WEBVTT - 10 March 2025: Sam Ruthe, a future superstar for NZ Athletics

0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:12.693
<v Speaker 1>You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow

0:00:12.773 --> 0:00:16.133
<v Speaker 1>this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

0:00:17.413 --> 0:00:20.453
<v Speaker 1>This is Sporcefix Howard by News Talks EDB.

0:00:21.453 --> 0:00:24.013
<v Speaker 2>Hello there, and welcome into a new week and to

0:00:24.253 --> 0:00:27.413
<v Speaker 2>a new edition of the Sports Fix podcast for Monday,

0:00:27.773 --> 0:00:29.813
<v Speaker 2>the tenth of March. I'm Jason Pine. Good to have

0:00:29.853 --> 0:00:33.093
<v Speaker 2>you listening in. Another big sporting weekend is in the books,

0:00:33.173 --> 0:00:35.853
<v Speaker 2>and one of the most dramatic parts of it was

0:00:35.893 --> 0:00:38.693
<v Speaker 2>the dead heat in the final of the men's fifteen

0:00:38.813 --> 0:00:42.173
<v Speaker 2>hundred meters at the National Track and Field Champs in Dunedin.

0:00:42.293 --> 0:00:46.413
<v Speaker 2>Sam Tanner and Sam Ruth dead heating and sharing the

0:00:46.493 --> 0:00:50.493
<v Speaker 2>national title. They also share a coach. Craig Kirkwood is

0:00:50.493 --> 0:00:53.053
<v Speaker 2>the coach of both Sam's. He joins us today on

0:00:53.133 --> 0:00:56.133
<v Speaker 2>the Sports Fix podcast. We're in the chamber as well

0:00:56.133 --> 0:00:58.933
<v Speaker 2>with Elijah Fihu, who in the last few hours actually

0:00:59.013 --> 0:01:02.053
<v Speaker 2>has been at a Warriors media session. What sort of

0:01:02.053 --> 0:01:03.933
<v Speaker 2>field did he get coming out of the Warriors after

0:01:03.933 --> 0:01:06.933
<v Speaker 2>their first up heavy defeat to the Raiders in Vegas

0:01:07.133 --> 0:01:09.813
<v Speaker 2>As they look ahead to the next assignment on Friday

0:01:09.853 --> 0:01:12.733
<v Speaker 2>night at home against the Sea Eagles. We'll talk cricket

0:01:12.733 --> 0:01:15.693
<v Speaker 2>and Super Rugby as well, So lots to get into,

0:01:16.013 --> 0:01:21.333
<v Speaker 2>so let's get into it. In other news, let's get

0:01:21.373 --> 0:01:23.733
<v Speaker 2>underway with the big sports stories around today. The Black

0:01:23.773 --> 0:01:26.853
<v Speaker 2>Camps have lost the Champions Trophy cricket final to India

0:01:26.893 --> 0:01:30.213
<v Speaker 2>by four wickets in Dubai, and that's going away to

0:01:30.333 --> 0:01:38.853
<v Speaker 2>the friends. What's the Championships and it's another acco clean

0:01:38.973 --> 0:01:41.853
<v Speaker 2>Lake champions Cindya chasing down two hundred and fifty two

0:01:41.973 --> 0:01:44.013
<v Speaker 2>to beat New Zealand by four wickets with an over

0:01:44.093 --> 0:01:47.333
<v Speaker 2>to spare. Shane van Gisbergen's been tangled up in a

0:01:47.453 --> 0:01:50.773
<v Speaker 2>multi car wreck at the latest NASCAR race in Phoenix.

0:01:50.893 --> 0:01:52.813
<v Speaker 2>A twenty four car with William Byron would be a

0:01:52.853 --> 0:01:55.333
<v Speaker 2>little bit better troubling the back and two cars in

0:01:55.413 --> 0:01:55.693
<v Speaker 2>the wall.

0:01:55.773 --> 0:01:56.333
<v Speaker 3>Big wreck.

0:01:56.813 --> 0:02:00.013
<v Speaker 2>They're still racking the dam agenda Shane Van Gisbergen's race.

0:02:00.053 --> 0:02:03.213
<v Speaker 2>He ultimately finished thirty first and keep we Stephen Elk

0:02:03.253 --> 0:02:05.773
<v Speaker 2>has won for the first time this season on golf

0:02:05.853 --> 0:02:09.773
<v Speaker 2>PGA Champions Tour, beating America and Jason Karen On the

0:02:09.813 --> 0:02:13.813
<v Speaker 2>first playoff hole at Arizona's La Palomit Country Club.

0:02:13.653 --> 0:02:17.733
<v Speaker 3>Plays this pipe for Birdie to win the Collar guard Classic.

0:02:20.213 --> 0:02:21.933
<v Speaker 1>It do you have it?

0:02:22.093 --> 0:02:23.173
<v Speaker 2>Stephen Alker.

0:02:25.773 --> 0:02:31.493
<v Speaker 1>Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine on.

