1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Cielda. 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. From sideline 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 2: squabbles to damning defeats, twenty twenty six will need to 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 2: be a year of refresh when it comes to Kiwi sports. 6 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 3: The All Blacks. 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: Season has been shaky to say the least, and headlines 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: have been dominated with netble New Zealand's off court chaos, 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 2: but there have been some major wins on the world 10 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: stage for some of our best athletes. Liam Lawson has 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 2: become a household name and Ryan Fox has seen some 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 2: career bests this year. So to wrap it all up 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 2: today on the front Page, we have the New Zealand 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: Heralds Christopher Reeve and Nathan Limb to take us through 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: some of twenty twenty five's highs and lows. So first off, guys, 16 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: let's get this out of the way, because I know 17 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: how much it pains people to talk about it, the 18 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: All Blacks, Right, Nathan. 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 4: I'm looking at you. I'm looking at you. 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: Well, people love to talk about it, but when they lose, 21 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 2: and there's been a few big losses this year, hey 22 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: tell me about it. 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, so three big losses I suppose have lowlighted the 24 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 5: All Blacks year. 25 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 4: We're used to this sort of relentless standard of dominance. 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 5: But yeah, I suppose the nature of those losses is 27 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 5: more the issue rather than the losses themselves. So they 28 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 5: had losses to Argentina, South Africa and England, and that 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 5: South Africa one in particular in Wellington where they were 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 5: handed their biggest. 31 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 4: Test defeat in history. 32 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 5: Really started the alarm bells ringing, and it put a 33 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 5: heap of pressure on Scott raisor Robertson the coach and 34 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 5: Scott Barrett the captain. People questioning the direction of the team. 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 5: There are a few issues that I guess have played 36 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 5: the All Blacks this year. Discipline, the yellow cards and 37 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 5: have continued in irregular feature. They work under the high ball, 38 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 5: their line out and their defense on the edges, and 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 5: to their credit, the lineout seems to have sort of 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 5: itself out through the Northern tour that definitely improved. They 41 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 5: had a few new players, Josh Lord came in and 42 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 5: seemed to really make an impact. But I suppose there's 43 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 5: still a few question marks over the All Blacks and 44 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 5: now they're progressing in those other areas with the World 45 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 5: Cup a couple of years away. 46 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 3: Chris, have other teams just gotten better? Have we just 47 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 3: been used to the All Blacks being. 48 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 2: The best in the world for like the past few 49 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 2: decades and other teams have just caught up. 50 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think there's a little bit of that. My 51 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 6: thing with rugby has always been there's essentially been ten 52 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 6: countries in the world who take rugby seriously, and as 53 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 6: more start to take it seriously, you know, they're starting 54 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 6: to catch up, starting to get to the All Blacks level. 55 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 6: I was looking at this the other day because the 56 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 6: All Blacks can meet current world number one South Africa 57 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 6: and the quarterfinals of the World Cup, and they met 58 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 6: then world number one Ireland, and the last World Cup 59 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 6: before that, it was just all Blacks, world number one, 60 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 6: All Blacks, world umber, all Blacks, world number one. So 61 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,239 Speaker 6: now all these teams are starting to get to the 62 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 6: All Blacks level, starting to I guess bring that level back, 63 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 6: and All blackson else starting to be in that position 64 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 6: where it's like, well, now we've got to match it 65 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 6: with the other teams. 66 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 4: Yeah. 67 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 2: It is always fun, isn't it when your team is 68 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: the best team in the world. But I mean there's 69 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: some few nail biting games, Nathan. 70 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 3: Over the course of this year. 71 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: One of the main criticism actually I've seen is about 72 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: the team's identity. They've got an identity issue. And does 73 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: that just mean basically, when you think of a team 74 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: and you can't immediately think of maybe three describing words 75 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: to describe them with, would you be at a loss 76 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: to describe this team in three words? 77 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 4: Yeah? 78 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 5: And I suppose in a really positive way of you're 79 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 5: wanting to look at the team's characteristics in their biggest strengths. 