1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,587 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:13,107 --> 00:00:14,747 Speaker 2: Let's get you inside the other camp and the ain 4 00:00:14,827 --> 00:00:18,147 Speaker 2: Z Premiership elimination final this afternoon. Tactics Mystics in christ 5 00:00:18,187 --> 00:00:21,667 Speaker 2: You're sent to pass at four. Tactics defender Karen Berger 6 00:00:21,747 --> 00:00:24,187 Speaker 2: joins us cure. Karen, thanks for taking the time. How 7 00:00:24,227 --> 00:00:25,787 Speaker 2: have your preparations been for this one? 8 00:00:26,707 --> 00:00:29,827 Speaker 3: Judah, Yeah, it's been a bit of a quick turnaround 9 00:00:29,827 --> 00:00:33,187 Speaker 3: for us, so, you know, not as much time or 10 00:00:33,227 --> 00:00:35,947 Speaker 3: court as we usually doing a normal prep week, but 11 00:00:36,867 --> 00:00:39,467 Speaker 3: doing that for certain reasons to rest their bodies and 12 00:00:39,627 --> 00:00:42,667 Speaker 3: make sure that we're at our peak performance tonight. So 13 00:00:43,587 --> 00:00:45,987 Speaker 3: a bit shorter, but the times that we were on court, 14 00:00:46,027 --> 00:00:48,147 Speaker 3: we were giving it to each other, going hard, so 15 00:00:48,667 --> 00:00:49,907 Speaker 3: quality not quantity. 16 00:00:50,627 --> 00:00:53,307 Speaker 2: So given the strong start to the season, is there 17 00:00:53,387 --> 00:00:56,667 Speaker 2: any sense of I don't know, deflation that you that 18 00:00:56,707 --> 00:00:59,627 Speaker 2: you're playing in this play in game, this elimination final 19 00:00:59,707 --> 00:01:00,747 Speaker 2: to make the Grand Final? 20 00:01:02,027 --> 00:01:07,267 Speaker 3: Oh gosh, it's more frustrations with ourselves, you know, and 21 00:01:07,307 --> 00:01:09,827 Speaker 3: having that opportunity to potentially be at the top and 22 00:01:10,427 --> 00:01:14,507 Speaker 3: you know, not having that but still staying positive. You know, 23 00:01:14,547 --> 00:01:17,267 Speaker 3: we had to remind ourselves coming back after that last 24 00:01:17,867 --> 00:01:20,627 Speaker 3: game against the Pulse that we're in the semis. You know, 25 00:01:20,667 --> 00:01:22,267 Speaker 3: there's so many teams that would want to be in 26 00:01:22,307 --> 00:01:24,227 Speaker 3: this position and we still have a crack at it. 27 00:01:24,307 --> 00:01:27,347 Speaker 3: So we had to pick ourselves up and stay positive 28 00:01:27,387 --> 00:01:29,507 Speaker 3: and you know, give the time and energy to the 29 00:01:29,587 --> 00:01:34,027 Speaker 3: preps going into the seme that it deserves. So yeah, 30 00:01:34,107 --> 00:01:38,707 Speaker 3: I guess we've probably started with a bang. But like 31 00:01:38,747 --> 00:01:41,187 Speaker 3: in any normal season, you know, you've got teams that 32 00:01:41,307 --> 00:01:44,467 Speaker 3: start learning to play against each other and so you know, 33 00:01:44,667 --> 00:01:46,507 Speaker 3: just because you went earlier on the season doesn't mean 34 00:01:46,547 --> 00:01:49,347 Speaker 3: you necessarily well towards the end, so but likely to 35 00:01:49,387 --> 00:01:51,947 Speaker 3: be in this position. So yeah, Well. 36 00:01:51,787 --> 00:01:53,987 Speaker 2: You talked about that strong start, the momentum that you 37 00:01:54,067 --> 00:01:57,147 Speaker 2: had at the start of the season. How challenging is 38 00:01:57,147 --> 00:01:59,547 Speaker 2: it to rediscover that? Is you hit the hit the 39 00:01:59,547 --> 00:02:00,147 Speaker 2: business end. 40 00:02:03,227 --> 00:02:05,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean when things are going well, it's