0:02:31.573 --> 0:02:34.653
<v Speaker 2>The Sports Fix podcast. Incredible scenes at the New Zealand

0:02:34.693 --> 0:02:37.933
<v Speaker 2>Track and Field Champs in Dunedin yesterday, two time Olympians

0:02:37.933 --> 0:02:42.213
<v Speaker 2>Sam Tanner and fifteen year old prodigy Sam Ruth sharing

0:02:42.333 --> 0:02:45.333
<v Speaker 2>gold in the men's fifteen hundred meters after a dead

0:02:45.373 --> 0:02:48.453
<v Speaker 2>heat in the final. Officials unable to separate the two

0:02:48.493 --> 0:02:51.253
<v Speaker 2>following a photo finish, both recording a time of three

0:02:51.293 --> 0:02:55.173
<v Speaker 2>minutes forty four point three to one seconds. Craig Kirkwood

0:02:55.213 --> 0:02:58.733
<v Speaker 2>coaches both runners and joins us Now. Craig in real time,

0:02:59.133 --> 0:03:00.333
<v Speaker 2>who did you think had won?

0:03:01.333 --> 0:03:04.933
<v Speaker 3>To be honest, I had absolutely no Yeah. Coming down

0:03:04.933 --> 0:03:07.253
<v Speaker 3>the straight of look Tanna was going to target and

0:03:07.293 --> 0:03:11.133
<v Speaker 3>then Sam Ruth hit your deathity roll up on the

0:03:11.173 --> 0:03:15.653
<v Speaker 3>shoulder and almost leandham. So yeah, I had no idea

0:03:16.093 --> 0:03:18.373
<v Speaker 3>at the time, and even watching the footage now, I

0:03:18.373 --> 0:03:19.133
<v Speaker 3>still can't think it.

0:03:19.653 --> 0:03:24.253
<v Speaker 2>How uncommon is a dead heat in I know it happens.

0:03:24.453 --> 0:03:27.653
<v Speaker 2>I think it probably happens more often in the shorter

0:03:27.693 --> 0:03:29.653
<v Speaker 2>distances in a fifteen hundred meter race. Have you seen

0:03:29.693 --> 0:03:30.413
<v Speaker 2>a dead heat before.

0:03:31.013 --> 0:03:34.693
<v Speaker 3>No, never not down to about thousands of a second.

0:03:35.493 --> 0:03:38.573
<v Speaker 3>There's really some kind of separation there. Known. I've never

0:03:38.573 --> 0:03:39.773
<v Speaker 3>seen that before my last.

0:03:40.133 --> 0:03:43.413
<v Speaker 2>So presumably, yeah, so presumably the ideal scenario for you

0:03:43.493 --> 0:03:45.373
<v Speaker 2>as their coach, was for the two of them to

0:03:45.413 --> 0:03:47.773
<v Speaker 2>take the top two places, which they did. As it

0:03:47.813 --> 0:03:50.173
<v Speaker 2>turned out, they shared top place. It looked as though

0:03:50.773 --> 0:03:53.613
<v Speaker 2>Sam Tanner was looking to burn some of the others

0:03:53.613 --> 0:03:55.053
<v Speaker 2>off during the race. Was that the plan?

0:03:55.853 --> 0:03:59.053
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, so we we'd talked pre rate and we'd come

0:03:59.093 --> 0:04:02.333
<v Speaker 3>up with a plan for for the first five hundred

0:04:02.373 --> 0:04:05.333
<v Speaker 3>just be what it will be, and then Sam Tanner

0:04:05.973 --> 0:04:08.333
<v Speaker 3>to take the lead and then just increase the tempt

0:04:08.573 --> 0:04:10.773
<v Speaker 3>and then try and put everyone under pressure and hopefully

0:04:10.853 --> 0:04:14.293
<v Speaker 3>sam Ruth was strong enough to hold on and yeah,

0:04:14.533 --> 0:04:17.093
<v Speaker 3>take first and second. And they went one step better and

0:04:17.253 --> 0:04:20.773
<v Speaker 3>got two firsts. So yeah, pretty impressive that they managed

0:04:20.773 --> 0:04:23.213
<v Speaker 3>to pull off the plan and actually make you better.

0:04:23.493 --> 0:04:26.573
<v Speaker 2>You said before Sam Ruth had the audacity down the

0:04:26.653 --> 0:04:30.373
<v Speaker 2>home straight, did you did? What were you seeing in

0:04:30.413 --> 0:04:31.933
<v Speaker 2>that last one hundred meters?

0:04:33.093 --> 0:04:36.533
<v Speaker 3>I thought Sam Tanner had done enough to hold him out,

0:04:36.533 --> 0:04:38.333
<v Speaker 3>but yeah, just he folded a little bit in the

0:04:38.373 --> 0:04:42.133
<v Speaker 3>last twenty and Sam Ruth just yeah, just came up

0:04:42.173 --> 0:04:44.293
<v Speaker 3>on his shoulder and yeah, just tried to outlean him.

0:04:44.333 --> 0:04:46.813
<v Speaker 3>So it was bloody impressive running for a fifteen year

0:04:46.853 --> 0:04:49.693
<v Speaker 3>old to have the have the nouse to be able

0:04:49.733 --> 0:04:52.693
<v Speaker 3>to give that, give that a track. So it's pretty

0:04:52.693 --> 0:04:55.013
<v Speaker 3>cool to watch and he's an extremely talented young man.

0:04:55.453 --> 0:04:57.893
<v Speaker 2>How unusual is it for a fifteen year old to

0:04:57.893 --> 0:04:59.533
<v Speaker 2>be doing what Sam Ruth is doing.

0:05:01.133 --> 0:05:05.173
<v Speaker 3>There's only been a couple of athletes of that kind

0:05:05.213 --> 0:05:09.053
<v Speaker 3>of age bracket doing what is doing at the moment.

