July 31, 2025 • 10 mins
The ANZ premiership has finally inked a new broadcast deal with TVNZ - but it will see Netball NZ paying them for the privilege of having the games broadcast. What impact will this have on the professional game?
Also, the NPC has officially kicked off, and the Wellington Lions take on Canterbury at Jerry Collins Park tomorrow. How's the team looking for the season?
To answer those questions, All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk s ed B. Getting you said for
your sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday sport kickoff
on News Talk s ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
So swamp this music for we Are the Champions shouldn't
be in this morning? Joining us for Friday's fight sports
kickoff this weekend. Sports host Jason Pine Good Morning, Piney, Hollo,
didn't it? And all sports breakfast hosts and my boss
Adam Cooper, Good morning, Coops, Good morning neck Right. We
discussed it at some lent last week, the situation with Netbull,
The situation, in my humble opinion as a netball lover,
(00:52):
is getting from bad to worse. Now we're hearing that
they're actually paying for their own TV broadcast production. I
mean that's almost going back to the nineties. Come on, Coops,
I know you'll know what's going on here.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, crazy, isn't it. Well it was revealed yes today
and when we knew that, there's obviously been a breakdown
in comms with Sky, who I think for the last
seventeen years have been broadcasting the A and Z Premiership
at a multi million dollar deal. Per season and suddenly
within a season this is turning from that scenario to
(01:24):
Netball New Zealand having to pay TV and Z to
broadcast next year's competition. So it's just I think it's
really sad fall from grace for the sport that is
so popular that I think so many people are still
really interested in. All the teams around the country have
great fan bases, many of them sell at their home
courts all the time, and there's almost been an arbitrary decision.
(01:46):
It's Sky that netball doesn't work for them at the moment,
and they're well within their rights to decide that. But
I don't think I said last week, I don't think
it sums up a sudden loss of interest in netball
and New Zealand. But for Sky, there's people there that
don't feel like it's important for their business model and
it's gone. So I feel really sorry for all the
netball as all this sort stuff, all the players that
(02:08):
are so good and at the top of their games,
and I think the only answer we're going to see
in the short term is that the top three four
players from every franchise in the country go on play
in Australia. If they want to if they want to.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Wow, I mean, that's terrifying, Piney. The thing that gets
to me is, and this is the big hell secret
that Sky have got. They never let us know what
numbers are watching what, so we don't know. It could
be a dead duck. We don't know that Netbull isn't
attracting people. But you would look at it and say,
why would they give it up?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
That's it, Nick, It's if you look at it from
a straight business decision, why would Sky give up something
that was a ratings boomer for them? They wouldn't, is
the answer, right, So you can only assume that it
is not rating in the fashion that they plot that
it would. Coops is dead right. The on night experience
in their ball, the game day experience, the the television
(03:03):
viewing experience is terrific. Indoor sports, you know, it doesn't
rain fast paced, good athletes, really good personalities, I mean
from you know, you interview any of these players and
they're awesome talent. So just for whatever reason and they
haven't been able to put their finger on it, it's
not rating. And Sky are a business like any other business.
They have to examine their costs and what they're getting
(03:26):
out of those costs, and clearly they've just decided, and
as Coop said, it's such a shame because because TV
and Z aren't in a position clearly to pay for
the rights. So here's netball now going from as Coop said,
you know, having a decent revenue stream of broadcast from
Sky for the best part of the last two decades
to now having to dip into the dip into their
(03:49):
cash reserves to write a check to keep the competition going.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
You know, you talk about star power. Yesterday or the
day before, I was in my local supermarket and Amelia
and I canacio walk past me and I here on
the back of my head, you know what I mean
when you walk past the door black, or you walk
past the superstar and you go, you know, you almost
want to say alone because you think you know them,
but I'm looking at her and go, holy ship, you
(04:13):
know what I mean, So that they are star, big star,
big star.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, I sorry that she said the same when she
walked past you.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah right, bev priestman, Piety, I've got to start with you.
I love this, I love this. I loved this decision.
