July 2, 2024 • 41 mins
D'Arcy Waldegrave returns to recap an exciting week in the world of sports! Highlights for tonight include:
Sir Graham Lowe
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Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Why hello there and LOALC come on into sports Talk great,
have you all on board? My name is Darcy Waldergrave.
It's a Tuesday, July second, at twenty twenty four, rapidly
approaching seven minutes after seven. You got me for the
next hour as we talk sport and tonight we're focusing
on rugby league and the retiring legend that is p
(00:53):
dub Dub. I don't know if she's ever been called that.
I just made it up them and no, I don't
think it will stack. I'm talking, of course, of Porsche
Woodman Whitcliffe, who's announced her retirement post the Paris Olympic Games.
She joins the program later on the piece to talk
about the highs and the lows, and the ups and
the downs, and the ins and the outs and the
(01:13):
whine earth you're retiring now get it all from Porsche
just before I sit down. But up first, Sir Graham
low Forman. He'silling keiwi's coach NZRL administrator. You keep hearing it,
don't you. There's no room for Seawn Johnson anymore here
has need the best season. He's out on his ear
(01:35):
to Mighty Martin is the second coming on. We need
to stick with him. Blah blah blah. I completely and
utterly disagree with that concept, and we'll take your calls
on that after we hear from it. Sir Graham Low
who joins us next to discuss the future of Sean
Johnson and the calls for his head bizarre, But there
(01:57):
you go. That's our plan before you go anywhere in
there that let's get nice and close to this today.
And in sports, a new Akafaca they'd s a KFC
Auckland Football Club signing. It probably won't be in Auckland
for long. Serious Dan Hall, one of consecutive A League
titles with the Central Coast, signed for Auckland based on
(02:19):
the reach of owner Built Foley.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I heard about the Foley Group and how there's those
connections with multiple clubs that are in great leagues and
for any aspiring players who wants to push to the
best of their abilities, and that's obviously something that's very exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, only want to come for a season that I'm
off overseas, not interested in the club, really interested in
the springboard. Thank you Dan Hall, or at least he's honest, right,
I've got to give him that. The retiring Black Fern
just talking new about her before the superhero of rugby
and sevens pors of Woodman Wincliffe has considered Robbert League
a coach he wasn't allowed near.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
She was a niver My final not really league players dead.
I asked him if I could play league at primary
school and he said no, we don't do league enough Emily,
So right from then it was never an option.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Que tennis player Lulu soon seen a few tremens through
the women's tennis world by beating eighth seed ken Wyn
Jing at Wimbledon. She believes that the full focus on
her game now that she has left university is the
reason behind her first round success.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
After college, I'm able to go full time and hone
in on on tennis, so it's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
And All Black vice captain Jordi Barrett is getting accustomed
to coach Robertson's language and style ahead of the season's
opening match versus the English.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
It's inevitable when you change personal you have different approaches
and different ways of thinking, so that was always going
to happen, but look, it's a bit of different language
and seeing you guys having to relearn some terms and yeah,
bit it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
And if you want a rough idea, go insnewstalk zb
dot co dot inz and download Piney's chat with Razor
Robertson from the weekend. Really interesting insight into what he's
gone going to bring to the role of All Blacks
head coach. But of a plug for my colleague, mister
Jason pine And that's sport today. Right, Let's talk about
(04:16):
Robert league. Let's talk about Sean Johnson. A lot of
people going, well, Tomighty is the next man off, here's
the next man coming. He is the heir apparent. What's
the point in Seawn even coming back. We're joined by
Sir Graham Lowe to discuss that concept. Now, Graham, welcome
to the show. So what does the form of Tomarti
Martin mean for Sean Johnson?
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Oh, well, I'm not sure what it means for Sean.
Sewan does, but the main thing is what it means
for the coach for Andrew Webster, because he's shown the
confidence to give to Murray Martin that opportunity and obviously
built him up at to Murray Martin's a heck of
a player anyhow. I mean, he's already an international player
with a lot of talent. But I think the coach
(04:57):
has pulled the right string and I suppose what happens
with Sean now it's just up to Sean and the coach.
Because Shawn's still a fantastic possibly on his best day,
the best player of the club's got you know, I
don't think anyone should forget that.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
And he's had an injury, he's had a cloud hanging
over him, so you could be you can understand why
he's not been at his absolute best. So this is
not a criticism of Sean that's like, hey, we've got
another guy who can step into your boots. Would be
crazy not to use them.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Absolutely, And I mean playing with the injuries that he
has done just shows the character and the courage of
the man and the willingness of what he's prepared to
put himself through for the club and for his team.
So we may not have seen the sparkle in recent times,
he's been prepared to put his body through a lot,
a lot. But many who criticize and would probably Winjin
(05:52):
have to go to the doctor if they've got a
drinking paper clups stuck under the fingernail, they've got no
idea what it's like playing with the injuries some of
these players play with.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
He attracts so much, doesn't he is it because he's
just been so good? And when he doesn't hit those levels,
people get a bit their noses out of joint.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Grahame, I think that is a bit of a dos.
He is just an exceptional player, one that a generational
type player that you just see come along every now
and then. And so when you're going good, it's easy
for he's easy for people to point out and say
it's because he's gone. You know, he's a fantastic player.
And then if the team doesn't perform for whatever reason,
(06:32):
he seems to attract the criticism. And unfortunately that's just
the nature of sport.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
When too, Mighty Martin, who is young ish in his career,
what is he is in late twenties, He looks like
he is possibly the future once Sewn Johnson hangs up
his boots. But that transfer of position I from the
older guy to the newer guy. How important is it
that Shawn Johnson is fully engaged in that process? Because
(06:56):
I've heard and I know that Sewn still spends a
lot of time at practice. He's not hiding in the rehab.
He's really involved with this team. So the handover, the
transfer of power should be good.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
No player of any sport worth his salt is going
to happily hand over his position to someone else coming through.
Players hide broken limbs, so they hide all sorts of
injuries so they don't get isolated out and maybe lose
the spot to a younger player coming through. So Sean,
Sean is a hardened He's now a hardened professional player.
(07:31):
And I think anybody would underestimate Sean Johnson at their
own peril. I think because he's still got plenty to offer.
And while to Murray Martin's, I'm a fan of as
he's always have been, he's been a really good player.
When he first came on the scene as an international
for the Keywis just as a young kid. Really, I mean,
he stood out and he just showed he had that class.
And as he's got a bit more older and experience
(07:53):
now he's not out of position. You know, in the
number seven jersey for the Warriors, he looks fantastic in fact,
but the thing is Andrew Webster will be having long
conversations with Sean and really it's what's in Swan's mind
and what the coach has got in his plans for
the future, and that's how the decision will be made.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
How do players hide broken bones? Graham Low, That's a
still stunning statement.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
They do.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Don't worry about that. They'll hide any sort of it.
If they see someone on the horizon it's going to
try and take their place. They'll put them themselves through
all sorts of anger. Andy just try and hide pain.
That would hold most people for heck of a long time.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Wouldn't call to Mighty Martin a young player, but he's
what five six years younger than Seawan Johnson, so young
compared to him in his headspace. Having a guy like
Sean Johnson around that may well find himself back in
that seven jersey. How does that work for a player
like that, knowing there's someone breathing down his shoulder, good,
(08:55):
bad and different.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I think it all depends what the philosophy of the
club is. And it seems to me that Andrew Webster
would have said a philosophy in that club where he
is the boss, he will make a decision on who
is No one's got a mortgage on the jersey anywhere
at all, and he will make a decision on who
he thinks is right for the job at that particular time.
(09:17):
And some players can cope with that philosophy and some can't.
But that's how I think that, That's how it seems
to me that that Andrew Webster has set that philosophy
in the club, which I think is a fantastic philosophy.
And so then if a player gets stood down or
not played a particular week or sat on the bench
or whatever it might be, they can cope with it emotionally, okay.
(09:39):
Andean Sean is a tough, experienced player as is tomorrow.