hard 41 00:02:05,627 --> 00:02:08,267 Speaker 3: to put point where you need to work on. I 42 00:02:08,267 --> 00:02:11,827 Speaker 3: guess that's where our analysis comes in and you know, 43 00:02:12,507 --> 00:02:14,867 Speaker 3: figuring out what areas we need to improve, and you 44 00:02:14,907 --> 00:02:18,427 Speaker 3: don't really find those areas until you actually have a loss. 45 00:02:18,467 --> 00:02:21,827 Speaker 3: So like every loss we've had this season have been 46 00:02:21,867 --> 00:02:24,907 Speaker 3: an opportunity for us to learn from it, and it's 47 00:02:24,947 --> 00:02:26,987 Speaker 3: whether we do learn from that and take that into 48 00:02:27,027 --> 00:02:31,867 Speaker 3: the next game, you know, is very crucial, especially prepping 49 00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,627 Speaker 3: for a semi in a final. You have to incrementally 50 00:02:34,707 --> 00:02:37,067 Speaker 3: get better over the season to make sure that you 51 00:02:37,107 --> 00:02:40,067 Speaker 3: come the semis in the finals that you've worked on 52 00:02:40,067 --> 00:02:42,107 Speaker 3: it and you know what your go to is and 53 00:02:42,147 --> 00:02:44,947 Speaker 3: that you've fixed it so you can put a like 54 00:02:44,987 --> 00:02:48,587 Speaker 3: a pure clean performance out there, a sixty minute performance 55 00:02:48,627 --> 00:02:51,267 Speaker 3: out there. So hopefully we've done that over the last 56 00:02:51,267 --> 00:02:54,587 Speaker 3: few weeks and we can have a sixty performance game today. 57 00:02:55,027 --> 00:02:57,067 Speaker 2: All right, Well, you look at the Mystics since the 58 00:02:57,147 --> 00:03:00,947 Speaker 2: return of Grace wek from her injury. They've gone four 59 00:03:00,947 --> 00:03:04,827 Speaker 2: and one and scored over sixty in all but one 60 00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:08,147 Speaker 2: of those games. So as a how tough is it 61 00:03:08,347 --> 00:03:09,867 Speaker 2: to slow them down? To slow her down? 62 00:03:11,307 --> 00:03:14,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, gosh. Whenever we come up against them, they always 63 00:03:14,147 --> 00:03:16,707 Speaker 3: ask me which position I prefer, and I say, when 64 00:03:16,747 --> 00:03:19,947 Speaker 3: I come up against players like that, I prefer playing outside. 65 00:03:21,227 --> 00:03:23,947 Speaker 3: I think the key is to just focus on the 66 00:03:24,067 --> 00:03:26,907 Speaker 3: outside and what we can do before it gets to 67 00:03:26,907 --> 00:03:30,187 Speaker 3: the back, because she's such a you know, a solid 68 00:03:30,187 --> 00:03:31,747 Speaker 3: target for them at the back and you know the 69 00:03:31,747 --> 00:03:34,067 Speaker 3: ball is going to go in any way, and relying 70 00:03:34,107 --> 00:03:36,227 Speaker 3: on our keepers to get the balls is a bit 71 00:03:36,267 --> 00:03:38,507 Speaker 3: of a big ask. So it's up to the rest 72 00:03:38,507 --> 00:03:40,467 Speaker 3: of the team to put as much pressure on the 73 00:03:40,467 --> 00:03:42,267 Speaker 3: rest of the court and the rest of the players 74 00:03:42,267 --> 00:03:44,227 Speaker 3: to make sure that the ball doesn't get there. So 75 00:03:45,187 --> 00:03:47,467 Speaker 3: it is a bit of a mental shift from doing 76 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: your work on your own to just trying to get 77 00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:51,267 Speaker 3: ball wherever you can so as easier. 