I think it's a great decision. And we've talked about
it on this show, and I know you've talked about
it on your show. Obviously, the Phoenix are making a
big push with female football. They are really saying to themselves,
we can win this. Maybe we can't win the men's one,
(04:41):
but we can win this. Let's have a crack.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Is that if I read that right?
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You've read that one hundred percent right? Yeah, it's just
it's exactly right. They've they've really invested in their women's program.
Just on Beef Priestman. I think we all know the background.
Beef Pritsman band for a year after using drones to spy,
ironically enough, on the New Zealand side at the Olympics
last year. Her band was was until the back end
of July. Ironically, this would the Phenie wouldn't have ever
(05:07):
had a chance of getting their Priestman without the band.
That's the long and the short of it. She is
a top quality global women's football coach and for her
to in many ways fall into the lap of the
team is luck more than anything. But you take luck.
Fate works in unusual ways. As Sean Gilder, football director
said the other day, they're signing another player this afternoon.
(05:29):
Understand a high profile football fern. They're going to give
it a decent crack.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They are going to give it these credit. You know,
I'm going to get in a bit emotional talking about it, coach,
because I'm actually excited by it. I'm excited. I mean,
she is a Global Stars as a coach global.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Imagine any other New Zealand sporting franchise hiring a coach
for a team sport that had just won gold at
a World Cup within the last five years, or and
athletes hired a coach that had won them won another
country gold in the Olympic Games. It's absolutely huge, and
I think it's been quite encouraging. You know, you talked
a bit about it on the show yesterday. People are
I think very understanding of it, that this is the
(06:06):
Phoenix jumping on an opportunity and and getting the best
out of the situation. And and BF Priest was going
to do wonderful things. And you can't help but now
look at this list of the players and growing players,
you know, with more to be announced today, that she's
helped get these people across the line. What an exciting
season and surely the ticket sales for Potty to a
(06:27):
Park this season are going to go through the roof.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
They might have got to they might have to bring
them back and too late. Can't do it near all right?
MPC started last night, now, Piney, I'm sure you watched
the game. I watched half of it. I went to bed,
you know what, because I thought Auckland had won. I
don't like games that there's no competition. And then you
know me, mate Lima well in in college. I know
(06:50):
when I first saw him, I thought he's had a
couple of nada pies in the off season, but.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Sadly it's still outrun all of us.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
He suddenly scored a sensational try even with a couple
of datas on there.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
And Aaron Cruden at first five, Limusopowanga at second five.
And the only reason Anton Lennart Browndon play is because
he's inured, So I mean, why cuto? So you should
have and Balen Sullivan's and that team too. And if
that's the MPC thirty six thirty five with a try
at the end, sign me up for it to watch,
you know?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It was?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, And tomorrow afternoon Potty to a Park And we've
talked about the decision to change venue. I think it's
a good one. Wellington Canterbury. You know, Wellington Canterbury, you
know you, you know a guy people of our of
our generation. We're never Wellington in the corner, I know,
taking the rain fielder shield off as an ethletic park born. Yeah.
But I saw him actually, he was getting coffee this morning.
I saw Jackson Garden bash about him, potty to a.
(07:43):
He's looking fit as well, he said. We're really looking
forward to him where we are and Coops have spoken
to Cole Preston for for his show and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
He could be it. He could be it. He could
be one for the future. Eight.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I like him, like it.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
When you look at all the half backs that are
injured around the country at the moment, I wouldn't be
you know, I wouldn't be surprised if he, you know,
is on stand by for I like him.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
I like him a table college job boy.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, and I know that he's had an amazing past
tilve months. He won with Old Boys University and Jubilee
Cup last year, one with the welling To Lions, one
with the Crusaders this year. So anything short of a
victory this year for him is going to be incredibly
disappointing worst campaign.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I like him around the park. I like him. It's
very good, right, Brad Shields. You know, anyone that listens
to the show knows that I've got a man crush
on Brad Shields. I mean I've known him since he
was a quite young man. I think he's a fabulous person,
fabulous player. Never ever does he not give one hundred
(08:43):
percent when he's on the field, and I think it's
how lucky are we to have him as captain of
the Lions. I mean, how to get a guy like
that as captain of the Lions.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I think we'll do this isn't there's the probably the reason.
