Full Show Podcast: 25 October 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Pine
from News Talks ADB. The only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.
It's all on Weekend Sport on your home of Sport

(00:27):
News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Ed B.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Afternoon and welcome Elliot Smith and for Jason Pine this
weekend boll deserved Weekend off four Piney twenty fifth of
October twenty twenty five, Heavy Birthday, Dpak Patel, Happy birthday
Xander Shoflet as well. And it was ten years to
the day that the Wallabies beat Argentina at Twickenham to
set up the All Blacks and Australia World Cup Final,

(00:55):
the All Blacks having beaten South Africa in that thriller
the day prior. Welcome inn. If you're out about this
long weekends or at the batch wherever you might be
grateful you speak to get with us for the next
three hours. Loads to get stuck into this afternoon. Fascinated
by this Announcements earlier in the week around a charter

(01:16):
school specializing in sports. This is the year elevens to
year thirteen's based out at the nzed cis in Wellington,
will be in there a few times. Great facility, but
is this the right move for kids and what do
they need to get right in terms of the education
so they're not leaving as basically sports robots at the

(01:38):
ends of year thirteen. Gilbert and Oke, former All Blacks
leadership manager, mental skills coach, work with plenty of teams
in different sports around the globe. New South Wales origin
Black Cats, England Cricket currently CHELSEAFC. He's got a book
out at the moment. He's also started out as a
high school teacher, so he's got a unique perspective on this.

(01:58):
How do we get these kids in the right mind
frame to become professional sports people while also still acknowledging
that they are children. Is this the right step for
kids and families looking at a life in high performance sport?
Is this the right step for New Zealand? Gilbert and
Oku standing by to join us in a few moments time.

(02:19):
The MPC Final is our focus. After one will take
you inside both camps, Canterbury and Otago. This is going
to be a wonderful occasion this afternoon. Fires from both
sides to join us as we count down to kickoff
at four o'clock on Gold Sport and IR Radio. Our
match commentator Nick Beuley to join the program as well
to give us a sense of the occasion as we

(02:41):
count down to kick off, Liam Lawson's future I could
be decided in the next forty eight hours or at
least go a long way to deciding. It will take
you to Mexico, said again. Ask what exactly will go
in to this decision by Red Bulls Racing Bulls as
to how they allocate their seats for next year and
what are Liam Lawson's chances of being on the F

(03:02):
one grid next year. AUCKLANDFC have their first home game
this afternoon as well. Mount Smart will be pumping once
again a sporting chance as well with the tab your
chance to win a one hundred and fifty dollar bet.
During this afternoon show will keep a close watch on
all the sport as well. The domestic cricket Ford Trophy
season underway today game one as well of the World Series,

(03:26):
the Toronto Blue Jays facing the La Dodger's first pitch
just after one. There is plenty to look at this
afternoon here on News Talk ZBB, but at ten after
midday let's get into.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
It, analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world.
Weekend Sports Call eighty News Talk ZBB well.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
An announcement this week that the first charter sports called
New Zealand Performance Academy ALTA, or as it will be known,
will open in term one next year at the New
Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sports in Upper Hot ended CIEs.
This is year eleven's to year thirteen, so fifth form
through to seventh four in the old speak. So kids

(04:08):
would do perhaps the first couple of years away from
this campus and then move on to this campus. It's
going to focus on football and rugby union initially, other
sports expected to follow. It's independent of the Wellington Phoenix
who call it home. Their general manager David Dome, is
on the board of the school. Is it possible to

(04:29):
thrive both academically and in sport? Do you have to
choose one? And how will this prepare the next generation
of sports people. Gilbertoka, former All Blacks mental skills coach.
Among other teams, he's worked with England Cricket, the Black Caps, Chelsea.
He knows all about what it takes for high performance

(04:49):
athletes to succeed and he was also a former high
school teacher, so who better to talk to on this topic.
It's great to welcome Gilbert and Oka to Weekend Sport. Gilbert,
thanks so much for joining us.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
Pere Elliott, nice to be on the show with you.
Thanks very much.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
What do you make of this charter school's sports proposal
that is going to come into being from two to
one twenty twenty six at the nsed CIS and Wellington.
Are you in favor of the idea?

Speaker 4 (05:20):
Oh? Look, I I think any initiative that you know,
generally gives young people a better chance to grow, to
learn and perform deserves attention. And I'm more of the
elk of embracing the opportunity that it gives to our

(05:41):
people who make that choice to go down that avenue,
to you know, to enable them to you know, to
have a chance at achieving and putting the energy into
their sport of their choice.

Speaker 3 (05:57):
You've been a teacher, You've also worked in high performance
sport environments, So what are the fundamentals that they need
to get right for these kids?

Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well? Yeah, I thought about that. My role at Hilmot
High School and you know, I aim to develop high
performing elite athletes in the sport of volleyball, and at
times the traditional model doesn't fit, you know, it doesn't
have the flexibility that allows individuals who at a certain
point in their life are getting their development through sport

(06:29):
to really encompass that and a lot of the traditional
modes are forced upon them. I've learned in my work
that it's not a one size fits all policy. It's
a one size fits one And if we can build
a system around the individual learner or performer and allow
them to focus on their strengths and their ambitions, I

(06:52):
think we create an environment where they can grow and
achieve more than them being trapped inside a traditional model.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
But is there a risk attached to this because these
are young kids still? You know, some kids starting year
rely even which is when the school starts, are only
going to be fourteen, and at that point in time
they may not have an idea. Everyone wants to be
the next Messy, the next Dan Carter, whatever it might be.
But is it a risk focusing on that soul track

(07:23):
at that age for these kids?

Speaker 4 (07:26):
Yeah, I think that's a realistic concern. Elliott. I think
and I've met in my experience as people who do
know and some are guided, you know, falsely by their
parents in a way who are trying to live a
dream that they have through their children. So you know,
sometimes are forced into a mode of operating. I think,

(07:50):
you know, and we sort of talk about the fact
that we want people to develop a wide base of
diverse skills when they're younger. I think the key for
this for me is, as with most things, it all
starts at the top. You know, the critit looking critical
ingredient is getting that board, that controlling authority right. And

(08:13):
I understand that's different because the charter school is not
answerable to the ministry. It's answerable to a different group
of people. So getting the makeup of the people inside
that group strong and ensuring that they have systems of
quality control across the border important. So if you get that,

(08:34):
I've never met a competent coach who's interested in the
development of an eighty person that doesn't promote holistic development.
So I'd imagine that, you know, they'd go board and
there'd be certain pit stops at a stage where a
look at are you doing? Is what you're doing right?

(08:54):
For you? Have we got the right scope? And they
asked questions and allow opportunities to pivot.

Speaker 3 (09:00):
A lot of your work has been around leadership relationships,
the mental side of things in sport. How much can
you learn about that in those formative high school years.

Speaker 4 (09:10):
Huge, You know, once you get a mindset, a growth mindset,
an opportunity mindset that you see things, you see, possibilities
are not barriers. And people are expected to have the
mental performance skill sets just because they participate in sport.
Once you understand that, they are a tool that you

(09:32):
can learn and you can refine and you can develop,
just like you do the other skills. You know, we
do know that your skill sets don't work if your
mindset's not right. So why don't we spend time teaching children,
teaching individuals how to manage the emotions that a company
elite sporting environments. So I think it's a wonderful opportunity

(09:55):
to actually structure a program of development in this area
that's mostly left up to chance out there in the
traditional model.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
How would they how would they balance or would you
foresee them balancing? I suppose the focus on sport and
that being the purpose of the school, but also I
guess trying to ground them in society and you know,
learning that the basics that you do need to learn
at high school.

Speaker 4 (10:19):
Otherwise, Yeah, well, I think it's sort of you know,
they're not rivals. You know, education and those developments and
elite sport development don't compete. You know, in the right environment,
they can thrive side by side where you sharpened both
the mind and the body. And i'd imagine if you

(10:41):
have good providers and a good system and that allows
you to bring in good mentors and coaches and people
that have wise eyes as they develop people, that allows
education and elite performance to live side by side and
not in conflict. And you know, some of the best
lessons that people can get in their own personal development

(11:05):
is from sport, you know, dealing with the disappointment, managing
losses of form, dealing with other things that come into
the struggle bucket. And sometimes just normal life doesn't give
you those tests, doesn't stretch you in a way that
forces you to find a way to manage your way

(11:27):
through them.

Speaker 3 (11:28):
What are the kind of things that you can't learn
at school that you've got to learn by doing, by
being in a high performance sport environment, by being out
in society, that maybe a school won't teach you, well.

Speaker 4 (11:40):
I think you know the I understand that this charter
school is dealing with just two sports, I think rugby
and football. So automatically you're into a team environment, so
you're no longer the center of attention. You've got to
you've got to give to other people. You've got to
apply disciplines to the way in once you go about

(12:01):
doing things. So you've got to get up at certain times,
and you've got to commit to training in the dark.
You've got to do things that are not seen by
other people to enable people to achieve the things that
they want to actually achieve. So there's a whole host
of disciplines. I think that sport you can only get

(12:25):
through sport or some other professional activities, and you know,
you know, you need an environment that fosters that and
identifies the skill sets to help you navigate it.

Speaker 3 (12:37):
Gilbert and Oka with us a couple of final questions. Gilbert,
so grateful for your time. What would the ideal students
look like when they graduate high school? This high school?
What would they look like to you?

Speaker 4 (12:49):
I look, the thing I kind of like about where
this thing's headed is that you know, they'll select people
that have ambition and I think that's important. I'd like
to think that a system like this will spit out
an individual that's theoped competencies and capabilities in their chosen

(13:10):
field of endeavor. That they've learned to understand themselves a
bit better, so how they are, how they deal with success,
how they deal with failure, how they deal with disappointment.
I'd like to think that they've developed aspects of their
own character. You know, any pathway to success that doesn't
involve in development of character is always hollowed to me.

(13:33):
And so this particular course in schooling needs to ensure
that that occurs. And then when they come out, they
have some opportunities to advance themselves, not only in sport,
but in other endeavors, because ultimately, sport tests you against
yourself and you find out a lot of things about

(13:54):
who you are, what you want, and where you want
to head. And I'd like to think people will come
out having grown in lots of different areas and being
able to pursue opportunities that they may not have seen beforehand.

Speaker 3 (14:08):
So Gilbert and I guess, in summary, if you're a
parent that's got a young kid that's on the verge
of high school, you think going to that school, I
mean it would be a step in the right direction
for a young kid that's looking to follow a sporting career.

Speaker 4 (14:24):
Look, I think many roads, one destination. You know, this
isn't the part. It's just another part, and it's another
revenue for people to choose as they look to develop
their careers. And it's a legitimate route on the athletes
map to high performance. And so I think it's you know,

(14:46):
if it is a path and it is available to
someone and it fits and this is it's a one
size fits one model again, then why not. You know,
people have just got to be careful that when they
hear the word charter that they don't allow an unconscious
bias of politics to invade what it actually is. You know,

(15:08):
when I hear that, I look at this, I think possibility.
What's the possibility that I see to enhance my skill
sets to enable me to develop myself in a way
that gives me other opportunities as an athlete as I
venture out into the world.

Speaker 3 (15:24):
Indeed, well, Gil, but it's going to be fascinating to
see how the school develops over the coming years and
what kind of students come out of it. Thank you
so much for your time on Newstalk ZB this afternoon.
Appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (15:33):
You're welcome earlier. Thanks very much, Thank.

Speaker 3 (15:36):
You, Gilbert. Gilbert and Oka there who has worked with
any number of high performance sporting environments, the All Blacks,
black Caps, England Crickets, Chelsea Football Club, but also been
a high school teacher and I think offered a really
unique perspective there as to whether this is going to
be a good idea or not. I'm keen for your
views on this. Oh, eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine

(15:56):
two ninety two for a text message parents out there,
would you consider sending your kids to the school term
one twenty six next year year elevens to thirteens. Now,
I'm not sure if they're picking up just year elevens
next year and taking them through the next couple of years.
But if you've got a budding young sports player that

(16:18):
is looking at rugby, looking at football, those are the
two sports they're looking at at the moment. Is this
something as apparent you'd be interested in. I have a
couple of reservations around it, and I guess the proof
will be in the pudding. I don't want us creating
robots essentially that go into sports environments. We know the

(16:41):
pathways now, and kids are plucked out of high school
anyway out of first fifteen. They're targeted and signed by
super rugby teams into their academies or NRAL clubs, and
we're talking the over ball there, and they don't get
any life experience, and that life experience is really hard
to come by. But I think you'd get more life
experience at a regular high school. There may be a

(17:02):
sports focused one oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine
two known two for a text message, Would you send
your kids there? If they're showing some promise as a
as I say, a rugby player or a footballer, is
this something that you might go? Actually, we're going to
leave the school at ar ten and head to this
charter sports school. Ian's called an Afternoonan.

Speaker 5 (17:27):
Afternoon Earliot, how are you doing today?

Speaker 3 (17:29):
I'm great? How are you good?

Speaker 5 (17:31):
Thanks? I'm just on this charter school thing. I mean,
I'm actually all for it. I think that's a great idea,
but I'm just saying that you're producer. I think this
is going to go down the college system of the
United States. You know, how they have to have student
academic standards to actually play their sport. And I think

(17:54):
if this is to be excess or to come to
fruition for these students, they have to do that.

Speaker 3 (18:06):
I think you're right that we can't have just the
focus on sport being the be all and end, or
there has to be some academic side to it that
they can guess focus on their sport, but they've still
got to do the basics that are going to ground
them in life. If sport doesn't work out for.

Speaker 5 (18:23):
Them, well that's that's the whole deal I'm giving it.
It's just the whole college system. And well you know
as well as I do, what that's all about. If
you don't make it in your academic studies, your sporting
career basically comes to an end.

Speaker 3 (18:43):
That's right, and you'd hope that they give you them
the grounding. I think it ultimately it's a good thing
to set these kids up in a sporting career. But
as you and I know, and you know, a fraction
of the kids that play first fifteen at school actually
go on and play super rugby or first eleven football,
go on and actually play football to a level that
they can get paid for it.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
That's true, and all good, you know, and all good
luck to them when I'm that, and I hope this
thing really really does work out. I think it's a
great concept, but the annoyed, humble opinion, the academic side
has to come through as well. In fact, I think
it has to shine more.

