September 10, 2026 • 7 mins
Mark Kelly previews the NZ Warriors' Qualifying Final against the Dolphins in Auckland.
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
This is the muster on Hokanui.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
We're away up to Auckland now to catch up with
Mark Kelly, Newstalk ZB producer, and Waz Tragic ahead of
this qualifying final tomorrow against the Dolphins at Mount Smart Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
MK, good afternoon. You must be fizzing at the bung.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, g'day, Andy. Yeah, it's bloody exciting, mate. It's nice
to be in this position as a Warriors fan. And, yeah,
we'll see what happens tomorrow night. But, yeah, fingers and
toes are crossed.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Why do the Warriors win tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I actually do think we're a better side. They've got
a couple of X-Factor players, the Dolphins, but our four-pack
has really shown that they are probably the premier four-pack
in the whole competition. At home, it's going to be, what, 27,000,
28,000 fans at Mount Smart, just going absolutely bananas. They're
going to be up for it, I think. The last
(01:07):
two weeks, we know they've had a bit of issues
on the defensive side, on the edge, but It's a
different sort of kettle of fish. And also, it's the Dolphins'
first ever playoff game. They've been in the competition for about, what,
four or five seasons, and this is the first time
they've made the top eight. So I'm hoping that Lady
Luck's not on their side and the Warriors can come
out with the win, because that means, yeah, we continue
(01:28):
and have a week off and then play that prelim final.
But not looking too far ahead, though, mate.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
The Warriors' defence has been a concern, averaging, what is it,
well over 20 points for.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
The last two games.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Do you honestly think they can sort that out?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, absolutely. If you look at the season as a whole,
we've been the second best defensive team for the whole competition,
leading in, I think, just under 17 points a game.
We know what's happened in the last two weeks, but
players have been out, important players at important positions, and
maybe took the eyes off the ball. I knew they
(02:02):
had a top-two spot guaranteed, but we still won those games.
We did the job. It just wasn't overly convincing on
the defensive side of the ball, but No, I have
no issues. I'm not worried about it one bit.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Now, you're a Warriors diehard, absolute diehard. What would it
mean for you if they were to win the Premiership
this year?
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Oh, it'd be special. There's no two ways about it.
It's been a long time coming, season 31 in the competition.
I don't really know if it would feel real. And
it would be very warriors to do what Canberra Raiders
did last year and sort of bow out in the
first two rounds, lose both games. But it's been a
(02:42):
long time coming. But this season does feel different. This
team has a lot more traits of winning teams. It's
got a great defensive side of the ball, good offensive air,
a lot of X-factor players. And those games where, say,
we were up and other teams came back from, scoring
14 unanswered points instead of sort of rolling over and
taking the loss. We would fight back and we'd come
(03:04):
out with the victory. And it's just a different side
than we've ever had. Andrew Webster's done a phenomenal job.
I think it's about season four of him being coach
of the Warriors. No, it would be special. The only
thing I would much rather have than an NRL premiership
for the Warriors would be an NPC title for the
mighty Bay of Plenty Steelers.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, we'll talk your beloved base shortly.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
But the All Blacks, you talked about this briefly before,
being in Baltimore, this effectively is a dead rubber test.
I mean, we lost in South Africa. This is all
about trying to raise inverted commas, a profile for the
game over in the States, money talks.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, definitely money talks, big sponsorship, all that sort of stuff,
playing at the home of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
It'll be awesome to see them play there, but easier
as well on the alarm clock with a 9 o'clock
kickoff rather than 3 a.m., Yeah, but it is disappointing.
But you've got to ask yourself, would you rather in
Baltimore or the other talks of that game was going
(04:00):
to be in Saudi Arabia and Qatar or something like that?
So I think it is what it is. It's weird
that it's a four-test series anyway, because you can get
that possibility of being a two-all draw, and I know
they've had this special trophy where it does split in half.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
If it does split, yeah, if it ends up being two-two, but... Yeah,
I've never understood a point of a series where there
is a possible outcome of not having a winner. That's
why I love my American sports. It's always best of seven,
best of five, whatever it is, but you're always going
to get a winner. I would have even much rather
if it did end up being the All Blacks winning
(04:38):
on Sunday, and it was two, or they just did
an extra time, golden point or something, two 10-minute halves,
a bit like they did in the consolation cup between
the Silver Ferns and the Aussie Diamonds, I believe it
was last year, and it was two all, and they
just played an extra 10 minutes, extra time, and the
Diamonds won. So, yeah, so you do get a victory.
But you know South African fans are going to come
out if we do win on Sunday, that they won
(05:00):
the South African series of it. They did win two
of the three tests. But, yeah, it's still an All
Blacks test, and it's still against our sort of greatest rivals.
