May 22, 2025 • 8 mins
Auckland FC take on Melbourne Victory in the second leg of the A-League semi-finals tomorrow night. It's been a hugely successful season for the team - can they win against Melbourne again?
Also, Ardie Savea's Moana Pasifika take on the Chiefs this weekend - the only New Zealand team they still haven't beat this season. Can they do it?
Newstalk ZB All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B getting U set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talk set B.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Joining us for the Friday sports kickoff at News Talk Spins.
Can I start that again? News Talk Seed be All
Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper Morning Coops, Moning Nick and
weekend sports host Jason pine Morning Piney.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Hight Nick, how are we fantastic? Great?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I said at the start of the show today, there's
two great sporting occasions on this weekend and neither of
them involved Wellington. I mean we can talk about the Saints,
and we can talk about the Hurricanes and the Reds,
but realistically, Piney, I'll start with you on this. Auckland FC.
I mean they can't lose from.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here, well physically they can. I don't think they will.
Just to bring people up with us, it's a two
legged semi final last weekend. In the first leg they
won one. Ny'll away at Melbourne victory, so if they
avoid defeat tomorrow night, they will go through to the
grand Final, which they'll host on the Saturday night of
King's Birthday weekend. Melbourne Victory are a good team, but
(01:26):
there's a couple of things that play here. In three
games this season, Melbourne Victory haven't scored a goal against
Auckland FC. I mean that's quite a big stat. Across
three entire games, Melbourn Victory haven't been able to score
a goal. They must score at least once Tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Happens. What happens if a full time one month?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It goes to extra time two to fifteen minute periods
of extra time beyond that penalty shootout.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Wow, so it's decided tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Tomorrow night, we'll know.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So you might have to do a better overtime.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, I'll certainly be invoicing for it.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Do you feel read to find for instance?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I don't think it'll get that far. I've got it.
I've got Auckland f C wanting it two to one
to night, three to one on aggregate. That's that's what
I reckon. Yeah, yeah, I think Melbourn Victor will score
a goal. They might even score the first goal, which
I think would really make for an exciting tie. But yeah,
I've got Auckland f C going through tomorrow night. Like
I say, with a two to one victory on the night.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
You know, the Saints are playing up in Auckland that
on the weekend, and I would have loved to gone
up and actually just gone.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You're not allowed to do They not let you go.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
No, no, they don't need me to have the Saints game,
but I would have liked to go and seen the
Auckland game because apparently there's nothing like it in any
sporting occasion in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Well, at the risk of alienating coops from this whole
chat and monopolizing, Yeah, well on Sunday night, same patch
of grass Warriors will be sold out against the Raiders,
So if you're a sports fan, you might just pull
out a roll out beat at go Mediam Mount Smart
Football on the Saturday six o'clock. Yeah, as soon as
that game finishes, and extra seats as well, they'll start
(03:00):
pulling down the football posts and spraying over the white
lines and getting ready for the Rugby league, you know,
less than twenty four hours. So incredible. And I've got
extra seats in the for Auckland f C, which the
Warriors I believe we're also selling. So they'll be a
massive craft for the Warriors as well.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Hell of it, night coops, come on, and I want
to talk about the Chiefs Mina Pacifica because I've got
the world I live with the world's greatest Artie Savia fan,
and he thinks that the Chiefs are going to smash Moana,
even though he loves Moana.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
What do you think, Yeah, I probably use slightly towards
the chief side. I just think you know that as
a collective, as a as a rugby team they have
you know, just even on paper as a sort of
one to fifteen, one to twenty three matchup, they probably
have the advantage there. I mean, you can't discount to
what Artie Savia and the Minor Pacifica team have done
this year, all these maiden wins over teams that they've
(03:51):
been trying so hard to do as a franchise as
a club for so many years. So not really excited,
really excited for this, but I just think the Chiefs
just have just have a little bit of a better
edge to play some good rugby, get themselves out of
trouble a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And we have to tell our listeners that Mina Pacifica
has beaten every New Zealand team apart from the Chiefs
this season. Yeah, I mean, that's an.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Incredible and very incredible season.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Well, I mean everyone that's been a Hurricane supporter for
well the last twelve years knows what Ardie sav is capable,
knows what he's meant to this franchise, knows what he
means to the All Blacks. So it is hardly a
surprise that he's been able to join this new team
and you know, get it up on its feet and
put it up on a pedestal with himself at the forefront.