Is that he's not a youngster. He's an experienced halfpack,
you know, experience an RL player, so he will be
able to cope. But the whole thing, in my mind,
depends on the philosophy that the coach, Andrew Webbs, that
has laid in place and that the whole club will
(10:00):
be operating on.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And of course, Sir Graham Low, we can't forget that
Metcalf's got to come back from injury and we've got
a character called Harris Tavita floating around too. So trying
to put all those players into two positions incredibly difficult
for Andrew Webster. But what a great difficulty to face.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Well, it's fantastics. You better have more players than you
need than the other way around. And again, the whole
thing is made easy if the philosophy, If the philosophy
of the club is in place, and it's a philosophy
that treats everybody the same, No one thinks they've got
a you know, owns a position. There are any guardians
of the position while they've got it, and they've got
(10:41):
to be on their best game. They've got to be
up to their best and I'm sure that's how it's
operating out there at the Warriors at the moment.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
It's been said that when you get to mighty and
Sean in the same lineup and a six and seven,
sometimes they overplay their own hands and maybe step on
the other guy's toes. How difficult is it for a
seven to go play six and vice versa in that
halves pairing. What's the process like for these players actually
transfer their skills out of number.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
I don't think it's any issue at all. I think
the media make a big thing of it at times,
but these guys are football is that's doesn't matter where
you get put on. You're a footballer and that means
you're at football, not on the left hands or of
the field, or the right side of the field, or
on your goal on or the other goal on. You're
a footballer when you step across the line and wherever
you need it, that's where you play. And when you
(11:31):
start getting knitty and pick you know, some commentators will say, well,
sevens guiding the team. Others will say six is guiding
the team. And it's just it's just noise that's going on.
I don't take any notice for it all, and I
don't think the players do.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
What you don't take any notice of the media? Gee lowly,
what have we done to you?
Speaker 6 (11:48):
No, No, I do take notice of the media. Don't
worry about that. But I'm saying this is just a
media thing. It's a big that's a big thing in
the media of someone changes jumper. Well, you know, I
think you know football is a football is the number
on the back is just a number that says this week,
this is where they're playing.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Can you see a time and they're not too just
in future, once you're gets over his injury, that that
will be a comfortable combination. The six and seven of
both Tim Mighty and Sean.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
I think they'd be outstanding. I think they'd be. It's
an outstanding combination the pair of them, and I think
they compliment compliment one another perfectly. They've both got good
kicking games. They both can read the game. Sean hasn't
maybe got the pace that he had a couple of
years ago, but he's still quick between the ears and
that's the main thing. And that in that position, I mean,
(12:35):
I look at it from the opposition's point of view,
the opposition would probably much rather have Sean Johnson sitting
on the sideline and not out on the field.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
And on that uplifting notes of Graham low will let
you get on with you with your day. Thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
You go well got as, Thanks very much, mate, No
need TMO.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
We've got the breakdowns on sports Talks Talk.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Sir Graham Lowe. They're talking about Sean Johnson's future within
the is now that a bloke called to Mighty Martin
has turned up and started playing the house down. It
is nineteen minutes after seven. I'd love your course and
thoughts on this whas fans all casual observers of rugby
League A eight hundred and eighty ten eighty three for
(13:21):
nomination wide, you can text on ZEBZB that's nine two
ninety two. That'll attract a standard text charge. I think
you're insane if you think it's the end of the
line for Sean Johnson. I really do. It's a populist
knee jerk attitude and an opinion yep to mighty Martin
(13:42):
isn't the youngest character in the world.
Speaker 7 (13:44):
What is he?
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Twenty seven, twenty eight years old? And here is the
future of the Warriors in that halve's position, you would think,
although Jenna Harris Tavita may have an argument around that,
Shawn Johnson wasn't overly fit at the start of the year.
He didn't put his best foot forward. Now he's being
well rested, he's recouped, he's recovering, he's restoring himself to
(14:09):
get back on the park again. He is an incredibly
valuable part of that Warrior's side off the field and
on the field. And the fact that Tomardy Martin is
playing the house down let's face it, he is will
be an absolute shot in the arm to Sean Johnson.
I think he'll play for the Warriors again and he'll
(14:32):
command that seven jersey again. He's an old dog. He
might have any new tricks, but he's definitely got a
bark and he won't let anyone take his seven jumper.
And behind the scenes, he's going to be there propping
up the likes of Harris Devita and the likes of
to Marty Martin so the club becomes the best it
(14:53):
can possibly be, so he can walk away with a
title that he wants so much. Sewn Johnson isn't going anywhere.
Sewan Johnson will play again in the seven Jersey. I'm wrong.
L eight hundred and eighty ten eighty lines are open,
or he can text ninety two ninety two that is
(15:13):
z B z B. It is seven twenty one love
this time last.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
You alone.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Forget the riffs. Call you make the call on eight
hundred eighty eighty Sports Talk on your home of sports
talks it balks.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
B Garmen Many Favor eleven seventy twenty four Sports Talk
here on News Talk, z B E one hundred eighty
ten eighty can text nine two ninety two. That is
z B z B Demardi Martin replaced Sean Johnson for
(16:00):
the rest of the season or is still life in
the old Dog yet? I'd suggest there is, And you
look at the controlling of the game. There are going
to be more injuries and Sean Johnson's not the end.
The big question is is will coach Webster sit to
(16:21):
mighty down and bring Sean back into the fold again.
I suggest he would based on what he says about
Sean Johnson, about what Sean can do, and when Sewan
comes back, this may well be one of his last
opportunities to prove that point. So it goes one in
two ways, right, it either explodes in his face or
(16:43):
he starts pulling some exceptional matches from us behind. I'd
like to think that is the case. It's got to
the phones eighty Paul High.
Speaker 7 (16:56):
Ye see, I want nothing more than to see Sean Johnson,
you know, have a good mist of the season and
I want to see him when when our first premiership
for the club. I put him right up there with
you know, Simon Manory. Sean Johnson's a legend of the
of the Warriors club. And he's given great service and.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
I'm waiting for the butt, Paul, what's your butt?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
Well, Darcy, The thing is there's two words father time,
which waits for no one, And unfortunately for Sean, he's
he's just he's just got injuries at the moment. And
I fully flop, fully fit Sean Johnson. Absolutely, I'd rather
than than being there. But I don't want to busted
eighty percent Shawn Johnson because tomorrow Martin and Chanelle hal
(17:44):
Staveta have proven the winning, the winning formula time and
time again. Sean Johnson played in that game against the Titans,
you know, under an injury cloud, and they got smashed
by sixty six points. So that's undeenoble. That's undernoble Darcy.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
That's not entirely his fault, though, is I think the
whole team played like a bust. That are excuse my friends,
but they did, did they not? And do you wonder
about actually playing Sean when he wasn't one hundred percent
and whether that did him the best favors and why
the coaching staff leaned toward that way as opposed to
(18:23):
looking at at this other play into mighty.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Well, Blowie made a good point. You know, I'm not
sure if this is the case, but players do hide injuries,
you know, they don't only know how severe they are
in order to get back on the field. You know,
Sean had a peck injury. He had a peck injury
and he had an achilles and he's just you know,
Father time waits for no one. And if he comes
(18:48):
back and he's not one hundred percent, and then we
start looking. We're at the stage now. I so we
need to win six of nine. We need to go
on a winning street. We need to beat the dog.
We've got to buy. We need to keep winning. And
if Sean comes back on eighty percent, that's that's not
where it's at at the moment as far as I'm concerned.
If Sewn's not for fully one hundred percent, then it's
(19:08):
Commadie Martlan Shaw has Tavita.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So where's your cut off of this, Paulus. I'm interested
in this concept as well, because what we'right to round?
It's eighteen, isn't it this weekend against the Bulldogs? Then
the bye and then well where they've got the buy
in the last round as well, haven't they. So then
you've got a handful of games. At what stage do
you say, you know what, we can't afford in coming
(19:31):
back just in case it doesn't work out, Because there's
got to be a line in the sand, doesn't there?
And where is that line? Does he know? Does Coach Webster?
Speaker 5 (19:41):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Does it rely on to Mighty having an absolute shocker?
Is it a case of when you are that, we're
bringing you straight back in, but you've got to be
ready before I don't know around twenty three? Do you
think there's a line? Well?
Speaker 7 (19:55):
I think it is. You know, if we beat the
Bulldogs this weekend, the Bulldogs are going, they're fit on
the table, they're going great guns. If we've beat them
at home this weekend, we go into the bye. You
can't bring Sean Johnson back in. I'm sorry, man. You
know you look at that game on the weekend, You
look at games when Sean was out before the Titans.