78 00:03:51,347 --> 00:03:54,627 Speaker 2: Or is the strategy actually to stop the ball getting 79 00:03:54,787 --> 00:03:57,587 Speaker 2: to the shooting circle, to steal it a bit further 80 00:03:57,667 --> 00:04:01,547 Speaker 2: up the court, then try and slow her down specifically. 81 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 3: Exactly, you know, come going into a jumping race where 82 00:04:06,587 --> 00:04:09,467 Speaker 3: grace you're always going to come off second. I think 83 00:04:09,547 --> 00:04:12,627 Speaker 3: I've only ever had gotten one ball off or on 84 00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:15,467 Speaker 3: a jump, and I still hold on to that one. 85 00:04:16,427 --> 00:04:19,427 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think it's very important to not be 86 00:04:19,507 --> 00:04:22,067 Speaker 3: worried about the contest of that ball going in, but 87 00:04:22,587 --> 00:04:25,067 Speaker 3: more so worrying about how it gets dow whether we 88 00:04:25,107 --> 00:04:26,427 Speaker 3: can get the ball before it does. 89 00:04:26,947 --> 00:04:29,187 Speaker 2: If you do one this afternoon, you face the pulse 90 00:04:29,227 --> 00:04:32,147 Speaker 2: again next week in the Grand Final. Do you give 91 00:04:32,187 --> 00:04:36,067 Speaker 2: yourself any you know, any I guess leeway to look 92 00:04:36,067 --> 00:04:38,747 Speaker 2: ahead to that the possibility of a Grand final, or 93 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:40,707 Speaker 2: or do you really just focus on today. 94 00:04:41,187 --> 00:04:44,547 Speaker 3: It's definitely a balancing act because on one side, you 95 00:04:44,627 --> 00:04:47,587 Speaker 3: want to put it out there in confidence that you 96 00:04:47,627 --> 00:04:49,987 Speaker 3: know you're starting to think about the next one because 97 00:04:49,987 --> 00:04:52,267 Speaker 3: you're confident in yourself that you're going to win the 98 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:55,187 Speaker 3: one coming up. But it's also I feel like we 99 00:04:55,307 --> 00:04:57,867 Speaker 3: have been guilty in the past, are worrying too much 100 00:04:57,907 --> 00:05:00,307 Speaker 3: about the future and not necessarily too much of the 101 00:05:00,347 --> 00:05:03,507 Speaker 3: game at hand. So it's definitely a balancing act and 102 00:05:03,667 --> 00:05:06,227 Speaker 3: having that confidence that we are going forward and we 103 00:05:06,227 --> 00:05:08,667 Speaker 3: are going to play the next games, but making sure 104 00:05:08,707 --> 00:05:10,747 Speaker 3: that we give the time and effort to the game 105 00:05:10,827 --> 00:05:14,227 Speaker 3: that we're coming up, that we actually doing our due 106 00:05:14,227 --> 00:05:16,427 Speaker 3: diligence to make sure we actually do win that game, 107 00:05:16,507 --> 00:05:17,107 Speaker 3: so that we. 108 00:05:17,067 --> 00:05:19,187 Speaker 2: Can look forward, all right, if we do ot on 109 00:05:19,227 --> 00:05:22,507 Speaker 2: the season as a whole. Current eleven and four across 110 00:05:22,547 --> 00:05:25,347 Speaker 2: the regular season. Last year you missed the finals. I 111 00:05:25,387 --> 00:05:27,187 Speaker 2: know the job's not done, but would you say that 112 00:05:27,227 --> 00:05:30,147 Speaker 2: the regular season has been a success and that the 113 00:05:30,187 --> 00:05:33,267 Speaker 2: team's pretty happy with how you've gone in twenty twenty four. 114 00:05:33,507 --> 00:05:36,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's funny like We're all very happy with our performance. 