But it is, yeah, it does feel a bit funny.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Right, we'll talk the MPC. Bay are plenty against the
Stags on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You do realise the Stags are due?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, well, and you got us last year as well.
One of, I believe, three or four losses that we had,
and we're not very good. It's been bitterly disappointing watching
the Steamers hang out all year for this sort of
11-week window of the MPC, and we are pretty tough
to watch. We've sort of all our lady luck of
the last couple of years, the success we've had making
(05:41):
a final, a couple of semis here and there, and
a lot of those players now have gone offshore. We've
had 11 club players make debuts for the province this year,
but it's been all right. We had a really tough
loss against Manawatu last week, our first game at the
Tiding of the Main for the season, and that's probably
almost shot us in the foot to make the top eight,
(06:02):
but we won against you guys Sunday. I know we're
playing at your fortress, so We'll see. But, oh, jeez,
I hope we smoke you. I'll tell you that much, Andy.
Sorry to your listeners, but I hope we put 30
on you and the Warriors win and also the All Blacks.
It's the big three for me for the weekend.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Well, let's be honest.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I wouldn't really call Rugby Park a fortress at the
moment with a win-loss ratio.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
No, no, but it does look good on TV with
the bums on the seat, so I'll give you that.
But all in all, it's been quite an entertaining season
of MPC. It's great to have it back on on
3d on TV and said but it does feel strange
that it is free to air But you could still
watch it on sky. Mm-hmm And it's still same commentaries
except for that sort of Saturday night commentary team, but
(06:47):
now it's been great are disappointed to see my Probably
most hated sports team on planet Earth Hawke's Bay leading
Don't you? I hate how they think they have a
shout to be the bay and So, yeah, Tauranga is
everything over Napier. Napier's in the air. I don't want
to start that because we're going into a beautiful Southland
(07:10):
at the moment. But, yeah, I just hope their wheels
fall off for the season and there's no title heading
to Napier Hastings.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Does it really irk you on the TV when Hawke's
Bay comes up as Bay because they won the game
the year before?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Oh, yeah, absolutely. And then they don't do it for
the Volcanics when we play the Tui in the Farapama Cup.
They do it one way and not the other. So
I believe that series is one also. We still should
be called the Bay, but again, I'm not sure how
much your listeners should care about my hatred for Napier Hastings.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Let it go, Mark Kelly.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I will never.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Always appreciate your time. Up the wars and go the Stags.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Up the wars, go the Bay, mate. Thanks for having me, Andy.
This is the muster on Hokanui.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
We're away up to Auckland now to catch up with
Mark Kelly, Newstalk ZB producer, and Waz Tragic ahead of
this qualifying final tomorrow against the Dolphins at Mount Smart Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
MK, good afternoon. You must be fizzing at the bung.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, g'day, Andy. Yeah, it's bloody exciting, mate. It's nice
to be in this position as a Warriors fan. And, yeah,
we'll see what happens tomorrow night. But, yeah, fingers and
toes are crossed.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Why do the Warriors win tomorrow?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I actually do think we're a better side. They've got
a couple of X-Factor players, the Dolphins, but our four-pack
has really shown that they are probably the premier four-pack
in the whole competition. At home, it's going to be, what, 27,000,
28,000 fans at Mount Smart, just going absolutely bananas. They're
going to be up for it, I think. The last
(01:07):
two weeks, we know they've had a bit of issues
on the defensive side, on the edge, but It's a
different sort of kettle of fish. And also, it's the Dolphins'
first ever playoff game. They've been in the competition for about, what,
four or five seasons, and this is the first time
they've made the top eight. So I'm hoping that Lady
Luck's not on their side and the Warriors can come
out with the win, because that means, yeah, we continue
(01:28):
and have a week off and then play that prelim final.
But not looking too far ahead, though, mate.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
The Warriors' defence has been a concern, averaging, what is it,
well over 20 points for.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
The last two games.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Do you honestly think they can sort that out?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, absolutely. If you look at the season as a whole,
we've been the second best defensive team for the whole competition,
leading in, I think, just under 17 points a game.
We know what's happened in the last two weeks, but
players have been out, important players at important positions, and
maybe took the eyes off the ball. I knew they
(02:02):
had a top-two spot guaranteed, but we still won those games.
We did the job. It just wasn't overly convincing on
the defensive side of the ball, but No, I have
no issues. I'm not worried about it one bit.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Now, you're a Warriors diehard, absolute diehard. What would it
mean for you if they were to win the Premiership
this year?
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Oh, it'd be special. There's no two ways about it.
It's been a long time coming, season 31 in the competition.