(20:15):
You know that combination is a winning formula and it's
kind of a rock at a hard place If they
do bring Sean and they lose after the boy and
then how does that look for Sean?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How does that look for Coach Webster? Is a balance,
isn't it?
Speaker 8 (20:30):
There?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
And I suppose another thing, Paul and more will let
you go shortly. So thanks very much for your time.
But the other situation here is Metca and he will
come back in the five eighth position. And how does
that throw a cat amongst the pigeons around where people sit? Well,
who works best with best?
Speaker 9 (20:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Well, I actually ran into Metcalf at the game on
the weekend and he told me he's six weeks away.
So you know, that's a fair way down the track.
I'd say that because Shanel Harris Tavina is a utility player.
He can play hockey, he can play you know, he
can play in the second row. If he had to,
he'd probably be the one that moves on because Metcal
(21:09):
is outstanding. It's just unfortunately he's been injured. But yeah,
I mean one hundred percent. If Shawn Johnson's fully for
one hundred percent ready to go, then he's in. But
at the moment, you know he's he's just part of
the time waits for no one made or just leave
it there.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Yeah, I know he hasn't waited for me run up
the road, Paul, Thanks very much for your call. One
hundred and eighty ten, eight years half past seven, Andrew
Webster joined Mike Hosking on his breakfast show this morning
to discuss all things wa was. Here is a week
segment from that about this situation.
Speaker 9 (21:46):
Like I get asked that all the time of it,
Shawn and Mighty played a lot of good football to
go to the start of last season, won a lot
of games, but also almost almost the daily employer of
the Year is probably I thought he was the best
player in the competition and to say that is I
meantally one of the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
There you go. Not a lot of gray area around that.
But the timing will be interesting. And thanks for the
call for if you like to climb on on this,
I'd love to hear from you. I e one hundred
and eighty ten eighty. I think Sean will come back.
I don't think we've seen the end of him. But
what is the tipping point? Is there a round where
he has to be fit before they can come back?
(22:26):
Is it a case of Tomighty not providing the outstanding,
outstanding form that he has been providing of recent times
before Sean can get a look? And where's your tipping point?
Where is that line? Let me know. I'll eight hundred
eighty ten eighty Seawan Johnson not signed for next year
looking for another extension? Does he want to carry playing on?
(22:48):
And when he does play when is it? What does
he have to do? Let me know. It's the Harves
conversation here on sports Talk. On news Talk as z
B one hundred eighty ten eighty lines are open, make
it work.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
Everybody had.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
Still twenty five to eight sports Stork Care on Newstalk
ZB Marcus Slash up after the news package at eight
o'clock talking WA's Johnson v.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Martin? Where does this end? The tipping point? Writes Michael
Off of text nineteen nine two. Is wanting to make
the top eight or not? Martin has been outstanding and
will take on the line. That's according to mircall. Let's
go to the course now, Warren.
Speaker 11 (23:43):
Hi, Yeah, Hi, I've just stubbed in the car and
got in on the conversation. So my opinion is, you know,
every players as a peak, and I think Mighty Store
still flimbing it up to his peak, whereas maybe Johnson
might might have hit his peak and it's only amount
(24:04):
of time, you know, before or in this game where
you have to sort of the facts sort of speaks
for themselves.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
You know, we can't live on reputation forever, and I
think Sean found themselves in that situation and last year
went hold on on more than that. This year a
bit bustard hasn't quite done it. So where's your your
tipping point?
Speaker 8 (24:25):
Warren?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Where do you go from this? If you reckon one's
not quite at a speak and the others just over it,
what do you do?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Well?
Speaker 11 (24:33):
I'm biased because I have no mighty into with the
little boys. I'm quite by I know that old family.
What do you do? You have to make a tough decision.
I guess you have to. You have to look at
the performances and let them speak for themselves. I think
that's where you've got to go and let the gameplay.
Let the play do the talking, not not reputation. Johnson's
(24:57):
that one of the great, no doubt about it, you know,
and has peaked at certain times in his career. Like
you said, last year was certainly one of them. But
there's yeah, may not even thirty what is he twenty
seven or something? Twenty six thirty seven?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It would be twenty seven to twenty eight, give.
Speaker 11 (25:14):
Or take twenty eight now okay, eight years going by,
but he's got he's just getting better and but he
loves it number seven duty.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
So there's a.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Grand Final next week and the Wars are in the
Grand Final up against let's choose someone who he really
can't deal with the Bulldogs. So it's this weekend for example,
who's your six seven? How does it go from now?
Based on what you know and trying to be too
biased around your mates in Marty.
Speaker 11 (25:42):
Well, I don't know about six, but seven. I've put
mighty in seven for sure. Every time he's played seven
to one, and they've played some great teams in that time.
I just know he needs a number seven duty. That's
my opinion.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
And Warren, we all love you for that opinion. Don't
be shy ring up and lay yours on a SOL
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty free phone number nationwide. Hi, Jeff,
I'm very well. What about yourself?
Speaker 8 (26:12):
Oh I'm excellent. I just had a couple of years
on the sweet.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Nice good work. What have you got on your mind?
Speaker 8 (26:18):
Well? I think Sean should give his body your rest.
I think you know, you keep picking up these injuries,
especially achilles. They're never a five minute fix, and I
think he's probably better after step away from the playing
team and get into the coaching side for this year,
(26:42):
just to give his body of rest and so next
year he can come out and play like he normally does.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So we're looking at what roughly ten more rounds, nine
more rounds to go. If he takes a back seat
and says, you know what, I'm going to recover, what
chance he gets resigned and what chance he ever gets
back on the park again. If the Warriors go deep
and to Mighty starts playing even better than he's playing
now already, that's a that's a big call from Johnson.
(27:10):
That's almost seeding the position, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
But if he if he doesn't do it, he's going
to see that position anyway, you know, because his body
is just not going to handle the pace.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
When would you do it? When would you?
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Jeff? You've got it on your plate. You're right there.
Johnson's come back to full fitness. To Mighty's still playing
the house down. There's five rounds to go in the NRL.
Do you take the punt on the old soldier or
do you stick with the young buck?
Speaker 8 (27:44):
Well, if that's the case, it's Johnson's back to full,
absolute full sickness. Then you can take the punt on
both of them being in the same team.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
So you run them six and seven and what Sir
graham Lowe was saying before that both together, even though
it hasn't quite melded yet, would still work.
Speaker 8 (28:03):
Yeah. Well, it's always a game, and I guess when
you're coaching, it's sort of always again once you put
on the field anyway, But I think of Johnson's fully
fit Deni's the man, and Tomorrow at the moment is
the man as well. And if they can meld them together,
they should be able to go all the way.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
And I can see a couple of other halves going
what about us? But that's okay, GFA, thanks very much
for taking the time to call us three phon nationwide. Oh,
eight hundred eighty ten to eighty. Let's run through some
texts for you now. While Darcy, all the brain dead
keyboard Warriors who are knocking Sean Johnson are not true
Warrior fans. Okay, your interview with Graham Lowe put that
(28:49):
in context. Intelligence aired, Well done, cheers, Troy, Thank you
so you've forgotten about metcalf rights another. He's the incumbent
five eighth, so he's the man for the job. Haven't
forgot about him. But he's not on the conversation right
now as he is injured. But I did touch on
him before. I'd like to carry on with the text,
(29:10):
but for some extraordinary reason, my screen has gone utterly blank.
But that's okay, that's the way the cookie crumbles. This
is News Talks AB coming up shortly. Will be joined
by p Dub dub p double dub Porsche Woodman Wickliff's
(29:31):
probably the best thing to say. She'll be joining us
to talk about the life and times and her impending
retirement from the game that has meant so much to her.
Porsche joins us next here on News Talks EB. That's
how bad you won't be spider around. Who's it's the
(30:08):
way sports talk Here on Newstalk's there be Porsche Woodman.
Wetcliffe is our next guest, an absolute legend in the
Black Jersey b at sevens or fifteen a side, and
today she announced her retirement from the Black Ferns, the
retirement from the wonderful wide world of international rugby. It's
(30:30):
at the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. She's leaving. She
joins us now Porsche, Porsche. What drove you to this?
What triggered you to pull the pen on this extraordinary career?
Speaker 4 (30:44):
I think ultimately being really happy was where I am.