0:05:09.053 --> 0:05:12.213
<v Speaker 3>And so you're talking about Yaka Binger Britson, who's you know,

0:05:13.253 --> 0:05:16.573
<v Speaker 3>world renound and you know, considered the best at the distance,

0:05:16.693 --> 0:05:20.893
<v Speaker 3>and a young Australian guy eighteen, cam Myers who's done

0:05:20.893 --> 0:05:23.253
<v Speaker 3>the similar similar things over the last few years and

0:05:23.413 --> 0:05:24.973
<v Speaker 3>he's kind of tracking them the same way they have,

0:05:25.173 --> 0:05:26.933
<v Speaker 3>So it's pretty impressive.

0:05:27.093 --> 0:05:30.053
<v Speaker 2>What is most impressive about the way he goes about

0:05:30.053 --> 0:05:33.333
<v Speaker 2>his middle distance running, Uh, well.

0:05:33.173 --> 0:05:36.653
<v Speaker 3>There's a few things. So his training is is pretty

0:05:36.693 --> 0:05:40.253
<v Speaker 3>low key. He's really just enjoying running with his mates

0:05:40.373 --> 0:05:43.333
<v Speaker 3>and having having a good time and being part of

0:05:43.333 --> 0:05:45.533
<v Speaker 3>a squad that is you know, training really hard. He's

0:05:45.573 --> 0:05:48.733
<v Speaker 3>got a group of guys who he trains with, and

0:05:49.053 --> 0:05:50.653
<v Speaker 3>you know, they're just all all good mates and to

0:05:50.693 --> 0:05:53.093
<v Speaker 3>hang out and they just love it. So that really impressive.

0:05:53.133 --> 0:05:56.533
<v Speaker 3>He's got an amazing racing brain. If you watch him

0:05:56.573 --> 0:05:59.253
<v Speaker 3>in the race, he's various duty. He knows exactly what

0:05:59.293 --> 0:06:01.613
<v Speaker 3>he's doing tactically and those some of those things you

0:06:01.653 --> 0:06:05.053
<v Speaker 3>can't teach. It just it's just intuition. And he kind

0:06:05.053 --> 0:06:07.773
<v Speaker 3>of gets a ride every time, so you know, and

0:06:07.853 --> 0:06:11.213
<v Speaker 3>he's also really humble, Like you know, he had the

0:06:12.053 --> 0:06:15.373
<v Speaker 3>great send Sam a message afterwards after the racing to say,

0:06:15.653 --> 0:06:17.373
<v Speaker 3>you know, thanks for the race and it was great

0:06:17.533 --> 0:06:19.693
<v Speaker 3>being you know, part of what we did together. And

0:06:20.133 --> 0:06:22.373
<v Speaker 3>I guess really appreciative and that that goes a long way.

0:06:22.493 --> 0:06:25.773
<v Speaker 2>Indeed it does. Most fifteen year olds are still growing.

0:06:26.173 --> 0:06:28.373
<v Speaker 2>If he were to shoot up a few more inches,

0:06:28.733 --> 0:06:30.293
<v Speaker 2>would that help him or hinder him?

0:06:31.613 --> 0:06:35.013
<v Speaker 3>We'll see, I guess I don't know. I don't know

0:06:35.053 --> 0:06:38.933
<v Speaker 3>the answer to that. Probably help him. Yeah, though if

0:06:38.973 --> 0:06:42.853
<v Speaker 3>you look at the crop of the best fifteen hundred

0:06:42.933 --> 0:06:44.493
<v Speaker 3>runs in the world, they are a little bit taller

0:06:44.493 --> 0:06:47.253
<v Speaker 3>these days, and holding your space on the track is

0:06:47.333 --> 0:06:50.413
<v Speaker 3>very important and you know, for the bit more physical mass,

0:06:50.413 --> 0:06:52.493
<v Speaker 3>you can hold your space a little bit better.

0:06:52.613 --> 0:06:54.173
<v Speaker 2>But I guess you look at a guy like Sam Tanner,

0:06:54.213 --> 0:06:56.053
<v Speaker 2>who's not a big guy, is he he seems to

0:06:56.053 --> 0:06:57.333
<v Speaker 2>do it. He seems to do okay.

0:06:58.053 --> 0:06:59.933
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, he's a bit of an exception to that all.

0:06:59.973 --> 0:07:02.213
<v Speaker 3>But yeah, I mean most of them are. Most of

0:07:02.253 --> 0:07:05.013
<v Speaker 3>them are bigger and taller and potentially a little bit

0:07:05.053 --> 0:07:06.053
<v Speaker 3>kind of more physical.

0:07:06.253 --> 0:07:08.973
<v Speaker 2>You know, when you're planning his training pro pros, how

0:07:08.973 --> 0:07:11.773
<v Speaker 2>careful do you have to be with his loading, recovery

0:07:11.813 --> 0:07:14.173
<v Speaker 2>things like that, given that he is still just fifteen

0:07:14.213 --> 0:07:14.893
<v Speaker 2>years of age.