So it's been very impressive and you've got to respect
(04:36):
him for making a tough but bold call to actually
move up there as well.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Here's what I hope happens with Mourana, Pacifica and the
Hurricanes is that the Hurricanes winn't to night against the
Reds and secure their place in the top six, and
then next weekend Mawana come here and beat the Hurricanes.
I can't believe I'm saying this, beat the Hurricanes, because
I think you're right, they won't beat the Chiefs. Tomorrow night,
Mauana come here and beat the Hurricanes, therefore making the
top six. Hurricanes already there. Blues miss out. That's what
(05:00):
I think all Wellington sports fans will be so good.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Can I just ask you both very very quickly, because
it's something that's sort of been in my back of
my mind. There's been a lot of chatter and I'll
start with you Piney on this about whether Artie Severe
should be the All Black captain. What are your thoughts
and if you don't want to comment, I get it
so because that's.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
No I'd like to comment. Okay, I'd like to comment.
First of all, will he be?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
No?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Razor won't make a change. There's no way that Scott
Robertson will change his captain. Scott Barrett will captain of
the team. Should he be? I think in the eyes
of many, the way he leads is extremely inspirational. I
think though, one thing that's become obvious is that playing
for more Wana Pacifica is bigger than rugby. For Artie Savia,
I don't think he can possibly replicate that with the
All Blacks, which seems incredible, but there is a higher
(05:47):
power at work here when it comes to Artie's connection
with mo Wana Pacifica. The other thing I'd say is
that you don't need an armband to lead.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, great, great, keeps your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Totally agree. Leave him as is with what he brings
to the All Blacks, and we need him as the
power force of a loose forward that he is in
the All Blacks. I don't think you want to hinder
that by adding on extra leadership responsibilities. But as Piney said,
he's a huge leader within that AB's environment. He's captained
the team on numerous occasions. It's not as if by
naming him or having a scene next to his name,
(06:17):
or even a VC next to his name, I don't
think it needs to change much. And you know, you
can't just suddenly say to Scott Barrett one season and
hey we're making a slight change here.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Okay. I personally love the seven on the back myself personally.
I don't know why, but I really do. We haven't
really got time to go into that, but that's just
my personal thing. The Panthers have gone from the NBL.
This was a disaster from day one. No one wants
to put their hand up and admit that that was
a disaster. Everything spelled a disaster in this and everyone's
(06:50):
been sold the stream that was never there. Pioney, this
is a very big embarrassment to NBL basketball, which I've
been part of for forty years. And everyone who's running
and hiding.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, I think you've got of the three of us,
by far the more intimate knowledge of this, but from
the art so I'm looking in. Yeah, it's a very
bad look. And you're right. Look, none of us in
this room would ever knock innovations as a concept, but
this one. What you got to do is you got
to you basically draw a line of it. And so
it did work. We learn, We move on. But I
(07:22):
hope it doesn't stop, you know, not just the NBL,
but all sporting organizations from innovating, because that is crucial
in these times.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Change. Change is good. I mean, they did it with
the Huskies as well, the Tasmania Huskies in our league
as well, same same, same results.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Well they became the jack jump as they didn't they.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
But I mean they've left us in disarray and money
owing and all that stuff out there.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Is there enough for twelve to you know, basketball players
in his Zeland, twelve teams?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
It doesn't seem.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it should be good button there. It should be
a ten team league because they've seen how many games
We've seen teams win by fifty points. That's not a competition,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, the talent is fairly thinly spread at the moment
it is.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Thank you both. Look forward to tomorrow morning and listening
to Annon Cooper on the RS Breakfast and in the afternoon,
Saturday afternoon, I'll be listening to Jason Pine, and then
of course I'll be listening to him on the Football. Gosh,
we get a lot of Jason Pine, don't we know?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I mean more than I mean, way more than we should.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
No, no, no, not enough.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, Listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B getting U set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talk set B.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Joining us for the Friday sports kickoff at News Talk Spins.