I'm physically at my peak mentally at a stage where
I'm absolutely comfortable and happy. I can walk away knowing
what I've done and the things I've achieved have been
really awesome and really cool. I'm not saying goodbye forever
(31:05):
so rugby, it's just the pressures and the expectations and
everything comes with the black jersey. I'm still playing cind
of rugby. I'm still playing everything else, just the black jersey.
I'm ready to have a break bump. So it's good goodbye.
Like I'm not sour in any way. I'm doing this
in my own accord because I'm happy.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
So what black jersey, both of them sevens and fifteen's
it's just curtains to international representation.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Yeah, ultimately with the black jersey within sevens and fifteen,
there's restrictions now obviously fully time, full time professional athletes,
and you're living a dream, right, an absolute dream to
be able to eat free play rugby day in and
day out. But with that it also has restrictions. I
want to go and play touch, I want to play
(31:54):
net for I want to go snowboarding down and Papa
or I want to go snowboarding down in Queens Down.
So that is the part that I'm really looking forward to,
having a bit of freedom to go and do and
play everything that's up there, and it's a privileged space
to ben that I can bo on my own terms.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Got to ask, are you Goofy your regular.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Regular?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I want to thought more from you all these things
you want to do because of the restrictions that rugby
have put upon you. And you mentioned netball. I'm supposed
to be wind back a few years when you were
a promising young netball a bit, but rugby took over.
That was the right decision. You're happy with where you went,
the direction you took.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
Portion, Yeah, I ultimately it happened because of a few things.
I made the team for Fiji and Oceani and twenty
twelve went along. Through three minutes of the first game
against Tonga, I fractured my shoulder, played throughout the tournament,
came back, talked to my mystics coach and said I
need you to play n PC to get a trial
(32:58):
for the Mystics, so that was not possible. I couldn't play,
so that determined my contract with the Mystics. Then with
the new Zealant Accelerant squad, because I went off to
play rugby, I was, you know, not in that squad anymore.
So it was it happened the way it happened with
an injury, But I think, yeah, absolutely, the making the
(33:18):
decision to play rugby to have a crackic gold in
Rio was the best decision ever, and I wouldn't be
the player I am if it wasn't for therefore, I
loved it. I will wholeheartedly wanted to be a sore friend.
But this little cherry on the side that was talking
to me about rugby on the side becoming an Olympias
chasing the Golden Rio was just too big of a
(33:40):
cherry that I couldn't go up.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
You've had a storied and celebrated and decorated career, Porsche.
Is there any game, or any area or any section
that you look back on with the most pride, not
necessarily around maybe the Golden You picked up the gold
championship but an era at a time where you went
that is Porsche, Woodman Wickcliffe. This is what it means
(34:03):
for me to be a rugby player.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
I think just last year coming back from World Cup,
well after the concussion, I couldn't train for a goodbye.
Got married at the end of the year, so it
was a very busy year. Come back to the seventh season,
I was unsure how well I was going to go
in that season. Should I retire, should I have left
us the fifteen All of that was going through my heads.
(34:28):
But after, you know, slowly progressing through the World Series,
I realized that this is my chance to just give
my absolute best to each opportunity in this career, in
this game, and I wanted to get to the Olympics
in the best physical condition that I could be in.
Whether I make the team or whether I don't, that
(34:48):
was deside. The point is I just wanted to be
in the best physical condition and so heading into this year,
I've probably been the best I've ever been. And that's
not necessarily just on the field, but mentally. I spoke
about it earlier on in this week that South it
was quite a big plague in my friend. It held
(35:09):
me back Aloft and now looking into this season, I
there's nothing to worry myself or was just go out
there and do what I do. If I'm running over people,
if I'm running around people, or if I'm draking five people.
So MICHAELA. Blake can score three tries in the final,
I'm happy about that because that is my job. So
I think in the last year I've actually been like, yeah,
(35:30):
this is what Pusher Woodman was, Cliff is all about.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Porsha. Though at that level, you're at the comfort you
feel mentally and physically awfully difficult to walk away at
the top. I'm presuming you talk to your wife around this,
you talk to your family as well about this decision,
because you've got to admire the fact you're walking out
at the top. It still must have been tough.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Absolutely. I was a long discussion with my wife, Nay.
I'm grateful that she also went through it as well,
like having to retire from and from rugby and having
his career for fourteen years, then the game. It is
definitely a big, big decision, and I'm you know, I'm
not qualified in anything else, but I do know right then,
(36:18):
I've been lucky enough to create some connections and create networking.
I'll do some networking throughout my career. That also brings
with a difficult but exciting side is trying to find
out financially what I'm going to do next for the
rest of my life. The conversation I had with my dad,
because he played Northfalkland until he was thirty. He retired
(36:40):
when he was thirty purely because I think I was
coming around. He had been through a lot of injuries
and when he was because they were paid working and
getting injured was a big toll on the family. So
he retired and he always said to me, Porsche, it's
a long time of hide. Stay in it as long
as you can. You know, once you leave you can't
go back. So that was the fashion of that, and
(37:01):
throughout the last couple of years definitely been long talks
about that was mom, dad, my wife, friends, but ultimately
walking away at the peak, at the peak of my
career or my physical ababilities. I'm really happy to do that.
And talking with my coach was Corey this morning, it
(37:23):
wasn't about you know, I'm not sour with the environment.
I'm not sour with power we've been going. I'm so happy.
I'm happy to walk away right now. The girls are
in a really good place. There's some young talent coming through,
and I'm excited to see where they go. But I'm
just I'm happy to walk away right now.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
I heard rumors that you might sign on the dotted
line and play a bit of League for the Warriors.
Is there are a thought process around that year and not.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Oh, League is definitely an option. I haven't thought about
where we're going yet. I've watched Nail and Gale. They've
absolutely thrived over there. I've picked Tyler's brain about every
little aspect of what League is like and the set
up and all of that over there, so I've definitely
heard some really amazing things about it. I want to
have a crack at leg I think I have an
(38:13):
opportunity there to, you know, play a bit of something
and I can see where my strengths and my abilities
can into that game. To be honest, I haven't thought
about where we're going, but I know that there are
a lot of opportunities and who knows us is today
who might come knocking on the door.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think it's fair to say, Porsche, that you are
an icon of the game you are a role model
in that game. You are a woman that's done extraordinarily
well in rugby union and in sevens as well. How
does that sit with you? The fact that you walk
away from the game with so many goals. I can't
(38:50):
even start to listen the amount of tries you've scored,
the amount of tournaments that you've won, the ability that
you've got. Is this something that you're willing to carry
and maybe share to help the next generation of players
come through?
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Absolutely? You know, I want people from all walks of life,
all these girls, moms, dads, nannies and quarles. I want
everyone to hear our stories, not just myself, but all
the girls that have come through the ranks I've been.
I think I've been fortunate enough to thrive in our
environments because our environment allows you to Our environments allow
(39:27):
you to be your insect sealth. And you know, past
coaches have always encouraged us to be who you are,
whether you're the clown, whether you're the dancer, whether you're
the quiet one or I'm just a little one. Like
you're allowed to be who you are. You're encouraged to
be that and thrive in that environment because that's the
best way we're going to get the it's reggy out
(39:47):
of you, and I think heading forward like it's just
something that I'm really grateful to be a part of,
the likes of Anna Richard, Vanessa Coats, Regina Sick like
these ladies take the way they played the game for
the absolute pure of the game, pure love of the game,
and unfortunately they didn't get the lights that we now get.
(40:11):
And I'm grateful that I've been able to see it
progress through the years. You know, back in this at
the start of sevens we were paid and it progressed
really fast, with fifteen the same thing not getting paid
now fully professional. I'm grateful that I've been able to
experience that and to know that being the inspiration for
young girls. I have a twelve year old girl and
(40:32):
she plays in them all Girls under twelve team here
in Totungu and the girls that come through. There's still
girls that come through that have never played rugby but
have just watched our team and love rugby and they
want to have a crack. I know that I have
had an impact on girls like that. It is unreal.
It's a privilege and it's an honor It's not something
I take lightly, and I know my teammates are the same.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports man.
Have your say on O Wait und eighty eighty Sports
Talk or more on your home of sports and Used
Talks at Be. For more from sports talk, listen live
to News Talks it Be from seven pm weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Why hello there and LOALC come on into sports Talk great,
have you all on board? My name is Darcy Waldergrave.