115 00:05:36,827 --> 00:05:39,707 Speaker 3: But you know, unless you're in that final, it doesn't 116 00:05:39,707 --> 00:05:41,867 Speaker 3: really matter what you did during the season how you 117 00:05:41,947 --> 00:05:45,347 Speaker 3: got there. And so part of that is acknowledging that 118 00:05:45,387 --> 00:05:47,587 Speaker 3: we have had a good season, we are playing really 119 00:05:47,627 --> 00:05:51,907 Speaker 3: good netball, but you know, the ultimate is to try 120 00:05:51,907 --> 00:05:55,747 Speaker 3: and be in that final. So and that's just the 121 00:05:55,867 --> 00:05:58,467 Speaker 3: nature of high performance sport that we focus so much 122 00:05:58,587 --> 00:06:01,187 Speaker 3: on what we need to improve on and how we 123 00:06:01,227 --> 00:06:03,987 Speaker 3: can be better, that we can be quite hard on ourselves. 124 00:06:03,987 --> 00:06:06,787 Speaker 3: But that's just the nature of it. It's part of 125 00:06:06,827 --> 00:06:09,867 Speaker 3: higherformward support. So unless we're in that final, how we 126 00:06:09,987 --> 00:06:11,347 Speaker 3: got there doesn't really matter, does it. 127 00:06:11,587 --> 00:06:14,147 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know you're right there, and I know that 128 00:06:14,227 --> 00:06:16,147 Speaker 2: it's always team first for you. But a good personal 129 00:06:16,187 --> 00:06:19,267 Speaker 2: milestone this season. Fifty games now you've played for the Tactics. 130 00:06:19,347 --> 00:06:20,507 Speaker 2: Have you enjoyed the move South? 131 00:06:21,227 --> 00:06:24,627 Speaker 3: No, it's been good. I've enjoyed it. I honestly, when 132 00:06:24,667 --> 00:06:27,747 Speaker 3: I first moved, I wasn't expecting the move. It was 133 00:06:28,427 --> 00:06:30,227 Speaker 3: a bit of a shock to me to also have 134 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:32,547 Speaker 3: thought to move down to christ Church as well. But 135 00:06:33,027 --> 00:06:35,307 Speaker 3: over the last four years it's really grown on me. 136 00:06:35,347 --> 00:06:37,467 Speaker 3: I've really started to enjoy it, and I've built a 137 00:06:37,507 --> 00:06:41,547 Speaker 3: really good support system around myself down here as well, 138 00:06:41,627 --> 00:06:45,387 Speaker 3: so I've loved it. I love the support we get 139 00:06:45,427 --> 00:06:49,427 Speaker 3: here as well. So yeah, it's been a good It's 140 00:06:49,427 --> 00:06:51,947 Speaker 3: come around so fast the fifty Games. I couldn't believe 141 00:06:51,947 --> 00:06:54,027 Speaker 3: it when I did get it, but I guess that's 142 00:06:54,067 --> 00:06:55,907 Speaker 3: just part of sport. When you enjoy it so much 143 00:06:56,147 --> 00:06:57,187 Speaker 3: you forget about the time. 144 00:06:57,387 --> 00:07:00,667 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's very cool. And internationally, looking a bit further 145 00:07:00,667 --> 00:07:02,787 Speaker 2: down the track, tiny Jamison Cup coming up, have you 146 00:07:02,827 --> 00:07:06,107 Speaker 2: looked forward at all to the Silver Ferns fixtures this year? 147 00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:09,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, you obviously have to keep that in mind, and 148 00:07:10,347 --> 00:07:13,907 Speaker 3: the Ferns team also stays in touch and making sure 149 00:07:13,907 --> 00:07:15,427 Speaker 3: that you're taking off what you need to take off 150 00:07:15,467 --> 00:07:19,707 Speaker 3: to make sure that you are mentally physically prepared come trials. 