September 4, 2025 • 7 mins
Our Resident Sporting Guru looks at what the Stags need to do to keep the Log of Wood down in the south ahead of their first defence against Canterbury.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Resident Sporting Gary Nathan Burton joins us this afternoon. Good afternoon, Nate.
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, I'm very good mate. Yet it's been a heck
of a week, hasn't it, right, Right from last Sunday
afternoon in that final whistle and seeing Sean with a
lift of lig of wood to the team coming home
on Monday, those scenes at in Vicargo Airport, and then
and then the week where the Shields sort of done
the rounds of businesses and schools and that sort of thing,
and old Muggins here. I've been off to Auckland for
(00:29):
three days, so I've missed out on my dose of
Shield of shield fever. Unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Well you wouldn't hear much about it up there though.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
They weren't talking much about the Shield and to be fair,
I was over in the on the North Shore even better,
enjoying a bit of sun and takapoona. And someone did
say to me that the last Harbor home game they
had a massive crowd of one hundred and fifty at
the game. So yeah, NPC is not hasn't really grasped
(00:56):
the imagination of that part of the country for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Well, Arbor at the moment and no one is. They're
more or less referred to as Owen because they're Owen
Sex and the NPC.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, well, and across across Harbor County's end Auckland. It
hasn't been a great MPC so far for the Auckland
based teams, hasn't. But that's all right, that's fine because
we've got we've got plenty of excitement happening down at
this end of the country.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So he looks forward to the game tomorrow. We're up
against the Kennibury side, who is for honest, there's a
lot of names in this team that I'm not familiar with.
What are they going to bring?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, it's I guess it's It is an interesting prospect
from that, isn't it. You sort of think of Canterbury
teams being sort of all black laden. This one not
so much the case. But they you know that that
Cannbury region, they definitely use this team as as a
great way of fundling those players through to those successful
Crusaders teams. So while we don't know the names, they're
(01:48):
obviously quality players. They're having a quality season. They see
they're going well. But yeah, I mean they'll come down
with no shortage of confidence. But at the same time
we're talking about US South that I think, particularly in
the last two wins, the Bay of Plenty win and
the obviously the Shield win over Why Cato. This is
a very gritty team that have shown that they'll stick
(02:09):
to the task and they'll be incredibly frustrating with their defense,
and they'll make teams, they'll force teams into eras and
they'll by just by sort of never going away. And
I think that's been a hallmark probably of the last
one hundred and sixty minutes of Staggs rugby.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
As far as the crowd tomorrow, it should be close
to ten k. Let's be honest, how much does the
crowd bring to the game for the Stags are there's
the players say themselves, it's like a sixteenth man. Do
you think that's pretty much the case? So that's what
the Southern fan base brings.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Oh it's got to be. I mean, I'll hark back
to that, you know, one hundred and fifty people showing
up to to a Harbor game. Whereas the Southern rugby
team have absolutely no question they've got the best fan
base in New Zealand domestic rugby and you know there
these are loyal, die hard fans. They that that stick
(03:01):
there through the through the thick and thin, are there
for you know, we're going to be honest. South And
teams generally they lose more rugby games than they win.
But but the but the Stags fans stay there and
and so when the when they when they do get rewarded,
and they're being rewarded at the moment when they do
get the the Mahi, then they know they definitely deserve
(03:23):
the treats. So I think we'll see a massive crowd
there on Saturday afternoon. And you know, Sean with He's
talked about it a lot, hasn't it, And I think
it was it was probably part of the part of
the reason that he wanted to come to come home
and lead this Marione team was the fact that he
got to play in front of the in front of
that vociferous terrace and and that Rugby Park crowd in general.
(03:45):
So you know it's gonna it's gonna be pretty good.
And if that's the difference, I think, you know, you
get into that last of of five or ten minutes
and the and the team are hanging on for a
drawer better to hold onto that shield. Then you know,
you definitely would make the crowd that sixteenth man.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah. Interesting, you bring out the Sean Wie factor in there.
Do you think this could perhaps be the catalyst for
more homegrown Southerners who've gone to the Tiger coming back
down south.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I've got no doubt that during the Super Rugby season
and that sort of thing, that there's a few coffees
happening in a few discussions happening in those cafes in Dunedin,
and I guess it just probably it probably just shows
that that pathway still exists. And I guess unfortunately, there
was a period of time where some of our best
(04:32):
players didn't see a future for themselves necessarily at home,
and so they were looking at other opportunities. Now Rugby
South and they've done a great job of trying to
plug that gap, and they've you know, they've they've had
an academy operating for the last couple of years out
of Dunedin. I don't think the Tago rugby officials are
too happy about that, but that's fine. So they're doing
(04:54):
they're doing good work there. They're doing a good job
of keeping those of relationships going when players do sort
of move on to other pastures. So we're something we're
doing all as a province. We do need to squeeze
the lemon and we need to make we make sure
we can get the very best out of the rugby
products that we do produce. So inevitably some of them
(05:16):
are going to go on to other teams and other places,
but we need to make the most of what we've got.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So when's it for us tomorrow, Nate attack or defense?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I'd say one hundred percent defense, you know, I think
that's what we've seen over those last two games, and
for me, it's particularly been around those key periods leading
up to halftime and just after halftime, and if anything,
it's that thirty five minutes through to the forty minute march.
