Counties in the quarter finals, And do you think it's
good preparation that if today does come down to an
extra time scenario that you've been there before in recent games.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, I think we've took a lot of confidence out
of it, you know that we can go that deep
and that we can handle that. So yeah, No, we're
feeling really good, refresh and ready this week, so if
that's what it takes, then we're willing to go there.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Well sold that crowd. As you mentioned this afternoon, it's
the last time as well Canterbury will play at Apollo
Project Stadium. How much does that mean to you and
the team that you're getting this sort of send off
the this aftter dinner.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, it's obviously, you know, something that we spoke about
at the start of the season with this been the
last Canary season at Apollo, and you know, it's been
very special, and yeah, I think it's pretty cool that
we can play one more game there and hopefully it's
a full house and it's it's going to be a
(05:27):
very special occasion to send off the stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Canterbury wing ninety Punavia with us on News Talk zib Noney.
I was looking at the stats a little bit earlier.
I think you debuted in twenty seventeen at a Shield
game in pre season. Canterbury went on to win the
title that year, but I know you didn't play a
further part in that campaign, but you're obviously around the team.
Do you take much out of that eight years ago
what it took to win a title on that occasion?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah, I know that was very special to I
remember when on the stadium first went up and I
was a young fellow going along and watching the Canobary
games and then, like you say, to get my debut
there and be a part of that twenty seventeen was
very special and I think, if anything, it's just not
taking it for granted. You know, like finals don't get
(06:14):
to be in the final that often, so it's just
been enjoying every moment this week and enjoying what said
today will bring what.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Did to touch on Tom Christie as well, his last
game for the province. He's been a workhorse for a
number of seasons for Canterbury. He was there in that
twenty seventeen winning team, so you've seen him up close
for a number of years. What does he mean to Canterbury?
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, Tom's massive, He's you know, obviously with losing Cohen
Grace earlier in the season, Tom's just stepped into that
centancy role and he's taken it in his stride and
he just leaves by example when it's easy to follow him.
All the boys love playing alongside him because you just
know what you're going to get from him and he's
he's going to go and give everything for us. So
(06:56):
hopefully we can send him off in style in the
way that he deserves.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
What are going to be the key this afternoon? Is
it a quick start stamping your authority on the game
if you possibly can.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Yeah, I think you know. You always want to no
matter what the game is, you want to have a
good start and and not be chasing. But we're prepared
for all situations and we know that it's going to
take the full eighty minutes to get a result that
we want, so just being prepared for that.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I know, as a team you went to Lancaster Park
or Jade Stadium or Ami Stadium depending on what generation
you grew up in, but you obviously didn't play at
that ground, but as a team going there earlier in
the week, what was the reasoning behind that and what
did you get out of it?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah, that was you know, pretty special to go there
and had guys like Ryan Croddy share a few memories
there and obviously a few of the boys were young
kids going watching the Kenary games there, so it was
pretty special to hear those sort of stories. And it
was more about just you know, connecting as a as
(08:02):
a team and knowing, you know what a poll actually
as sort of stood in for you know, Lancaster Park
was a huge place and massive part of Canterbury rugby
and Crusaders rugby, so but then acknowledging what the significance
of a polo standing in there as a sort of
(08:22):
a long term makeshift stadium and just recognizing the you know,
what it's done for our community, especially through those those
first couple of years of the earthquakes.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Do you have any memories of going along to that
ground as a as a youngster Nari pre earthquakes.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, I remember going to a couple of games
and yeah, just just the crowds, you know, it used
to pack out and it was a huge stadium, and
I just remember being really inspired as a as a
little kid watching Canterbury go to work and score tries
and win games, and yeah, it was pretty special.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
It's gonna be a doozy of a final. Nanni, thanks
so much of your time on News Talk zb and
best like as you try to send a poo project
stadium off with a bang this afternoon. Thanks to your
time on news Talk zib appreciate.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It awesome, Thank you very much, shoving me.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Thank you Nanny for your time on News Talk ZIBB.
Canterbury Wing Nuney per advice. We count down to this
afternoon's NPC final. That was the Canterbury perspective.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.