151 00:07:19,747 --> 00:07:22,347 Speaker 3: So definitely have had that in the back of my mind, 152 00:07:22,547 --> 00:07:26,107 Speaker 3: but you know, not thinking too far ahead because you've 153 00:07:26,147 --> 00:07:28,747 Speaker 3: got a job to do here, so taking it day 154 00:07:28,747 --> 00:07:31,067 Speaker 3: by day. You know, now that it's come a little 155 00:07:31,067 --> 00:07:32,747 Speaker 3: bit close to obvious to see, there's a bit more 156 00:07:32,747 --> 00:07:35,107 Speaker 3: thinking around that and also planning around what you could 157 00:07:35,147 --> 00:07:39,147 Speaker 3: potentially look like. So but you never know. There's some 158 00:07:39,267 --> 00:07:43,427 Speaker 3: amazing players out there putting their hand up. So come 159 00:07:43,467 --> 00:07:45,827 Speaker 3: trials and it's going to be very competitive and we'll 160 00:07:45,867 --> 00:07:47,307 Speaker 3: see what comes from that. 161 00:07:47,547 --> 00:07:50,707 Speaker 2: Yeah, Constellation Cup as well. If we look even further down, 162 00:07:50,987 --> 00:07:53,267 Speaker 2: you left fond memories of that final match of last year, 163 00:07:53,347 --> 00:07:56,347 Speaker 2: was your fiftieth for the Ferns and MVP performance. I 164 00:07:56,347 --> 00:07:57,947 Speaker 2: know that's a long way in the past now, but 165 00:07:57,987 --> 00:08:00,507 Speaker 2: can do you take confidence from that sort of thing 166 00:08:00,547 --> 00:08:02,147 Speaker 2: as you as you look to you to wear that 167 00:08:02,147 --> 00:08:02,907 Speaker 2: black dress again? 168 00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:07,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess when a game like that, not just 169 00:08:07,667 --> 00:08:10,627 Speaker 3: as an individual, but as a team as well, it 170 00:08:10,627 --> 00:08:13,067 Speaker 3: gives you so much confidence in what the team is 171 00:08:13,107 --> 00:08:16,707 Speaker 3: capable of doing. And so I guess for us it's 172 00:08:16,747 --> 00:08:19,747 Speaker 3: really important to know where we finished off last year 173 00:08:20,627 --> 00:08:22,747 Speaker 3: and knowing that we are capable of doing it and 174 00:08:22,787 --> 00:08:26,747 Speaker 3: stepping up from there, not going backwards. So, especially against 175 00:08:26,747 --> 00:08:29,027 Speaker 3: a team like Ozzie, you can't afford to give one 176 00:08:29,067 --> 00:08:32,027 Speaker 3: step backward. So the standard's been set now we need 177 00:08:32,067 --> 00:08:33,827 Speaker 3: to make sure that we just keep going up from there. 178 00:08:33,987 --> 00:08:37,867 Speaker 2: Indeed, all right, that's all ahead. The most important order 179 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:39,907 Speaker 2: of businesses this afternoon as you take on the mystics 180 00:08:39,907 --> 00:08:41,867 Speaker 2: for a place in the Grand final, Kuren, really appreciate 181 00:08:41,867 --> 00:08:43,667 Speaker 2: your time. Thanks for taking the time for a chat today. 182 00:08:44,067 --> 00:08:45,787 Speaker 3: Cool, Thank you so much. To a nice day. 183 00:08:45,867 --> 00:08:47,467 Speaker 2: You have a nice day too. At all the best 184 00:08:47,507 --> 00:08:50,027 Speaker 2: this afternoon, Karen, Karen Berger. They're out of the tactics, 185 00:08:50,587 --> 00:08:54,307 Speaker 2: so four o'clock this afternoon, elimination final in christ Churchful 186 00:08:54,307 --> 00:08:57,387 Speaker 2: commentary of that on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio Center Pass 187 00:08:57,427 --> 00:09:00,787 Speaker 2: at four, Malcolm Jordan and Evon Willering have the call for. 188 00:09:00,867 --> 00:09:04,707 Speaker 1: You for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 189 00:09:04,827 --> 00:09:08,427 Speaker 1: live to News Talks b weekends from midday, or follow 190 00:09:08,427 --> 00:09:10,067 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio