November 8, 2025 • 10 mins
Auckland FC coach Steve Corica's voicing his disagreement with the first of two red cards they copped - despite prevailing in the opening New Zealand derby of the new season in football's A-League.
The visitors were 2-1 victors over the Phoenix in Wellington, but had to survive the sending offs of Dan Hall in the 49th minute and Logan Rogerson in the 79th.
Coach Steve Corica joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb unbelievable sporting drama in Wellington last night.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Awk FC's derby domination continues. But I dare you to
have imagined this. I challenge you to find bitter sporting
theater then this Awkland FC down to ten men with
forty minutes to play, down to nine men with ten
(00:39):
minutes to go, hanging tough and hanging on to beat
Wellington Phoenix to one incredible night at sky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corriker is with a Steve
congrets on the wom What was your overriding emotion when
you woke up this morning and contemplated another derby win
over Wellington Phoenix?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
To tell how well the boys did? Really with nine men? Yeah,
it's never easy.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Obviously I've had ten men before four and come away
with a win. But with nine men, you know, you
would think that they would overrun us. But I was
just so proud really of the players and how they
how they performed under pressure like that.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What is the strategy? As you say, it's quite new,
isn't it. It's not common? What is the strategy with
nine the eleven.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Well, for us, you know, we like to keep the
ex nise and compacts. We believe then if we get
them out wide into the white areas and they start
knocking crosses into the box and we have good bodies
in there that we can deal with crosses, which we
did and they for me, if I felt really comfortable
even with nine men because the way they were going
(01:47):
about it, they were doing exactly that and I was
quite happy with that. So it felt like, you know,
our players were obviously up for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Defending one v ones in the white area was very good.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
But also when they did deliver balls into the box,
normally we had the first contact. Sometimes they got the
second one, but we had enough pressure on the balls
to actually stop them from really getting any real shots off.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Let's talk about the two red cards Dan Halls wanted
to start with. I understand you might have had some
contact with the heat of referees on that one. Can
you give us your view on Dan Hall's red card?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Yeah? Obviously Terry Mafflinn's always in contact with John Moss,
so yeah, we think it was a bit harsh the
cup for a couple of reasons. I think Piper handboard
handballed around the halfway line.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I think when he first got contact.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Of the ball, and that also you know, for me,
I don't I don't really see Dan Hall as being
the last man if you look how close.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Francis was to him.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
So whether you know, and he comes out of this,
obviously I doubt it. But you know, for me, it
shouldn't have been a red card. And then really the
logan one after that probably stabs from the first one.
I would say, in what way, you know, just a
little bit hard done by I think with Dan Hall's one,
(03:06):
so you know, he's just getting stuck in. Obviously he
wasn't a good challenge. I've got no problems with him
being sent off with that kind of challenge, you know,
but I think that's a little bit of frustration as
well from Dan Hawk, you know, being sent off.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So will you can you appeal? Will you appeal? Do
you do you expect that then that the red carpet
for Hall, I mean, for Dan Hall might be rescinded.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Well, I'm not sure we will ask the question, but
I think if you do appeal sometimes, you know, I
think they can put another a week on, so obviously
we don't want that, but yeah, well we'll have some
discussions about it and just see what our options are.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Both of your goals came by virtue of breaking Wellington's
high line, which has been talked about a lot, the
first one inside thirty seconds. How specifically did you prepare
to take advantage of the way Wellington defend.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, we did a lot of work on it, to
be honest with that.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
We thought that was their weakness and you know, we've
seen from the other games that you know, other teams
have had many opportunities from their high line and probably
didn't capitalize as much. For us, I think we took
both our chances exceptionally well. Jesse Randall was you know,
he said, once he breaks the line, no one's going
to catch him. He's so fast, and you know, I'm
(04:27):
so pleased for him as well, because he's starting to
add obviously goals to his game and assists now as well.
So you know, he's worked really hard and he's probably,
like I said before, he's probably been one of our
best in pre season and now he's starting to show
it in the league as well.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I think they've given your second goal to Sam Cosgrove.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
I've checked it, I think as well, but I think
when I think so as well. But I think when
it touches Sam, I think he's already in the goal.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So I'm not sure who's claiming it.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I'm pretty sure it's Jesse's goal, but yeah, I'm pretty
sure Sam will probably take it if he if he
could as well. But yeah, like I said, the players,
I don't care who scores goals. It's just about making
sure that the best person in the right spot just
to play him the ball, and I think Jesse did.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
That well, regardless of whether he gets credit for the
goal or not. Jesse Randalls build up to that second goal,
as you say, he's alltrifying, he's away from his man
and there's no stopping him.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Can you just spair touch was his first touch was
the one that set that up.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
He just brought it into his stride as he was running,
and then you know, the second one was a little
bit heavier touch and I thought, you know, maybe that
he could have been cut out, but it was perfect
in the end, it was great.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Can you talk a bit more about his development Steve
last season. I'm just looking at the stands now he
played twenty times, but only six starts. You've used them
from the start, and you've talked often about how impressive
he's been in preseason. What are you seeing from Jesse
Randal in terms of his development as an A League footballer.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I think with all young players when they start, and
obviously for us it was new for everyone the A League.