0:07:15.293 --> 0:07:17.573
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, extremely careful. Would be really easy to get carried

0:07:17.613 --> 0:07:21.213
<v Speaker 3>away and chuck him into some training that will I'll

0:07:21.253 --> 0:07:24.653
<v Speaker 3>give to Samtana, but it's yeah, you just got to

0:07:24.773 --> 0:07:27.613
<v Speaker 3>keep in mind that he is fifteen, and he is

0:07:27.693 --> 0:07:29.773
<v Speaker 3>still growing and he's got a lot of time left

0:07:29.773 --> 0:07:31.293
<v Speaker 3>in the sport, and wheth have to be careful that

0:07:31.333 --> 0:07:35.933
<v Speaker 3>we nurture that load and just bring him through carefully

0:07:36.533 --> 0:07:39.053
<v Speaker 3>in training. What he does in racing is kind of

0:07:39.133 --> 0:07:41.853
<v Speaker 3>far exceeds where he is in training, but that's just

0:07:41.893 --> 0:07:42.333
<v Speaker 3>what it is.

0:07:42.973 --> 0:07:46.573
<v Speaker 2>So you mentioned yak Ingerbritson before the Norwegian. He's currently

0:07:46.573 --> 0:07:50.613
<v Speaker 2>twenty four great. Britain's Josh Kerr is twenty seven. American

0:07:50.653 --> 0:07:54.093
<v Speaker 2>Cole Hawker, who sensacially one Golden Paris last year, is

0:07:54.133 --> 0:07:56.133
<v Speaker 2>twenty three years of age. But one of our greats,

0:07:56.213 --> 0:07:59.613
<v Speaker 2>Nick willis one Bronze at Rio in twenty sixteen when

0:07:59.613 --> 0:08:03.013
<v Speaker 2>he was thirty three. So when do middle distance runners

0:08:03.053 --> 0:08:04.213
<v Speaker 2>typically find their peak?

0:08:05.453 --> 0:08:07.773
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, probably somewhere in their mid twenty though, would suggest

0:08:09.213 --> 0:08:10.813
<v Speaker 3>Mick was probably a little bit of an outlier and

0:08:10.813 --> 0:08:14.853
<v Speaker 3>that he had a really long career and was in

0:08:14.853 --> 0:08:17.133
<v Speaker 3>the sport for a a very long time. He was

0:08:17.413 --> 0:08:19.653
<v Speaker 3>one of the best in the world at twenty years

0:08:19.693 --> 0:08:23.013
<v Speaker 3>old as well, So it's yeah, he's got cam rous,

0:08:23.133 --> 0:08:25.093
<v Speaker 3>got a long time left in the sport, that's for sure.

0:08:25.373 --> 0:08:28.013
<v Speaker 2>So given what he's doing now, could he Sam Ruth

0:08:28.053 --> 0:08:31.133
<v Speaker 2>feasibly go to the Commonwealth Games next year at the

0:08:31.173 --> 0:08:33.253
<v Speaker 2>age of seventeen. Could he go to the Olympics in

0:08:33.293 --> 0:08:35.693
<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty eight while he's still a teenager?

0:08:36.893 --> 0:08:40.533
<v Speaker 3>Those are certainly part of the plan. So we'll see

0:08:40.573 --> 0:08:42.053
<v Speaker 3>what happens in the next year and a half and

0:08:42.093 --> 0:08:44.253
<v Speaker 3>whether he can get himself qualified to the Common Games

0:08:44.293 --> 0:08:48.213
<v Speaker 3>and where the Olympic committee seems you decide that he's

0:08:48.453 --> 0:08:52.053
<v Speaker 3>ready for that and happy to select him. We'll just

0:08:52.093 --> 0:08:53.133
<v Speaker 3>have to wait and see, but.

0:08:53.133 --> 0:08:56.373
<v Speaker 2>Hopefully, hopefully, indeed exciting times for both of the SAMs.

0:08:56.413 --> 0:08:58.813
<v Speaker 2>Thanks so much for joining us, Craig, I appreciate your

0:08:58.973 --> 0:09:01.813
<v Speaker 2>time and congratulations on what you've done with these two athletes.

0:09:01.853 --> 0:09:05.533
<v Speaker 2>Craig Kirkwood, the coach of both Sam Tanner and Sam Ruth.

0:09:08.413 --> 0:09:11.293
<v Speaker 2>Really good Champions Trophy campaign for the black Caps came

0:09:11.333 --> 0:09:13.893
<v Speaker 2>to an end last night with defeat by India in

0:09:13.973 --> 0:09:16.533
<v Speaker 2>the final. We shouldn't take away from the very good

0:09:16.533 --> 0:09:19.333
<v Speaker 2>cricket New Zealand played for the most part in this tournament,

0:09:19.413 --> 0:09:21.973
<v Speaker 2>with the semi final win over South Africa one of

0:09:21.973 --> 0:09:25.573
<v Speaker 2>our best performances in fifty over cricket in recent memory.

0:09:25.813 --> 0:09:28.693
<v Speaker 2>But I just wonder if we got our selection right

0:09:28.893 --> 0:09:32.093
<v Speaker 2>for the final now. Matt Henry's absence was obviously a

0:09:32.093 --> 0:09:35.493
<v Speaker 2>big factor. Our best bowler at the tournament, top wicket taker,

0:09:35.853 --> 0:09:38.573
<v Speaker 2>able to trouble the world's best batters with his guile,

0:09:38.813 --> 0:09:43.373
<v Speaker 2>variations and pace and general all round bowling excellence. When

0:09:43.373 --> 0:09:46.773
<v Speaker 2>he was ruled out, Mitt Santner and Gary Stead decided

0:09:46.813 --> 0:09:49.253
<v Speaker 2>to go like for like and brought in a seema

0:09:49.493 --> 0:09:52.933
<v Speaker 2>in Nathan Smith. Now, hindsight is always twenty twenty, I