Southern teams in the past have been guilty of letting
in one, two, even three trice and at halftime sing
(05:50):
steering down the gap of a deficit that ends up
being too big. But yee, we've seen some. We've seen
some try saving efforts next year, in particular those sort
of dying minutes of a half, and that's kept us
in the game. As I was saying before, frustrated the
opposition and and if we can stay within if we
can stay within touch of this, can every team take
(06:11):
them as deep as possible, then we'll be every chance.
You know, it's likely to be a little bit of
weather tomorrow afternoon too, so that'll that'll play a factor.
But yeah, defense for me, But then I'll completely contradict
myself and say, you still need to you still need
to attack, and you've still got to score some points.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Stag's team go out
(06:33):
with an attitude that they're not just defending the shield,
they're also going out to win it a game. So
I think that's a little bit of that attacking mindset
that you've got to have. You just can't sit in
your shell.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Too much, regardless of your eye patch. Give a prediction
for tomorrow, Oh let's go Stags by three. A.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
That'll that'll, that'll be enough. But I'll be happy with
with with one point, with a one point, but I'll
be happy with the draw. To be fear, as long
as the shield.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Stays down here Resident Sporting Gary Nathan Burden always appreciate
your time out up.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's up mate, supports from miles around laugh out loud
with tag Proud because life on the land can be
a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Brought to us by sheer Well data working to help
the livestock farmer. You've got to feel sorry for parents
these days. You talk about the birds and the bees,
but unfortunately it's now the bees and the bees, the
birds and the birds, the birds that used to be bees,
the bees that used to be birds, and birds that
look like bees puss and bees that look like birds
but still got a stinger. That's us Over and done
(07:33):
with for the afternoon. The best of the muster. Five
am tomorrow. I'm Andy Mueller. This has been the muster
one Hokkanu. He choose to peters and ICs how I
go south right
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Right road
Resident Sporting Gary Nathan Burton joins us this afternoon. Good afternoon, Nate.
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, I'm very good mate. Yet it's been a heck
of a week, hasn't it, right, Right from last Sunday
afternoon in that final whistle and seeing Sean with a
lift of lig of wood to the team coming home
on Monday, those scenes at in Vicargo Airport, and then
and then the week where the Shields sort of done
the rounds of businesses and schools and that sort of thing,
and old Muggins here. I've been off to Auckland for
(00:29):
three days, so I've missed out on my dose of
Shield of shield fever. Unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Well you wouldn't hear much about it up there though.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
They weren't talking much about the Shield and to be fair,
I was over in the on the North Shore even better,
enjoying a bit of sun and takapoona. And someone did
say to me that the last Harbor home game they
had a massive crowd of one hundred and fifty at
the game. So yeah, NPC is not hasn't really grasped
(00:56):
the imagination of that part of the country for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Well, Arbor at the moment and no one is. They're
more or less referred to as Owen because they're Owen
Sex and the NPC.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, well, and across across Harbor County's end Auckland. It
hasn't been a great MPC so far for the Auckland
based teams, hasn't. But that's all right, that's fine because
we've got we've got plenty of excitement happening down at
this end of the country.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
So he looks forward to the game tomorrow. We're up
against the Kennibury side, who is for honest, there's a
lot of names in this team that I'm not familiar with.
What are they going to bring?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, it's I guess it's It is an interesting prospect
from that, isn't it. You sort of think of Canterbury
teams being sort of all black laden. This one not
so much the case. But they you know that that
Cannbury region, they definitely use this team as as a
great way of fundling those players through to those successful
Crusaders teams. So while we don't know the names, they're
(01:48):
obviously quality players. They're having a quality season. They see
they're going well. But yeah, I mean they'll come down
with no shortage of confidence. But at the same time
we're talking about US South that I think, particularly in
the last two wins, the Bay of Plenty win and
the obviously the Shield win over Why Cato. This is
a very gritty team that have shown that they'll stick
(02:09):
to the task and they'll be incredibly frustrating with their defense,
and they'll make teams, they'll force teams into eras and
they'll by just by sort of never going away. And
I think that's been a hallmark probably of the last
one hundred and sixty minutes of Staggs rugby.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
As far as the crowd tomorrow, it should be close
to ten k. Let's be honest, how much does the
crowd bring to the game for the Stags are there's
the players say themselves, it's like a sixteenth man. Do
you think that's pretty much the case? So that's what
the Southern fan base brings.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Oh it's got to be. I mean, I'll hark back
to that, you know, one hundred and fifty people showing
up to to a Harbor game. Whereas the Southern rugby
team have absolutely no question they've got the best fan
base in New Zealand domestic rugby and you know there
these are loyal, die hard fans. They that that stick
(03:01):
there through the through the thick and thin, are there
for you know, we're going to be honest. South And
teams generally they lose more rugby games than they win.