But Brad is still he still treats every game of
rugby the way he treats his first game of rugby,
and it's as if it's his last game of rugby.
You're right, quality, human being, huge influence around that squad
model of preferetionalism, shows the young players what you have
to do to have a career like he's had. Terrific
leader of this team.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, incredible work here. It is such a tough situation
leadership wise for the Lions now losing Duplekifi who you know,
just to show how much that this team means. He's
been at training all week. He's not allowed to play
this weekend because he's been there all week at training.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
He might get a game, not allowed to play, he's
not allow to play at all.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, he might bear released for a game like Ruben
love has this weekend, but he's not going to feature much.
So he's been there a week just hanging out with
them because he just loves it so much. So six
seasons he gave two titles within that you know, started
as a very young captain in his early twenties and
what a player in person he's become. But Brad Shields, jeez,
what a replacement, you know, just with so much mona,
so much passion for the jersey and as Piney said,
(09:50):
his work ethic and he's still playing some of his
best rugby and the well, I think he'd be first
to say twilight years of his career.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We've got a good team.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
We have got a great team. We've got a great
and some big names.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Yeah, well you look at Julian Savia's back, Matt Proctor,
brother Billie. Ruben loves playing tomorrow. You know, Cole Preston,
we've talked about. You know, it's Jackson Garden Baship, plenty
of experienced brands, Shields, Peter Larkeye and the Fords.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
It's a good team and we're not paying two hundred
and twelve dollars to win the NPC on the tab
like Manor with two turbos.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Art Well, I think that's probably a bit optimistic.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Jason Biden, Saturday and Saturday Afternoon from twelve, Have you've
got anything in your life that you need to do,
turn it off and listen to Piney. Tomorrow morning between
seven and nine the same thing. Stay in bed, turn
on and listen to Adam Cooper because out of those
two guys you'll learn everything you need to know about
sport over the weekend. Thank you both so so much.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks There'd be Wellington from nine am week days,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk s ed B. Getting you said for
your sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday sport kickoff
on News Talk s ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
So swamp this music for we Are the Champions shouldn't
be in this morning? Joining us for Friday's fight sports
kickoff this weekend. Sports host Jason Pine Good Morning, Piney, Hollo,
didn't it? And all sports breakfast hosts and my boss
Adam Cooper, Good morning, Coops, Good morning neck Right. We
discussed it at some lent last week, the situation with Netbull,
The situation, in my humble opinion as a netball lover,
(00:52):
is getting from bad to worse. Now we're hearing that
they're actually paying for their own TV broadcast production. I
mean that's almost going back to the nineties. Come on, Coops,
I know you'll know what's going on here.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, crazy, isn't it. Well it was revealed yes today
and when we knew that, there's obviously been a breakdown
in comms with Sky, who I think for the last
seventeen years have been broadcasting the A and Z Premiership
at a multi million dollar deal. Per season and suddenly
within a season this is turning from that scenario to
(01:24):
Netball New Zealand having to pay TV and Z to
broadcast next year's competition. So it's just I think it's
really sad fall from grace for the sport that is
so popular that I think so many people are still
really interested in. All the teams around the country have
great fan bases, many of them sell at their home
courts all the time, and there's almost been an arbitrary decision.