0:09:52.973 --> 0:09:56.413
<v Speaker 2>know that, but the scoreboard will show Nathan Smith bowled

0:09:56.533 --> 0:10:00.173
<v Speaker 2>just two overs and went for eleven and over our

0:10:00.213 --> 0:10:04.693
<v Speaker 2>three seamers, he Will O'Rourke and Cole Jamison combined for

0:10:04.893 --> 0:10:09.573
<v Speaker 2>just fourteen overs. In India's innings, thirty five of the

0:10:09.613 --> 0:10:13.133
<v Speaker 2>forty nine overs we bowled were from spinners Mitchell Sentner,

0:10:13.213 --> 0:10:16.533
<v Speaker 2>Michael Bracewell ch and Revendra Or bowling ten and Glenn

0:10:16.573 --> 0:10:20.613
<v Speaker 2>Phillips chipping in with five. We didn't really need Nathan Smith,

0:10:20.653 --> 0:10:23.813
<v Speaker 2>so I wonder whether taking in an extra batter Mark

0:10:23.933 --> 0:10:26.373
<v Speaker 2>Chapman would have been a better idea. Now I'm not

0:10:26.453 --> 0:10:29.373
<v Speaker 2>saying it would have changed the result, but given that

0:10:29.453 --> 0:10:32.813
<v Speaker 2>India have relied so much on spin bowling and the

0:10:32.813 --> 0:10:35.413
<v Speaker 2>final was played in Dubai, where they've played all their

0:10:35.453 --> 0:10:38.773
<v Speaker 2>games with those spinners, I reckon we could have gambled

0:10:38.813 --> 0:10:41.893
<v Speaker 2>on two seamers and stiffened up the batting of it. Anyway,

0:10:42.053 --> 0:10:44.573
<v Speaker 2>what's done is done, and the lost to India doesn't

0:10:44.613 --> 0:10:47.493
<v Speaker 2>take away from the way we played across the tournament.

0:10:47.773 --> 0:10:50.533
<v Speaker 2>Special mentions to a couple of players, Rich and Ravendra

0:10:50.813 --> 0:10:53.053
<v Speaker 2>player of the tournament, a couple of hundreds in his

0:10:53.133 --> 0:10:57.093
<v Speaker 2>fore innings, continuing to provide evidence that he is absolutely

0:10:57.093 --> 0:11:00.933
<v Speaker 2>and totally the real deal and will undoubtedly be one

0:11:00.933 --> 0:11:03.653
<v Speaker 2>of our best ever cricketers by the time he ends

0:11:03.693 --> 0:11:06.253
<v Speaker 2>his career, which is hopefully a long way down the track.

0:11:06.533 --> 0:11:10.253
<v Speaker 2>And Michael Bracewell, who only really started bowling spin seriously

0:11:10.653 --> 0:11:12.933
<v Speaker 2>a few years ago, forming a key part of our

0:11:13.013 --> 0:11:16.373
<v Speaker 2>attack with wickets and economy, while also being going to

0:11:16.493 --> 0:11:18.373
<v Speaker 2>hit the ball pretty well with the bat in any

0:11:18.453 --> 0:11:22.093
<v Speaker 2>situation and unbeaten fifty in the final the latest evidence

0:11:22.093 --> 0:11:24.293
<v Speaker 2>of that there's a lot to like about our white

0:11:24.293 --> 0:11:26.893
<v Speaker 2>ball side right now, with Mitchell Santnap adding his own

0:11:26.973 --> 0:11:30.173
<v Speaker 2>unique leadership style into the mix as well. They may

0:11:30.213 --> 0:11:33.173
<v Speaker 2>not have won the silverware, but a silver medal ain't

0:11:33.173 --> 0:11:33.693
<v Speaker 2>too bad.

0:11:33.813 --> 0:11:37.973
<v Speaker 1>The Chamber is now in session on SPORTSFX.

0:11:39.133 --> 0:11:41.413
<v Speaker 2>On the SPORTSFX podcast. Time for us to pop inside

0:11:41.453 --> 0:11:45.133
<v Speaker 2>the Chamber on Monday, The People's Chamber featuring Elijah who

0:11:45.173 --> 0:11:48.133
<v Speaker 2>joins us. Now, Elijah, you're just back from a Warriors

0:11:48.213 --> 0:11:51.573
<v Speaker 2>media session, so without any further ado, I want to

0:11:51.613 --> 0:11:54.813
<v Speaker 2>go straight there. What sort of what sort of mood

0:11:55.053 --> 0:11:57.933
<v Speaker 2>did you find them in upon their return from Vegas,

0:11:57.933 --> 0:12:01.533
<v Speaker 2>with that lost to the Raiders probably still fresh.

