November 7, 2025 • 6 mins
The Wellington Phoenix are aiming to break their NZ derby duck this weekend as Auckland FC comes to town.
The Phoenix lost all three derby games last year, culminating in a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of their opponents at Mt Smart.
Defender Lukas Kelly-Heald joined Piney to discuss the importance of the Phoenix claiming their first win over the Auckland team.
“We’re really looking forward to an unbeaten start to the season.”
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB Get You Inside.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The Phoenix camp had the chance yesterday to chat to
Lucas Kelly Healed, one of the young defensive brigade in
the Phoenix squad. Asked him if Derby week was a
bit different from a normal week given the enormity of
the game at the end of the week.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, somewhat. I think we try and treat every game
exactly the same. Being two terms from the same country.
It definitely you can kind of feel that there's a
bit of added external pressure. We don't really buy until that.
You know, we try and do what we do we
can week out regardless of who we're playing against. But
it'll be an exciting game.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You only played i think second half or first half
of the third Derby last year, so it's not as
though you played all three. But is it easy or
not to put last year behind this team, you know,
the three losses and start afresh in terms of the derbies.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, I think it's definitely going into a newc and
it's a fresh start. You know, we've got a new team,
We've got we've got some some fresh faces, and I
think we all came back from the offseason refreshed and
ready to work hard. So we go into each game
the same and where we're really looking forward.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
To unbeaten started the season. How do you evaluate it
as a playing group? How happy other players with the
first three outings this season?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, no, it's been a it's been a good start.
Getting been undefeated in the first three is a not
an easy thing to do. So now we need to
start trying to turn those those draws into wins and
hopefully we can take it from there.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Tell us about game one against Perth where you'd just
come back from the All Whites, and I think Isaac
Hues was ruled out quite close to the start of
the game, and you came in out challenging a transition
I guess into the into a new system.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Was that for you, Yeah, I mean we had worked
on it in pre season then obviously went away with
the under twenty years and with the national team, so
so they had been working together for a few weeks
while I was way so there was a little bit
of a learning curve going into the game. It was
a bit of a tight turnaround. Got in pretty pretty
(02:15):
close to the game, but it was there's no excuses,
you know, we just need to try and perform as
best as we can and we try and give ourselves
the best possibility.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There's been a lot of talk about the high line,
but it seems to have been sorted out. I mean,
there was that first half against Perth and you know,
you feel your way, but the principles of the way
you play defensively are they embedded? Now? You pretty much
know what you're doing, you know, from game situation to
game situation.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, And I think it's showing every week where we're
getting better and better and those learning curves are starting
to narrow and we're starting to feel more comfortable in
those roles. And now that the league has started and
we're playing every week, it's a great opportunity to test
ourselves and learn from from our challenges and get better.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
How different is it for you because we're seeing you
mainly on the left side of a back four, also
in the six, but defensively, what are the specific changes
playing as part of a back three.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah? I think you have to think a bit more
conservatively at times when as a central player as opposed
to playing out wide. But a lot of the roles
and responsibilities are still the same. Just about winning your moments,
winning your battles and then giving it to the ones
in front of you to hopefully make something happen.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Communication wise, you know, there's no man Draker James this weekend.
Good Isaac Hughes and Matt Sheridan, who I know you
know well, and then Josh behind you. How important is
the communication especially in a new Wish system.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, it's hugely important. I think, especially with the way
we're playing, communication is key, you know. I think that's
something we've been trying to drive all for the last
few months as we've been working on it, and like
I look along the back line and there's some real
vocal people like Isaac and Matt Sheridan, very vocal. So
it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Is that something that you know? I mean, you don't
strike me and I might be completely wrong here as
a really vocal football player. Do you are you sort
of changing in any your regard or you just let
those guys do most of the talking.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
No, I'm definitely vocal. I try to be. I'm not
the one to yell and scream at you, but I
will try and be concise and direct with my communication.
I'll let those around me know what needs to be done,
but you won't see me yelling my head off at
anyone around me, you know. So it's a different, i think,
more composed style of communication, but I think it works
(04:36):
for me.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely, Ye know, it's a great quality. How different
a player are you from the Lucas Kelly Hill that
joined the Phoenix a couple of years ago? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I think every year I've grown as a player. I
think from I think three years ago now or this's
my going into my third season, I think a lot
has changed and I have found myself growing into myself
as a person and as a player, and every week
poses new challenges and new opportunity and I've enjoyed every minute.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And your involvement in the national team, have you. Have
you found your experiences being in and around the All
Whites camp?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah, unbelievable. I always love going into that environment. They're
all such great players, but more importantly, they're all great people.
I get on well with everyone that I come into
contact with there, and I try and take away as
many learnings as I possibly can.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And just back to this week to finish. Is there
any danger that you played the game before the game,
if you know what I mean. It's a big occasion.
It's Derby, big crowd coming. Is there any need to
keep your feet on the ground in the Thursday, Friday
before the Saturday.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah. I think we've spoken about it as a group.
You know, it's an important game, but it's the same
game as every other week. It's you know, both teams
are trying to win win the same game and that
should be how it is every single week. So we
just need to keep doing what we've been doing and
do it at a at a high level and then
hopefully the result comes our a a.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Good time to score your first day leg goal, it
would be definitely would be Just would in your brother too.