It's a Tuesday, July second, at twenty twenty four, rapidly
approaching seven minutes after seven. You got me for the
next hour as we talk sport and tonight we're focusing
on rugby league and the retiring legend that is p
(00:53):
dub Dub. I don't know if she's ever been called that.
I just made it up them and no, I don't
think it will stack. I'm talking, of course, of Porsche
Woodman Whitcliffe, who's announced her retirement post the Paris Olympic Games.
She joins the program later on the piece to talk
about the highs and the lows, and the ups and
the downs, and the ins and the outs and the
(01:13):
whine earth you're retiring now get it all from Porsche
just before I sit down. But up first, Sir Graham
low Forman. He'silling keiwi's coach NZRL administrator. You keep hearing it,
don't you. There's no room for Seawn Johnson anymore here
has need the best season. He's out on his ear
(01:35):
to Mighty Martin is the second coming on. We need
to stick with him. Blah blah blah. I completely and
utterly disagree with that concept, and we'll take your calls
on that after we hear from it. Sir Graham Low
who joins us next to discuss the future of Sean
Johnson and the calls for his head bizarre, But there
(01:57):
you go. That's our plan before you go anywhere in
there that let's get nice and close to this today.
And in sports, a new Akafaca they'd s a KFC
Auckland Football Club signing. It probably won't be in Auckland
for long. Serious Dan Hall, one of consecutive A League
titles with the Central Coast, signed for Auckland based on
(02:19):
the reach of owner Built Foley.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
I heard about the Foley Group and how there's those
connections with multiple clubs that are in great leagues and
for any aspiring players who wants to push to the
best of their abilities, and that's obviously something that's very exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, only want to come for a season that I'm
off overseas, not interested in the club, really interested in
the springboard. Thank you Dan Hall, or at least he's honest, right,
I've got to give him that. The retiring Black Fern
just talking new about her before the superhero of rugby
and sevens pors of Woodman Wincliffe has considered Robbert League
a coach he wasn't allowed near.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
She was a niver My final not really league players dead.
I asked him if I could play league at primary
school and he said no, we don't do league enough Emily,
So right from then it was never an option.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Que tennis player Lulu soon seen a few tremens through
the women's tennis world by beating eighth seed ken Wyn
Jing at Wimbledon. She believes that the full focus on
her game now that she has left university is the
reason behind her first round success.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
After college, I'm able to go full time and hone
in on on tennis, so it's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
And All Black vice captain Jordi Barrett is getting accustomed
to coach Robertson's language and style ahead of the season's
opening match versus the English.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
It's inevitable when you change personal you have different approaches
and different ways of thinking, so that was always going
to happen, but look, it's a bit of different language
and seeing you guys having to relearn some terms and yeah,
bit it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
And if you want a rough idea, go insnewstalk zb
dot co dot inz and download Piney's chat with Razor
Robertson from the weekend. Really interesting insight into what he's
gone going to bring to the role of All Blacks
head coach. But of a plug for my colleague, mister
Jason pine And that's sport today. Right, Let's talk about
(04:16):
Robert league. Let's talk about Sean Johnson. A lot of
people going, well, Tomighty is the next man off, here's
the next man coming. He is the heir apparent. What's
the point in Seawn even coming back. We're joined by
Sir Graham Lowe to discuss that concept. Now, Graham, welcome
to the show. So what does the form of Tomarti
Martin mean for Sean Johnson?
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Oh, well, I'm not sure what it means for Sean.
Sewan does, but the main thing is what it means
for the coach for Andrew Webster, because he's shown the
confidence to give to Murray Martin that opportunity and obviously
built him up at to Murray Martin's a heck of
a player anyhow. I mean, he's already an international player
with a lot of talent. But I think the coach
(04:57):
has pulled the right string and I suppose what happens
with Sean now it's just up to Sean and the coach.
Because Shawn's still a fantastic possibly on his best day,
the best player of the club's got you know, I
don't think anyone should forget that.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
And he's had an injury, he's had a cloud hanging
over him, so you could be you can understand why
he's not been at his absolute best. So this is
not a criticism of Sean that's like, hey, we've got
another guy who can step into your boots. Would be
crazy not to use them.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
Absolutely, And I mean playing with the injuries that he
has done just shows the character and the courage of
the man and the willingness of what he's prepared to
put himself through for the club and for his team.
So we may not have seen the sparkle in recent times,
he's been prepared to put his body through a lot,
a lot. But many who criticize and would probably Winjin
(05:52):
have to go to the doctor if they've got a
drinking paper clups stuck under the fingernail, they've got no
idea what it's like playing with the injuries some of
these players play with.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
He attracts so much, doesn't he is it because he's
just been so good? And when he doesn't hit those levels,
people get a bit their noses out of joint.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Grahame, I think that is a bit of a dos.
He is just an exceptional player, one that a generational
type player that you just see come along every now
and then. And so when you're going good, it's easy
for he's easy for people to point out and say
it's because he's gone. You know, he's a fantastic player.
And then if the team doesn't perform for whatever reason,
(06:32):
he seems to attract the criticism. And unfortunately that's just
the nature of sport.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
When too, Mighty Martin, who is young ish in his career,
what is he is in late twenties, He looks like
he is possibly the future once Sewn Johnson hangs up
his boots. But that transfer of position I from the
older guy to the newer guy. How important is it
that Shawn Johnson is fully engaged in that process? Because
(06:56):
I've heard and I know that Sewn still spends a
lot of time at practice. He's not hiding in the rehab.
He's really involved with this team. So the handover, the
transfer of power should be good.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
No player of any sport worth his salt is going
to happily hand over his position to someone else coming through.
Players hide broken limbs, so they hide all sorts of
injuries so they don't get isolated out and maybe lose
the spot to a younger player coming through. So Sean,
Sean is a hardened He's now a hardened professional player.
(07:31):
And I think anybody would underestimate Sean Johnson at their
own peril. I think because he's still got plenty to offer.
And while to Murray Martin's, I'm a fan of as
he's always have been, he's been a really good player.
When he first came on the scene as an international
for the Keywis just as a young kid. Really, I mean,
he stood out and he just showed he had that class.
And as he's got a bit more older and experience
(07:53):
now he's not out of position. You know, in the
number seven jersey for the Warriors, he looks fantastic in fact,
but the thing is Andrew Webster will be having long
conversations with Sean and really it's what's in Swan's mind
and what the coach has got in his plans for
the future, and that's how the decision will be made.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
How do players hide broken bones? Graham Low, That's a
still stunning statement.
Speaker 7 (08:18):
They do.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
Don't worry about that. They'll hide any sort of it.
If they see someone on the horizon it's going to
try and take their place. They'll put them themselves through
all sorts of anger. Andy just try and hide pain.
That would hold most people for heck of a long time.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Wouldn't call to Mighty Martin a young player, but he's
what five six years younger than Seawan Johnson, so young
compared to him in his headspace. Having a guy like
Sean Johnson around that may well find himself back in
that seven jersey. How does that work for a player
like that, knowing there's someone breathing down his shoulder, good,
(08:55):
bad and different.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
I think it all depends what the philosophy of the
club is. And it seems to me that Andrew Webster
would have said a philosophy in that club where he
is the boss, he will make a decision on who
is No one's got a mortgage on the jersey anywhere
at all, and he will make a decision on who
he thinks is right for the job at that particular time.
(09:17):
And some players can cope with that philosophy and some can't.
But that's how I think that, That's how it seems
to me that that Andrew Webster has set that philosophy
in the club, which I think is a fantastic philosophy.
And so then if a player gets stood down or
not played a particular week or sat on the bench
or whatever it might be, they can cope with it emotionally, okay.
(09:39):
Andean Sean is a tough, experienced player as is tomorrow.