Speaker 3 (19:24):
What should be a perhaps a reward. You know you'll hear,
but you know this is part of it. That we
expect high expectations and because you're here, we're going to
we need you to. I guess both sides. Be strong academically,
but be strong sporting as well.

Speaker 4 (19:40):
Well.

Speaker 5 (19:40):
Of course you don't. You just sit the nail on
the head before If by chance, as you just said,
there might be one and a hundred kids, be it netballers,
hockey players, or whatever the case may be, maybe one
out of one hundred will make it that elite level.
If that, and I'm only guessing those stats. And this

(20:04):
is why the academic side comes back to it, because
by a chance, you don't get to that elite level
of the sport that you're actually going for, you've got
something to fall back on.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
I think that's really importantly, and as well that they
do have something to fall back on. You'd hate for
a promising kid to come out of the school and
then they do a serious leg injury, whatever it might be,
are told that they can't play again. You know, we've
all heard stories of players that could have been anything,
but then they get cut down by an injury and

(20:39):
they've just spent three years in a sporting environment that
is all they know. Is that going to set them
up to change the path of their life? O eight
one hundred and eighty ten eighty nine nine two for
a text message. An interesting point of view there from Ian.
Let's go to bell evening after afternoon Bill, you got

(20:59):
a look.

Speaker 6 (21:00):
I'm just in two minds about only turned on a
few months ago about this academy because it'll be it'll
be very good. And I used to be involved in
primary school cricket and rugby and that years ago very
good for catching those kids twelve a sitting or fourteen

(21:20):
who go nowhere when they leave primary school where the
clubs really look after, especially in Willington, these primary school kids. Now,
I've had so many guys that I thought would be
future All Blacks or whatever drift away because they didn't
go to the big schools, you know, you know, the

(21:42):
big single tech schools, et cetera. They may have gone
to the co edes where sport isn't sort of predominant,
and it's very good for them, But what does he
get academy going to do is going to sort of
pillage the big schools for their players' house silver Stream
and Wellington College that are going to get on and

(22:03):
their things. Are their most promising players going to be
taken away to academies at fifteen or sixteen or whatever
you know age it is, and what damage it will do. Also,
the system of just concentrating on the sport that is,
et cetera, will not give a kid the balance they
would get at you know, one of the old traditional schools,

(22:26):
et cetera, that not just academical sport but other things,
et cetera, self discipline, all those sorts of things and
so on. So I'm actually in two minds at the moment.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
Yeah, I think it's a good point, Bill, because being
amongst peers at high school where yes, one kid's interested
in sport and sees that as a career, but another
one might be wanted to be an astrophysicist or another
one's going to be an accountant or an economics economists,
and you rub off on each other. You learn about
different people at that stage of your life and while

(22:58):
you're still developing, rather than being on that full sport mindset.

Speaker 6 (23:02):
Yeah, that's right. Well, look when I was at boarding
school years ago, etc. That you could get you could
have rugby practice three or four times a day because
you had three hundred boarders in the boarding house and
so on. And you know, first fifteen, second fifteens were
always playing themselves, you know, things to do, and they
had that advantage over non boarding schools. That's why so

(23:25):
many schools around the country, state schools have opened hostels
in recent years to get those kids who used to
go to the you know, the big old schools. But
I think that that balance is just so important, you know,
if mixing and talking with others outside of a group
of elite athletes. So I'm I'm a bit concerned at
the moment, but you know, let's give it a chance

(23:47):
to bose and sort of see what happens. But you know,
I was involved in rugby for a long time, you know,
and directing it all sorts of things. When I was
with the NSIBC years ago, so I'm sort of worried about.
And in Willington we get absolutely no publicity on love rugby.
In school rugby, what we read on our morning paper

(24:10):
comes from Hamilton or Auckland and it's shopping. But and
that is what rugby is suffering.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Yeah, it needs that, it needs that presence. Yeah, Bill,
I appreciate that that point of view. Look, I think
you make some interesting points on both sides, and as
you said, you're on the fence about it and maybe
worthy of a shot at this point. Oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty nine two nine two from Bill'
subminiging for a text. Asmonaging pointed, some view there from
Bill and Ian around it. This New Zealand Performance Academy

(24:42):
ALTUT as it's called. We're based at the NCCIS and
I was looking around the website to see what an
ideal day was and they've got a timetable which I
thought was interesting. So on Monday they start with a CUTAKA,
then it's maths and business, then it's a break, then
it's a double period of sport and study. Then it's lunch,
then it's health and pe and it's another break, then

(25:03):
it's science to finish. That's a sample schedule, but you
do you do the maths, you do English, you do business,
you do science. You obviously do a lot of sport
and study. So there is a balance there of trying
to do other subjects and obviously charter schools you've still
got to do the basics. You've still got to do,
you know, the subjects that are going to give you

(25:26):
a grounding in various fields and get that university entrance. Well,
I just think think is still in play. Apparent's about
a correct methods. If it's not, you still have to
do that. But there is a heavy obviously as you'd expect,
sport balance oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine two
nine two for a text message. We're also going to
get secondary school Sport New Zealand their perspective on this
before the hour is out. But there's a lot of

(25:47):
texts I want to get to after the rack nine
two nine two oh eight hundred eighty ten eighteen ch
talking charter secondary school sports here on news Talk ZB
where it is twenty eight away from.

Speaker 1 (25:57):
One the big issues on and after fields call oh
eight hundred eighty ten eighty with GJ. Gunnos, New Zealand's
most Sodo Milder News Talk ZB.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
It's twenty five away from one on news Talks z'd
be talking charter schools with the emergence of this new
school in Wellington at the New Zealand Campus of Institute
Campus of Innovation in Sport year elevens to thirteen's opening
term one next year is this is a good move
for our youngsters that want to take a look at
sport in the future. Play sport down the track load

(26:29):
of texts on nine two nine two Bretts with Brett
with an interesting point. Should we be using the term
high performance sport at high school? That is a very
good point, Very good point, Brett. It's an interesting one
because by year eleven, maybe you know that you do
want to focus on that high performance sport. Every first

(26:53):
fifteen program in the country probably considers themselves a high
performance sports system. Mazz with this. I could only have
wished for something like this when I was at school.
School didn't agree with me at all, but if it
wasn't for my pe teacher, I probably would have ended
up in jail. I'm excited for what this could do.
Muzz think he mus that there are a load of texts.
We'll get to more of them in a moment or so,

(27:14):
let's say, afternoon too Phil.

Speaker 7 (27:16):
How are you not too bad?

Speaker 8 (27:18):
Thinks?

Speaker 3 (27:18):
How are you good? Thank you?

Speaker 9 (27:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (27:22):
I like the sound of it.

Speaker 11 (27:23):
I think it's going to be a great thing. I
was really interested with the interview with the fella and okus, sorry,
I'm just outside those made our car and traffic gard boy. Yeah.
He he sounds like he's all for it. And if
he's all for it, then he's pretty he's pretty on
the money. So exed to listen to. But I was

(27:46):
my one because my one can sort of concern was
that the academic side of things, that that gets dropped.
But sounds like they're still going to be focusing on
your learning, you know, with math and science and your
academic side of it. So I think it'll be a
brilliant thing, you know, for furthering someone's career, if they

(28:06):
for putting them there and seeing if they want to
go down that way or giving them the opportunity.

Speaker 3 (28:11):
Well, I think it's it's it's probably not going to
be for everyone, is it. Filled It's not going to
be for a certain type of student, but then it
might suit you know, a youngster that is you know,
definitely wants to be on that course and knows by
year eleven that that's the life that they want to
try and follow. But it also gives them that grounding
that they can fall back on if things go awry

(28:31):
and they're not up to the standard of being a
professional sportsperson.

Speaker 11 (28:36):
Yes, yeah, I think so, And I think that's the
brilliance of it because that's going to give that person
that opportunity. And like you said, no one's going to
be forced into it. You know that you're going to
have to do it and have to go and you like,
I'm not sure how it all works. But if you
do it and after a couple of years where you

(28:56):
go for you you're there for a couple of years
and you decide that no, it's not what I want
to do, or I'm not focused enough, or I know
I'm not going to make it, then you can, you know,
you can give it up and move on and further
on with your life and pursue what you want to do.
But the main thing is that it's going to give

(29:16):
someone that chance to become I think, you know, develop
into a professional sportsman in whatever field, if they do
more than rugby, and at this stage it's just a couple,
but if they do more, you know it's going to
be a great aid and further in the person's progress.

Speaker 3 (29:35):
Absolutely. For Yeah, I think you raised some really good points.
They're nice to chat with you this afternoon. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty nine, two ninety two for
a text message. And as I said, there are loads
and I'm just trying to find one that I wanted
to ask read out before. It was from Janus. It
was asking when do the Phoenix Academies sort of start?
And that's around a similar age. And this school seems

(29:57):
born out of what they're seeing at the Phoenix Academy
which is on the same site, or you know, through
the same people that are working there with the Wellington
Phoenix and go on, can we develop this into a
charter school? So they're seeing the value in it and
seeing that this would be more valuable if they can
get their hands on these kids and utilize them for

(30:17):
more hours in a day while still giving them their
academic background they need that they believe there is some
life in it. Cameron. With this we don't need the school.
We've already got King's College and Saint Kent's hoovering up
all the kids on scholarships. Brands as well says, why
are were blowing out first of thin kids at a
lot of these top rugby schools never to be seen again.

(30:39):
That would be a worry for me, and I guess
it happens at your usual high schools as well. Is
that often these kids are built up and egos are
created around them through the school yard or whatever it
might be. Or they've become the talk of the first
fifteen competition and the ego becomes very, very high, and

(31:00):
then all of a sudden they stopped developing. And how
do they adjust to life outside of high school once
have been in a sport immersive environment. Brett says, shouldn't
success of our sports kids be measured by how many
are going to the services, trades and university? Stephen says, hi,

(31:23):
I think this charter school has some potential. I can
see the choice of football and rugby as for sustainability.
I do wonder what competitions they'll play and to both
develop both the code and academics. I hope to see
what other sports will take up. I can see the
individual sports like tennis or swimming could see some strengths
rolling as a second hub two, but other team sports
like hockey might have some problems. Yeah, I think it's

(31:46):
going to be interesting to see how they develop and
how long they give rugby and football, and if they
are able to attract kids to enroll in the school,
and whether they decide to go with those individual sports,
whether they can go. We're gonna have a cricket academy here,
whether it's at the Lincoln in christ Church potentially or

(32:08):
wherever it might be rolling could be it Lake Cutapedo.
Maybe this could change the face of how we approach
sport in New Zealand. We've talked a bit about pathways
and various things around rugby in the past. This may
become the new gold standard, but I think there's a
lot of water to go under the bridge as yet.

(32:29):
Carol says this this is an interesting text. Will this
only be for families with money? If it looks for
if it looks at children from families of low socio families,
I would be for it, Carol. Interestingly, I was looking
around again to get the full story around this. There
is no cost to attend this school, which I found

(32:50):
very interesting. However, specialist training or services like personalized coaching,
external certifications, or advanced sport programs may occur in additional
costs that would be discussed and sheeduled individually with each
student based on the goals in it. So it would
not have a cost, and I'm sure they're going to
bring fence the number of people that can apply for it.

(33:11):
It's not going to be open slather. There will be
some rules, I'm sure around it, and I don't know
exactly how that will work when it comes to charter schools,
but there wouldn't be a cost, so in a similar
way to I'm sure public high schools, there'd be the
donation that they ask for or similar things that is

(33:34):
tagged as non compulsory. But on the surface of it,
there's no cost to attend this school at nzcis Sports
Charter School. See is one need to lead lessons from
premiership academies. Only zero point one percent of a premiership
academy entrance make it to the premiership and there is
a huge mental health impact as students drop out. That

(33:55):
is one thing I would be worried about is the
mental health side that just because you are enrolled at
that school which is focused on sport at year eleven,
does not mean you will be a professional sports person
at the age of twenty, at the age of twenty five,
at the age of thirty, and how do you adjust
to life outside of it? That would be the question

(34:17):
I would have to ask of these sort of schools.
How do we set up the kids that don't succeed,
that aren't going to be professional people that may have
looked the goods at year eleven, but by the year
of end of year thirteen, perhaps they haven't kicked on.
How do we look after those kids? Oh, eight hundred
and eighty teen eighty nine two nine two for a
text message, I still got time tour for a call

(34:37):
or two before at one o'clock. We are going to
get the school sports perspective as well. Before one o'clock
seventeen away from one News Talk z MB one.

Speaker 1 (34:47):
Grudge hold n Gauge Weekend Sports with GJ. Gugnomes New Zealand's.

Speaker 3 (34:53):
Most trusted No Mill Learn News Talks EBB where it
is thirteen away from one o'clock. Wanted to get the perspective,
perhaps that the other schools or the let's say the
incumbent View School Sports CEO for New Zealanders, Mike Summerule. Mike,
great to have you on the program this afternoon. What
was your initial reaction when you heard the news.

Speaker 12 (35:14):
Look, it's come of a bit of a surprise. Obviously
outside of what's been reported in the media, we don't
have any information or detail about the school or their
desire to become a member of school Sport in New Zealand.
So it's I think we need to have a bit
of a chat with David Dome, and we've reached out
to the Phoenix to get a better understanding of the

(35:34):
intent or otherwise to participate in our events. So until
we really have that chat, there's not much to speculate on.

Speaker 3 (35:42):
Do you think it's a positive for kids around the country.

Speaker 12 (35:47):
Look, charter schools certainly have a lot of flexibility and
autonomy and how they structure their curriculum. They can offer
different school hours, specific focuses and so on, and that
can benefit a group of students who might be underachieving
or disengaged, or I might have a very clear pathway
that they want to follow, and in this case sport.

(36:08):
So you know, for those year eleven students who have
serious ambitions to become a professional athlete, then this environment
could certainly support that.

Speaker 3 (36:17):
Do you expect it will fit into your national calendar
of secondary school sports events?

Speaker 4 (36:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 12 (36:25):
Look, charter schools by definition can become a member of
school Sport New Zealand.

Speaker 4 (36:30):
What they need to adhere to is.

Speaker 12 (36:32):
The same of every school in New Zealand, so we
need to have a chat with them to understand curriculum load,
attendance requirements etc. And like I said, until we have
that chat, it's probably not right to speculate on what
that might mean.