Noine's laid in it. Not a lot of them have
played in it before. A young boy, he was picking
up a lot of nig legal little injuries and I
think for me that's been the big turning point for him.
He's he went away in the off season, he's worked
harder on his body to make it stronger.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
And I really think it's paid off.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know, come back really super fit at the start
of pre season and hasn't looked back.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Really He's learned along the way. He's learning all the time.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
He takes everything on board and and runs with it.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And that's what you really want. You want players that
will take.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Instructions and go with it, and it's he's he's doing
that really well.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Do you think he is putting himself back into the
all whites frame playing like this?
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I think by the time the world Cup comes. If
he continues like this, he'll be definitely in the frame.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Do you talk to your players about their international ambitions.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
We do at the start of season.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
We you know, obviously we want to know what the
ambitions are and what they want to do in football,
and we want to help them get to where they
where they want to be a lot of players want
to play overseas and you know that's part of our
club as well. We want to you know, get these
young boys in, get them to do well. And obviously
you know, if Bill's other clubs as well, can we
go there, you know, to bring them to another club
(07:20):
and to.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Get what they want.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
You know, obviously all Kiwi boys want to play in
a World Cup. Is a major opportunity for any player
in and around obviously the A League at the moment
to try and get into that obviously World Cup squad.
And I think Jesse is going to have a good
chance if he continues to do and when he's doing.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Jake Brimmer left the field with a dislocated should. Of
all the looks of it, I think it popped out
and they popped it back and again didn't they see
any any update on him.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Steve not really.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
It's obviously, like you said, he did pop out pop
back in. He wasn't in a lot of pain last night,
so that's probably a good sign. He'll get some scans
probably when he we get back to Aukland, just to
make sure no bones are broken. If there's no bones broken,
we're hoping he should be okay because we've got the
international window as well. He can have that week off
and then you know, hopefully be back in the frame
(08:12):
for the following week against Brisbane.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I guess worst case scenario if he's not, and then
you've got the two red cards which may not be overturned.
And at so Haul Rogerson, Brimer, SARKI if they're all out,
do you have the depth to cover their absences?
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Ah, yes, think I think we did obviously. You know,
Nando's a perfect replacement for Dan Hall, you know, so
there you go there.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
If Brimall was out, you know.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
We've got we've got a couple of options there. Cam
Howison obviously he's played there before for Libe is desperate
to get back into the team, so you know, and
then obviously Logan Logan was the starting so we've got
a good depth there. We haven't really played Lim Gilliam
at this stage, so you know, players like that might
(09:01):
at an option to get up to get game time
and to show exactly what he's about this season. And
you know, John c Bidoire was doing really well in
the reserve team score of goals and you know, might
give him options up front as well if we need,
you know, players to come off the bench. And I
think we've got the depth in the squad to be
honest with you yet.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah. Well, and just a word on Kellen Elliott who
came in to cover Hiroki sarkis absence. He did it,
get it quite regular last season. You know, came on,
always did a job for you thought he was terrific
last night, Steve. You know, especially when you're down to nine.
Another guy who you're seeing development and week on week,
Kellan Elliott.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Yeah, Kellen has never let me down. You know, anytime
he come on last season, he was, he was amazing.
I think the last two games here he's really stepped
it up again. Obviously want to want to try and
get into a World Cup squads, so.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
But he just wants opportunity to play.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
And you know, obviously, you know I got to make
the call when when Hiroki's fit. You know, it's never
nice to you know, you've got a quality player like
Kellen on the bench to come on. It's obviously great,
but he wants to play well and I think he's
really enjoying his opportunity at the moment. You know, he
knows Horoki is going to be out for at least
six weeks, so he's going to get game time and
(10:14):
I'm hoping he continues doing what he's doing because he's
he's actually been brilliant for us.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Indeed he has well another one four from four in
the Derby's Steve can't wait for the next one on
December the sixth, and enjoy your weekend mate, and your
week off. Thanks for chatting as always.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Thanks Thanks fine cheers Matte.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
No, thank you, Steve. Steve Kodaka there. He is the
head coach of Auckland FC, who are top of the
table and will remain there even with two games to
play this weekend and ran four of the A League
men's they will finish the weekend top of the table
three wins in a drawer from their four matches so far,
there's three straight wins for them. It just feels as
though they're picking up where they left off last season.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
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 News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb unbelievable sporting drama in Wellington last night.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Awk FC's derby domination continues. But I dare you to
have imagined this. I challenge you to find bitter sporting
theater then this Awkland FC down to ten men with
forty minutes to play, down to nine men with ten
(00:39):
minutes to go, hanging tough and hanging on to beat
Wellington Phoenix to one incredible night at sky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corriker is with a Steve
congrets on the wom What was your overriding emotion when
you woke up this morning and contemplated another derby win
over Wellington Phoenix?
Speaker 4 (00:57):
To tell how well the boys did? Really with nine men? Yeah,
it's never easy.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
Obviously I've had ten men before four and come away
with a win. But with nine men, you know, you
would think that they would overrun us. But I was
just so proud really of the players and how they
how they performed under pressure like that.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What is the strategy? As you say, it's quite new,
isn't it. It's not common? What is the strategy with
nine the eleven.
Speaker 5 (01:26):
Well, for us, you know, we like to keep the
ex nise and compacts. We believe then if we get
them out wide into the white areas and they start
knocking crosses into the box and we have good bodies
in there that we can deal with crosses, which we
did and they for me, if I felt really comfortable
even with nine men because the way they were going
(01:47):
about it, they were doing exactly that and I was
quite happy with that. So it felt like, you know,
our players were obviously up for the challenge.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Defending one v ones in the white area was very good.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
But also when they did deliver balls into the box,
normally we had the first contact. Sometimes they got the
second one, but we had enough pressure on the balls
to actually stop them from really getting any real shots off.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Let's talk about the two red cards Dan Halls wanted
to start with. I understand you might have had some
contact with the heat of referees on that one. Can
you give us your view on Dan Hall's red card?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Yeah? Obviously Terry Mafflinn's always in contact with John Moss,
so yeah, we think it was a bit harsh the
cup for a couple of reasons. I think Piper handboard
handballed around the halfway line.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I think when he first got contact.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
Of the ball, and that also you know, for me,
I don't I don't really see Dan Hall as being
the last man if you look how close.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Francis was to him.
Speaker 5 (02:45):
So whether you know, and he comes out of this,
obviously I doubt it. But you know, for me, it
shouldn't have been a red card. And then really the
logan one after that probably stabs from the first one.
I would say, in what way, you know, just a
little bit hard done by I think with Dan Hall's one,
(03:06):
so you know, he's just getting stuck in. Obviously he
wasn't a good challenge. I've got no problems with him
being sent off with that kind of challenge, you know,
but I think that's a little bit of frustration as
well from Dan Hawk, you know, being sent off.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So will you can you appeal? Will you appeal? Do
you do you expect that then that the red carpet
for Hall, I mean, for Dan Hall might be rescinded.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Well, I'm not sure we will ask the question, but
I think if you do appeal sometimes, you know, I
think they can put another a week on, so obviously
we don't want that, but yeah, well we'll have some
discussions about it and just see what our options are.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Both of your goals came by virtue of breaking Wellington's
high line, which has been talked about a lot, the
first one inside thirty seconds. How specifically did you prepare
to take advantage of the way Wellington defend.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, we did a lot of work on it, to
be honest with that.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
We thought that was their weakness and you know, we've
seen from the other games that you know, other teams
have had many opportunities from their high line and probably
didn't capitalize as much. For us, I think we took
both our chances exceptionally well. Jesse Randall was you know,
he said, once he breaks the line, no one's going
to catch him. He's so fast, and you know, I'm
(04:27):
so pleased for him as well, because he's starting to
add obviously goals to his game and assists now as well.
So you know, he's worked really hard and he's probably,
like I said before, he's probably been one of our
best in pre season and now he's starting to show
it in the league as well.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I think they've given your second goal to Sam Cosgrove.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
I've checked it, I think as well, but I think
when I think so as well. But I think when
it touches Sam, I think he's already in the goal.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
So I'm not sure who's claiming it.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
I'm pretty sure it's Jesse's goal, but yeah, I'm pretty
sure Sam will probably take it if he if he
could as well. But yeah, like I said, the players,
I don't care who scores goals. It's just about making
sure that the best person in the right spot just
to play him the ball, and I think Jesse did.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
That well, regardless of whether he gets credit for the
goal or not. Jesse Randalls build up to that second goal,
as you say, he's alltrifying, he's away from his man
and there's no stopping him.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Can you just spair touch was his first touch was
the one that set that up.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
He just brought it into his stride as he was running,
and then you know, the second one was a little
bit heavier touch and I thought, you know, maybe that
he could have been cut out, but it was perfect
in the end, it was great.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Can you talk a bit more about his development Steve
last season. I'm just looking at the stands now he
played twenty times, but only six starts. You've used them
from the start, and you've talked often about how impressive
he's been in preseason. What are you seeing from Jesse
Randal in terms of his development as an A League footballer.
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I think with all young players when they start, and
obviously for us it was new for everyone the A League.
Noine's laid in it. Not a lot of them have
played in it before. A young boy, he was picking
up a lot of nig legal little injuries and I
think for me that's been the big turning point for him.
He's he went away in the off season, he's worked
harder on his body to make it stronger.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
And I really think it's paid off.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know, come back really super fit at the start
of pre season and hasn't looked back.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Really He's learned along the way. He's learning all the time.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
He takes everything on board and and runs with it.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
And that's what you really want. You want players that
will take.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
Instructions and go with it, and it's he's he's doing
that really well.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Do you think he is putting himself back into the
all whites frame playing like this?
Speaker 5 (06:47):
I think by the time the world Cup comes. If
he continues like this, he'll be definitely in the frame.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Do you talk to your players about their international ambitions.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
We do at the start of season.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
We you know, obviously we want to know what the
ambitions are and what they want to do in football,
and we want to help them get to where they
where they want to be a lot of players want
to play overseas and you know that's part of our
club as well. We want to you know, get these
young boys in, get them to do well. And obviously
you know, if Bill's other clubs as well, can we
go there, you know, to bring them to another club
(07:20):
and to.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Get what they want.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
You know, obviously all Kiwi boys want to play in
a World Cup. Is a major opportunity for any player
in and around obviously the A League at the moment
to try and get into that obviously World Cup squad.
And I think Jesse is going to have a good
chance if he continues to do and when he's doing.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Jake Brimmer left the field with a dislocated should. Of
all the looks of it, I think it popped out
and they popped it back and again didn't they see
any any update on him.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Steve not really.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
It's obviously, like you said, he did pop out pop
back in. He wasn't in a lot of pain last night,
so that's probably a good sign. He'll get some scans
probably when he we get back to Aukland, just to
make sure no bones are broken. If there's no bones broken,
we're hoping he should be okay because we've got the
international window as well. He can have that week off
and then you know, hopefully be back in the frame
(08:12):
for the following week against Brisbane.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I guess worst case scenario if he's not, and then
you've got the two red cards which may not be overturned.
And at so Haul Rogerson, Brimer, SARKI if they're all out,
do you have the depth to cover their absences?
Speaker 5 (08:31):
Ah, yes, think I think we did obviously. You know,
Nando's a perfect replacement for Dan Hall, you know, so
there you go there.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
If Brimall was out, you know.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
We've got we've got a couple of options there. Cam
Howison obviously he's played there before for Libe is desperate
to get back into the team, so you know, and
then obviously Logan Logan was the starting so we've got
a good depth there. We haven't really played Lim Gilliam
at this stage, so you know, players like that might
(09:01):
at an option to get up to get game time
and to show exactly what he's about this season. And
you know, John c Bidoire was doing really well in
the reserve team score of goals and you know, might
give him options up front as well if we need,
you know, players to come off the bench. And I
think we've got the depth in the squad to be
honest with you yet.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah. Well, and just a word on Kellen Elliott who
came in to cover Hiroki sarkis absence. He did it,
get it quite regular last season. You know, came on,
always did a job for you thought he was terrific
last night, Steve. You know, especially when you're down to nine.
Another guy who you're seeing development and week on week,
Kellan Elliott.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
Yeah, Kellen has never let me down. You know, anytime
he come on last season, he was, he was amazing.
I think the last two games here he's really stepped
it up again. Obviously want to want to try and
get into a World Cup squads, so.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
But he just wants opportunity to play.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
And you know, obviously, you know I got to make
the call when when Hiroki's fit. You know, it's never
nice to you know, you've got a quality player like
Kellen on the bench to come on. It's obviously great,
but he wants to play well and I think he's
really enjoying his opportunity at the moment. You know, he
knows Horoki is going to be out for at least
six weeks, so he's going to get game time and
(10:14):
I'm hoping he continues doing what he's doing because he's
he's actually been brilliant for us.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Indeed he has well another one four from four in
the Derby's Steve can't wait for the next one on
December the sixth, and enjoy your weekend mate, and your
week off. Thanks for chatting as always.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Thanks Thanks fine cheers Matte.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
No, thank you, Steve. Steve Kodaka there. He is the
head coach of Auckland FC, who are top of the
table and will remain there even with two games to
play this weekend and ran four of the A League
men's they will finish the weekend top of the table
three wins in a drawer from their four matches so far,
there's three straight wins for them. It just feels as
though they're picking up where they left off last season.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
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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