You haven't seen him this year. He's coming back Albe,
your goalkeeper brother. Is he close to being back involved
in the first time environment.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, definitely. He's training with us every day and he's
been getting some minutes with the reserve team just to
get some minutes in the tank. And he's been training
and playing exceptionally and I'm really glad to see him
back out on the field.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
That is. Lucas Kelly healed out of the Wellington Phoenix
or seven o'clock kick off tonight in the men's game
the women at four o'clock.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB Get You Inside.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The Phoenix camp had the chance yesterday to chat to
Lucas Kelly Healed, one of the young defensive brigade in
the Phoenix squad. Asked him if Derby week was a
bit different from a normal week given the enormity of
the game at the end of the week.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, somewhat. I think we try and treat every game
exactly the same. Being two terms from the same country.
It definitely you can kind of feel that there's a
bit of added external pressure. We don't really buy until that.
You know, we try and do what we do we
can week out regardless of who we're playing against. But
it'll be an exciting game.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You only played i think second half or first half
of the third Derby last year, so it's not as
though you played all three. But is it easy or
not to put last year behind this team, you know,
the three losses and start afresh in terms of the derbies.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, I think it's definitely going into a newc and
it's a fresh start. You know, we've got a new team,
We've got we've got some some fresh faces, and I
think we all came back from the offseason refreshed and
ready to work hard. So we go into each game
the same and where we're really looking forward.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
To unbeaten started the season. How do you evaluate it
as a playing group? How happy other players with the
first three outings this season?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, no, it's been a it's been a good start.
Getting been undefeated in the first three is a not
an easy thing to do. So now we need to
start trying to turn those those draws into wins and
hopefully we can take it from there.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Tell us about game one against Perth where you'd just
come back from the All Whites, and I think Isaac
Hues was ruled out quite close to the start of
the game, and you came in out challenging a transition
I guess into the into a new system.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Was that for you, Yeah, I mean we had worked
on it in pre season then obviously went away with
the under twenty years and with the national team, so
so they had been working together for a few weeks
while I was way so there was a little bit
of a learning curve going into the game. It was
a bit of a tight turnaround. Got in pretty pretty
(02:15):
close to the game, but it was there's no excuses,
you know, we just need to try and perform as
best as we can and we try and give ourselves
the best possibility.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There's been a lot of talk about the high line,
but it seems to have been sorted out. I mean,
there was that first half against Perth and you know,
you feel your way, but the principles of the way
you play defensively are they embedded? Now? You pretty much
know what you're doing, you know, from game situation to
game situation.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, And I think it's showing every week where we're
getting better and better and those learning curves are starting
to narrow and we're starting to feel more comfortable in
those roles. And now that the league has started and
we're playing every week, it's a great opportunity to test
ourselves and learn from from our challenges and get better.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
How different is it for you because we're seeing you
mainly on the left side of a back four, also
in the six, but defensively, what are the specific changes
playing as part of a back three.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah? I think you have to think a bit more
conservatively at times when as a central player as opposed
to playing out wide. But a lot of the roles
and responsibilities are still the same. Just about winning your moments,
winning your battles and then giving it to the ones
in front of you to hopefully make something happen.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Communication wise, you know, there's no man Draker James this weekend.
Good Isaac Hughes and Matt Sheridan, who I know you
know well, and then Josh behind you. How important is
the communication especially in a new Wish system.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, it's hugely important. I think, especially with the way
we're playing, communication is key, you know. I think that's
something we've been trying to drive all for the last
few months as we've been working on it, and like
I look along the back line and there's some real
vocal people like Isaac and Matt Sheridan, very vocal. So
it's been really good.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Is that something that you know? I mean, you don't
strike me and I might be completely wrong here as
a really vocal football player. Do you are you sort
of changing in any your regard or you just let
those guys do most of the talking.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
No, I'm definitely vocal. I try to be. I'm not
the one to yell and scream at you, but I
will try and be concise and direct with my communication.
I'll let those around me know what needs to be done,
but you won't see me yelling my head off at
anyone around me, you know. So it's a different, i think,
more composed style of communication, but I think it works
(04:36):
for me.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, absolutely, Ye know, it's a great quality. How different
a player are you from the Lucas Kelly Hill that
joined the Phoenix a couple of years ago? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I think every year I've grown as a player. I
think from I think three years ago now or this's
my going into my third season, I think a lot
has changed and I have found myself growing into myself
as a person and as a player, and every week
poses new challenges and new opportunity and I've enjoyed every minute.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
And your involvement in the national team, have you. Have
you found your experiences being in and around the All
Whites camp?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah, unbelievable. I always love going into that environment. They're
all such great players, but more importantly, they're all great people.
I get on well with everyone that I come into
contact with there, and I try and take away as
many learnings as I possibly can.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
And just back to this week to finish. Is there
any danger that you played the game before the game,
if you know what I mean. It's a big occasion.
It's Derby, big crowd coming. Is there any need to
keep your feet on the ground in the Thursday, Friday
before the Saturday.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah. I think we've spoken about it as a group.
You know, it's an important game, but it's the same
game as every other week. It's you know, both teams
are trying to win win the same game and that
should be how it is every single week. So we
just need to keep doing what we've been doing and
do it at a at a high level and then
hopefully the result comes our a a.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Good time to score your first day leg goal, it
would be definitely would be Just would in your brother too.
You haven't seen him this year. He's coming back Albe,
your goalkeeper brother. Is he close to being back involved
in the first time environment.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, definitely. He's training with us every day and he's
been getting some minutes with the reserve team just to
get some minutes in the tank. And he's been training
and playing exceptionally and I'm really glad to see him
back out on the field.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
That is. Lucas Kelly healed out of the Wellington Phoenix
or seven o'clock kick off tonight in the men's game
the women at four o'clock.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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