Speaker 3 (36:47):
Have you had charter schools, charter schools around the country
part of it currently?

Speaker 12 (36:53):
Yes, Saint Stephen's sorry Tiffany, are a member have year
nine students currently enrolled, so they probably don't have the
mass to participate on a national level right now, but
you know that we want to work with all schools
that can meet that criteria to become a member and
get all those incredible opportunities that exists through the calendar.

Speaker 3 (37:16):
How do you expect schools might react? Is it just
another school to you know, the other schools? Is it
just another one that adds to the books or is
this going to be something outside the box.

Speaker 12 (37:26):
I look, there's certainly a lot of interest. We've been
fielding a lot of questions from member schools and Principles,
et cetera. We just need detail. I think it's a
great opportunity for those kids, But obviously we know that
the flip side of all the great things that can
come with that specialization pieces, especially when you're talking about

(37:47):
sport and professional athletes, it's the one and two percent
that actually ever go on and make a career out
of those things. So I would hope that the focus
right now for that charter school is around the educational component,
you know, developing what it looks like for the ninety
odd percent of those that might not actually get a

(38:07):
professional contract out of all of this, and make sure
they come out with the qualifications and the attributes they
need to be a functioning citizen.

Speaker 3 (38:15):
What are the kind of questions that Principles are already
asking you, Mike, Oh.

Speaker 12 (38:20):
Just really general, what do you know about it? You know,
that's really outside of what's been reported in the media
that there really isn't much information to go on. So
I think that there's always a risk or a thought
that some schools might feel that are going to lose
their talented athletes that they've been developing. But until we

(38:43):
really understand what the intent of the new sports charter
school is going to be, there's no.

Speaker 4 (38:50):
Points in speculating around what it might look like.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
Well, it's going to be a fascinating see how this
develops with it starting two one next year. It's a
quick turner around. Mike, thank you very much for joining
us on news talk zeb Appreciate it. Pleasure Mike. Some
are there joining us on news talk ZIB school sports
CEO plenty of text in on nine two ninety two.
Once here is we're applying. At the moment we live
in Auckland, Sun is fourteen. The boarding school part costs

(39:15):
about five hundred dollars per week. Will be very interesting
to see what the Phoenix part will cost. And yeah,
you know it's free. So I suppose you're a border
you obviously pay the wage for the hostel, the fee
for the hostel, etcetera. So good luck with your application.
I'm interested to see how it's all unfolds. Roscoe with us. Hey, mate,
when I did sports like I realized that there are

(39:37):
two different models, a youth model and a professional model.
Youth model is for fun, goal setting, etcetera, essentially life skills.
Professional model is much more serious, money, sponsorship, et cetera involved.
We hope those lessons as well around sponsorship around being
a professional athlete are put in place at these schools.

(39:58):
Roscoe also adds a question is what does success mean?
And what is the whole curriculum that appears undefined to me?
What does success look like for the athletes? How do
you go you are a successful person leaving this, graduating
at the end of year thirteen? What does that look
like as you move in? Is it getting a contract?
Is it being the best grades across the levels at

(40:22):
academic as well as having a sporting background. That to
me feels a little unclear. At this point seven and
a half away from one, we'll take a break, come back,
wrap up the hour with a few more texts.

Speaker 9 (40:31):
After this.

Speaker 1 (40:34):
The scoop from the track fields and the court on
your home of court weekends for it.

Speaker 9 (40:39):
You talk me.

Speaker 3 (40:41):
A load of texts on this and mop up a
few after one o'clock. Lind says this. Academics don't forgets
about teaching a trade. Fair point lind Yes, that could
be another avenue that these students go down look at trades.
For these school it is a better fallback than a
degree for some learners, or might get to a few more.
After one o'clock, as I say, after one, we're going

(41:03):
to talk to the NPC Final. Niney Poonavi and Jay
Broomfield are going to join us wings for Canterbury and
Otago respectively. In fact, I think they are marking each
other this afternoon in the final four oh five in
christ Church. Will take a look at the NPC Final
after one o'clock and our Australian correspondent Adam Peacock is

(41:24):
going to join us as well. Big day for Australia.
Cox Plate time. Adam Peacock's excited about that, will chat
with him about that's after one o'clock here on News
Talk zb but News Sports and where they're coming up
very shortly.

Speaker 1 (41:39):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after field.

Speaker 9 (41:44):
It's all on.

Speaker 1 (41:45):
Weekend Sport on your home report News Talk Zimbing.

Speaker 3 (41:51):
Welcome to en Weekend Sports Elliott Smith and for Jason Pine.
This weekend we'll talk the NPC Final very shortly on
the program. We'll head into both camps. Canterbury the home team,
Naney Putavi to join us. They've had an interesting old season,
just the one game lost and that was of course
to Otago. They lost the Renfilly Shield in doing so.

(42:14):
Nney Pinterviable will join us. Then we'll go into the
Otago camp the visitors. Jay Broomfield is going to join
the program. He's on the wing for Otago this afternoon.
Scored a try I think, and that shield challenge a
few weeks back. What's been the key to getting them
in the final. They'll join us as well. Adam Peacock
out of Australia before the hour is out as well.

(42:36):
Did want to close the loop though. On the charter
school discussion. We were having last plenty of text messages
that I found really interesting. Look at the Stephen Adams story,
says one. If he hadn't been lucky enough to have
been sent to a very good private school by a
lady who sponsored him, he would never be where he
is today. Another says there are already lots of schools
that have a focus and their academies all sorts of sports, sailing, golf, rowing,

(42:59):
et cetera. Nothing new That's a good point that there
are always sports that focus on their first fifteen rugby
or a known as football school or not as a
rowing school. This, I guess just streamlines it a little bit.
Where to wear sport is the number one focus more
high you can see what the Phoenix are doing here.
They already run their academy for players at Phraser Park.

(43:21):
Now they want to get government money to continue doing
what they do now, but calling it a charter school
and another interesting text, there is presently a clash in
time between the Phoenix Academy and school power struggle for
who kids play for. With kids on restrictive minutes for
their school teams, this charter school will pull kids away
from Maine single sex schools, so the Phoenix Academy doesn't

(43:43):
need to compete with schools. That's an interesting point of
view and last text on this matter. Maybe it's good
for the sort of kids that were good at sports
but only returning to year thirteen because of rugby and
not through anything else. Fascinating topic. I for one am
really interested to see how the school goes in Wellington

(44:07):
and whether it is a long term proposition and whether
they do diversify into other sports and what kind of
enrollment they get tacking up. It's going to intrigue this decision.
I'm sure we won text to last hour, so they
are they are enrolling now or considering enrolling doing the
boarding program since it was announced earlier in the week.
I'm sure that it's a conversation being had by a

(44:27):
number of kids and their parents around the country. Richard
with the final word that I did say I had
last text the final we'd go, so Richard, I bet
those teachers won't strike. Thank you, Richard. Ten after one
on news Talk ZBB, We're counting down to the NPC
final live commentary on Gold Sports with our team. Nick
Beuley are captaining our commentary team this say afternoon alongside

(44:50):
former All Black Matt Todd, who is alongside Craig Kerr
running sideline. Will chat with Nick Buley next hour on
the program. But first and foremostly it's headed into Cannabury
Camp here on news Talk ZEBB, and.

Speaker 13 (45:02):
It's a one turnover Canterbury back with decision or Gardener
had not there's other short side left. Couldn't get the
offload free but here comes Jabe Hennah up over halfway,
gets to pass three to put a bye.

Speaker 9 (45:13):
He's over the ten, he's over the twenty two. He
will not be stocks.

Speaker 13 (45:18):
Canterbury's got the first try the day and it's ninety.
Put him by who runs the beast part of forty
mins at touch.

Speaker 3 (45:26):
And he is the man that is joining us now
on News Talk ZIB Naney Poonavie, thanks for your time
this afternoon here on News Talk ZBB.

Speaker 8 (45:34):
Yeah, no, thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (45:36):
The big dance ninety counting down to that again, otago
the Southern rivalry. How excited are you for the final
this afternoon?

Speaker 14 (45:44):
Yeah, you know here 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 3 (45:52):
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 14 (46:03):
We've put it 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're on the field, we're good
mates and we're willing to work hard for each other.

Speaker 3 (46:20):
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
man up mentality? How quickly is the team? Do you
welcome in Brian McAllister Hooker and the other changes that
you've made.

Speaker 14 (46:35):
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 3 (46:55):
There have been some tough games along the way. A
couple of weeks ago, Counties Monaco pushed you right to
the limit into extra time, the Otago game where you
lost the shield as well. How have you dealt with
the challenge and the adversity that's been throwing your way.

Speaker 14 (47:10):
Yeah, I think you know, each week we've we've learned
a lot about ourselves and and about who we are
as a team, and yeah, I think those those challenges,
as you say, have set us up nicely for for
whatever's going to come on this Saturday. So you know,
we feel that we're well prepared and we're really ready
take it on.

Speaker 3 (47:29):
What are your expectations throw a Tigo in this afternoon's final.

Speaker 14 (47:33):
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 they got the chocolates, So you know we're
expecting a really good battle and that they definitely won't
give it to us very easily.

Speaker 8 (47:49):
So you know we're up for that.

Speaker 14 (47:51):
We've been prepared all week and you know we're just
excited to get out there and play in front of
our fans.

Speaker 3 (47:58):
Do you consider it maybe a little bit of revenge
for what happened with the Ranfilly Shield going their way
a few weeks back when they played last.

Speaker 8 (48:06):
Well, you know, I'd be lying if it wasn't sitting
in the back of my mind.

Speaker 14 (48:11):
You know, definitely want to repay them, I guess, But
you know, we've just really focused 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 3 (48:22):
Were there any lessons 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 14 (48:38):
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

(48:59):
can't die either.

Speaker 3 (49:00):
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 end. Do you think it's
a good preparation that if today does come down to
an extra time scenario that you've been there before in
recent games.

Speaker 14 (49:13):
Yeah, I think we've 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, you know,
we're feeling really good with fresh and ready this week,
so if that's what it takes, then we're willing to
go there.

Speaker 3 (49:27):
Well, I sold that crowd. As you mentioned this afternoon,
it's the last time as well Canterbury will play at
Apollo Projects Stadium. How much does that mean to you
and the team that you're getting this sort of send
off this afternoon.

Speaker 14 (49:38):
Yeah, it's obviously, you know, something that we spoke about
at the start of the season with us been the
last ken every season at Apollo and you know, it's
been very special, and yeah, I think it's pretty cool
that we can play one one more game there and
hopefully it's a full house and it's going to be

(49:59):
a very special occasion to send off the stadium.

Speaker 3 (50:01):
Canterbury wing Nandi Punavia with US on News Talk zib Naney.
I was looking at the stats a little bit. I
think you debuted in twenty seventeen in 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 14 (50:23):
Yeah, yeah, No, 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 group was
very special and I think if anything, I was just
not taking it for granted, you know, like finals, don't

(50:46):
get to be in a final that often. So it's
just been enjoying every moment this week and enjoying what
said today Wilbreen.

Speaker 3 (50:54):
What did to touch on Tom Christy 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 cantor.

Speaker 8 (51:07):
Yeah, Tom's massive.

Speaker 14 (51:08):
He's you know, obviously with losing Cohen Grace earlier in
the season, Tom's just stepped into that cpancy role and
he's taken it in a stride and he just leaves
by example when it's easy to follow.

Speaker 7 (51:20):
Him.

Speaker 8 (51:20):
All the boys love playing alongside him because you just.

Speaker 14 (51:23):
Know what you're going to get from him, and he's
he's going to go and give everything for us. So
hopefully we can send him off in style in the
way that he deserves.

Speaker 3 (51:32):
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 14 (51:38):
Yeah, I think you know, you always want to no
matter what the game is, you want to have a
good start 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 3 (51:54):
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 in the week,
what was the reasoning behind that and what did you
get out of it?

Speaker 8 (52:11):
Yeah?

Speaker 14 (52:11):
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 Kennary games there, so it was was
pretty special to hear those sort of stories, and it
was more about just you know, connecting as a as

(52:33):
a team and knowing you know what Apollo actually.

Speaker 8 (52:37):
Has sort of stood in for.

Speaker 14 (52:40):
You know, Lancaster Park was a huge place and massive
part of Kennbury rugby and Crusaders rugby. So but then
acknowledging what the significance of a POLO standing in as
a sort of a long term makeshift stadium and just
recognizing the you know what it's done for our community,

(53:02):
especially through those those first couple of years of the earthquakes.

Speaker 3 (53:05):
Do you have any of going along to that ground
as a youngster, Nai pre earthquakes?

Speaker 14 (53:10):
Yeah, yeah, I remember going to a couple of games
and yeah, 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 little kid watching
Canterbury go to work and score tries and win games,
and yeah, it.

Speaker 8 (53:29):
Was pretty special.

Speaker 3 (53:30):
It's gonna be a doozy of the final. Nanni, thanks
so much of your time on News Talk ZEBB and
best luck as you try to send a Pollo Project
stadium off with a bang this afternoon. Thanks to your
time on news Talk ZB.

Speaker 8 (53:41):
Appreciate it awesome, Thank you very much shoving me chairs.

Speaker 3 (53:44):
Thank you Nanni for your time. On news Talk ZEB
Canterbury Wing Nanny put Avice, we count down to this
afternoon's NPC final. That was the Canterbury perspective on how
they hope it might unfold this afternoon. O Targa fans
stand by. After the break we go into the camp
of the Blue and Gold Jay Broomfield to join us
here on news Talk ZB where it is coming up

(54:05):
twenty after one. This weekend is going to be epic.
Our guy Joseph Parker is fighting Farbigo Wardley at school.
All going down tomorrow morning, Sunday morning, October twenty six.
Catch all the action live only on Dezonne, the global
home of boxing. If you're not up to speed, here
is the run down. Park of the WBO Interim Heavyweight
Champion has destroyed the competition. Mccoley, Zang and Wilder. Now Wardley,

(54:29):
who's the WBA Interim Heavyweight Champion and British knockout Powerhouse,
stands in his way. Only one will earn a spot
at shot rather at tacking on Alexander Usik for the
world heavyweight undisputed glory. There's nothing bigger, It's all nothing
for our Here we said, come on New Zealand, let's
get behind our champion. This Sunday, October twenty six, Joseph
Parker versus Farbigo Wardley. Make sure you don't miss the action.