Can I start that again? News Talk Seed be All
Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper Morning Coops, Moning Nick and
weekend sports host Jason pine Morning Piney.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Hight Nick, how are we fantastic? Great?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I said at the start of the show today, there's
two great sporting occasions on this weekend and neither of
them involved Wellington. I mean we can talk about the Saints,
and we can talk about the Hurricanes and the Reds,
but realistically, Piney, I'll start with you on this. Auckland FC.
I mean they can't lose from.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Here, well physically they can. I don't think they will.
Just to bring people up with us, it's a two
legged semi final last weekend. In the first leg they
won one. Ny'll away at Melbourne victory, so if they
avoid defeat tomorrow night, they will go through to the
grand Final, which they'll host on the Saturday night of
King's Birthday weekend. Melbourne Victory are a good team, but
(01:26):
there's a couple of things that play here. In three
games this season, Melbourne Victory haven't scored a goal against
Auckland FC. I mean that's quite a big stat. Across
three entire games, Melbourn Victory haven't been able to score
a goal. They must score at least once Tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Happens. What happens if a full time one month?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It goes to extra time two to fifteen minute periods
of extra time beyond that penalty shootout.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Wow, so it's decided tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Tomorrow night, we'll know.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So you might have to do a better overtime.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Well, I'll certainly be invoicing for it.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Do you feel read to find for instance?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I don't think it'll get that far. I've got it.
I've got Auckland f C wanting it two to one
to night, three to one on aggregate. That's that's what
I reckon. Yeah, yeah, I think Melbourn Victor will score
a goal. They might even score the first goal, which
I think would really make for an exciting tie. But yeah,
I've got Auckland f C going through tomorrow night. Like
I say, with a two to one victory on the night.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
You know, the Saints are playing up in Auckland that
on the weekend, and I would have loved to gone
up and actually just gone.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You're not allowed to do They not let you go.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
No, no, they don't need me to have the Saints game,
but I would have liked to go and seen the
Auckland game because apparently there's nothing like it in any
sporting occasion in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Well, at the risk of alienating coops from this whole
chat and monopolizing, Yeah, well on Sunday night, same patch
of grass Warriors will be sold out against the Raiders,
So if you're a sports fan, you might just pull
out a roll out beat at go Mediam Mount Smart
Football on the Saturday six o'clock. Yeah, as soon as
that game finishes, and extra seats as well, they'll start
(03:00):
pulling down the football posts and spraying over the white
lines and getting ready for the Rugby league, you know,
less than twenty four hours. So incredible. And I've got
extra seats in the for Auckland f C, which the
Warriors I believe we're also selling. So they'll be a
massive craft for the Warriors as well.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Hell of it, night coops, come on, and I want
to talk about the Chiefs Mina Pacifica because I've got
the world I live with the world's greatest Artie Savia fan,
and he thinks that the Chiefs are going to smash Moana,
even though he loves Moana.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
What do you think, Yeah, I probably use slightly towards
the chief side. I just think you know that as
a collective, as a as a rugby team they have
you know, just even on paper as a sort of
one to fifteen, one to twenty three matchup, they probably
have the advantage there. I mean, you can't discount to
what Artie Savia and the Minor Pacifica team have done
this year, all these maiden wins over teams that they've
(03:51):
been trying so hard to do as a franchise as
a club for so many years. So not really excited,
really excited for this, but I just think the Chiefs
just have just have a little bit of a better
edge to play some good rugby, get themselves out of
trouble a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And we have to tell our listeners that Mina Pacifica
has beaten every New Zealand team apart from the Chiefs
this season. Yeah, I mean, that's an.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Incredible and very incredible season.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Well, I mean everyone that's been a Hurricane supporter for
well the last twelve years knows what Ardie sav is capable,
knows what he's meant to this franchise, knows what he
means to the All Blacks. So it is hardly a
surprise that he's been able to join this new team
and you know, get it up on its feet and
put it up on a pedestal with himself at the forefront.