But but the but the Stags fans stay there and
and so when the when they when they do get rewarded,
and they're being rewarded at the moment when they do
get the the Mahi, then they know they definitely deserve
(03:23):
the treats. So I think we'll see a massive crowd
there on Saturday afternoon. And you know, Sean with He's
talked about it a lot, hasn't it, And I think
it was it was probably part of the part of
the reason that he wanted to come to come home
and lead this Marione team was the fact that he
got to play in front of the in front of
that vociferous terrace and and that Rugby Park crowd in general.
(03:45):
So you know it's gonna it's gonna be pretty good.
And if that's the difference, I think, you know, you
get into that last of of five or ten minutes
and the and the team are hanging on for a
drawer better to hold onto that shield. Then you know,
you definitely would make the crowd that sixteenth man.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah. Interesting, you bring out the Sean Wie factor in there.
Do you think this could perhaps be the catalyst for
more homegrown Southerners who've gone to the Tiger coming back
down south.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I've got no doubt that during the Super Rugby season
and that sort of thing, that there's a few coffees
happening in a few discussions happening in those cafes in Dunedin,
and I guess it just probably it probably just shows
that that pathway still exists. And I guess unfortunately, there
was a period of time where some of our best
(04:32):
players didn't see a future for themselves necessarily at home,
and so they were looking at other opportunities. Now Rugby
South and they've done a great job of trying to
plug that gap, and they've you know, they've they've had
an academy operating for the last couple of years out
of Dunedin. I don't think the Tago rugby officials are
too happy about that, but that's fine. So they're doing
(04:54):
they're doing good work there. They're doing a good job
of keeping those of relationships going when players do sort
of move on to other pastures. So we're something we're
doing all as a province. We do need to squeeze
the lemon and we need to make we make sure
we can get the very best out of the rugby
products that we do produce. So inevitably some of them
(05:16):
are going to go on to other teams and other places,
but we need to make the most of what we've got.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
So when's it for us tomorrow, Nate attack or defense?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I'd say one hundred percent defense, you know, I think
that's what we've seen over those last two games, and
for me, it's particularly been around those key periods leading
up to halftime and just after halftime, and if anything,
it's that thirty five minutes through to the forty minute march.
Southern teams in the past have been guilty of letting
in one, two, even three trice and at halftime sing
(05:50):
steering down the gap of a deficit that ends up
being too big. But yee, we've seen some. We've seen
some try saving efforts next year, in particular those sort
of dying minutes of a half, and that's kept us
in the game. As I was saying before, frustrated the
opposition and and if we can stay within if we
can stay within touch of this, can every team take
(06:11):
them as deep as possible, then we'll be every chance.
You know, it's likely to be a little bit of
weather tomorrow afternoon too, so that'll that'll play a factor.
But yeah, defense for me, But then I'll completely contradict
myself and say, you still need to you still need
to attack, and you've still got to score some points.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Stag's team go out
(06:33):
with an attitude that they're not just defending the shield,
they're also going out to win it a game. So
I think that's a little bit of that attacking mindset
that you've got to have. You just can't sit in
your shell.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Too much, regardless of your eye patch. Give a prediction
for tomorrow, Oh let's go Stags by three. A.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
That'll that'll, that'll be enough. But I'll be happy with
with with one point, with a one point, but I'll
be happy with the draw. To be fear, as long
as the shield.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Stays down here Resident Sporting Gary Nathan Burden always appreciate
your time out up.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's up mate, supports from miles around laugh out loud
with tag Proud because life on the land can be
a laughing matter.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Brought to us by sheer Well data working to help
the livestock farmer. You've got to feel sorry for parents
these days. You talk about the birds and the bees,
but unfortunately it's now the bees and the bees, the
birds and the birds, the birds that used to be bees,
the bees that used to be birds, and birds that
look like bees puss and bees that look like birds
but still got a stinger. That's us Over and done
(07:33):
with for the afternoon. The best of the muster. Five
am tomorrow. I'm Andy Mueller. This has been the muster
one Hokkanu. He choose to peters and ICs how I
go south right
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Right road
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