(54:51):
Watch it live only on dezone dot com. That's da
zend dot com. Download the Apple Watch on your TV,
smartphone or gaming console. Daz end dot com. Download the
Apple Watch on your TV, smartphone or gaming console.

Speaker 1 (55:06):
You be the TMO. Have your say on eight hundred
and eighty eighty weekends for with which GJ gunns New
Zealand's lost trusted home builder News Talk ZENB fifteen.

Speaker 13 (55:17):
For the right wing, Chuch and Iago work it back
open side left through their replacement prop lopezh. He's brought
down right in front of the posts. They work it
back to the right. They've got numbers here. Otager just
got to get it to the Wager.

Speaker 9 (55:27):
Oh that is a spectacular pass. And I believe it's
Jay Broomfield.

Speaker 3 (55:32):
And that's the man that we're about to talk to
here on news Talk ZMB. We got the Canterbury side
of things before the break and the man who'll actually
be marking up against him this afternoon. Jay Broomfield for
Otago joins the program. Now, Jay, thanks for your time
house things as you build up to the big dance
this weekend this afternoon.

Speaker 15 (55:51):
Yeah, no, it's all good. Five around. The group's are
real good today, so pretty exciting times.

Speaker 7 (55:56):
I bet.

Speaker 3 (55:56):
How excited are you for this opportunity the final Eiggins
Canterbury this afternoon.

Speaker 16 (56:01):
I mean, finals like this don't come right often, so
it's pretty exciting for the boys.

Speaker 15 (56:05):
Just to be here and you have to experience this environment.

Speaker 3 (56:08):
Yeah, and this is the first time that Italia has
been at a top final since two thousand and five.
Have you talked about the history as a team this
week and your chance to do something special?

Speaker 7 (56:18):
Yeah, yeah, a.

Speaker 16 (56:19):
Little bit obviously touching on it because it's been a while,
but for us it's again it's just another week, another
chance for us to get better as a team and
at the end of the day, it's just another game
of footy on that Saturday.

Speaker 3 (56:29):
What's been behind your success this season? How have you
managed to build through the campaign? From the outside looking in,
it feels like you've gained some confidence every week as
you've gone on. But internally, how do you think you've
built as a team this season.

Speaker 16 (56:42):
I think a massive one for us to see, and
there has been that connection piece coming in. I was
obviously a new person coming into the team, but as
straight away it felt like I was welcome.

Speaker 15 (56:51):
With open arms.

Speaker 16 (56:51):
And then having this new group of coaching with Brownie
and Bamas and Scottie all coming in and just adding
their own little piece of knowledge and piece of expertise.
I think it's really brought us together quite well as
in group.

Speaker 3 (57:02):
Jay, take us through your path to playing for Otago
this season, because I think you're a Hamilton boy initially
and you've been playing club rugby and christ Church until
a few months ago. So how did you end up
in Otango this season?

Speaker 16 (57:15):
Yeah, so went to school up in St Paul's and Hamilton.
After school, went down to the Crusades Academy down in
christ Church the last couple of years, and then yeah,
I had a conversation with Brownie earlier this season about
potentially being able to come down here and get an
opportunity here. So yeah, jumped at the opportunity to come
down and it's worked out pretty well so fast so
I'm pretty stoked, to be honest.

Speaker 3 (57:36):
Just playing Canterbury in the final of this afternoon make
it a little bit more special given you've spent a
fair bit of time there now.

Speaker 4 (57:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 16 (57:42):
Yeah, I mean obviously got a few few mates and
around the team, But for us it's obviously just another
game and another opportunity to go out there and do
our people proud.

Speaker 3 (57:51):
What did you as a team learn from the Shield
Challenge a few weeks ago where you took the log
the wood and beat canterbrou on that afternoon. What did
you learn about yourselves that day?

Speaker 15 (57:59):
I think obviously that first aft for us is pretty tough.

Speaker 16 (58:02):
Probably struggled a little bit to get into the game,
so come into this game, it's just sort of stacking
those little moments or to lead to a bitter successful team.

Speaker 3 (58:10):
Would you describe that Rainfilly Shield Challenge as a turning point?
You've had a very good season of course to that point,
but did it elevate in terms of what the side
could do as you head into the final few weeks
of the season.

Speaker 16 (58:21):
Yeah, I think obviously it gave us a lot of
belief and not in ourselves, but in our game plan.

Speaker 15 (58:25):
That if we can speak to that sort of stuff
that can work.

Speaker 16 (58:28):
So yeah, for us, obviously it was a massive turning point,
but it's just building on week on week and keep
stacking those little moments that'll hopefully lead to our success.

Speaker 15 (58:36):
Success as some stay.

Speaker 3 (58:38):
I just want to ask you about the back line
and obviously you're part of that. Dylan pledged your cam Miller,
that combination you've got going at nine and ten, and
how that's developed over the course of the season. What
have you learned off those two players and noticed about
the way that they've built that crucial nine ten axis
over the campaign.

Speaker 16 (58:54):
I think for both of them obviously really talented footy
players themselves, but the connection they've had to be able
to start working off them and it's almost like you've
built that build that connection about knowing where they're going
to be on the field and obviously Pleasure his ability
around the rucks and his ability with those box kecks
fast as outside backs has been unreal and put us
in good positions on the field.

Speaker 3 (59:14):
Giving you one in Christ won the shield. There does
heading back to Canterbury hold any fears further sign you
know you've already done it so far this season, Do
you feel like you can go and do it again?

Speaker 16 (59:24):
Yeah, I mean, obviously the belief in this group is unreal,
Like we've always had that belief in the matter where
we are, who we're playing, that we've got the ability
and the game plan to get the job done. So
for us, again, it's just just another game on Saturday.
If we can do do our things right then it
will hopefully set us up well to succeed.

Speaker 3 (59:39):
What are those keys that you need to get right
against Canterbury this afternoon?

Speaker 16 (59:43):
For us, just playing the right ends of the field,
not trying to overplay our hand, especially with the team
like Cannery, they're so good when they get in that
twenty two areas. So for us year, just playing on
the right ends of the field and making sure that
we're looking after our own ball.

Speaker 3 (59:55):
Jay Broomfield, Otago wing with us on news talks, you'd
be what would it mean to you to win the NPC.

Speaker 15 (01:00:01):
Oh, it'd be massive. I mean this is my first
year in the team.

Speaker 16 (01:00:05):
We're also fairst year at this level and there's not
many people that get the opportunity to win.

Speaker 15 (01:00:10):
Win a final, So for us it's just yeah, it's massive.

Speaker 16 (01:00:13):
It's a little bit nervous, but again just excited for
the opportunity because it doesn't come around that often.

Speaker 3 (01:00:18):
And what do you see is Canterbury strengths for the
final this afternoon.

Speaker 16 (01:00:21):
Yeah, obviously they're pretty structured in the way they play
their foot, they know their identity, they've got a strong pack.
But again, back for us, it's just making sure that
we do our things right and making sure that we
stick to our game plan that will hopefully leave for
our success.

Speaker 3 (01:00:34):
I'm sure you've been obviously around and needing this week
with Scott round. It's to sold out crowd and christ
I'm guessing there's going to be a fair few locals
are heading up to follow you and watch the final,
so you'll have some support in the stands. I've got
no doubt about that. That must be pretty special.

Speaker 16 (01:00:48):
Yeah, I mean, obviously that last couple of weeks we've
had some one real support and they've been that sixteenth
man on the field for us. So again hopefully this
week we can get a good number of those supporters
out and be able to hear them in the stands
because they've been getting us over the line the last
few weeks, so hopefully we can get that again.

Speaker 3 (01:01:02):
Good man, Jay, appreciate your time with us here on
news talks. It'd be good luck this afternoon go well.
Thank you, Thank you Jay Brimfield, Otago. When joining us
so on news talk, zib I got some time for
a few of your calls or texts. Who have you
got in this afternoon's final Canterbury or Otago? Who wins?
And y oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty ninety two

(01:01:25):
ninety two for a tis message Otago fans, what chance
have you got of heading up to Canterbury and upsetting
the fearwell to Apollo Project Stadium. And I don't think
there's so many locals that'll be sad to see the
back of it. But what chance do you give yourself
of going up this afternoon? Because I think i've I
think Otago been the form team in the closing weeks

(01:01:46):
of the competition. They don't have the home advantage necessarily,
but the way that they're played in the last couple
of weeks, the close round quarter final against Waikatso but
I thought they were very, very effective last week at
Dismantling Bay of Plenty and a game that I thought
was going to be a toss up game Otago just
blow away Bay of plenty? Who wins and why this afternoon?

(01:02:10):
And neutral fans, if you're not from Otago or Canterbury,
this is always a dangerous question. But who would you
rather see win this afternoon?

Speaker 2 (01:02:20):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:02:20):
Eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine two nine two for
a text message? In some ways I think it would
probably mean a little bit more to Otago. We talked
to Brendan Laney on Sports Talk last night about it,
and it's twenty seven years today to the day that
they last won an NPC final. Twenty seven years they

(01:02:42):
beat Wakato in that game forty nine to twenty. Brendan
Laney Chainsaw scored a couple of tries that afternoon. It's
been a long time waiting for Otago fans to return
to the top of the NPC mantle. They got to
a final in two thousand and five, were beaten by
Auckland on that occasion Canterbury. Their wait hasn't been as

(01:03:03):
long if you take out all the Super Rugby things.
The last title came in twenty seventeen. As we discussed
with Nani Punavi there a bit earlier on, it didn't
feel quite as long as it probably has been because
they had that incredible run for a number of years
with a one what eight titles in a decade or
something ridiculous like that. But it has been a long

(01:03:24):
wait for Canterbury, and I know that they've underlined a
lot of that history this afternoon as they prepare for
that Apollo Project Stadium Farewell Lancaster Park. Obviously none of
the current crop of players have played at that venue,
but they went near this week to connect with that ground,
to learn a bit about the history as they try
and set their own history this weekend. So who wins

(01:03:48):
and why this afternoon? Oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty
nine two ninety two for a text message. I think
Canterbury naturally go in as the favorites for this final
because of the home advantage and the fact that their
supporters should outnumber the Otaga fans in the stands. But
from what I'm hearing around the traps and as we

(01:04:08):
were discussing there with Jay before, I think there are
a few convoys heading up from Dunedin from the Otago
surrounds to Apollo Project Stadium this afternoon, making a long
weekend of it, or it's certainly making a day of it.
If you're on the way to the game and coming
up from Denean, would love to hear from you. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty is the number nine

(01:04:29):
two nine two for the text message. I know there
was a bit of a gathering as well. One of
the vintage Jersey operators that I know of Instagram, Boothy
Dylan Booth Boothy's Rugby Relics is his name, was setting
up a bit of a Otago meeting point in christ
Huge at Tower Junction. I think there was about half

(01:04:50):
past two, so I'm sure there'll be a few fans
there looking to quench their thirst before they march on
to the stadium for the four o'clock kickoff. One text
to says this and put simply Otago with my multiple
a's and multiple o's, thank you very much for the
text this afternoon. It feels like the Neutrals might well

(01:05:13):
be on this side. I think the rejuvenation this year
in the NPC, and I know people will say it's
always been good, but this year feels like it's been
an NPC for the ages, the ran fairly shield changing hands.
What will be up to five different teams I think
had their hands on it at one point. This season,

(01:05:33):
the quality of games right throughout has been really, really high.
We had the permutations of who was going to make
the playoffs right until the last weekend. This to me
has set the scene for the NPC and it feels
like it's been a while since we've had this. Last

(01:05:54):
year was very good, Wellington Bay had plenty in a
thrilling final, but the quality of rugby and I guess
the uncertain nature of it all this year has really
been entertaining and hopefully they've finally struck on the right
after that Premiership Championship thing they tried to run for
about a decade that everyone was just left confused by that,
they finally struck on an idea that is going to

(01:06:16):
set the NPC up for long term success. The broadcast
TV broadcast deal changes after this year. It's going to
be on TV and ZET a lot more from next year.
More fans are going to be able to see that.
So I think that's a positive eight hundred eighty ten
eighty nine two nine two for a text message one
textas is Canterbury when the game is when the game

(01:06:39):
due to such an important last game, possibly that stadium
hour advantage will be nothing, as there will be plenty
of support for both sides. Certainly, what I'm hearing, I
mean we're mentioning to see the numbers once we get
to kick off four o'clock and we'll talk to Nick Buley,
who's our gold Sport match commentator next hour about this
as well as that the crowd starts to filter into
a Polo Project stadium. What the splitters, whether O target

(01:07:03):
fans have made that trip up the Blue and Gold
in the stands O eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine
two nine two this afternoon, Who are you supporting in
the NPC final and why not? Often canabrig gets the
neutral support I find on the text line that's usually
anyone but canniby. That's fair enough, Oh eight hundred eighty

(01:07:24):
ten eighty nine two nine two for a text message.
I think the other thing from the NPC this season
has been the quality of young players that have come through,
and that happens every year. Players get tossed up. But
I don't think anyone would have expected, for example, Dylan
Pledger to have the season that he did for Otago

(01:07:46):
two or three months ago he had just come off
that under twenties campaign and then he was seriously given
his form was rightfully being considered as a player for
the All Blacks End Tour. I can't think too many
examples of that in recent times. That's been a storyline
out of the NPC. He became a must watch player.
Tune at the Gotar game. See what Dylan pledges doing.

(01:08:07):
Lucas Casey another one like him, continued growth of Josh Jacom.
I think it's just thrown up all sorts of storylines
other season and let's hope it's fitting finale to a
great MPC season. When now the final kicks off this
afternoon at four pm. Nick Bewley will have the call

(01:08:29):
on gold Spot and iHeartRadio. Matt Todd alongside Craig Kurt
Running Touch will chat with Nick. Next hour. You're on
News Talk ZIBB Devin with this ABC anyone but Canterbury.
I've got Readding Black through my veins, Devin, But I
do take your point. I accept that sometimes we've got

(01:08:49):
to play the outsider Canterbury. Sometimes you've got to be
the team that everyone hates, and that is something that
falls on Canterbury quite a lot. I fear twenty two
and a bit away from two used Talk ZIBB Adam
Peacock on the way after this we'll check in and
see what's happening in Australia Sport right after this on
news Talk ZBB.