80 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 5: It is hard because it has been muddled and the 81 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 5: performances have been so up and down this year. I 82 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 5: think one of the concerning areas is around the All 83 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 5: Blacks attack because for so many years they've been dynamic, 84 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 5: they've been so accurate. The simple catch and pass has 85 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 5: been the All Blacks identity. And I suppose there's a 86 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 5: little bit of confusion as to the direction of how 87 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 5: this team wants to play the game because those elegant 88 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 5: sort of back line moves that were so used to seeing, 89 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 5: you know, throughout the twenty twenty tens, they're not there. 90 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 5: It doesn't seem to be part of the All Blacks game, 91 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 5: they shift the board of the left wing to the 92 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 5: right wing. Obviously, with the change in rules, our teams 93 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 5: are kicking a lot more and we're putting up those 94 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 5: those bombs and sometimes we're contesting them. But other countries 95 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 5: seem to be doing it a hell of a lot 96 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 5: better than us. So what is the All Blacks biggest strength? 97 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 5: I think is the question that a few people are 98 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 5: struggling to answer. 99 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 4: At this point. 100 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 3: And what about the leadership they're sticking around next year? 101 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, yeah, the coaches will still be in charged, 102 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 5: so I Scott back from what we've seen, will still 103 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 5: be Then he's admitted, you know that it probably wasn't 104 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 5: the best year and there are things he would like 105 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 5: to improve on. So look, this coaching team, I suppose 106 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 5: has been in charge for a couple of years now, 107 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 5: and we would have probably liked to have seen more 108 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 5: in terms of that direction at this point. But they've 109 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 5: still got another year and a half until a couple 110 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 5: of years until the next World Cup, so there is 111 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 5: time to find some brother. 112 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 7: It was a very good race, I know for starting 113 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 7: third and finishing FIRSD might not sound like the best result, 114 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 7: but given the carries, and given the drivers that are 115 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,559 Speaker 7: behind him, and given the way he just drove full stop, 116 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 7: I say that was an incredible performance the other night. 117 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: Let's move on to arguably one of the most talked 118 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 2: about Ken we athletes this year. Who do you reckon? 119 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 6: I'm going to say my guess is Liam Lawson? 120 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 8: Yeah, exactly, Yeah, because it's been everywhere right Like I, 121 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 8: as someone who doesn't watch sports religiously or really knew 122 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 8: anything other than what's on Netflix about F one, this 123 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 8: year seems to be Liam Lawson's big year. 124 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 3: Why is that? 125 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:56,119 Speaker 4: Do you think? 126 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 6: Formula one is a very hard stage to crack litt 127 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 6: alone succeed and there's so many politics that go on 128 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 6: and just getting into the position that Liam Lawson is in. 129 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 6: And for Liam in particular, he started the ye arguably 130 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 6: the best team in Formula one at red Bull, they 131 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 6: only gave him two races before they said, actually, where 132 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 6: we're going to put you back to the junior team. 133 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 6: So just everything that has happened for Liam Lawson this 134 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 6: year has sort of just made for quite a compelling story. 135 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 6: And from that point it's been is he going to 136 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 6: have a seat for this for next year? And that 137 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 6: dragged on the entire season. They gave it until I 138 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 6: think the week before the final race of the season 139 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 6: to make that decision. So yeah, it's just been a 140 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 6: very very interesting and I guess fun for a reporter's 141 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 6: point of view story to follow, and people have really 142 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 6: really grabbed onto it. 143 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: Was it a bit too early? Do you reckon to 144 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 3: have him sitting next to you? Max Vashtappen, Yeah, it's 145 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 3: a good question. 146 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 6: I think he was ready. I just don't know if 147 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,679 Speaker 6: they gave him enough time to get used to that car. 148 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 6: That's my personal opinion. I think Liam Lawson's very good 149 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 6: at what he does and I think they just need 150 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 6: to show a little bit more patience on him. 151 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 3: Right, So looking forward to seeing him next year. 152 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 4: Nathan, Yeah, one hundred percent. 