0:12:02.093 --> 0:12:03.933
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, it seems like a while since we last heard

0:12:03.973 --> 0:12:07.613
<v Speaker 4>from the Warriors, given they played a while ago and

0:12:07.613 --> 0:12:09.613
<v Speaker 4>they've had this long time and around heading into their

0:12:09.613 --> 0:12:13.493
<v Speaker 4>second week game against Manly on Friday. In terms of

0:12:13.533 --> 0:12:16.613
<v Speaker 4>the mood around camp, I think they understand what went

0:12:16.773 --> 0:12:20.893
<v Speaker 4>wrong in that opening defeats by the Raiders. Andrew Roopster

0:12:20.933 --> 0:12:23.653
<v Speaker 4>pointed out it was really the first twenty minutes where

0:12:23.413 --> 0:12:25.453
<v Speaker 4>the team was rushing out of the line, they were

0:12:25.453 --> 0:12:28.773
<v Speaker 4>trying to be aggressive. The team wasn't really coordinated, and

0:12:28.893 --> 0:12:30.893
<v Speaker 4>I don't know if that was due to I guess

0:12:30.893 --> 0:12:34.213
<v Speaker 4>over excitement or being too eager by the occasion of

0:12:34.453 --> 0:12:37.293
<v Speaker 4>starting of kicking off the NRL season, or being in

0:12:37.453 --> 0:12:40.653
<v Speaker 4>Las Vegas, but the Andrew roops are pointed to the

0:12:40.653 --> 0:12:43.773
<v Speaker 4>start there and then much Barnett's the co captain, brought

0:12:43.853 --> 0:12:45.973
<v Speaker 4>up a lot of the tries scored by the Raiders

0:12:46.013 --> 0:12:49.773
<v Speaker 4>were more individual moments and that if they you know,

0:12:49.853 --> 0:12:53.613
<v Speaker 4>sort of counted those individual moments in the Warriors definitely

0:12:53.613 --> 0:12:55.973
<v Speaker 4>would have been a lot more competitive in camera. So

0:12:56.013 --> 0:12:58.813
<v Speaker 4>those was probably some of the key takeaways. But hopefully

0:12:59.093 --> 0:13:01.133
<v Speaker 4>that they're back and mount smart this week, they can

0:13:01.693 --> 0:13:03.333
<v Speaker 4>that the fans can get behind them and they can

0:13:03.653 --> 0:13:05.693
<v Speaker 4>get a lot more motivated and hopefully get this season

0:13:06.173 --> 0:13:06.613
<v Speaker 4>on track.

0:13:06.733 --> 0:13:09.413
<v Speaker 2>It's a tough hush though, isn't it against the Sea Eagles,

0:13:09.413 --> 0:13:13.293
<v Speaker 2>who on Saturday put forty two on the Cowboys looked

0:13:13.333 --> 0:13:16.573
<v Speaker 2>really really impressive. And then following that it's another home

0:13:16.573 --> 0:13:20.013
<v Speaker 2>game for the Warriors against the Roosters, who themselves actually

0:13:20.013 --> 0:13:23.333
<v Speaker 2>were beaten fairly soundly by the Broncos on Thursday night.

0:13:23.373 --> 0:13:25.693
<v Speaker 2>Let's not worry about that, but manly, that's a big

0:13:25.773 --> 0:13:27.653
<v Speaker 2>That's a big game on Friday, isn't it.

0:13:28.493 --> 0:13:29.333
<v Speaker 3>Oh very much. So.

0:13:29.373 --> 0:13:33.213
<v Speaker 4>They've got a very physical forward pack and that's going

0:13:33.253 --> 0:13:36.053
<v Speaker 4>to be a huge test for the likes of James Fisher,

0:13:36.053 --> 0:13:38.373
<v Speaker 4>Harris and Mitch Barnett's. But you've also got guys like

0:13:38.453 --> 0:13:41.213
<v Speaker 4>Dynan Walker and Aaron Clark and their impact is going

0:13:41.253 --> 0:13:43.213
<v Speaker 4>to be important to this forward pack some I'm very

0:13:43.213 --> 0:13:45.573
<v Speaker 4>excited to see how they cope with that. And then

0:13:45.653 --> 0:13:48.373
<v Speaker 4>of course Dally Cherry Evans the experience and the halves.

0:13:48.453 --> 0:13:51.253
<v Speaker 4>With Cherry Evans going up against Luke Medcalf, who I

0:13:51.253 --> 0:13:53.853
<v Speaker 4>guess is still settling into the half back role since

0:13:53.893 --> 0:13:57.333
<v Speaker 4>the retirements of Seawan Johnson, so I mean Andrew Rister,

0:13:57.453 --> 0:14:01.373
<v Speaker 4>he's fully behind or backing and Luke Medcalf to adjust

0:14:01.373 --> 0:14:04.093
<v Speaker 4>to the half back role. Obviously preaching a little bit

0:14:04.133 --> 0:14:06.133
<v Speaker 4>of patients from fans that you know he might not

0:14:06.173 --> 0:14:08.573
<v Speaker 4>get things right straight away, but it's going to build

0:14:08.613 --> 0:14:10.893
<v Speaker 4>as the season goes on. But a big test going

0:14:10.973 --> 0:14:12.533
<v Speaker 4>up against the Daly chair Evans.

0:14:12.693 --> 0:14:14.733
<v Speaker 2>Much more to come on the Warriors across the weak

0:14:14.773 --> 0:14:17.093
<v Speaker 2>as we had towards their game on Friday night against

0:14:17.133 --> 0:14:20.653
<v Speaker 2>the Sea Eagles. Super Rugby Pacific. We're now four rounds in.

0:14:20.773 --> 0:14:22.693
<v Speaker 2>Most teams have played four games, some of it the

0:14:22.693 --> 0:14:25.453
<v Speaker 2>bye of course, and have only played three. Apart from

0:14:25.493 --> 0:14:27.933
<v Speaker 2>the fact you have to scroll all the way to

0:14:27.973 --> 0:14:31.293
<v Speaker 2>the bottom of the table to find my Hurricanes and

0:14:33.493 --> 0:14:36.973
<v Speaker 2>the Blues. Has this been one of the better first

0:14:37.053 --> 0:14:39.813
<v Speaker 2>months of a Super Rugby season that you can remember?

0:14:40.733 --> 0:14:42.973
<v Speaker 4>It has to be. It's been so exciting what's been

0:14:43.013 --> 0:14:45.893
<v Speaker 4>happening out on the park, the highest scores that have

0:14:45.893 --> 0:14:49.333
<v Speaker 4>been put up, the free flowing rugby, and it seems

0:14:49.373 --> 0:14:52.213
<v Speaker 4>like we hear the buzzword fan centric and it seems

0:14:52.213 --> 0:14:55.653
<v Speaker 4>like that's finally kicking and segear in this opening month.

0:14:55.773 --> 0:14:58.453
<v Speaker 4>You see the fantasy aspect of it has really helped

0:14:58.453 --> 0:15:01.853
<v Speaker 4>out post game I guess as an example, one in

0:15:01.893 --> 0:15:05.613
<v Speaker 4>a PACIFICA post game with their up in North Harbor Stadium,

0:15:05.693 --> 0:15:08.973
<v Speaker 4>citing autographs, taking photos for fans, and you know, doing

0:15:09.213 --> 0:15:13.013
<v Speaker 4>making sure everyone there gets what they need out of

0:15:13.293 --> 0:15:16.253
<v Speaker 4>meeting their favorite players. So I think, for sure, like

0:15:16.453 --> 0:15:20.173
<v Speaker 4>I've never been more excited to get behind Super rugby

0:15:20.173 --> 0:15:21.453
<v Speaker 4>and I'm enjoying it.

0:15:21.533 --> 0:15:24.053
<v Speaker 2>I think also what the weekend showed was that there

0:15:24.213 --> 0:15:27.693
<v Speaker 2>is true jeopardy when it comes to this competition. Without

0:15:27.733 --> 0:15:29.693
<v Speaker 2>wanting to labor the point, both your Blues and my

0:15:29.853 --> 0:15:33.013
<v Speaker 2>Hurricanes lost games that they were probably favorites and right.

0:15:33.053 --> 0:15:35.653
<v Speaker 2>The Blues were probably favorites to beat the Brumbies on

0:15:35.653 --> 0:15:38.133
<v Speaker 2>Friday night they lost twenty one to twenty. The Hurricanes

0:15:38.133 --> 0:15:40.013
<v Speaker 2>were probably favorites to beat more one of Pacific A

0:15:40.053 --> 0:15:42.933
<v Speaker 2>Saturday night they lost forty thirty one. Not only that,

0:15:42.973 --> 0:15:45.893
<v Speaker 2>the Fiji and Dreuer beat the Chiefs, who hadn't lost

0:15:45.933 --> 0:15:48.413
<v Speaker 2>all season, and the Force, who had been pretty good,

0:15:48.533 --> 0:15:51.693
<v Speaker 2>were roundly sent on their way by the Warritors. The

0:15:51.693 --> 0:15:54.413
<v Speaker 2>outlier actually was probably the Crusaders against the Reds. So

0:15:54.773 --> 0:15:58.213
<v Speaker 2>actually you don't really know, do you, from game to game,

0:15:58.573 --> 0:16:00.573
<v Speaker 2>from week to week, who's going to win? And isn't

0:16:00.573 --> 0:16:03.613
<v Speaker 2>that what we've always wanted, an even competition like.

0:16:03.573 --> 0:16:08.333
<v Speaker 4>This exactly the even competition. It's the unpredictability of super

0:16:08.453 --> 0:16:11.333
<v Speaker 4>rugby that's coming to play and I think if you're

0:16:11.333 --> 0:16:14.333
<v Speaker 4>talking about the Australian teams, the demise of the Melbourne

0:16:14.373 --> 0:16:17.453
<v Speaker 4>Rebels has definitely helped out and we've seen the quality

0:16:17.493 --> 0:16:19.693
<v Speaker 4>across the board for the Australian teams and they've made

0:16:19.893 --> 0:16:22.453
<v Speaker 4>their matches whenever they come up against New Zealand sides

0:16:22.933 --> 0:16:25.773
<v Speaker 4>a lot more competitive. I guess the Crusaders Reds probably

0:16:25.853 --> 0:16:28.533
<v Speaker 4>isn't the best example, but in the games that they

0:16:28.533 --> 0:16:31.573
<v Speaker 4>have played, it's a lot more competitive and I'm really

0:16:31.613 --> 0:16:33.493
<v Speaker 4>excited for that fact. I guess the question now is

0:16:33.733 --> 0:16:36.053
<v Speaker 4>can that standard hold on for the rest of the season.

0:16:36.173 --> 0:16:38.573
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? No, And that's the question that is going to

0:16:38.613 --> 0:16:41.093
<v Speaker 2>be asked, but it's one I'm really interested in finding

0:16:41.093 --> 0:16:44.213
<v Speaker 2>out the answer to. Like you, I'm just very I'm

0:16:44.253 --> 0:16:46.293
<v Speaker 2>already looking ahead to next weekend to see, you know

0:16:46.333 --> 0:16:49.173
<v Speaker 2>what the games are, which you know The only team

0:16:49.213 --> 0:16:52.213
<v Speaker 2>who have at one hundred percent record are the war Retars.