Speaker 1 (01:09:09):
It's more than just a game Weekend Sports with GJ. Guggos,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder News DOGSB.

Speaker 3 (01:09:18):
Twenty way from two on news Talk zibby plenty of
texts flooding in. They're largely supporting a tag. I think
it's fair to say Mark from christ Church with us
high Elliott always love the anti anti Canterbury fluff. Go
the Red and Blacks. Cheers Mark, Nice to hear from you.
Another one I'm supporting Otago is that a lesser of

(01:09:40):
two evils? Thank you very much, Rob with this high
great show go Otago. Love your exciting commentaries. Cheer Rob,
Cheers Rob. That's very nice, Rob, Thank you very much.
This is from pat Hi. I think Otago will win
for four reasons the numbers nine, ten, seven and fifteen.

(01:10:01):
I think they could all be in the All Blacks now,
not in years to Come watch and tell me I'm wrong,
cheers Pat. So that's Pledger, Miller, Casey, and I assume Gilbert.
I think Gilbert or Gilbert is definitely heading overseas to
Connitt in Ireland at the end of the season. But
the three that you mentioned there, Pledger, Miller and Casey,

(01:10:26):
I think are all capable of being All Blacks down
the track. I mean, Pledger, I would have taken at
least on the All Blacks fifteen tour this year. Thanks Pat,
nice text, Hi otarger to win down here. We all
down here and need another glory day like nineteen ninety eight.
Our team means so much to us and just lifts
the spirits of the province. We've got so much better
with each game and strengthen all positions with the bench

(01:10:48):
to match. Hopefully injuries yellow recards don't play a part
and spoil a great game too, right, Thanks very much
for the text this afternoon, Let's go to the lines afternoon, Graham,
how are you very good?

Speaker 2 (01:10:58):
Great day to hear. I know the whole country thinks
the target is going to different wants them to but
and that's part of the course. But you know, I'm confident,
Tom Christie, you know the last game, I leave the
Cannavary boys out to victory.

Speaker 1 (01:11:14):
You know.

Speaker 2 (01:11:14):
He took the shield offers Canterby, you know, and let
themselves down in the last fifteen in that game, and
a better side than that, And yeah, I ready believe that.
But it's going to be a great game.

Speaker 5 (01:11:27):
Now out you're hitting a long grind of course.

Speaker 2 (01:11:30):
Yeah. I've had a few days in hospital, so say,
oh yeah, it was it six days. So I got
out a couple of days ago, so very relieved and
pleased to be back walking around christ Church and going
to the game. Yes, but yeah, so that was a
bit of a bit of a handicap last weekend.

Speaker 3 (01:11:50):
I'm sorry to hear that, but I hope you're better
and can enjoy the finals afternoon, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:11:54):
Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to it and go Canterbury.

Speaker 3 (01:11:57):
Good man, Thanks grab nice to catch up. Let's go
to Chris afternoon. Chris good how are you going yourself?
Which way is the final guy this afternoon? Oh well,
I'm not really bothered.

Speaker 17 (01:12:08):
I'm a Canterbury supporter, but as long as it stays
in the South Island, I'm quite happy.

Speaker 3 (01:12:12):
It's a win win scenario.

Speaker 17 (01:12:15):
It is, Yeah, I can't lose. And I'm taking my
wife with me and she's the targo, so one of
us will one.

Speaker 7 (01:12:19):
Oh there you go.

Speaker 3 (01:12:20):
So you've both got the Cannabury and Otago jerseys on if.

Speaker 17 (01:12:22):
You Oh no, we haven't got any jerseys or anything
like that. But we're one of the silent majority in
the background that's just cheering.

Speaker 9 (01:12:31):
Them all the way.

Speaker 3 (01:12:32):
Good man. We well hopefully with it. Sounds like it's good.
We're all ready to go for kickoff.

Speaker 17 (01:12:37):
Oh it's a beautiful christ Which day. It's the best
place in the world.

Speaker 7 (01:12:40):
Mate.

Speaker 3 (01:12:40):
I couldn't disagree with that. Chris. Nice to hear from you.
Look forward to the game and enjoy with you and
your wife if it's a great occasion. I'm sure it
is going to be nice to hear from you this afternoon. Chris.
Last text on this one for the time being says
I'm supporting Canterbury Revenge for the Steamers game. Thank you

(01:13:01):
very much. We'll keep the text line open for the
time being. Nine two down too, might get to a
few more after we chat too. Adam Peacock, who's standing
by from across the Tasman let's talk Australian sport as
we do around this time every Saturday afternoon. Adam plenty
to get stuck into as always, first and foremost, how
are you?

Speaker 7 (01:13:18):
How are you?

Speaker 15 (01:13:18):
Vane?

Speaker 3 (01:13:19):
Very well, indeed very well well. The Pacific Championships in
the nrral the rugby league in full swing. One not
matter that Australia is over in London because some more
and Tonga seem to have overtaken rugby league in Australia.

Speaker 10 (01:13:34):
Well, I will tomorrow afternoon up up at sun for
it will be extraordinary scenes with forty five sixty thousand
people there. So I had no open training sessions this
week in Logan, which is just south of Brisbane, and
there are thousands of people there. It's awesome that they're
a huge diaspa in Southeast Queensland summer and Tongan expatriots

(01:13:57):
and they're all getting behind it because they all love
their footy and they've got so many big name players.
I mean you have a look at the two forward
packs just to set the prop splaceicarly going out each other,
and then you look at the third ends Junior Paulow
and Jason toal Malolo. It's it's pain haa Stefan Ta Kamano.
There's so many great players that are going to rip
into each other and it'll be spectaclely more ways than one.

Speaker 3 (01:14:19):
Yeah, and origin still remains I guess that the pinnacle
for rugby league. But when you've got players that are
playing both like this and representing their country and playing,
you know, for the Pacific Islands, the emotions there, the
passions there, and boy they delivered. We saw that last
week in the kiwis in some organ I'm sure it's
going to be the same tomorrow afternoon, Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 10 (01:14:41):
And a throw forward for the Rugby League World Cup
next year, I think it is that if you want
a World Cup, you need more than probably three nations
and then some lowly ranked nation making the semi finals
and just making up the numbers.

Speaker 11 (01:14:55):
Now with some.

Speaker 10 (01:14:55):
Oatma, Pigi's ever improving as well. They've got that attachment
to some great rugby players, and then Australia, England, New
Zealand the established ones. Now that the NRL is going
to go into PMG, that's going to improve over the years. Yeah,
and now you're talking about a World Cup with some
intrigue beyond the semi finals and the good thing for

(01:15:16):
the competition, adds another layer for everyone to get excited about.
Fill some holes on the calendar worthy ones as well.
So yeah, there's not many. There's not many downsides to
what's going on at the moment with that in that.

Speaker 3 (01:15:29):
Regard, certainly isn't Moody Valley. I'm sure we'll be jumping
later today the cox plates going on. Does I still
hold the plot prior to place? I guess in the
build up to the Melbourne Cup.

Speaker 10 (01:15:41):
Yeah, it's always regarded as the best wait for h
race in Australia and now this year isn't a cracking edition,
but it still got to be a Sestina who won
the race by seven links last year, so it's still
got some quality. Antino near enough to favorite with her
as well. But yeah, just the edge has been taken
off a little bit by the fact that last week

(01:16:02):
we had a massive Dame City with the Everest and
Corfield Cup days a great day out as well. This
is the last year for a few years.

Speaker 7 (01:16:09):
At Mooney Valley.

Speaker 10 (01:16:10):
They're actually redeveloping it and reconfiguring it as well. But yeah,
I take what edge has.

Speaker 7 (01:16:17):
Gone off it.

Speaker 10 (01:16:17):
But when the race comes around it it will still
be a fantastic race and one with a lot of intrigue,
and we'll get a lot of notes over here. It's
near enough to six o'clock over here later this afternoon.
So yeah, those who at Mooney Valley who are still standing, yeah,
they're going to enjoy it.

Speaker 3 (01:16:34):
Still standing as a very very good question. James McDonald
A Kiley on vas Sustaina goes in as the favorite, Yeah.

Speaker 10 (01:16:42):
Yeah, and deservedly so. Look, we probably the favorite was
the Delius, but he got ruled out because they're not
happy with his bone scans the hor so they'd have
to stell it out of the Melbourne Cup as well.
But hasn't been as dominant as she has been in
the last couple of campaigns. This campaign, she's taken a
bit of a while to get going and she I
think she's a little bit vulnerable with Antina today. That yeah,

(01:17:05):
j Macki's yeah, it seems to be around the mark.
You haven't had the dominant spring so far, but you're
just waiting for someone like this to go and ride
five winners on a day like Cocks Play Day and
the major winner as well. So yeah, Joe Mack will
be there close enough, if good enough in all of
these races.

Speaker 3 (01:17:22):
Where are they going to move the cox plate too?
While Mooney Valley gets a research, I reckon.

Speaker 10 (01:17:28):
It's flooding to next year that they decided on. They
might shift it around, they might go out the corefield,
but I think, yeah, flooding to this year. I don't
know how many years they was out to play of
a couple of years, but yeah, it's a bit of
a shame because Mooney Valley, if you don't know your
horse racing, is this uniquely shaped venue whereas it's like
an anti sitter and the horses go away, the side

(01:17:53):
straights are long, and the home straight and the back
straight very short, so it's like almost like cricket oval shape.
So yeah, I don't know if they're going to come
back with that configuration, but it's it's got its unique characteristics.
And it's a close setting as well, So they come
around the turn and everyone's on top of each other,
forty thousand people, and it holds the noise. So it's
a great atmosphere there and I'm sure it will be

(01:18:13):
light at the data.

Speaker 3 (01:18:14):
We'll speaking of cricket ovals, the ashes not too far
away we're on the countdown. Look, there's some you know
obviously news around the squad where Pet Cummings you know
in question as well. So what three or four weeks
out from that first tiste, how is the preparations going
for Australia.

Speaker 10 (01:18:31):
Yeah, Patty's running, which is good. It's a good sign,
but he's not bowling yet. You've got to build up
to be able to then get the running part right.
And then because he's got to lower back, little hotspot
that'll signed early early sign of a stress fracture. So
you had to ease right off and with those things
I know about lower backs unfortunately, like a lot of

(01:18:51):
middle age men, if you start to twist and turn
before the things one hundred percent, you'll know you are
absolutely no hope. So yeah, bowling be able to twisting
and turning it when you're running in it as an hour,
So yeah, it's not great for a lower back.

Speaker 5 (01:19:09):
So he's got to make sure of it.

Speaker 10 (01:19:10):
But that's the big story. And then the other story,
who's going to back to Australian Marnus Lavashane has come
good again, so it looks like he'll be back in.
I think the top six will be decided by the
fact that if Cameron Green can bowl. If he can bowl,
he'll probably play six manus three another opener needed. If
Cameron Green can't bowl, he backed at three, Marnus opens
and Doe Webster plays at six. That's the general thought

(01:19:32):
over here, but it was a little bit of cricket
to play before the first Test.

Speaker 3 (01:19:35):
One of the things I love, finally, Adam, is all
the predictions pretty serious.

Speaker 8 (01:19:38):
Think.

Speaker 3 (01:19:38):
David Lloyd said this week five mil England, Stewart broad
seeds some oflar. I think Glen mcgrat always is five
mil Australia. This has when the pun that's really make
their They die with these predictions.

Speaker 10 (01:19:49):
Yeah, we Lloyd and McGrath are just like stupid de
biased and I emphasized closers there, but no, you understand it.
I mean David Lloyd was just doing it for cause
and effects because for glenmc grath. But the only reason
why he said that, I think he's going to be
a really clot serious hope webstays or these two sides,
especially England, like the movie game on. So if we

(01:20:12):
get the big thing is is actually what the services
throw up now Historically you think Australia flat bouncy wickets.
You know, batters really prosper if they get through the
tough initial period. But last year and maybe the year before,
there's there's been a big in him. They've had the
profile more of the wicket you might find over your

(01:20:34):
way or in England. So yeah, I'll be interested to
see what is served up and that will determine the
length of the game, So we could see some three
day tests for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:20:42):
Watch the space. Adam Peacock, thanks very much for joining
us as always on a Saturday. I appreciate it. Catch
up soon, good one, good one. Adam Peacock joining us
says he does around this time. You've really Saturday afternoon
on US talks. He'll be quite the globe trotters. Globrotter
is not the right word with Adam Peacock. But I
was in Perth a couple of weeks ago for the
All Blacks tests and see's fronting Premier League coverage on

(01:21:03):
Channel nine and stand over there. I think he's on
the olymp box and everything like that. Well across all
the sporting landscape is Adam Peacock. Ways enjoy catching up
with him, getting his perspective on Australian Sport. We'll take
a break, come back wrap up the hour after this
on News Talk ZBB. Seven and a half away from two.

Speaker 1 (01:21:21):
When it's down to the line. You made a call
on eight hundred eighty ten eighty weekend for it News
Talk ZEBB.

Speaker 3 (01:21:29):
It's five away from two on News Talk ZEBB. Been
a bowlers morning in the Ford Trophy. Wellington bowled out
for one hundred and ninety nine against Central District, So
Tigo's two hundred and two for eight against Canterbury at
Hagley Oval and Northern District's one sixty one for eight
after forty five overs against Auckland Aces at the Eden
Park for Oval. So the ball is having a little

(01:21:51):
bit of fun around the country this afternoon. And the
LA Dodgers leading Toronto Blue Jays one nil at the
bottom of the second in the opening game of the
World Series. After two o'clock, we're going to go to
go Media Mount Smart Stadium to use the full tongue
twisted title as Auckland FC began their second season at

(01:22:12):
least from a home perspective, Nick Becker, their CEO, on
the program, Chris Midland Formula one Juno gives this the
latest on Liam Lawson as well, and a sporting chants
your chance to win a one hundred and fifty dollars
tab bet. That is all coming up after two o'clock News,
Sport and weather here on News Talk z B.

Speaker 1 (01:22:30):
The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies and the big conversations. It's all on
Weekend Sport on your home of sport, News Talk zed B.

Speaker 3 (01:22:50):
Welcome back in seven after two final hour of Weekend
Sport this afternoon. It still a lot to come on
the program. Nick Becker, the boss of AUCKLANDFC. From the
heights they reached last year, how can they do it
again this year and go that little bit better? What

(01:23:11):
are the keys for them this year? Nick Becker, the
chief executive of Auckland FC. Out at Mount Smart Stadium
their first home game of the season this afternoon. Pretty
good crowd they're expecting as well, I believe for a
labor day weekends. Do you ever quite know with Auckland's
can empty out of it? They've got the Western sydy waterers.

(01:23:32):
At five o'clock, mc becker will join us to talk
about how they build on that first season and get
ready for season suit. Chris Midlands Formula Ones you know,
joins us as crunch time for Liam Lawson. Will he
get a seat next year? Sounds like this weekend at
Mexico is pretty crucial in terms of Red Bull Racing

(01:23:56):
Balls making that decision around their lineup for twenty twenty six.
So what does Liam Lawson need to do and how
much can this weekend really in fla Once the decision
makers at Red Bull, Chris Medland on the way your
chance to win as well with a tab sporting chance

(01:24:17):
one hundred and fifty dollars tab bet. We'll give you
three options, your chance to pick one of those a
bit later on in the hour as well, and we'll
take you to Apollo Projects Stadium in christ Church. Match
commentator Nick Buley will give us a sense of how
things are tracking not long out from kickoff in this

(01:24:38):
afternoon's NPC Final Canterbury and Otago plenty to cram and
the text line does remain open ninety two nine two
if there's anything you want to get off your chest
this afternoon. But as we do after two o'clock on
a Saturday and a Sunday, we kick off the hour
with in case you missed it all right, well the

(01:25:01):
Premier League can turn you. With a hot start for
Leeds it was enough to bank the points against west Ham.

Speaker 7 (01:25:06):
This morre.

Speaker 3 (01:25:09):
Watch out and Choe road On. I think it is
who reels away. He's claiming the goal.

Speaker 18 (01:25:16):
There is traffic for once again fear the question marks
about west Hammy and Icey is defending and inside fifteen
minutes achieve. At times we questioned this season can they score.

Speaker 3 (01:25:28):
Goals or the two little yeah there's two on final score.
Things not going well for west Ham, even though they're
already changed their manager. Maybe they'll do the Nottingham Forest
and change it again and see what happens. Let's stick
with football and go to the A League. The Newcastle
Jets piling on the goals to beat Melbourne Victory.

Speaker 9 (01:25:45):
They come again as through Daniel Wilmury.

Speaker 19 (01:25:47):
He looked really good, particularly in this second half, and
after that closed his Oscar Pryor who gets his first
daily goals.

Speaker 3 (01:25:56):
The nineteen year old seals the deal. The Newcastle Jets.
They ran home winners five to two. Big one over
at Melbourne victory. Right, we've got a bunch of NBA
action to get through. This is all on court stuff.
I should point out not hearing from Cash Patel, from
the FBI or anyone involved here.

Speaker 9 (01:26:15):
Right.

Speaker 3 (01:26:15):
Two games in the Thunder have had to go to
double overtime twice, most recently to beat the Pacers.

Speaker 20 (01:26:21):
Two point lea for the Thunder, Killess Alexander the drive,
I've finish off the glass, fifty one points for Sgah
Kildas Alexander has it nold foulon the Bull's coming down
and this one's gonna be all.

Speaker 3 (01:26:35):
It Thunder winning the NBA Final rematch one forty one,
one thirty five the Denver Nuggets. Aaron Gordon scored fifty
and shot ten of eleven for three in a Korea
game against the Warriors. Lord He's been hold on the.

Speaker 13 (01:26:50):
Top.

Speaker 3 (01:26:50):
Three pointers for Gordon that protect the lay. But Steph
Curry had to last laugh as he led the Golden
State Warriors to a one thirty seven one thirty one
overtime victory.

Speaker 20 (01:27:01):
You'll get to answer, go go, Curry s JERSA.

Speaker 3 (01:27:08):
Nobody picks up, Curry takes it all.

Speaker 20 (01:27:10):
The way and Lisa forty points for Curry.

Speaker 1 (01:27:15):
The scoot from the track field and the court on
your whole of sport Weekend Sport.

Speaker 3 (01:27:22):
And the La Dodgers turned in love the top of
the third in the game against the Toronto Blue Jazz
World Series Game one. Let's turn our attention to football
on Weekend Sport as it ticks over twelve past two,
bring out the play.

Speaker 21 (01:27:39):
And Linga's celebrations figgures on. These are a league premius,
emulating the Western Sydney Wanderer side of twenty twelve thirteen
by winning the regular season. So they out as an
expansion club in their very first season, and they are.

Speaker 9 (01:27:59):
Not done yet.

Speaker 3 (01:28:00):
Unfortunately they didn't go on to win the title, of course,
losing to Melbourne victory in the semi finals last season.
So can they go one better and advance to the
final and lift the trophy itself this year? Joining us
now is the chief executive of Auckland f C. Nick
Becker on Weekend Sport Afternoon, Neck, thanks sir for your time.

Speaker 7 (01:28:23):
Yeah, thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (01:28:24):
How ready are you for the second season at least
when it comes to to home games And I'll get
underway last week. But home game starting the season this afternoon?
How ready?

Speaker 5 (01:28:34):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (01:28:34):
They were really excited to be about go media. Of course,
it's our spiritual home, it's our fortress's fativa fied up.
I think we're pretty we're looking good in terms of
fitness for all the players. We should have a full
squad available. Other than I think Pionakerer Nando's out for
a little bit. We're very It is a good kind

(01:28:55):
of labor weekend crowd. I think half of Augland's gone
away that the other half of here hope you're going
to make it along to the game today.

Speaker 3 (01:29:03):
Ticket sales are pretty hell healthy bad.

Speaker 7 (01:29:06):
They're not bad, but especially given it's the first long
weekend for people, so understandably a few of a few
have hited out, but really kind of positive response from
everybody who's been here. The port sold out so there'd
be full voice in there, so you really looking forward
to be back.

Speaker 3 (01:29:22):
How much did you at the end of last season
sit back, take a deep breath and look back and
what lessons did you take out of that first campaign?

Speaker 7 (01:29:31):
Wow? When we to be honest, when we lost the
City finals, absolutely gutted And it's kind of really weird
feeling because you've got all these plans on about a
Grand final and then suddenly you know, you've got nothing
to do and no one's calling you. But after that
we got over that. You sort of took a bit
of time to step back and reflect, and we're all
super proud of what we're achieved last season. I think

(01:29:53):
the fact that we didn't go all the way through
to a Grand Final and when that was was sort
of motivation for us this season. And I think, you know,
also the way that Auckland responded to us, and you know,
we said right from the we wanted to make Auckland
proud as a club for both what we did on
the pitch and off it, and the fact that we
got that response from from Ukander's turning up at our games,

(01:30:15):
you know, two hundred and forty thousand people through our
gates last season. We just want to really repay that
support and that faith and kind of just go again
this season and kind of go for the go for
the double if we can, but just try try and
do everything that we can on and off the pitch.

Speaker 3 (01:30:31):
Was there anything that surprised you last season about the
competition or the way that maybe Aucklanders embrace this team.

Speaker 7 (01:30:40):
I think, you know, we're really happy with the fact
that we you know, we play on a Saturday at
five pm or a Sunday at three pm, so you
get that kind of like weekend where a whole family
can come along, the sun shining and playing across summer.
And it was just offering something different to Aucklanders and
they sort of, you know, they came along and tried

(01:31:00):
it and saw what we're all about and kind of
loved the match that experience and came back. And I
think that was already you know, big thing for us
was just to do something differently, to be bold and
to be creative with what we did at Go Media,
and I think Orkinder just loved it when they came
along and saw it, and you know, I was just
absolutely buying away with a number of families and kids
that were in our games, and then suddenly blown away

(01:31:21):
with the fact that we saw our shirt on kids
all across Auckland and you saw them everywhere. You know,
it's it's really impressive.

Speaker 3 (01:31:29):
Well, I came back last year. I was I was
away with the covering the all blacks and the end
of the year too, and that was what late October
early to late November came back and they were everywhere.
When I got back and it was something I really
noticed is that in the month I had been gone,
the season had really started by before I left, but
Auckland had picked up this team that embraced it. The
jerseys were selling, people were wearing them out and about,
and very quickly caught on.

Speaker 7 (01:31:51):
Yeah it did, it did, And I think that was
the thing. And I think what we did is, you know,
there was a real energy on the pitch. We're playing
exciting football. We were winning games in the last minute.
You know, the team's made up with a lot of
Kiwis and a lot of Aucklanders in the squad, and
then a bit of exciting you know todaytional flare on
there too. And then you get along to the matchday experience.
You go think, well, that's interesting. I'm seeing the shirt everywhere.

(01:32:12):
I'll go along to a game. You go to the
game and you said, there's a big inflatable slide down
the hill. You've got this hardcore fan group who are
who have that kind of bring that atmosphere, the color
and the noise, and they're chanting and singing the whole game.
And it's not anything like what you see in New
Zealand sport. It's completely different, and that's what we set
out to do, and we delivered that last season, and

(01:32:33):
we're just going to keep on doing it this season.
You know, we're constantly looking to tweak it.

Speaker 4 (01:32:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:32:38):
I mean people talk about the second season syndrome or
the second album when it comes to musicians and that
sort of thing. Backing it up can be difficult. How
have you approached that this season? How have you built
on what you did last season? I guess from a
fan experience.

Speaker 7 (01:32:50):
Yeah, you should know what. That's also a real key
wee thing to do, isn't it is? It's kind of
go all else. It's going to be hard to do
that again. But you know, for us, I think it's
actually like it's a bit of a challenge. It's a
bit of an opportunity, Like we are gonna, Yeah, we
may not go as well as we did last season,
but we're going to try hard as we did, and
we're going to work as hard as we did, and
we're gonna we're going to continue to do things differently

(01:33:11):
and continue to kind of like look at challenge, what
is just the normal? I think that's all that we
can do as long as we can sit back and
go yeah, what at the end of the season, we
gave that absolutely everything. I think the fans will respond
really well. I think football fans are a bit different too.
They that tribal and they and they you know, they
pick their team and they stick with it through you know,

(01:33:31):
thick and thin, rain or sun, whatever it may be,
and so you kind of have that that hopefully we
will have that hardcore attitude which is like Awk of
their Sea is my team, and hopefully that just seeps
out and resonates across the whole the whole fan base
as well.

Speaker 3 (01:33:45):
Do you think you've got the squad capin will of
going all the way this year?

Speaker 7 (01:33:49):
I do? I do? You know? We made it. We
brought in five players left, so we lost Alex Poulsen.
He was probably our biggest loss in terms of a
keeper of it. But then we brought in an Oly Sale.
We've got two great keepers with Michael Food who's at
number one and only sal who's going to constantly challenge
him all season. We brought in a new so Max
Madda left and we've he went back on loan to Shrewsby,

(01:34:11):
and we brought in a guy called Sam Cosgrove because
he is a classic big point man, you know sort
of he's he's about six foot five. He'll be enter
and around the box if he if he gets on
it and start scoring goals, I mean, look out, look
out to all the other team's defenses. And we brought
it exciting new winger and two a guy called lockey

(01:34:32):
Brook and Lockie has been you know, he set the
A League alight a few seasons ago when the MLS.
He's come back to do the same again here with us.
So I think we brought in some young and attacking
quality into the side, and then the rest of the team.
You know that was a team around last season. They
already know what it's like to win silverware and they

(01:34:52):
also which just importantly is they know what it's like
to lose in the semi final and they're going to
have to They're going to want to kind of come
back and go one better this year.

Speaker 3 (01:35:01):
The first derby a couple of weeks away in November
down in Wellington. How important are they as the centerpiece
of the season, having that three times a campaign.

Speaker 7 (01:35:11):
Yeah, Look, everyone loves a derby, right, we certainly do,
and and it's also good to see that that kind
of New Zealand sports fans have embraced it as well.
You know, we had two sold out derbies at go
Media last season. I'm sure they'd be great. So we
only get one this season, but there'll be two down
in Wellington and I'm sure the Wellington fans will turn out.
I've got no doubt we'll sell odd hours up here

(01:35:33):
and it shows that the fans want that. There was
a great level of kind of i'd call it respectable
band if that's not Noxy Warren and and well, you know,
we had we had a good dig at each other,
but there was a line and nobody crossed it and
it was kind of it was a lot of fun
and it kind of, you know, it kind of got
back into that good old rivalries that New Zealand sport

(01:35:55):
probably hasn't seen for a while.

Speaker 3 (01:35:57):
Yeah, certainly, and and yeah it's pretty raary, rare at
other sports levels obviously as well. Just finally, Nick Becker
with us on News Talk Z. But you mentioned the
port earlier. How important to have them is a sort
of focal point. I know you have families that come
along as well, but knowing the port are going to
be there week in, week out, as you said, Rain
Haill Shine.

Speaker 7 (01:36:17):
Yeah, no, no, we all love the port. The port
have built up an amazing connection with with our players
but also with the rest of the fan base, and
they do bring that color, They do bring something that's
hostally unique to New Zealand sport. And they sing and
they make noise, and they bring the atmosphere and they
just really add to the to the whole match they
experience absolutely well.

Speaker 3 (01:36:37):
Next question, the best of this afternoon as you kick
off your home campaign and indeed for the rest of
the season as well. Great to catch up.

Speaker 7 (01:36:42):
Thank you very much.

Speaker 3 (01:36:43):
Nick Becka joining ours five o'clock kick off this afternoon
for that game against Western Sydney Wanderers. I think they're
expecting a pretty decent crowd, is he mentioned at the top,
Hard and a long weekends in Auckland to see how
many people are actually in the city, but decent old
crowd for this opening game at five o'clock of course,

(01:37:04):
to Wellington Phoenix played tomorrow against the Brisbane Raw Phoenix fans,
we haven't forgotten you. Alex Rufe is going to join
us tomorrow on the program to give us their perspective
that come off. Of course, the two or draw against
Perth Glory in their away trip last week, so we'll
get the Phoenix side of things tomorrow afternoon here on
news Talk zeb their first home game of twenty twenty five.