153 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 5: I mean twenty twenty five has been some big highs 154 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 5: and some big lows, and that would have been incredibly 155 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 5: difficult for Lawson to manage the spotlight for those two 156 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 5: races and then to be dropped. I mean, what's that 157 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 5: going to do to your confidence? You're a young man, 158 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 5: you're on the world stage, You've got so much pressure 159 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 5: and through the rest of the year. The best thing 160 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 5: has just been he's had a consistent seat and he 161 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 5: hasn't had to worry about that. He can just focus 162 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 5: on performance and to know that he is going to 163 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 5: get that again next year. He's going to head into 164 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 5: twenty twenty six with a much wiser sort of head 165 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 5: on his shoulders, more experienced, and he'll feel a bit 166 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 5: more comfortable and a bit more like he belongs because 167 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 5: he's actually had that backing of his team this time, 168 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 5: whereas he didn't have that at the start. 169 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 4: Of the year. 170 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 5: And I think they've showed the probably should have stuck 171 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 5: with him a bit longer because they've obviously dropped the 172 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 5: guy who they. 173 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 4: Replaced him with. 174 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's quite funny to see Kiwi's on the big 175 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: stage as well. Do you feel like Kiwi's put our 176 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 2: athletes and stuff who are who get a name and 177 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 2: are you welld known on a bit of a pedestal 178 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 2: because we've got the tall poppy syndrome obviously, But as 179 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: soon as Liam Lawson gets into the F one and 180 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 2: does all these amazing things at the start of the year, 181 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: it was like the pressure that must have mounted on 182 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 2: him from you know, everyone talking about it, everyone having 183 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: his back, and then everyone talking about it when he 184 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 2: didn't do so well as well. 185 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's been surprising throughout this year just how many 186 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 6: people have seid Liam Lawson's not good enough. Liam Lawson 187 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 6: doesn't belong in Formula one, just sort of based on 188 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 6: him not being on the podium every week. Formula one 189 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 6: is a very very very hard sport to succeed in. 190 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 6: There's really only two or three teams that can consistently 191 00:08:58,000 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 6: put you on the podium. The rest of them are 192 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 6: fighting for those middle positions and that's the team Liam 193 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 6: Lawson has found himself in. Just being able to compete 194 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 6: for top ten sort of week to week or Grand 195 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 6: Prix to Grand Prix is quite a high achievement. So yeah, 196 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 6: it's a strange one. I feel Aliam Lawson's succeeded with 197 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 6: what he's been given. But yeah, you might get a 198 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 6: different answer if you are someone else. 199 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:27,719 Speaker 5: It's a bit of a catch twenty two when you're 200 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 5: talking about the tall poppy syndrome because another, you know, 201 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 5: we're talking about identity before another part of New Zealand's 202 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 5: identity in the way we view sports, we punch above 203 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 5: our weight, So in that regard it kind of is 204 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 5: in conflict with the whole tall poppy syndrome. But I 205 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 5: think for the most part New Zealanders have been very 206 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 5: supportive of Liam Lawson. Would be great to see that 207 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 5: continue into twenty twenty six. 208 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: The only purpose of elite sport, if you think about it, 209 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: is victory. It exists for no other reason than to 210 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: let a chosen for you express themselves in a way 211 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: where they went and others can piggyback on that by 212 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: way of television licensing, or ticket sales or just being fans. 213 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: Unless Nolan Tarua has had a personality transformation and they're 214 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: all wandering around Netball New Zealand at the moment going jeez, 215 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: I wonder what happened to old Knowles, Man that Knowles, 216 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: that Knowles has changed, which I suspect has not happened 217 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: at all. Then what we are left with is the 218 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: inescapable conclusion that Tarua is the victim of soft management 219 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: in a world where every cry baby needs to be heard. 220 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: Something else that everyone was talking about this year was 221 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 2: the Netbull and not what was happening on the court, 222 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,599 Speaker 2: but what was happening behind the scenes. You did a 223 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 2: lot on this Nathan this year in terms of Netbulle 224 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 2: New Zealand standing down longtime Silver Fern's coach Dame Nolane Tolua. 225 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 3: Nathan, tell me about it? Do we even know what happened? Now? 226 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 4: Sort of? So I heard an. 227 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: Interview that she did about it, and I, you know, 228 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 2: left that interview feeling like she didn't even know what happened. 229 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, so what happened? Yeah? 230 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 5: So she was stood down days out from the Tiny 231 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 5: Jamison series sort of sensationally and through everything sort of 232 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 5: it was like chaos for a couple of months because 233 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 5: no one seemed to know what was going on, and 234 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 5: there was not really any communication from Netball New Zealand 235 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 5: to the public or otherwise about why total had been 236 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 5: stood down under the cloud of it's an employment matter, 237 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 5: everything has to be private. But the problem was that 238 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 5: silence extended for months and because of that, the New 239 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 5: Zealand public, who have an understandable loyalty to their coach 240 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 5: at Totaler, wanted to find someone to hold accountable for this, 241 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 5: and because she was stood down apparently due to player complaints, 242 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 5: that turned to trying to hold the Silver Ferns players 243 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 5: accountable for it without actually knowing who complained or what 244 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 5: the complaints were, and that led to players who weren't 245 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 5: involved at all getting dragged under the bus. And so 246 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 5: the handling of the situation by Netball New zeal And, 247 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 5: that lack of communication created an environment that was highly 248 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 5: it was sort of a bit toxic in terms of 249 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 5: the public and what the players had to deal with 250 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 5: in terms of that criticism and that scrutiny because there 251 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 5: just would seem to be no reason or no accountability 252 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 5: for why this has happened. Since then, parts of the 253 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 5: stronic report the investigation have come out, and so, yeah, 254 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 5: the player complaints around inconsistency of Total implementing her standards, 255 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 5: you know, potentially treating some players differently to others, and 256 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 5: then also the way the environment is compared to after 257 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 5: losses versus wins. So people can read into those complaints 258 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 5: what they will for me. I mean, looking at the report, 259 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 5: I felt it. You know, from that it was you 260 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 5: do get an idea of what the complaints were. No, 261 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 5: not the specifics of who exactly complained, but totally can 262 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 5: she was in the environment, she can read between the lines. 263 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 4: So you know, I. 264 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 5: Suppose the key issue here is this still doesn't result 265 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 5: because total effectively was reinstated as coach. 266 00:12:58,160 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 4: But then wasn't reinstated as coach for this. 267 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 5: She'll only come back next year, and given the dates 268 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 5: and how everything works with the ains in Premiership, she's 269 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 5: only going to get the Silver Ferns back together in July, 270 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 5: a few weeks out from the Commonwealth game, So she's 271 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 5: going to go almost two years without having overseen the team. 272 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 5: All of this dramas happened in the interim and she's 273 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 5: not got much time to sort it out and we'll 274 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 5: just have to see what happens. But it's a really 275 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 5: really difficult situation. 276 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 4: For the Ferns. 277 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 5: But I also think it's worth pointing out that the 278 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,599 Speaker 5: Ferns had a really successful year despite all of this 279 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 5: off the court. They won nine out of twelve games, 280 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 5: clean swept South Africa, clean swept Scotland, beat England away 281 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 5: from home, and drew their Constellation Cup series with Australia 282 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 5: lost an extra time. But despite all of this, they 283 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 5: performed really really well on the court and I think 284 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 5: the Ferns themselves deserve. 285 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 4: A lot of credit. 286 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely so sorry. 287 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 3: Is that July next year, twenty twenty six? 288 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 4: Yes? 289 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 3: What does she do between now and then. 290 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,839 Speaker 5: Unclear planning, planning, you know, during the ains of premiership 291 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 5: normally she'd be going around the franchise and talking to 292 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 5: the players and giving them feedback and goal setting and 293 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 5: that sort of thing. There has you know, she's she's 294 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 5: talking to Super Netball clubs as well though, so if 295 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 5: she were to take on a role the Mavericks have 296 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 5: been you know, she's talking to them. If she were 297 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 5: to take up a role with them, that would surely 298 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 5: impact whether or not she can go around the aims 299 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 5: of premiership teams. But again there's a complete lack of 300 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 5: clarity because we haven't heard from her in weeks. We 301 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 5: haven't heard from Netball New Zealand on this, so it's 302 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 5: very still up in the air and. 303 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: So okay, so it's still really nice continue. 304 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, credit to the Silver Ferns. They played pretty well 305 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 6: throughout the year. Once they sort of came to terms 306 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 6: with everything that was going on, they turned things around 307 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 6: very quickly, played very well against Australia, played very well 308 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 6: when they went to the Northern tourst So like they've 309 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 6: come out of this looking quite good. 310 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 4: Yeah. 311 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Well somebody else who has had a good year 312 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: this year, Ryan Fox. I'm not sure if you know him, 313 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 2: he's won a couple of times. 314 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 3: Tell me about that Grose. 315 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, so breakout. 316 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, for Ryan Fox, it's always been a case of 317 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 6: he's good enough. It's just a matter of putting four 318 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 6: good rounds of golf together to win a tournament on 319 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 6: the PGA Tour. And yeah, he was able to do 320 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 6: that twice within the space of a month this year, 321 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 6: which is pretty unreal. The first one at Myrtle Beach 322 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 6: was what they call opposite field event, so all the 323 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 6: best players are off playing a signature event. You've got 324 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 6: to be ranked in the top seventy players to get 325 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 6: in that. The rest of the field go to this 326 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 6: other one. So Fox was at the other one and 327 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 6: one that needed to chip in from just off the green, 328 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 6: which was a pretty unreal way to win a tournament. 329 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 6: And then two weeks later he goes to the Canadian Open, 330 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 6: where most of the best players in the world were playing. 331 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 6: Scottish Effler wasn't there, but yeah, he went out and 332 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 6: won that one in a playoff as well. So very 333 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 6: very good month for Ryan Fox, and he continued that 334 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 6: throughout the year. He finished well the top fifty. So 335 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 6: now the next year, he basically gets to take his 336 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 6: pick of what tournaments he wants to play in. 337 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: This is something that I wanted to ask you guys 338 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 2: in terms of sporting moments of the year. Obviously we've 339 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 2: spoken about the All Blacks, Leam Laws and Ryan Fox, 340 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: netwle dramas, etc. Is there something quite niche that comes 341 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: to mind that that really is in your top moments 342 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 2: of the year. It can be something really specific, if 343 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: it can be funny, or it can be outstanding achievement. 344 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: What have you got? 345 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 5: My one that immediately comes to mind is Lekahalasimas scoring 346 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 5: after full time for the Warriors against Newcastle Knights off 347 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 5: a kick deflection. He ran forty meters, got past six 348 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 5: defenders and stole the game right at the death and 349 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 5: I remember watching it live going absolutely nuts in my 350 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 5: living room. My landlords on the other side of the 351 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 5: wall must have been wondering what the hell was going on. 352 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 5: So that one really set the season alight for the Warriors. 353 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 5: And obviously they made the first round of the playoffs 354 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 5: and it fitted. But overall, you know, the season for 355 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 5: them has been good in terms of those younger players 356 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 5: coming to the Forum for me, that moment really typified that. 357 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 6: It's funny you mentioned that as the first one that 358 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 6: came to my mid was I remember going and watching 359 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 6: after that, going online and finding all these Newcastle kind 360 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 6: of reaction videos to it. It was just great seeing 361 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 6: another fan base deflated by a moment like that. 362 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 2: Well, because it's that's that's what sports about, right those 363 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 2: moments where you actually jump off off the couch and 364 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 2: scream at the TV or hug each other or something 365 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 2: when when somebody kicks a goal or does something like that. 366 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 2: That's what happens right. 367 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 4: Into two sides to those moments. 368 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean I mentioned Ryan Fox's chipping before. We 369 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 6: had people in the office yelling and cheering at the 370 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 6: TV when that happened. 371 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: That is genuinely why I know about that is because 372 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 2: I was watching the whole group of people next to 373 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 2: the TV screaming at the TV. 374 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 3: I just assumed that it was Rugby or something. I 375 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 3: walk walk past its goals. Oh, thank you guys so 376 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 3: much for joining us. 377 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 4: Thanks Jos, You're welcome. 378 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You 379 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 380 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 2: at ENZIDHERLD dot co dot NZ. 381 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 3: The Front Page is produced by Jane Ye. 382 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 2: And Richard Martin, who is also our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. 383 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you 384 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and tune in tomorrow for another look 385 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 2: behind the headlines.