I don't really know if it would feel real. And
it would be very warriors to do what Canberra Raiders
did last year and sort of bow out in the
first two rounds, lose both games. But it's been a
(02:42):
long time coming. But this season does feel different. This
team has a lot more traits of winning teams. It's
got a great defensive side of the ball, good offensive air,
a lot of X-factor players. And those games where, say,
we were up and other teams came back from, scoring
14 unanswered points instead of sort of rolling over and
taking the loss. We would fight back and we'd come
(03:04):
out with the victory. And it's just a different side
than we've ever had. Andrew Webster's done a phenomenal job.
I think it's about season four of him being coach
of the Warriors. No, it would be special. The only
thing I would much rather have than an NRL premiership
for the Warriors would be an NPC title for the
mighty Bay of Plenty Steelers.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, we'll talk your beloved base shortly.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
But the All Blacks, you talked about this briefly before,
being in Baltimore, this effectively is a dead rubber test.
I mean, we lost in South Africa. This is all
about trying to raise inverted commas, a profile for the
game over in the States, money talks.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, definitely money talks, big sponsorship, all that sort of stuff,
playing at the home of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
It'll be awesome to see them play there, but easier
as well on the alarm clock with a 9 o'clock
kickoff rather than 3 a.m., Yeah, but it is disappointing.
But you've got to ask yourself, would you rather in
Baltimore or the other talks of that game was going
(04:00):
to be in Saudi Arabia and Qatar or something like that?
So I think it is what it is. It's weird
that it's a four-test series anyway, because you can get
that possibility of being a two-all draw, and I know
they've had this special trophy where it does split in half.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
If it does split, yeah, if it ends up being two-two, but... Yeah,
I've never understood a point of a series where there
is a possible outcome of not having a winner. That's
why I love my American sports. It's always best of seven,
best of five, whatever it is, but you're always going
to get a winner. I would have even much rather
if it did end up being the All Blacks winning
(04:38):
on Sunday, and it was two, or they just did
an extra time, golden point or something, two 10-minute halves,
a bit like they did in the consolation cup between
the Silver Ferns and the Aussie Diamonds, I believe it
was last year, and it was two all, and they
just played an extra 10 minutes, extra time, and the
Diamonds won. So, yeah, so you do get a victory.
But you know South African fans are going to come
out if we do win on Sunday, that they won
(05:00):
the South African series of it. They did win two
of the three tests. But, yeah, it's still an All
Blacks test, and it's still against our sort of greatest rivals.
But it is, yeah, it does feel a bit funny.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Right, we'll talk the MPC. Bay are plenty against the
Stags on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
You do realise the Stags are due?
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, well, and you got us last year as well.
One of, I believe, three or four losses that we had,
and we're not very good. It's been bitterly disappointing watching
the Steamers hang out all year for this sort of
11-week window of the MPC, and we are pretty tough
to watch. We've sort of all our lady luck of
the last couple of years, the success we've had making
(05:41):
a final, a couple of semis here and there, and
a lot of those players now have gone offshore. We've
had 11 club players make debuts for the province this year,
but it's been all right. We had a really tough
loss against Manawatu last week, our first game at the
Tiding of the Main for the season, and that's probably
almost shot us in the foot to make the top eight,
(06:02):
but we won against you guys Sunday. I know we're
playing at your fortress, so We'll see. But, oh, jeez,
I hope we smoke you. I'll tell you that much, Andy.
Sorry to your listeners, but I hope we put 30
on you and the Warriors win and also the All Blacks.
It's the big three for me for the weekend.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Well, let's be honest.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I wouldn't really call Rugby Park a fortress at the
moment with a win-loss ratio.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
No, no, but it does look good on TV with
the bums on the seat, so I'll give you that.
But all in all, it's been quite an entertaining season
of MPC. It's great to have it back on on
3d on TV and said but it does feel strange
that it is free to air But you could still
watch it on sky. Mm-hmm And it's still same commentaries
except for that sort of Saturday night commentary team, but
(06:47):
now it's been great are disappointed to see my Probably
most hated sports team on planet Earth Hawke's Bay leading
Don't you? I hate how they think they have a
shout to be the bay and So, yeah, Tauranga is
everything over Napier. Napier's in the air. I don't want
to start that because we're going into a beautiful Southland
(07:10):
at the moment. But, yeah, I just hope their wheels
fall off for the season and there's no title heading
to Napier Hastings.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Does it really irk you on the TV when Hawke's
Bay comes up as Bay because they won the game
the year before?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Oh, yeah, absolutely. And then they don't do it for
the Volcanics when we play the Tui in the Farapama Cup.
They do it one way and not the other. So
I believe that series is one also. We still should
be called the Bay, but again, I'm not sure how
much your listeners should care about my hatred for Napier Hastings.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Let it go, Mark Kelly.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I will never.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Always appreciate your time. Up the wars and go the Stags.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Up the wars, go the Bay, mate. Thanks for having me, Andy.
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