September 2, 2026 • 9 mins
Nathan Burdon says why the NZ Warriors are on the verge of greatness as the NRL Finals get closer to getting underway.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
History never repeats. I tell myself before I go to sleep.
Welcome back to the muster. Before we catch up with
Nathan Bird and if you go to the muster on
Hockanoi Facebook page and comment on there and like the
page as well, you could win a meat box for
Father's Day. Thanks to the meat box, $ 100 voucher is
(00:23):
up for grabs. So that's on the muster social pages.
Nathan Burden, resident sporting burden. Resident sporting guru, I should say. Well,
you are a burden. Good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
G'day, mate.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
How are you? Multitasking and it's failing. How's it been?
Are you staying dry down there?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, staying dry, staying warm, which is very important at
the moment, staying out of the wind. Yeah, spring is springing,
isn't it?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Absolutely. And we get into the spring cycle and we
find out how many teams can win the Ranford East
Shield with these fantastic flow diagrams. So seven teams can
win the Shield for the remainder of the year based
on the flow diagrams. It's Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Counties, Manawatu, Northland, obviously,
Waikato and Tasman.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And, I mean, it's been a great aspect of the
NPC over the last couple of years, and particularly last season,
was to see the log of wood bounce around from
union to union. I think Northland have already shown themselves
to be a more than a worthy host of one
of the great and iconic trophies in New Zealand rugby.
(01:31):
It was a great defence. Their first defence in 50-odd years,
great defence last weekend. I think they've got two or
three more to go if they can get themselves through
to the summer. They've done a great job. It's great
to see the unions like Northland really add another chapter
to a great sporting history.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Now the Stags, they go again this weekend. They've got counties,
speaking of counties, but this is being played up there.
Remembering this corresponding game last season in Invercargill, Well, that
died in the wall south into Seve Rees on the
wing and counties put 60 points on us. That won't
happen again, will it?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You'd hope not. Yeah, I mean, that game went completely
against script. I think the traditional narrative is that counties
down here are a winnable prospect. Counties at home for
the Stags are a real challenge. When you look at
that county's team, you think of very direct ball runners
(02:34):
and a great offloading game. Once they get on a roll,
very hard to stop. Traditionally, that's been a tough thing
for Southam teams to combat. Counties have had a similar
season to us. They are coming off a confidence-boosting win
over Wellington. And we've had a good 10-day break which
(02:57):
has allowed, I guess, the team to probably catch their
breath a bit. And you've seen some players come back
from injury and the coaches have actually had almost a
full muster to be able to select from. So that
10-day break will hopefully have done the Stags good things.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Realistically for the Stags, what would be a good way
to look at the season? Are they still a chance
of making the quarters?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Mathematically, they definitely will be. I think they'll have to
look at this. I mean, everything probably rests on this game.
And I know people hate it, but it is like
every game is the must-win game for the Stags. And
I guess lose to counties and mathematically they can probably
still do it, but realistically it's probably a bridge too
(03:42):
far for that team. But yeah, so they'll have to
go up there and they'll have to win and then
I guess they put themselves in a position.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Now, this Nepal scenario or situation with Nepal, New Zealand,
Ali Williams and his wife, Anna Mowbray, have decided to
invest money into a competition for next year, but it
seems like too little, too late.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, in terms of, I guess, those players heading offshore,
perhaps not as dire as it's been made out. I mean,
we already had up to 10 of those players were
already committed. They were playing overseas last year. Once the
genie was out of the bottle in terms of that
the ability or Silver Fern's eligibility, then this was always
(04:27):
going to happen. It is a massive shift. I don't
think we can underestimate just what it means in terms
of a national sporting organisation to largely hand over the
control of its national competition to private investment. This does
not happen a lot around the world. If you look
(04:47):
at examples like the Australian NBL competition Formula One, there
aren't actually that many examples of this happening and certainly
it's a new thing for New Zealand and I guess
you know, for all the positives. And it is a
great move. It's better than not having a competition at all.
But it also means, I think, that going forward, you know,
in terms of where the focus goes, the focus now
(05:09):
goes on putting a good competition together rather than what
is the best thing for the pathway for New Zealand netball.
And I know there's a lot of positive and all
the right things are being said at the moment, but
you don't get rich by throwing money away. So, It'll
be interesting just to see what the devil of the
detail is of what that competition is going to look like.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
If nothing else, it is a chance for emerging talent
to come through then.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Oh, huge, and I think you've already seen that coaches
have been heading along to just coincidentally the various secondary
schools competitions, including the Upper North Island, South Island secondary schools,
the Lower North Island secondary schools, netball competitions have been
happening this week during tournament week, and there would have
(05:56):
been some very interested observers looking at perhaps some of
those Year 13 talents And whether any of those are
in a position where they could step straight up into
elite senior netball is a big ask. But some players,
Grace Nowicki is a great example, some players have been
able to show that they've been able to do that
in the past. And I guess with up to 18
(06:18):
or more players taken out of that elite competition, there
will be spots available.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
The Warriors, their last game of the regular season before
they hit the playoffs, arresting a couple of players. Do
you think this is now grasping the imagination of the
Southern public? 100%, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I mean, I was probably as guilty as anyone. I
was getting very invested in this whole minor premiership conversation.