Is that he's not a youngster. He's an experienced halfpack,
you know, experience an RL player, so he will be
able to cope. But the whole thing, in my mind,
depends on the philosophy that the coach, Andrew Webbs, that
has laid in place and that the whole club will
(10:00):
be operating on.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And of course, Sir Graham Low, we can't forget that
Metcalf's got to come back from injury and we've got
a character called Harris Tavita floating around too. So trying
to put all those players into two positions incredibly difficult
for Andrew Webster. But what a great difficulty to face.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Well, it's fantastics. You better have more players than you
need than the other way around. And again, the whole
thing is made easy if the philosophy, If the philosophy
of the club is in place, and it's a philosophy
that treats everybody the same, No one thinks they've got
a you know, owns a position. There are any guardians
of the position while they've got it, and they've got
(10:41):
to be on their best game. They've got to be
up to their best and I'm sure that's how it's
operating out there at the Warriors at the moment.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
It's been said that when you get to mighty and
Sean in the same lineup and a six and seven,
sometimes they overplay their own hands and maybe step on
the other guy's toes. How difficult is it for a
seven to go play six and vice versa in that
halves pairing. What's the process like for these players actually
transfer their skills out of number.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
I don't think it's any issue at all. I think
the media make a big thing of it at times,
but these guys are football is that's doesn't matter where
you get put on. You're a footballer and that means
you're at football, not on the left hands or of
the field, or the right side of the field, or
on your goal on or the other goal on. You're
a footballer when you step across the line and wherever
you need it, that's where you play. And when you
(11:31):
start getting knitty and pick you know, some commentators will say, well,
sevens guiding the team. Others will say six is guiding
the team. And it's just it's just noise that's going on.
I don't take any notice for it all, and I
don't think the players do.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
What you don't take any notice of the media? Gee lowly,
what have we done to you?
Speaker 6 (11:48):
No, No, I do take notice of the media. Don't
worry about that. But I'm saying this is just a
media thing. It's a big that's a big thing in
the media of someone changes jumper. Well, you know, I
think you know football is a football is the number
on the back is just a number that says this week,
this is where they're playing.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Can you see a time and they're not too just
in future, once you're gets over his injury, that that
will be a comfortable combination. The six and seven of
both Tim Mighty and Sean.
Speaker 6 (12:12):
I think they'd be outstanding. I think they'd be. It's
an outstanding combination the pair of them, and I think
they compliment compliment one another perfectly. They've both got good
kicking games. They both can read the game. Sean hasn't
maybe got the pace that he had a couple of
years ago, but he's still quick between the ears and
that's the main thing. And that in that position, I mean,
(12:35):
I look at it from the opposition's point of view,
the opposition would probably much rather have Sean Johnson sitting
on the sideline and not out on the field.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
And on that uplifting notes of Graham low will let
you get on with you with your day. Thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
You go well got as, Thanks very much, mate, No
need TMO.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
We've got the breakdowns on sports Talks Talk.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Sir Graham Lowe. They're talking about Sean Johnson's future within
the is now that a bloke called to Mighty Martin
has turned up and started playing the house down. It
is nineteen minutes after seven. I'd love your course and
thoughts on this whas fans all casual observers of rugby
League A eight hundred and eighty ten eighty three for
(13:21):
nomination wide, you can text on ZEBZB that's nine two
ninety two. That'll attract a standard text charge. I think
you're insane if you think it's the end of the
line for Sean Johnson. I really do. It's a populist
knee jerk attitude and an opinion yep to mighty Martin
(13:42):
isn't the youngest character in the world.
Speaker 7 (13:44):
What is he?
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Twenty seven, twenty eight years old? And here is the
future of the Warriors in that halve's position, you would think,
although Jenna Harris Tavita may have an argument around that,
Shawn Johnson wasn't overly fit at the start of the year.
He didn't put his best foot forward. Now he's being
well rested, he's recouped, he's recovering, he's restoring himself to
(14:09):
get back on the park again. He is an incredibly
valuable part of that Warrior's side off the field and
on the field. And the fact that Tomardy Martin is
playing the house down let's face it, he is will
be an absolute shot in the arm to Sean Johnson.
I think he'll play for the Warriors again and he'll
(14:32):
command that seven jersey again. He's an old dog. He
might have any new tricks, but he's definitely got a
bark and he won't let anyone take his seven jumper.
And behind the scenes, he's going to be there propping
up the likes of Harris Devita and the likes of
to Marty Martin so the club becomes the best it
(14:53):
can possibly be, so he can walk away with a
title that he wants so much. Sewn Johnson isn't going anywhere.
Sewan Johnson will play again in the seven Jersey. I'm wrong.
L eight hundred and eighty ten eighty lines are open,
or he can text ninety two ninety two that is
(15:13):
z B z B. It is seven twenty one love
this time last.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
You alone.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Forget the riffs. Call you make the call on eight
hundred eighty eighty Sports Talk on your home of sports
talks it balks.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
B Garmen Many Favor eleven seventy twenty four Sports Talk
here on News Talk, z B E one hundred eighty
ten eighty can text nine two ninety two. That is
z B z B Demardi Martin replaced Sean Johnson for
(16:00):
the rest of the season or is still life in
the old Dog yet? I'd suggest there is, And you
look at the controlling of the game. There are going
to be more injuries and Sean Johnson's not the end.
The big question is is will coach Webster sit to
(16:21):
mighty down and bring Sean back into the fold again.
I suggest he would based on what he says about
Sean Johnson, about what Sean can do, and when Sewan
comes back, this may well be one of his last
opportunities to prove that point. So it goes one in
two ways, right, it either explodes in his face or
(16:43):
he starts pulling some exceptional matches from us behind. I'd
like to think that is the case. It's got to
the phones eighty Paul High.
Speaker 7 (16:56):
Ye see, I want nothing more than to see Sean Johnson,
you know, have a good mist of the season and
I want to see him when when our first premiership
for the club. I put him right up there with
you know, Simon Manory. Sean Johnson's a legend of the
of the Warriors club. And he's given great service and.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
I'm waiting for the butt, Paul, what's your butt?
Speaker 7 (17:22):
Well, Darcy, The thing is there's two words father time,
which waits for no one, And unfortunately for Sean, he's
he's just he's just got injuries at the moment. And
I fully flop, fully fit Sean Johnson. Absolutely, I'd rather
than than being there. But I don't want to busted
eighty percent Shawn Johnson because tomorrow Martin and Chanelle hal
(17:44):
Staveta have proven the winning, the winning formula time and
time again. Sean Johnson played in that game against the Titans,
you know, under an injury cloud, and they got smashed
by sixty six points. So that's undeenoble. That's undernoble Darcy.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
That's not entirely his fault, though, is I think the
whole team played like a bust. That are excuse my friends,
but they did, did they not? And do you wonder
about actually playing Sean when he wasn't one hundred percent
and whether that did him the best favors and why
the coaching staff leaned toward that way as opposed to
(18:23):
looking at at this other play into mighty.
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Well, Blowie made a good point. You know, I'm not
sure if this is the case, but players do hide injuries,
you know, they don't only know how severe they are
in order to get back on the field. You know,
Sean had a peck injury. He had a peck injury
and he had an achilles and he's just you know,
Father time waits for no one. And if he comes
(18:48):
back and he's not one hundred percent, and then we
start looking. We're at the stage now. I so we
need to win six of nine. We need to go
on a winning street. We need to beat the dog.
We've got to buy. We need to keep winning. And
if Sean comes back on eighty percent, that's that's not
where it's at at the moment as far as I'm concerned.
If Sewn's not for fully one hundred percent, then it's
(19:08):
Commadie Martlan Shaw has Tavita.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So where's your cut off of this, Paulus. I'm interested
in this concept as well, because what we'right to round?
It's eighteen, isn't it this weekend against the Bulldogs? Then
the bye and then well where they've got the buy
in the last round as well, haven't they. So then
you've got a handful of games. At what stage do
you say, you know what, we can't afford in coming
(19:31):
back just in case it doesn't work out, Because there's
got to be a line in the sand, doesn't there?
And where is that line? Does he know? Does Coach Webster?
Speaker 5 (19:41):
No?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Does it rely on to Mighty having an absolute shocker?
Is it a case of when you are that, we're
bringing you straight back in, but you've got to be
ready before I don't know around twenty three? Do you
think there's a line? Well?
Speaker 7 (19:55):
I think it is. You know, if we beat the
Bulldogs this weekend, the Bulldogs are going, they're fit on
the table, they're going great guns. If we've beat them
at home this weekend, we go into the bye. You
can't bring Sean Johnson back in. I'm sorry, man. You
know you look at that game on the weekend, You
look at games when Sean was out before the Titans.