(01:37:26):
Twenty twenty six its twenty one after two on news
Talk ZB. Right, is Liam Lawson going to have a
Formula one seat next year? Chris Midland's going to join us.
He's at the Mexican grom Prix this weekend, close to
the track. He'll have his heir to the ground here
to the track. I'm sure he'll give us all the
oil after this here on news Talk ZB twenty two

(01:37:49):
after twoe the.

Speaker 1 (01:37:51):
Tough questions after turf weekend Sport with GJ gunomes New
Zealand's most trusted home builder News.

Speaker 3 (01:37:58):
Talg z MB twenty four after two on news Talk ZEBB.
We've got your chance to win. Shortly with the sporting
chants of the tab one hundred and fifty dollars Beck
becoming your way, We're going to turn our attention to
Formula One. Big weekend for Liam Lawson in the context
of his Formula One career, and you go the Mexican
Grand Prix. How is that bag well, Chris Midland's going

(01:38:21):
to join us to explain because it's crunch time in
terms of making a decision as to whether Liam Lawson
is going to have a Formula One seat next year.
Chris Midland Formula one Genus with us on the program.
Chris Howse Thing, thanks for joining us on News Talk
z MB. Yeah, not to be bad for you mate much.

Speaker 22 (01:38:37):
You joined in a very noisy Mexico City as one
of the most vibrant race weekends of the year gets underway.

Speaker 3 (01:38:42):
Well, fantastic time and it feels like a crunch weekend
for at least from a New Zealand perspective, where of
course following Liam Lawson very very closely, and it feels like,
at least from our perspective, all eyes are on this
weekend because it feels like a decision is imminence with
Liam Lawson's future next year, is it.

Speaker 22 (01:39:00):
It seems like way not just about Liam no, but
about all the Red Bull drivers. Lian was asked about
it actually joining the media sessions yesterday and said, I
know nothing at this point, and I feel like we
would know if something had happened, because you just get
words from within the team. Somebody would pass on the
information that a decision had been made. But Red Bull
don't have to rush anything they want to do with
their drivers. They have them all under contract. They can

(01:39:21):
wait as late as they want in the season. But
I think they're aware that for a few of them
it would really help give them some certainty. The problem
we've got with not just Liam but his teammate either
haadchat and with Yuki Snoda in the red Ball alongside
Maxistappan is that no one of them is performing consistently
at a high enough level to guarantee where they will be.
But also none of them are performing consistently low that

(01:39:42):
you think they're going to get replaced. So I do
think it's actually quite a tough decision for Red Bull,
and I wouldn't be surprised if they review it after
this race. But don't actually they make a final call.
How much will this weekend really influence it? Because as
you say, no one's putting the hit up and going
I am the definitive choice. So does it get to
the point where little margins can really count in their
favor like a good result this weekend? Absolutely, I mean

(01:40:05):
every result matters, every session matters, and just the way
you go about your business at this time when decisions
being made, we'll really have a bigger influence.

Speaker 4 (01:40:12):
You know.

Speaker 22 (01:40:12):
Teams would love to say they don't, but recently, buyers
always plays into it. And if you're seeing signs of
progress as well. For example, you know Liam when he
went back to ring balls earlier this year, took him
a little while to get that spring back in his
step and that confidence back up after the hit of
being dropped by Red Bulls so quickly. But the reason
they put put him back in that car is they
believed in him and his talent that he could still
find his feet, and once he did, he's performed very

(01:40:34):
well in the second half of the year. So if
your form's improving, that bodes well looking forward, and that
might give you a better chance of a team kind
of either sticking with you or promoting you. If your
form is declining, then you can kind of extrapolate that
out and saying maybe the long term because the trend
isn't so good both. It's a bit of a tricky
one for Red Bull to make, but it's definitely imperative

(01:40:54):
that the drivers that are performing well at this moment,
and I'd say the smart money had been on Isaac
catcha i've been put to tread ball. I'd say he's
still a favorite to get that, but he had a
messy weekend last time out in Austin.

Speaker 3 (01:41:06):
A few more question marks, what are the scenario is
it's effectively? Is it just one seat that's up for grebs.
I know they haven't announced the full lineup, but this
feels like just a one seat scenario. Preps a shootout
with with Lawson and Day in Sonda.

Speaker 22 (01:41:19):
Well, now I feel like it's more four drivers into
three seats, and it's not maxis Stappin involved in that.

Speaker 3 (01:41:24):
Maxis Stappen is locked in.

Speaker 22 (01:41:25):
He's definitely staying, But it's who drives alongside Max, and
then who is the lineup at racing balls alongside him?
And the drivers Sonoda currently in the Red Bull, who
I personally think is most at risk of being replaced.
Then you've got Isaac and Liam in the Racing Balls,
which one of those would replace Uki if Youki's replaced.
And as I say, I think that is the way
it's headed, and you'd probably start. Isaac was slightly ahead

(01:41:47):
because of the way the Red Bull went with Liam
at the started this year and now they're going to
see if Isaac can handle it next year as well,
but it's not a guarantee. And then alongside whoever stays
at Racing Balls, it would be Arvid Lindblad, the young
drivers currently.

Speaker 3 (01:41:59):
F two stepping up in that seat.

Speaker 22 (01:42:01):
He was actually running an FP one here in Mexico
earlier today, showing that they're trying to prepare him for
a step up to F one. So Red Bull are
looking at they want to get lin Blad into a
race seat when they can. So that's why I feel
like it's four into three around maxist happened and the
most at risk feels like a Yuki Sanoda.

Speaker 3 (01:42:16):
What's your read on how Lawson's adapted to this year
because it started obviously so strong in the Red Bull seat,
then he moved to racing balls. Has he taken it
in his stride?

Speaker 22 (01:42:25):
I'd say he has by the middle of the season,
shall I say, For a lot of drivers, it could
really have broken them and it could have been a
downward spiral having just two races in one seat and
then being moved, but Liam kind of took that on
the chin, went back to a team that he knows
well he likes and a car that he's comfortable in
and enjoys driving, and thought, right, I can rebuild from here,
and we saw it. It took a little while because Hajjar

(01:42:45):
was performing well at the starts of the year. That
puts a bit of pressure on Lawson alongside him because
he's slightly more experienced than Hadjar is. But then once
Liam really did kind of give his confidence back, essentially
by the summer, we saw some really really strong results
and I think that's impressed red Ball because it surely
has that mental fortitude to kind of fight back from
a tough position earlier in the year. The thing they're
still always looking for though, it's raw speed and the

(01:43:07):
final end product, and that's something where no driver has
actually shown it all the way through the year yet.
So that's why I think it's a bit more of
a question mark over who might get the NOD to
replace Yuki, assuming Uky is replaced, and it just feels
like it's an Oda that's trending most likely to lose
their seat. But I think Liam has done enough to
warrant keeping his current at racing balls at least.

Speaker 3 (01:43:26):
When do they need to make this decision by I mean,
obviously they've got a bit of time, but it feels
like it's imminent. Could they kick it down the road
for a few more weeks, Y'd oh, absolutely.

Speaker 22 (01:43:35):
I mean, if they really wanted to, they could kick
it down the road until the end of January when
we go testing to the start of twenty twenty six. Now,
I don't think they'll do that because you need to
have the seat fits done, you want to have the
drivers in the simulator, you want to have them preparing
with their engineers before the new season gets underway. And
it is earlier next year because of new regulations, so
normally testing would be mid to late February that it
starts next year, it starts in late January and then

(01:43:57):
has some more going on in February two before we
head to Melbourne for the first race. So I think
it call will be earlier than it usually would be.
As we saw last year, they made a change after
the final round in Abidabi when they dropped Surgio Peris
and cut Liam into that seat at Red Bulls. So
they have these drivers on the contract, it's up to
them where they want to place them between the teams.
Red Bull could really wait as late as the Abbi
Dabi Grand Prix in early December, but I do think

(01:44:18):
they'll probably have made a decision before then, or at
least be very clear in their minds what they're planning
on doing before then, so they can prepare.

Speaker 3 (01:44:24):
Chris Midland with us in the tims are the overall
race for the title. How much can the duo of
Pistri and Norrisfield mex A step and breathing down the
nick after the events of last week. Oh absolutely.

Speaker 22 (01:44:36):
I think they've been feeling that for a number of
race weekends actually, but certainly Austin is the one that
really brought it into sharp focus because it's such a
quick swing between Oscar and Max. Twenty three points that
Max took out of the championship leave and I say
he's only forty points back now, and that's in the
context of four races earlier he was one hundred and
four points back.

Speaker 3 (01:44:53):
But forty points is still more than a race victory.

Speaker 22 (01:44:56):
That's winning a race and finishing third in a race
with Oscar not scoring at all to raise that gap.
And we've only got five rounds left, so Max needs
to keep the pressure on. He's going to stay attacking,
He's going to st aggressive. That's red bulls approach now
and they've got nothing to lose and it is putting
pressure on McLaren.

Speaker 3 (01:45:11):
The problem McLaren have is.

Speaker 22 (01:45:13):
The fact that it's both drivers fighting each other too,
and Oscar is in the best place because he has
the points on the board, but the GAP's been.

Speaker 3 (01:45:18):
Coming down to Lando as well.

Speaker 22 (01:45:19):
That's down to fourteen points and they're looking at each
other as well as at Max and that adds a
strange dynamic to it where they can't really afford to
get too caught up in certain scenarios and open the
door for a sappen I think this is actually a
crucial weekend. We saw something similar last year in Brazil.
We arrived there, Land and I have been chipping away
quite consistently and we thought we were going to get
a type of fight potentially to the end of the

(01:45:39):
year against Max.

Speaker 7 (01:45:40):
Hastappened.

Speaker 22 (01:45:41):
Went to Brazil and after qualifying on the Sunday morning
with dodgy weather, he had Norris on pole for Stappord.
Starting way back in the field, everyone's thinking, here we go,
this title fight has got to get blown wide open.
But the race went totally differently. Max won with a
brilliant drive, comfortably outscored Norris and that basically ended it
there and then because there were only three races to
go after that point and that turnaround, that swinging points

(01:46:02):
was hugely damaging to Norris having any chance of drawing
it back again. So McClaren will know one strong weekend
is all they really need to really hold that momentum.
It could really hurt Max's ability to get back into
the title fight. So that's why the Stappen has to
say stay perfect, but it must be said over the
last four races that's exactly what he's done.

Speaker 3 (01:46:19):
Final question, Chris, do McLaren need to put the eggs
into one basket for the title race? Is it possible
or is that just a not you know, something they
can consider with those both those drivers right up there.

Speaker 22 (01:46:31):
Yeah, I don't think they can consider it now. It's
too tight. There's only fourteen points between them. You're really
robbing one of a chance to try and win a
title if you do that. But also you've given them
equal opportunities all season and they're still pretty closely matched,
so you've got to see that through. And I dare
say it, I think you slightly devalue a championship if
you do that from this position. I get it if
that's been your approach all the way through that you've
had a clear number one and number two, but you've

(01:46:52):
let these two drivers fight it out amongst each other,
and then you've got maxis stappend in the frame two.
I think it means a heck of a lot more
if you win a driver's title against maxistappen in a
straight fight. If, for example, Landon NRIs was asked to
support Oscar Piastre, then it feels like, you know, Zappa
would have been kind.

Speaker 7 (01:47:08):
Of doing on his own.

Speaker 22 (01:47:08):
He's not had the second car up there with him
throughout most of this season, and I think it's a
better way for the clurrent and go about their racing.
It's just let them go for themselves, try and keep
it clean between the two McLaren drivers, which is the
tricky part. But if you can do that, then whoever
wins it will be a really, really deserving champion. Certainly
in the face of that pressure from this happened. But
I think it's just too late now, with five races

(01:47:28):
to go, just fourteen points in it. It would take
something dramatic, like one driver failing to finish the next
two races that might open the door. If it really
looked unrealistic for one of them to win, then they
might be asked to support. But as it stands, I
think we're going to the end like this.

Speaker 3 (01:47:41):
Well, it's an endlessly fast ending weekend coming up. Enjoy it, Chrysler,
look forward to catching episode. Thanks for your time, will do,
Thanks very much. Chris Middland joining US Formula one journalist
from Mexico's City, So pretty crunch we keen for Liam
Lawson in the scheme of his Formula one career. Right
your chance to win now on news talk Zibby is

(01:48:02):
a sporting chance with the tab will take all of
five on oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty through to Andy,
and he's cooked up three bets for you, a short
one and even one, a long odds one, some interesting
ones that he's cooked up as well. So one hundred

(01:48:24):
and fifty dollars of a bonus bent goes on your
chosen bet of the three options. If it comes in
the winner winnings brother minus the steake go to you
the winner as well, gonna be eighteen to take part,
of course, so call in now. Andy's at the ready,
oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty on News Talk ZEBB,
it's a sporting chance with the tab after this at

(01:48:46):
twenty five away from three.

Speaker 1 (01:48:48):
The biggest seams in sport are on Weekend Sport with
GG Gunnos, New Zealand's lost trusted home builder News Talk ZBB.
It's time for a sporting chance thanks to TAB.

Speaker 3 (01:49:02):
Yes, indeed, thanks to our friends at the tav Are
Sporting h San Leoni has called in one hundred and
fifty dollar bits on the line. Will give Leoni three
options and she can choose which one she wants to take.
Andy's cook them up afternoon, Leone, welcome in, Hi.

Speaker 6 (01:49:20):
How you going.

Speaker 3 (01:49:21):
I'm good, having yourself a good long weekend.

Speaker 6 (01:49:23):
I'm very excited to even get through, so I feel
like I've want to read again.

Speaker 3 (01:49:27):
Awesome. Well, I'll give you the three options that Andy
has come up with. The short option is the Joseph Parker.
Surely he'll get a title shot now special. So that's
Joseph Parker to win by Ko. TKO orders qualification at
two dollars that we'll see you win one hundred and
fifty dollars if it comes through. The even option is

(01:49:47):
Auckland f C versus Western Sydney Wanderers over under total
goals one point five this afternoon. That's at three seventy
so that's four hundred and five dollars. And the long option, Leoni,
is the Rand Phillip Shield deja vu special that Andy's
called it, which is the Canterbury Otigo n PC Final.
Canterbury to lead at halftime Otago to win it. That's

(01:50:08):
paying eight point fifty with the potential winnings of one
one hundred and twenty five dollars. What do you reckon leone?