But then I also saw someone who knows a lot
more about league than me during the week saying well
can you name who the minor premiers have been for
the last 10 years and I was like actually no
I can't no one actually cares who the minor premiers
(06:58):
are it doesn't matter if we beat The Sea Eagles,
by more than the Panthers, beat the Tigers in the weekend.
We've secured that top two spot. We've got home advantage
through to semifinals. They've done the hard work, and now
I guess it's about seeing if they can get some
of those stars, particularly Dallin Watini as a Lesniak, back
(07:21):
and into some sort of fitness for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Previously, it's been the Panthers for like the last five
years or something ridiculous. And I think they get $ 100, 000
and a big trophy or a big shield and a cabinet.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, which I think, you know, do you want that
or would they trade that for a premiership? You know,
I guess the Panthers haven't had to have that conversation.
They've more often than not been able to kick on
and win both. But yeah, I mean, I think the
Warriors have won the minor premiership once before, I think,
from memory. You know, twice they've managed to go on
(07:56):
and get themselves into a grand final. I mean, if
you had the choice between the two, no question about
which one you'd want.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Hey, good on you, Nathan. Just quickly as well, the
All Blacks, what are you predicting for Sunday morning? It's
going to be a doozy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, it's going to be a doozy for sure. Unfortunately,
I think it's going to be another South African win,
another week under the belt for them, and they seem
to be trending in the right direction, so I think
they'll win a close one.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
I hope you're wrong, Nathan, but we always appreciate your
time on the muster. Have a good weekend.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Thanks, mate. See you.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Laugh out loud with Ag Proud, because life on the
land can be a laughing matter. Brought to us by
Shearwell Data, working to help the livestock farmer. What kind
of shoes do chickens wear?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Re-buck-buck.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
God, stop me. There we go. Over in Dunworth, I
found a joke. Hey, that's us. Done and dusted for
the afternoon. I'm Andy Muir. The show, of course, is
brought to you by Peters Genetics. Party's up shortly. Enjoy
the afternoon. See you tomorrow.
History never repeats. I tell myself before I go to sleep.
Welcome back to the muster. Before we catch up with
Nathan Bird and if you go to the muster on
Hockanoi Facebook page and comment on there and like the
page as well, you could win a meat box for
Father's Day. Thanks to the meat box, $ 100 voucher is
(00:23):
up for grabs. So that's on the muster social pages.
Nathan Burden, resident sporting burden. Resident sporting guru, I should say. Well,
you are a burden. Good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
G'day, mate.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
How are you? Multitasking and it's failing. How's it been?
Are you staying dry down there?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, staying dry, staying warm, which is very important at
the moment, staying out of the wind. Yeah, spring is springing,
isn't it?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Absolutely. And we get into the spring cycle and we
find out how many teams can win the Ranford East
Shield with these fantastic flow diagrams. So seven teams can
win the Shield for the remainder of the year based
on the flow diagrams. It's Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Counties, Manawatu, Northland, obviously,
Waikato and Tasman.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And, I mean, it's been a great aspect of the
NPC over the last couple of years, and particularly last season,
was to see the log of wood bounce around from
union to union. I think Northland have already shown themselves
to be a more than a worthy host of one
of the great and iconic trophies in New Zealand rugby.
(01:31):
It was a great defence. Their first defence in 50-odd years,
great defence last weekend. I think they've got two or
three more to go if they can get themselves through
to the summer. They've done a great job. It's great
to see the unions like Northland really add another chapter
to a great sporting history.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Now the Stags, they go again this weekend. They've got counties,
speaking of counties, but this is being played up there.
Remembering this corresponding game last season in Invercargill, Well, that
died in the wall south into Seve Rees on the
wing and counties put 60 points on us. That won't
happen again, will it?
Speaker 2 (02:13):
You'd hope not. Yeah, I mean, that game went completely
against script. I think the traditional narrative is that counties
down here are a winnable prospect. Counties at home for
the Stags are a real challenge. When you look at
that county's team, you think of very direct ball runners
(02:34):
and a great offloading game. Once they get on a roll,
very hard to stop. Traditionally, that's been a tough thing
for Southam teams to combat. Counties have had a similar
season to us. They are coming off a confidence-boosting win
over Wellington. And we've had a good 10-day break which
(02:57):
has allowed, I guess, the team to probably catch their
breath a bit. And you've seen some players come back
from injury and the coaches have actually had almost a
full muster to be able to select from. So that
10-day break will hopefully have done the Stags good things.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Realistically for the Stags, what would be a good way
to look at the season? Are they still a chance
of making the quarters?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Mathematically, they definitely will be. I think they'll have to
look at this. I mean, everything probably rests on this game.