(01:46):
It's Sky that netball doesn't work for them at the moment,
and they're well within their rights to decide that. But
I don't think I said last week, I don't think
it sums up a sudden loss of interest in netball
and New Zealand. But for Sky, there's people there that
don't feel like it's important for their business model and
it's gone. So I feel really sorry for all the
netball as all this sort stuff, all the players that
(02:08):
are so good and at the top of their games,
and I think the only answer we're going to see
in the short term is that the top three four
players from every franchise in the country go on play
in Australia. If they want to if they want to.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Wow, I mean, that's terrifying, Piney. The thing that gets
to me is, and this is the big hell secret
that Sky have got. They never let us know what
numbers are watching what, so we don't know. It could
be a dead duck. We don't know that Netbull isn't
attracting people. But you would look at it and say,
why would they give it up?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
That's it, Nick, It's if you look at it from
a straight business decision, why would Sky give up something
that was a ratings boomer for them? They wouldn't, is
the answer, right, So you can only assume that it
is not rating in the fashion that they plot that
it would. Coops is dead right. The on night experience
in their ball, the game day experience, the the television
(03:03):
viewing experience is terrific. Indoor sports, you know, it doesn't
rain fast paced, good athletes, really good personalities, I mean
from you know, you interview any of these players and
they're awesome talent. So just for whatever reason and they
haven't been able to put their finger on it, it's
not rating. And Sky are a business like any other business.
They have to examine their costs and what they're getting
(03:26):
out of those costs, and clearly they've just decided, and
as Coop said, it's such a shame because because TV
and Z aren't in a position clearly to pay for
the rights. So here's netball now going from as Coop said,
you know, having a decent revenue stream of broadcast from
Sky for the best part of the last two decades
to now having to dip into the dip into their
(03:49):
cash reserves to write a check to keep the competition going.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
You know, you talk about star power. Yesterday or the
day before, I was in my local supermarket and Amelia
and I canacio walk past me and I here on
the back of my head, you know what I mean
when you walk past the door black, or you walk
past the superstar and you go, you know, you almost
want to say alone because you think you know them,
but I'm looking at her and go, holy ship, you
(04:13):
know what I mean, So that they are star, big star,
big star.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, I sorry that she said the same when she
walked past you.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah right, bev priestman, Piety, I've got to start with you.
I love this, I love this. I loved this decision.
I think it's a great decision. And we've talked about
it on this show, and I know you've talked about
it on your show. Obviously, the Phoenix are making a
big push with female football. They are really saying to themselves,
we can win this. Maybe we can't win the men's one,
(04:41):
but we can win this. Let's have a crack.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Is that if I read that right?
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You've read that one hundred percent right? Yeah, it's just
it's exactly right. They've they've really invested in their women's program.
Just on Beef Priestman. I think we all know the background.
Beef Pritsman band for a year after using drones to spy,
ironically enough, on the New Zealand side at the Olympics
last year. Her band was was until the back end
of July. Ironically, this would the Phenie wouldn't have ever
(05:07):
had a chance of getting their Priestman without the band.
That's the long and the short of it. She is
a top quality global women's football coach and for her
to in many ways fall into the lap of the
team is luck more than anything. But you take luck.
Fate works in unusual ways. As Sean Gilder, football director
said the other day, they're signing another player this afternoon.
(05:29):
Understand a high profile football fern. They're going to give
it a decent crack.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They are going to give it these credit. You know,
I'm going to get in a bit emotional talking about it, coach,
because I'm actually excited by it. I'm excited. I mean,
she is a Global Stars as a coach global.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Imagine any other New Zealand sporting franchise hiring a coach
for a team sport that had just won gold at
a World Cup within the last five years, or and
athletes hired a coach that had won them won another
country gold in the Olympic Games. It's absolutely huge, and
I think it's been quite encouraging. You know, you talked
a bit about it on the show yesterday. People are
I think very understanding of it, that this is the
(06:06):
Phoenix jumping on an opportunity and and getting the best
out of the situation. And and BF Priest was going
to do wonderful things. And you can't help but now
look at this list of the players and growing players,
you know, with more to be announced today, that she's
helped get these people across the line. What an exciting
season and surely the ticket sales for Potty to a
(06:27):
Park this season are going to go through the roof.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
They might have got to they might have to bring
them back and too late. Can't do it near all right?