Speaker 12 (01:50:15):
Oh why not?

Speaker 6 (01:50:16):
Let's go big. Let's go for the Kentry Ochigo game.

Speaker 3 (01:50:18):
There we go. Can it be to lead at half
time Otago to win it? Leoni? Thanks for player, have
a good weekend and we've got our fingers cross for
you much awesome, Leoni. Hang on there and he's going
to put that bet on star on the line there,
Good luck with that going long, going for the win.
He's got to put one hundred and fifty dollars tab
bonus bit on for you in a couple of moments.

(01:50:40):
We'll keep our fingers crossed of course for you over
the weekend later on this afternoon. Of course, if you
get a result the winnings minus a stake, all leonis
and we'll do it again next week. Thanks to our mates.
The tab As always bet responsibly and are a team.
And as that final, we turn our attention to back
again here on news Talk ZMBIG at twenty away from three,

(01:51:02):
let's take you to Apollo Projects Stadium and our gold
sport commentator this after Neck Bewley. Afternoon, Neck, how are you?

Speaker 9 (01:51:10):
I'm very well, thank you, Smithy. Yeah, all in readiness here.

Speaker 13 (01:51:13):
In fact, the gates have just flung open, and interestingly,
as we kept an eye on during the week, this
game sold out and there've been general admission tickets right
from the get go, so it's very old school here.
It's like a lolly scramble to get your best seats.
There's about five hundred allocated seats for members to my
left here in the south stand, but otherwise there's about

(01:51:34):
fifteen and a half thousand general admission seats, first in
best dressed and here at halfway where we are in
the south stand, it's starting to fill up already.

Speaker 9 (01:51:43):
Lot of Otago jerseys too.

Speaker 3 (01:51:45):
I was going to ask if they made their way
up from Dunedin from Otago for this big dance they
centainly have.

Speaker 9 (01:51:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 13 (01:51:51):
I was having a ushat to one of the ladies
at Canary Rugby during the week and she mentioned on
Wednesday that's when they had about twelve thousand tickets sold
in terms of what they could see from ticket tech.
In terms of where the po boxes and addresses were,
about a third were down south in Otago. They have
made their way up over the White Ducky Durga River
and come here to Apollo Project Stadium in christ Church

(01:52:13):
and big numbers and rightly so, you know, twenty seven
years since their last n PC title. It's been a
long time even since they've been in a final. So
there's a real romanticism around Otago rugby the way they're
playing their rugby and now they're just one went away
from what would be a famous season in their history.
Already sign up the Ranfilly Shield for the summer. Can

(01:52:34):
they do the double? It's all in readiness Smith, they
can't wait.

Speaker 3 (01:52:37):
You've been around the Cantory camp this week was the
cential getting from them their confidence levels that they can
reverse what happened a few weeks ago on that Renfhilly
Shield challenge.

Speaker 9 (01:52:47):
Yeah, very confident group, very confident group.

Speaker 13 (01:52:49):
They've been in finals, they hosted a final in twenty
twenty two against Wellington.

Speaker 9 (01:52:54):
Didn't get the job done on that occasion.

Speaker 13 (01:52:55):
There's a lot of experienced players who have played in
big matches, whether they be Super Rugby Finals earlier in
the year. Guys like Tom Christi who captains this Canterbury
team this afternoon and what's his game before heading away
to England. So look, they've acknowledged that five weeks ago
they didn't get it right in a twenty minute burst.
Effectively it was thirty six twenty one with twenty five

(01:53:17):
minutes to go. An actual fact Otago went down to
fourteen men Will Tucky yellow carded in that Ranfy Shield match.
Yet they still piled on seventeen unanswered points to get
the job done.

Speaker 9 (01:53:28):
So they know if they can tighten a few things up.

Speaker 13 (01:53:30):
One of the key things Tom Christy spoke to me
Elliott about slowing down Otago is creating more pressure around
the breakdown, slowing their clean ball. We've seen such crisp
distribution from young Dylan Pledger at half back for Otago,
allowing Cameron Miller to get Otago up on the front foot.
So that was an area of focus for Canterbury. But

(01:53:51):
they very much feel that they've been building for this
moment and of course it's the last ever MPC match
here at the temporary stadium in Addington and they're determined
to end what's been a bit of a drought for
them really by their standards Canterbury. As I look over
at the Northwest Tower twenty seven team, the last time
Canterbury lifted the NPC title trophy.

Speaker 3 (01:54:10):
How much is a different How much of a difference
is no George Bowell, no Sam Dowry going to make
to Canterbury this afternoon.

Speaker 9 (01:54:17):
I think it can't be understated Elliott.

Speaker 13 (01:54:19):
Those two, given they weren't involved in the All Blacks
Rugby Championship campaign other than a couple of training sessions,
they have been key contributors to getting Canterbury this far
this season.

Speaker 9 (01:54:29):
In fact, Sam Dowry, by my understanding, is.

Speaker 13 (01:54:31):
Going to win the Dwayne Monthly Medal for the best
player in the Buddings NPC this season, such has been
his influence. George Bowell ever since he shook off that
injury mid season, has been in tremendous form and is
utterly deserving of his place on that All Blacks End
of Year tour. So I think their loss is significant. However,
pretty handy replacements to come in, and Brody McAllister's effectively

(01:54:53):
unseated by George Bowell on that All Blacks End of
Year tour.

Speaker 9 (01:54:56):
Hasn't played a lot of rugby.

Speaker 13 (01:54:57):
Brody McAllister, he'll be determined to show that he should
still be in that All Blacks conversation. And young Liam
Jack the surname Jack prity synonymous in these parts for rugby,
with his father Graham Jack playing for Canterbury uncle Chris
Jack playing for the All Blacks. He's really a talent
to watch for the future. And he'll start this afternoon
at Locke for Canterbury. So I don't think they lose

(01:55:18):
too much. However, such has been the influence of Dowry
and Boo has to be set it as a blow.

Speaker 3 (01:55:23):
Otago as they come up with plenty of confidence. Obviously
they've already done it once this season. What have you
been impressed by in their campaign? A lot of headlines
for Dylan pled during the way that he's played and
in some of the other members of that side. But
what's impressed to you about so the way Otago have
gone about their business this NPC season.

Speaker 13 (01:55:40):
Yeah, a lot a lot of head lines for Dylan
Pledger are understandably so so to Lucas Casey. The pair
of them the open side flanker in the halfback. Would
you believe it's scoring eight tries each in an NPC season.
But I've really been impressed by the summer their parts.
Guys like Will Stoddard at blindside flanker, who actually just
took out Otago's four to the year at this Season
Awards earlier in the week. Cameron Miller has come a

(01:56:01):
long way in the first five eighth position and is
just very a goalkicker as well, which is handy in
these big games. And gods like Sam Gilbert as well
at fullback, who plays his last game for Otago this
afternoon before heading away to Conducht in Ireland. So they've
had key contributions from a lot of experienced players and
that has allowed them to play this free flowing, unshackled

(01:56:25):
style of rugby. They've scored forty points. Can you believe
in their last four games. So first year head coach
Mark Brown has influence too. He's got this team humming,
he's got them confident. I don't think they have any fear.
And with that and with conditions, it's a bit of
a Northwest breeze, but it is a blue bird day
here in christ there's not a cloud in the sky.
It has all set up for Otago to play to

(01:56:47):
their strengths, to shift the ball wide and give this
a red hot crack.

Speaker 3 (01:56:51):
What's your sense about what this game is going to
come down to this afternoon from four.

Speaker 13 (01:56:56):
Just moments, big moments late in this game. I think
we're going to get a grand stand finish. It's the
two best teams all season long. We saw in that
Ran Frilly Shield game five weeks ago thirty eight thirty six,
it was an absolute nail bier, and I just think
it's going to be who can be composed, who can
keep a blue head and those key, critical, high pressurized moments,

(01:57:18):
whether it's a breakdown, turnover or a line break. It's
just it feels like to me that it's going to
be whoever can capitalize and keep their cool in the
furnace of a Bunning's MPC Finals. Such, there's so few
margins when you look at all the key statistical areas here.
We've got the top two teams in terms of points
scored in the competition.

Speaker 9 (01:57:38):
Canterbury.

Speaker 13 (01:57:39):
Yes, they go about in a slightly different way where
they suffocate and scramble defensively and make the opposition wilts
under pressure. Then you've got to target a bit more enterprising.
But it's just the finest of margins. I feel like
are going to decide the game today, Elliott, as is
always the case in a big final. And yeah, look,
as you can probably tell by the excitement of my

(01:57:59):
voice with still an hour twenty up from kickoff, but
I am absolutely buzzing.

Speaker 9 (01:58:03):
I need to keep it lit on things.

Speaker 3 (01:58:04):
Absolutely. Look, I'm sure we'll have some company in the
other south stand for once as well, which will be
be nice to you because I know you've has been
lonely there this season.

Speaker 13 (01:58:12):
It is a very unique experience commentating in an empty
south stand, Elliott.

Speaker 9 (01:58:15):
So already I think I've got about.

Speaker 13 (01:58:17):
Five hundred plus people around me here in between aisles
twenty three to twenty four on the south stand.

Speaker 9 (01:58:23):
It is fantastic.

Speaker 13 (01:58:24):
It is befitting of the occasion the last year a
provincial match here at a Polo Project Stadium in christ
Church and it is going to be full to the brim.
It has already full in and around where I am
here in the south stand, so we're in for a treat.

Speaker 3 (01:58:35):
What time do you kick off? And who's in your
commentary team this afternoon?

Speaker 7 (01:58:37):
Nick?

Speaker 13 (01:58:38):
Coverage begins at ten two four three point fifty. I'm
joined by former All Black and multiple NPC title winning
player Matt Todd and Craig Kerr will be stalking the
sidelines providing analysis and coverage at halftime in postmatch from
both camps as well. So an all star cast to
bring you this one this afternoon.

Speaker 3 (01:58:57):
I certainly does have a great call this afternoon. I
I appreciate your time.

Speaker 9 (01:59:00):
Thank you, Elliott.

Speaker 3 (01:59:01):
That is Nick Buley, our Gold Sports lead commentator for
this afternoon's in PC final Canterbury and Otargan is Nick
mentioned there? You can catch the full final on Gold
Sport and through your iHeartRadio at this afternoon. I'm with Nick.
I don't think there's going to be too much in
it this afternoon. I think it's going to come down
to some key moments late in the game and who

(01:59:23):
can hold their head the most, and hopefully it's not
down to a referees decision, it's down to the players
on the park and showing their wars the most. Very
much looking forward to that game this afternoon. As I said,
kickoff at four to five, and we'll keep you, of
course updated as well here on News Talk ZB if
you're sticking with us, it's coming up ten away from three.

(01:59:46):
I did want to mention as well, I had this
in my notes that interestingly, if you're in keen on
the ashes, the cricket so the rugby league ashes overnight,
it's not on Sky. Just thought i'd mentioned that two
fifteen am or two thirty am kickoff, it's three. You
can watch it on NRL dot com overnight. NRL dot

(02:00:07):
com is how you watch that. They've got the live
stream of that game from two point fifteen if you
are looking forward to that. It's not on Sky's sport
but from my understanding, it's a free live stream on
NRL dot com and the game kicking off at two
thirty that opening game, which will be fascinating to see
how the kangaroos are maild together under their new coach

(02:00:28):
Kevin Walters. As soon, there'll be some highlights on NRO
dot com. If you are not planning to be up
at that time of the morning, which I'm not sure
many will be around the country. Gent away from two
three brother on News Talk z. But we'll come back
wrap up the show after.

Speaker 1 (02:00:42):
This, breaking down the hail Mary's and the emp fails
weekends for it as News Talk ZB.

Speaker 3 (02:00:52):
It is coming up six away from three on News
Talk ZIB then about does us for Saturday afternooner, don't
forget that final four o'clock kickoff Canterbury and Otago on
Gold Sport. We will look at that final, I'm sure
tomorrow on Weekends Sport wrap it up. Whether it goes
Canterbury's way or Otago's. It's all locked up. And incidentally

(02:01:13):
in the World Series as well to a piece at
the bottom of the fifth and the opening game between
the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. Also tomorrow on the program,
the black Caps one day series against England gets underway.
He says, weather permitsing. Let's hope so the weather I
think looks all right at Bay Overland. Total will take

(02:01:34):
you inside black Caps camp tomorrow as well. We've got
the Phoenix to come to and plenty more besides that,
but it'll roughly do us for a Saturday afternoonton beverage
and next. And Andy, you've been assessing how we're going
to go out this afternoon the musical finish. What have
you got for us?

Speaker 23 (02:01:52):
You alluded it to, alluded to it earlier during in
case you missed a basketball action on the court, but
a lot of it off the court, well, poker action,
if you will, illegal gambling and whatnot. So naturally I've
chosen the only appropriate song I could think for it.
The Gambler says, all right, pay.

Speaker 3 (02:02:09):
Kenney and David see tomorrow, Thanks Andy, And we can't
sport down in dust.

Speaker 9 (02:02:15):
And the mist that you can hope for is to
die and to sleep.

Speaker 19 (02:02:21):
And when he finished speaking, he turned back forward the window,
crushed out his cigarette. We did off to sleep, and
somewhere in the darkness the gambler he broke even But
in his final words, I found the age that I

(02:02:42):
could keep. You got no when the hole, No when
the fall though, no when the war the weak, and
no when in the run you need count your money
when you're sitting at the table, There'll be timing up.

Speaker 24 (02:03:01):
The count when the deed's done. You got no when
the hold, when the whole, No, wind the fold, No,
when to walk away, no, when to run.

Speaker 3 (02:03:15):
You never count your.

Speaker 19 (02:03:17):
Money when you're sitting at the table.

Speaker 24 (02:03:21):
There'll be timing up counting when the dealing's done.

Speaker 8 (02:03:26):
You got no when the holder.

Speaker 24 (02:03:30):
No, when the folder, No, when to walk away, no,
when to run.

Speaker 15 (02:03:37):
You never count your money when.

Speaker 9 (02:03:41):
You're sitting at the table.

Speaker 4 (02:03:43):
There'll be timing up the counting.

Speaker 9 (02:03:46):
When the deal comes.

Speaker 1 (02:03:52):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen Life
to news talks It be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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