And I know people hate it, but it is like
every game is the must-win game for the Stags. And
I guess lose to counties and mathematically they can probably
still do it, but realistically it's probably a bridge too
(03:42):
far for that team. But yeah, so they'll have to
go up there and they'll have to win and then
I guess they put themselves in a position.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Now, this Nepal scenario or situation with Nepal, New Zealand,
Ali Williams and his wife, Anna Mowbray, have decided to
invest money into a competition for next year, but it
seems like too little, too late.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, in terms of, I guess, those players heading offshore,
perhaps not as dire as it's been made out. I mean,
we already had up to 10 of those players were
already committed. They were playing overseas last year. Once the
genie was out of the bottle in terms of that
the ability or Silver Fern's eligibility, then this was always
(04:27):
going to happen. It is a massive shift. I don't
think we can underestimate just what it means in terms
of a national sporting organisation to largely hand over the
control of its national competition to private investment. This does
not happen a lot around the world. If you look
(04:47):
at examples like the Australian NBL competition Formula One, there
aren't actually that many examples of this happening and certainly
it's a new thing for New Zealand and I guess
you know, for all the positives. And it is a
great move. It's better than not having a competition at all.
But it also means, I think, that going forward, you know,
in terms of where the focus goes, the focus now
(05:09):
goes on putting a good competition together rather than what
is the best thing for the pathway for New Zealand netball.
And I know there's a lot of positive and all
the right things are being said at the moment, but
you don't get rich by throwing money away. So, It'll
be interesting just to see what the devil of the
detail is of what that competition is going to look like.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
If nothing else, it is a chance for emerging talent
to come through then.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Oh, huge, and I think you've already seen that coaches
have been heading along to just coincidentally the various secondary
schools competitions, including the Upper North Island, South Island secondary schools,
the Lower North Island secondary schools, netball competitions have been
happening this week during tournament week, and there would have
(05:56):
been some very interested observers looking at perhaps some of
those Year 13 talents And whether any of those are
in a position where they could step straight up into
elite senior netball is a big ask. But some players,
Grace Nowicki is a great example, some players have been
able to show that they've been able to do that
in the past. And I guess with up to 18
(06:18):
or more players taken out of that elite competition, there
will be spots available.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
The Warriors, their last game of the regular season before
they hit the playoffs, arresting a couple of players. Do
you think this is now grasping the imagination of the
Southern public? 100%, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I mean, I was probably as guilty as anyone. I
was getting very invested in this whole minor premiership conversation.
But then I also saw someone who knows a lot
more about league than me during the week saying well
can you name who the minor premiers have been for
the last 10 years and I was like actually no
I can't no one actually cares who the minor premiers
(06:58):
are it doesn't matter if we beat The Sea Eagles,
by more than the Panthers, beat the Tigers in the weekend.
We've secured that top two spot. We've got home advantage
through to semifinals. They've done the hard work, and now
I guess it's about seeing if they can get some
of those stars, particularly Dallin Watini as a Lesniak, back
(07:21):
and into some sort of fitness for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Previously, it's been the Panthers for like the last five
years or something ridiculous. And I think they get $ 100, 000
and a big trophy or a big shield and a cabinet.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, which I think, you know, do you want that
or would they trade that for a premiership? You know,
I guess the Panthers haven't had to have that conversation.
They've more often than not been able to kick on
and win both. But yeah, I mean, I think the
Warriors have won the minor premiership once before, I think,
from memory. You know, twice they've managed to go on
(07:56):
and get themselves into a grand final. I mean, if
you had the choice between the two, no question about
which one you'd want.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Hey, good on you, Nathan. Just quickly as well, the
All Blacks, what are you predicting for Sunday morning? It's
going to be a doozy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, it's going to be a doozy for sure. Unfortunately,
I think it's going to be another South African win,
another week under the belt for them, and they seem
to be trending in the right direction, so I think
they'll win a close one.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
I hope you're wrong, Nathan, but we always appreciate your
time on the muster. Have a good weekend.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Thanks, mate. See you.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Laugh out loud with Ag Proud, because life on the
land can be a laughing matter. Brought to us by
Shearwell Data, working to help the livestock farmer. What kind
of shoes do chickens wear?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Re-buck-buck.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
God, stop me. There we go. Over in Dunworth, I
found a joke. Hey, that's us. Done and dusted for
the afternoon. I'm Andy Muir. The show, of course, is
brought to you by Peters Genetics. Party's up shortly. Enjoy
the afternoon. See you tomorrow.
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