MPC started last night, now, Piney, I'm sure you watched
the game. I watched half of it. I went to bed,
you know what, because I thought Auckland had won. I
don't like games that there's no competition. And then you
know me, mate Lima well in in college. I know
(06:50):
when I first saw him, I thought he's had a
couple of nada pies in the off season, but.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Sadly it's still outrun all of us.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
He suddenly scored a sensational try even with a couple
of datas on there.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
And Aaron Cruden at first five, Limusopowanga at second five.
And the only reason Anton Lennart Browndon play is because
he's inured, So I mean, why cuto? So you should
have and Balen Sullivan's and that team too. And if
that's the MPC thirty six thirty five with a try
at the end, sign me up for it to watch,
you know?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
It was?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, And tomorrow afternoon Potty to a Park And we've
talked about the decision to change venue. I think it's
a good one. Wellington Canterbury. You know, Wellington Canterbury, you
know you, you know a guy people of our of
our generation. We're never Wellington in the corner, I know,
taking the rain fielder shield off as an ethletic park born. Yeah.
But I saw him actually, he was getting coffee this morning.
I saw Jackson Garden bash about him, potty to a.
(07:43):
He's looking fit as well, he said. We're really looking
forward to him where we are and Coops have spoken
to Cole Preston for for his show and.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
He could be it. He could be it. He could
be one for the future. Eight.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I like him, like it.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
When you look at all the half backs that are
injured around the country at the moment, I wouldn't be
you know, I wouldn't be surprised if he, you know,
is on stand by for I like him.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
I like him a table college job boy.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, and I know that he's had an amazing past
tilve months. He won with Old Boys University and Jubilee
Cup last year, one with the welling To Lions, one
with the Crusaders this year. So anything short of a
victory this year for him is going to be incredibly
disappointing worst campaign.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I like him around the park. I like him. It's
very good, right, Brad Shields. You know, anyone that listens
to the show knows that I've got a man crush
on Brad Shields. I mean I've known him since he
was a quite young man. I think he's a fabulous person,
fabulous player. Never ever does he not give one hundred
(08:43):
percent when he's on the field, and I think it's
how lucky are we to have him as captain of
the Lions. I mean, how to get a guy like
that as captain of the Lions.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I think we'll do this isn't there's the probably the reason.
But Brad is still he still treats every game of
rugby the way he treats his first game of rugby,
and it's as if it's his last game of rugby.
You're right, quality, human being, huge influence around that squad
model of preferetionalism, shows the young players what you have
to do to have a career like he's had. Terrific
leader of this team.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, incredible work here. It is such a tough situation
leadership wise for the Lions now losing Duplekifi who you know,
just to show how much that this team means. He's
been at training all week. He's not allowed to play
this weekend because he's been there all week at training.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
He might get a game, not allowed to play, he's
not allow to play at all.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, he might bear released for a game like Ruben
love has this weekend, but he's not going to feature much.
So he's been there a week just hanging out with
them because he just loves it so much. So six
seasons he gave two titles within that you know, started
as a very young captain in his early twenties and
what a player in person he's become. But Brad Shields, jeez,
what a replacement, you know, just with so much mona,
so much passion for the jersey and as Piney said,
(09:50):
his work ethic and he's still playing some of his
best rugby and the well, I think he'd be first
to say twilight years of his career.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We've got a good team.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
We have got a great team. We've got a great
and some big names.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Yeah, well you look at Julian Savia's back, Matt Proctor,
brother Billie. Ruben loves playing tomorrow. You know, Cole Preston,
we've talked about. You know, it's Jackson Garden Baship, plenty
of experienced brands, Shields, Peter Larkeye and the Fords.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
It's a good team and we're not paying two hundred
and twelve dollars to win the NPC on the tab
like Manor with two turbos.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Art Well, I think that's probably a bit optimistic.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Jason Biden, Saturday and Saturday Afternoon from twelve, Have you've
got anything in your life that you need to do,
turn it off and listen to Piney. Tomorrow morning between
seven and nine the same thing. Stay in bed, turn
on and listen to Adam Cooper because out of those
two guys you'll learn everything you need to know about
sport over the weekend. Thank you both so so much.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks There'd be Wellington from nine am week days,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.