(20:15):
You know that combination is a winning formula and it's
kind of a rock at a hard place If they
do bring Sean and they lose after the boy and
then how does that look for Sean?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
How does that look for Coach Webster? Is a balance,
isn't it?
Speaker 8 (20:30):
There?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
And I suppose another thing, Paul and more will let
you go shortly. So thanks very much for your time.
But the other situation here is Metca and he will
come back in the five eighth position. And how does
that throw a cat amongst the pigeons around where people sit? Well,
who works best with best?
Speaker 9 (20:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Well, I actually ran into Metcalf at the game on
the weekend and he told me he's six weeks away.
So you know, that's a fair way down the track.
I'd say that because Shanel Harris Tavina is a utility player.
He can play hockey, he can play you know, he
can play in the second row. If he had to,
he'd probably be the one that moves on because Metcal
(21:09):
is outstanding. It's just unfortunately he's been injured. But yeah,
I mean one hundred percent. If Shawn Johnson's fully for
one hundred percent ready to go, then he's in. But
at the moment, you know he's he's just part of
the time waits for no one made or just leave
it there.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Yeah, I know he hasn't waited for me run up
the road, Paul, Thanks very much for your call. One
hundred and eighty ten, eight years half past seven, Andrew
Webster joined Mike Hosking on his breakfast show this morning
to discuss all things wa was. Here is a week
segment from that about this situation.
Speaker 9 (21:46):
Like I get asked that all the time of it,
Shawn and Mighty played a lot of good football to
go to the start of last season, won a lot
of games, but also almost almost the daily employer of
the Year is probably I thought he was the best
player in the competition and to say that is I
meantally one of the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
There you go. Not a lot of gray area around that.
But the timing will be interesting. And thanks for the
call for if you like to climb on on this,
I'd love to hear from you. I e one hundred
and eighty ten eighty. I think Sean will come back.
I don't think we've seen the end of him. But
what is the tipping point? Is there a round where
he has to be fit before they can come back?
(22:26):
Is it a case of Tomighty not providing the outstanding,
outstanding form that he has been providing of recent times
before Sean can get a look? And where's your tipping point?
Where is that line? Let me know. I'll eight hundred
eighty ten eighty Seawan Johnson not signed for next year
looking for another extension? Does he want to carry playing on?
(22:48):
And when he does play when is it? What does
he have to do? Let me know. It's the Harves
conversation here on sports Talk. On news Talk as z
B one hundred eighty ten eighty lines are open, make
it work.
Speaker 8 (23:03):
Everybody had.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
Still twenty five to eight sports Stork Care on Newstalk
ZB Marcus Slash up after the news package at eight
o'clock talking WA's Johnson v.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Martin? Where does this end? The tipping point? Writes Michael
Off of text nineteen nine two. Is wanting to make
the top eight or not? Martin has been outstanding and
will take on the line. That's according to mircall. Let's
go to the course now, Warren.
Speaker 11 (23:43):
Hi, Yeah, Hi, I've just stubbed in the car and
got in on the conversation. So my opinion is, you know,
every players as a peak, and I think Mighty Store
still flimbing it up to his peak, whereas maybe Johnson
might might have hit his peak and it's only amount
(24:04):
of time, you know, before or in this game where
you have to sort of the facts sort of speaks
for themselves.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
You know, we can't live on reputation forever, and I
think Sean found themselves in that situation and last year
went hold on on more than that. This year a
bit bustard hasn't quite done it. So where's your your
tipping point?
Speaker 8 (24:25):
Warren?
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Where do you go from this? If you reckon one's
not quite at a speak and the others just over it,
what do you do?
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Well?
Speaker 11 (24:33):
I'm biased because I have no mighty into with the
little boys. I'm quite by I know that old family.
What do you do? You have to make a tough decision.
I guess you have to. You have to look at
the performances and let them speak for themselves. I think
that's where you've got to go and let the gameplay.
Let the play do the talking, not not reputation. Johnson's
(24:57):
that one of the great, no doubt about it, you know,
and has peaked at certain times in his career. Like
you said, last year was certainly one of them. But
there's yeah, may not even thirty what is he twenty
seven or something? Twenty six thirty seven?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It would be twenty seven to twenty eight, give.
Speaker 11 (25:14):
Or take twenty eight now okay, eight years going by,
but he's got he's just getting better and but he
loves it number seven duty.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
So there's a.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
Grand Final next week and the Wars are in the
Grand Final up against let's choose someone who he really
can't deal with the Bulldogs. So it's this weekend for example,
who's your six seven? How does it go from now?
Based on what you know and trying to be too
biased around your mates in Marty.
Speaker 11 (25:42):
Well, I don't know about six, but seven. I've put
mighty in seven for sure. Every time he's played seven
to one, and they've played some great teams in that time.
I just know he needs a number seven duty. That's
my opinion.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
And Warren, we all love you for that opinion. Don't
be shy ring up and lay yours on a SOL
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty free phone number nationwide. Hi, Jeff,
I'm very well. What about yourself?
Speaker 8 (26:12):
Oh I'm excellent. I just had a couple of years
on the sweet.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Nice good work. What have you got on your mind?
Speaker 8 (26:18):
Well? I think Sean should give his body your rest.
I think you know, you keep picking up these injuries,
especially achilles. They're never a five minute fix, and I
think he's probably better after step away from the playing
team and get into the coaching side for this year,
(26:42):
just to give his body of rest and so next
year he can come out and play like he normally does.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So we're looking at what roughly ten more rounds, nine
more rounds to go. If he takes a back seat
and says, you know what, I'm going to recover, what
chance he gets resigned and what chance he ever gets
back on the park again. If the Warriors go deep
and to Mighty starts playing even better than he's playing
now already, that's a that's a big call from Johnson.
(27:10):
That's almost seeding the position, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
But if he if he doesn't do it, he's going
to see that position anyway, you know, because his body
is just not going to handle the pace.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
When would you do it? When would you?
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Jeff? You've got it on your plate. You're right there.
Johnson's come back to full fitness. To Mighty's still playing
the house down. There's five rounds to go in the NRL.
Do you take the punt on the old soldier or
do you stick with the young buck?
Speaker 8 (27:44):
Well, if that's the case, it's Johnson's back to full,
absolute full sickness. Then you can take the punt on
both of them being in the same team.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
So you run them six and seven and what Sir
graham Lowe was saying before that both together, even though
it hasn't quite melded yet, would still work.
Speaker 8 (28:03):
Yeah. Well, it's always a game, and I guess when
you're coaching, it's sort of always again once you put
on the field anyway, But I think of Johnson's fully
fit Deni's the man, and Tomorrow at the moment is
the man as well. And if they can meld them together,
they should be able to go all the way.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
And I can see a couple of other halves going
what about us? But that's okay, GFA, thanks very much
for taking the time to call us three phon nationwide. Oh,
eight hundred eighty ten to eighty. Let's run through some
texts for you now. While Darcy, all the brain dead
keyboard Warriors who are knocking Sean Johnson are not true
Warrior fans. Okay, your interview with Graham Lowe put that
(28:49):
in context. Intelligence aired, Well done, cheers, Troy, Thank you
so you've forgotten about metcalf rights another. He's the incumbent
five eighth, so he's the man for the job. Haven't
forgot about him. But he's not on the conversation right
now as he is injured. But I did touch on
him before. I'd like to carry on with the text,
(29:10):
but for some extraordinary reason, my screen has gone utterly blank.
But that's okay, that's the way the cookie crumbles. This
is News Talks AB coming up shortly. Will be joined
by p Dub dub p double dub Porsche Woodman Wickliff's
(29:31):
probably the best thing to say. She'll be joining us
to talk about the life and times and her impending
retirement from the game that has meant so much to her.
Porsche joins us next here on News Talks EB. That's
how bad you won't be spider around. Who's it's the
(30:08):
way sports talk Here on Newstalk's there be Porsche Woodman.
Wetcliffe is our next guest, an absolute legend in the
Black Jersey b at sevens or fifteen a side, and
today she announced her retirement from the Black Ferns, the
retirement from the wonderful wide world of international rugby. It's
(30:30):
at the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. She's leaving. She
joins us now Porsche, Porsche. What drove you to this?
What triggered you to pull the pen on this extraordinary career?
Speaker 4 (30:44):
I think ultimately being really happy was where I am.