0:16:52.493 --> 0:16:54.893
<v Speaker 2>They've played three one three. Who would have predicted that

0:16:55.133 --> 0:16:57.093
<v Speaker 2>at the start of the season. The war Tars, the

0:16:57.213 --> 0:16:59.693
<v Speaker 2>Reds and the Brumbies are all in the top six.

0:16:59.773 --> 0:17:01.893
<v Speaker 2>I know it's a tight table and as I say,

0:17:01.933 --> 0:17:05.453
<v Speaker 2>you know, two of last season's better teams, the champions

0:17:05.493 --> 0:17:08.853
<v Speaker 2>the Blues and the regular season table toppers, came down

0:17:08.893 --> 0:17:10.933
<v Speaker 2>the bottom of the pile. Like again, I don't want

0:17:10.933 --> 0:17:13.253
<v Speaker 2>to labor that point too much, but there is there

0:17:13.333 --> 0:17:17.853
<v Speaker 2>is a true evenness and unpredictably unpredictability about this competition

0:17:17.933 --> 0:17:20.413
<v Speaker 2>this year and that can only mean good things. Just

0:17:20.453 --> 0:17:24.333
<v Speaker 2>before we exit the chamber, black Caps Overnight came close. Well,

0:17:24.373 --> 0:17:26.893
<v Speaker 2>they got to the final, but they were I think

0:17:27.533 --> 0:17:31.293
<v Speaker 2>probably reasonably comprehensibly beaten by India or is that you'll

0:17:31.293 --> 0:17:31.733
<v Speaker 2>read on it?

0:17:32.413 --> 0:17:34.853
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I would say so. I mean you could maybe

0:17:34.973 --> 0:17:38.613
<v Speaker 4>chucking asterisk next to India winning because of you know,

0:17:38.733 --> 0:17:41.213
<v Speaker 4>them playing in Dubai and them having that as their

0:17:41.213 --> 0:17:44.333
<v Speaker 4>home base throughout the tournaments due to the tensions with

0:17:44.413 --> 0:17:47.053
<v Speaker 4>the host nation Pakistan. But I guess New Zealand for

0:17:47.293 --> 0:17:50.293
<v Speaker 4>the hand, all the cars that there were doubts managed.

0:17:50.693 --> 0:17:53.853
<v Speaker 4>They played Austin throughout the tournaments and the Russian Revenger

0:17:53.973 --> 0:17:56.973
<v Speaker 4>was a standout being named player of the Tournaments. Being

0:17:57.013 --> 0:18:00.133
<v Speaker 4>Philip showed that why he's the best field in the world.

0:18:00.693 --> 0:18:03.013
<v Speaker 4>So they're definitely some positives. But yeah, it's a shame

0:18:03.053 --> 0:18:05.773
<v Speaker 4>that they couldn't come out with the wind there against India.

0:18:05.853 --> 0:18:09.013
<v Speaker 2>Indeed, all right, well that was a busy sporting weekend

0:18:09.093 --> 0:18:11.493
<v Speaker 2>wrapped up or some of it in the last six

0:18:11.533 --> 0:18:14.173
<v Speaker 2>and a half minutes. Another busy week are sporting weekend

0:18:14.373 --> 0:18:16.733
<v Speaker 2>or week to come with a weekend at the end

0:18:16.733 --> 0:18:18.893
<v Speaker 2>of its starting with the Warriors on Friday nights, So

0:18:19.133 --> 0:18:21.133
<v Speaker 2>lots to get our teeth into. Elijah, thanks for joining

0:18:21.173 --> 0:18:23.173
<v Speaker 2>us in the chamber. As always, we'll do it again

0:18:23.213 --> 0:18:23.813
<v Speaker 2>next Monday.

0:18:24.333 --> 0:18:25.253
<v Speaker 4>Thank you, payy.

0:18:25.333 --> 0:18:28.813
<v Speaker 1>Needing a fix, We've got just the ticket. It's Sports

0:18:28.893 --> 0:18:30.653
<v Speaker 1>Fix powered by News Talks V.

0:18:32.453 --> 0:18:34.933
<v Speaker 2>And that wraps Sports Fix four today. Thank you so

0:18:35.013 --> 0:18:37.493
<v Speaker 2>much for downloading and for listening, and for those of

0:18:37.533 --> 0:18:40.493
<v Speaker 2>you who subscribe a fresh episode we'll drop into your

0:18:40.493 --> 0:18:42.453
<v Speaker 2>podcast feed at around it but at the same time tomorrow

0:18:42.493 --> 0:18:44.613
<v Speaker 2>afternoon if you want that to happen and you're not

0:18:44.693 --> 0:18:47.973
<v Speaker 2>a subscriber, well, I will suggest that you subscribe and

0:18:48.013 --> 0:18:51.253
<v Speaker 2>you'll get a fresh episode, as I say, every weekday

0:18:51.333 --> 0:18:53.853
<v Speaker 2>and for more from News Talks EDB. Sport, listen out

0:18:53.853 --> 0:18:57.253
<v Speaker 2>to Sports Talk weeknights between seven and eight and on

0:18:57.293 --> 0:19:00.493
<v Speaker 2>the weekend's Weekend Sport from midday to three Saturday and Sunday.

0:19:01.173 --> 0:19:04.133
<v Speaker 1>For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air

0:19:04.293 --> 0:19:07.013
<v Speaker 1>or online and keep our shows with you wherever you

0:19:07.053 --> 0:19:09.453
<v Speaker 1>go with our podcast on iHeartRadio