So it's been very impressive and you've got to respect
(04:36):
him for making a tough but bold call to actually
move up there as well.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Here's what I hope happens with Mourana, Pacifica and the
Hurricanes is that the Hurricanes winn't to night against the
Reds and secure their place in the top six, and
then next weekend Mawana come here and beat the Hurricanes.
I can't believe I'm saying this, beat the Hurricanes, because
I think you're right, they won't beat the Chiefs. Tomorrow night,
Mauana come here and beat the Hurricanes, therefore making the
top six. Hurricanes already there. Blues miss out. That's what
(05:00):
I think all Wellington sports fans will be so good.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Can I just ask you both very very quickly, because
it's something that's sort of been in my back of
my mind. There's been a lot of chatter and I'll
start with you Piney on this about whether Artie Severe
should be the All Black captain. What are your thoughts
and if you don't want to comment, I get it
so because that's.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
No I'd like to comment. Okay, I'd like to comment.
First of all, will he be?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
No?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Razor won't make a change. There's no way that Scott
Robertson will change his captain. Scott Barrett will captain of
the team. Should he be? I think in the eyes
of many, the way he leads is extremely inspirational. I
think though, one thing that's become obvious is that playing
for more Wana Pacifica is bigger than rugby. For Artie Savia,
I don't think he can possibly replicate that with the
All Blacks, which seems incredible, but there is a higher
(05:47):
power at work here when it comes to Artie's connection
with mo Wana Pacifica. The other thing I'd say is
that you don't need an armband to lead.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, great, great, keeps your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Totally agree. Leave him as is with what he brings
to the All Blacks, and we need him as the
power force of a loose forward that he is in
the All Blacks. I don't think you want to hinder
that by adding on extra leadership responsibilities. But as Piney said,
he's a huge leader within that AB's environment. He's captained
the team on numerous occasions. It's not as if by
naming him or having a scene next to his name,
(06:17):
or even a VC next to his name, I don't
think it needs to change much. And you know, you
can't just suddenly say to Scott Barrett one season and
hey we're making a slight change here.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Okay. I personally love the seven on the back myself personally.
I don't know why, but I really do. We haven't
really got time to go into that, but that's just
my personal thing. The Panthers have gone from the NBL.
This was a disaster from day one. No one wants
to put their hand up and admit that that was
a disaster. Everything spelled a disaster in this and everyone's
(06:50):
been sold the stream that was never there. Pioney, this
is a very big embarrassment to NBL basketball, which I've
been part of for forty years. And everyone who's running
and hiding.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, I think you've got of the three of us,
by far the more intimate knowledge of this, but from
the art so I'm looking in. Yeah, it's a very
bad look. And you're right. Look, none of us in
this room would ever knock innovations as a concept, but
this one. What you got to do is you got
to you basically draw a line of it. And so
it did work. We learn, We move on. But I
(07:22):
hope it doesn't stop, you know, not just the NBL,
but all sporting organizations from innovating, because that is crucial
in these times.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Change. Change is good. I mean, they did it with
the Huskies as well, the Tasmania Huskies in our league
as well, same same, same results.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Well they became the jack jump as they didn't they.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
But I mean they've left us in disarray and money
owing and all that stuff out there.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Is there enough for twelve to you know, basketball players
in his Zeland, twelve teams?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
It doesn't seem.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it should be good button there. It should be
a ten team league because they've seen how many games
We've seen teams win by fifty points. That's not a competition,
you know.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, the talent is fairly thinly spread at the moment
it is.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Thank you both. Look forward to tomorrow morning and listening
to Annon Cooper on the RS Breakfast and in the afternoon,
Saturday afternoon, I'll be listening to Jason Pine, and then
of course I'll be listening to him on the Football. Gosh,
we get a lot of Jason Pine, don't we know?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I mean more than I mean, way more than we should.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
No, no, no, not enough.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, Listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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