I'm physically at my peak mentally at a stage where
I'm absolutely comfortable and happy. I can walk away knowing
what I've done and the things I've achieved have been
really awesome and really cool. I'm not saying goodbye forever
(31:05):
so rugby, it's just the pressures and the expectations and
everything comes with the black jersey. I'm still playing cind
of rugby. I'm still playing everything else, just the black jersey.
I'm ready to have a break bump. So it's good goodbye.
Like I'm not sour in any way. I'm doing this
in my own accord because I'm happy.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
So what black jersey, both of them sevens and fifteen's
it's just curtains to international representation.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
Yeah, ultimately with the black jersey within sevens and fifteen,
there's restrictions now obviously fully time, full time professional athletes,
and you're living a dream, right, an absolute dream to
be able to eat free play rugby day in and
day out. But with that it also has restrictions. I
want to go and play touch, I want to play
(31:54):
net for I want to go snowboarding down and Papa
or I want to go snowboarding down in Queens Down.
So that is the part that I'm really looking forward to,
having a bit of freedom to go and do and
play everything that's up there, and it's a privileged space
to ben that I can bo on my own terms.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Got to ask, are you Goofy your regular.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Regular?
Speaker 2 (32:19):
I want to thought more from you all these things
you want to do because of the restrictions that rugby
have put upon you. And you mentioned netball. I'm supposed
to be wind back a few years when you were
a promising young netball a bit, but rugby took over.
That was the right decision. You're happy with where you went,
the direction you took.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
Portion, Yeah, I ultimately it happened because of a few things.
I made the team for Fiji and Oceani and twenty
twelve went along. Through three minutes of the first game
against Tonga, I fractured my shoulder, played throughout the tournament,
came back, talked to my mystics coach and said I
need you to play n PC to get a trial
(32:58):
for the Mystics, so that was not possible. I couldn't play,
so that determined my contract with the Mystics. Then with
the new Zealant Accelerant squad, because I went off to
play rugby, I was, you know, not in that squad anymore.
So it was it happened the way it happened with
an injury, But I think, yeah, absolutely, the making the
(33:18):
decision to play rugby to have a crackic gold in
Rio was the best decision ever, and I wouldn't be
the player I am if it wasn't for therefore, I
loved it. I will wholeheartedly wanted to be a sore friend.
But this little cherry on the side that was talking
to me about rugby on the side becoming an Olympias
chasing the Golden Rio was just too big of a
(33:40):
cherry that I couldn't go up.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
You've had a storied and celebrated and decorated career, Porsche.
Is there any game, or any area or any section
that you look back on with the most pride, not
necessarily around maybe the Golden You picked up the gold
championship but an era at a time where you went
that is Porsche, Woodman Wickcliffe. This is what it means
(34:03):
for me to be a rugby player.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
I think just last year coming back from World Cup,
well after the concussion, I couldn't train for a goodbye.
Got married at the end of the year, so it
was a very busy year. Come back to the seventh season,
I was unsure how well I was going to go
in that season. Should I retire, should I have left
us the fifteen All of that was going through my heads.
(34:28):
But after, you know, slowly progressing through the World Series,
I realized that this is my chance to just give
my absolute best to each opportunity in this career, in
this game, and I wanted to get to the Olympics
in the best physical condition that I could be in.
Whether I make the team or whether I don't, that
(34:48):
was deside. The point is I just wanted to be
in the best physical condition and so heading into this year,
I've probably been the best I've ever been. And that's
not necessarily just on the field, but mentally. I spoke
about it earlier on in this week that South it
was quite a big plague in my friend. It held
(35:09):
me back Aloft and now looking into this season, I
there's nothing to worry myself or was just go out
there and do what I do. If I'm running over people,
if I'm running around people, or if I'm draking five people.
So MICHAELA. Blake can score three tries in the final,
I'm happy about that because that is my job. So
I think in the last year I've actually been like, yeah,
(35:30):
this is what Pusher Woodman was, Cliff is all about.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Porsha. Though at that level, you're at the comfort you
feel mentally and physically awfully difficult to walk away at
the top. I'm presuming you talk to your wife around this,
you talk to your family as well about this decision,
because you've got to admire the fact you're walking out
at the top. It still must have been tough.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Absolutely. I was a long discussion with my wife, Nay.
I'm grateful that she also went through it as well,
like having to retire from and from rugby and having
his career for fourteen years, then the game. It is
definitely a big, big decision, and I'm you know, I'm
not qualified in anything else, but I do know right then,
(36:18):
I've been lucky enough to create some connections and create networking.
I'll do some networking throughout my career. That also brings
with a difficult but exciting side is trying to find
out financially what I'm going to do next for the
rest of my life. The conversation I had with my dad,
because he played Northfalkland until he was thirty. He retired
(36:40):
when he was thirty purely because I think I was
coming around. He had been through a lot of injuries
and when he was because they were paid working and
getting injured was a big toll on the family. So
he retired and he always said to me, Porsche, it's
a long time of hide. Stay in it as long
as you can. You know, once you leave you can't
go back. So that was the fashion of that, and
(37:01):
throughout the last couple of years definitely been long talks
about that was mom, dad, my wife, friends, but ultimately
walking away at the peak, at the peak of my
career or my physical ababilities. I'm really happy to do that.
And talking with my coach was Corey this morning, it
(37:23):
wasn't about you know, I'm not sour with the environment.
I'm not sour with power we've been going. I'm so happy.
I'm happy to walk away right now. The girls are
in a really good place. There's some young talent coming through,
and I'm excited to see where they go. But I'm
just I'm happy to walk away right now.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
I heard rumors that you might sign on the dotted
line and play a bit of League for the Warriors.
Is there are a thought process around that year and not.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Oh, League is definitely an option. I haven't thought about
where we're going yet. I've watched Nail and Gale. They've
absolutely thrived over there. I've picked Tyler's brain about every
little aspect of what League is like and the set
up and all of that over there, so I've definitely
heard some really amazing things about it. I want to
have a crack at leg I think I have an
(38:13):
opportunity there to, you know, play a bit of something
and I can see where my strengths and my abilities
can into that game. To be honest, I haven't thought
about where we're going, but I know that there are
a lot of opportunities and who knows us is today
who might come knocking on the door.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
I think it's fair to say, Porsche, that you are
an icon of the game you are a role model
in that game. You are a woman that's done extraordinarily
well in rugby union and in sevens as well. How
does that sit with you? The fact that you walk
away from the game with so many goals. I can't
(38:50):
even start to listen the amount of tries you've scored,
the amount of tournaments that you've won, the ability that
you've got. Is this something that you're willing to carry
and maybe share to help the next generation of players
come through?
Speaker 4 (39:04):
Absolutely? You know, I want people from all walks of life,
all these girls, moms, dads, nannies and quarles. I want
everyone to hear our stories, not just myself, but all
the girls that have come through the ranks I've been.
I think I've been fortunate enough to thrive in our
environments because our environment allows you to Our environments allow
(39:27):
you to be your insect sealth. And you know, past
coaches have always encouraged us to be who you are,
whether you're the clown, whether you're the dancer, whether you're
the quiet one or I'm just a little one. Like
you're allowed to be who you are. You're encouraged to
be that and thrive in that environment because that's the
best way we're going to get the it's reggy out
(39:47):
of you, and I think heading forward like it's just
something that I'm really grateful to be a part of,
the likes of Anna Richard, Vanessa Coats, Regina Sick like
these ladies take the way they played the game for
the absolute pure of the game, pure love of the game,
and unfortunately they didn't get the lights that we now get.
(40:11):
And I'm grateful that I've been able to see it
progress through the years. You know, back in this at
the start of sevens we were paid and it progressed
really fast, with fifteen the same thing not getting paid
now fully professional. I'm grateful that I've been able to
experience that and to know that being the inspiration for
young girls. I have a twelve year old girl and
(40:32):
she plays in them all Girls under twelve team here
in Totungu and the girls that come through. There's still
girls that come through that have never played rugby but
have just watched our team and love rugby and they
want to have a crack. I know that I have
had an impact on girls like that. It is unreal.
It's a privilege and it's an honor It's not something
I take lightly, and I know my teammates are the same.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports man.
Have your say on O Wait und eighty eighty Sports
Talk or more on your home of sports and Used
Talks at Be. For more from sports talk, listen live
to News Talks it Be from seven pm weekdays, or
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