1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,907 Speaker 2: Crusaders Country under Advantage. 4 00:00:15,507 --> 00:00:20,827 Speaker 3: To Other's shorts one left, Tony mcco to Backers, Sprager, 5 00:00:21,627 --> 00:00:27,587 Speaker 3: where to Real with Precision at Pace at Bacus Spraguer 6 00:00:27,747 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 3: and tonight for sebu Ree skips himself. I think by 7 00:00:32,547 --> 00:00:35,907 Speaker 3: Crusaders ZEP seven and the party tricks are coming out. 8 00:00:36,147 --> 00:00:39,467 Speaker 2: That was a rare bright spot for the Crusaders last year, 9 00:00:39,507 --> 00:00:42,227 Speaker 2: just the four wins from fourteen games and missing the 10 00:00:42,627 --> 00:00:45,027 Speaker 2: top eight for the playoffs. That off the back of 11 00:00:45,067 --> 00:00:49,667 Speaker 2: course of being seven time defending champions, a challenging year 12 00:00:49,907 --> 00:00:53,667 Speaker 2: for Crusaders fans and the Crusaders side as well. Head 13 00:00:53,667 --> 00:00:55,667 Speaker 2: coach Rob Penny is with us. Rob, if we start 14 00:00:55,707 --> 00:00:58,707 Speaker 2: by looking ahead to this year, you've had preseason games 15 00:00:58,747 --> 00:01:01,067 Speaker 2: against the Blues and the Highlanders. Did you get what 16 00:01:01,107 --> 00:01:03,587 Speaker 2: you wanted to out of those two games? 17 00:01:03,627 --> 00:01:08,347 Speaker 4: In sum regards, yes, and and in some regards probably 18 00:01:08,347 --> 00:01:09,867 Speaker 4: not as much as we would have liked. But at 19 00:01:09,907 --> 00:01:11,267 Speaker 4: the end of the day, it is what it is, 20 00:01:11,347 --> 00:01:13,867 Speaker 4: and you know we're sending ourselves up for a great 21 00:01:13,867 --> 00:01:17,107 Speaker 4: occasion on Friday evening here on Valentine's Day for the 22 00:01:17,147 --> 00:01:18,187 Speaker 4: opening of Super. 23 00:01:18,107 --> 00:01:20,267 Speaker 2: Yeah, we can't wait. We can't wait. When you're looking 24 00:01:20,267 --> 00:01:23,347 Speaker 2: at managing your squad minutes in pre season, how do 25 00:01:23,387 --> 00:01:24,027 Speaker 2: you go about that. 26 00:01:25,667 --> 00:01:31,627 Speaker 4: There's quite a few parameters trying to expose people to 27 00:01:31,747 --> 00:01:34,467 Speaker 4: as much as they can cope with without overloading. It's 28 00:01:34,987 --> 00:01:37,147 Speaker 4: not an exact science by any means, but you do 29 00:01:37,187 --> 00:01:42,027 Speaker 4: your best. And then there is some some parameters around 30 00:01:42,027 --> 00:01:44,347 Speaker 4: the All Black introduction where they play forty minutes and 31 00:01:44,387 --> 00:01:47,587 Speaker 4: their first hit out, So that was, you know what 32 00:01:47,627 --> 00:01:51,787 Speaker 4: we were what we got into the returning Crusaders last 33 00:01:51,827 --> 00:01:55,227 Speaker 4: week against the Highlanders in the first half. So we 34 00:01:55,307 --> 00:01:59,107 Speaker 4: got through that unscathed relatively with the All Blacks apart 35 00:01:59,147 --> 00:02:02,547 Speaker 4: from George Bell who had a significant injury in Dallas 36 00:02:02,627 --> 00:02:07,307 Speaker 4: McLeod who's got a bit of a hiplexa problem. But yeah, 37 00:02:07,347 --> 00:02:10,027 Speaker 4: we're in reasonable shape getting into round one. 38 00:02:10,227 --> 00:02:13,107 Speaker 2: Yeah, I saw that Dallas and George had gone off. 39 00:02:13,147 --> 00:02:16,027 Speaker 2: Can you give us any clarity on George in particular. 40 00:02:19,067 --> 00:02:23,147 Speaker 4: There's a little bit of investigative work to be undertaken, 41 00:02:23,267 --> 00:02:27,147 Speaker 4: but it's weeks, not days anyway, I can give you that. 42 00:02:27,507 --> 00:02:29,547 Speaker 2: All right, Well, we wish him the best and his 43 00:02:29,627 --> 00:02:32,947 Speaker 2: recovery Seb Calder and Finley Bruce. Of course, I mean 44 00:02:32,987 --> 00:02:34,587 Speaker 2: this is always the nature of it, Rob, isn't it. 45 00:02:34,587 --> 00:02:37,347 Speaker 2: The pre season does throw up the odd injury. Seb 46 00:02:37,387 --> 00:02:40,667 Speaker 2: Calder and Finley Bruce went off against the Blues. Are 47 00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:44,267 Speaker 2: they short or medium term prospects? What's the situation there? 48 00:02:45,947 --> 00:02:50,787 Speaker 4: Yeah, Finnily, we're still undertaking some diagnostic stuff, so not sure. 49 00:02:50,827 --> 00:02:56,387 Speaker 4: That's again weeks not days. Seb's a lot better, so 50 00:02:56,467 --> 00:03:00,507 Speaker 4: that's awesome. He's going to reintegrate hopefully in the next 51 00:03:00,507 --> 00:03:05,027 Speaker 4: two or three weeks as his pain dissipates. So yeah, 52 00:03:05,187 --> 00:03:06,107 Speaker 4: that's those two boys. 53 00:03:06,107 --> 00:03:07,667 Speaker 5: We've just had a bit of a endemic in. 54 00:03:07,587 --> 00:03:10,867 Speaker 4: The front row, which is you know, last year we 55 00:03:10,907 --> 00:03:13,467 Speaker 4: had at inside backs and this year we've got it 56 00:03:13,507 --> 00:03:16,307 Speaker 4: in the front row. So it's just one of those things, 57 00:03:16,307 --> 00:03:17,707 Speaker 4: I guess, nature of the beast. 58 00:03:17,987 --> 00:03:20,587 Speaker 2: Indeed, well, let's talk inside backs. How did you assess 59 00:03:20,587 --> 00:03:24,107 Speaker 2: the contribution of James O'Connor over these two preseason games. 60 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:29,587 Speaker 5: Uh, it's been outstanding. I think anyone that watched the 61 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:33,587 Speaker 5: performances seen as a quality player. And it's not only 62 00:03:33,587 --> 00:03:36,987 Speaker 5: what he's done on the grass, which is highly enthusiastic 63 00:03:37,067 --> 00:03:41,787 Speaker 5: and you know, really driving in his accuracy, but also 64 00:03:41,867 --> 00:03:42,667 Speaker 5: when he's doing. 65 00:03:42,427 --> 00:03:45,107 Speaker 4: Behind the scenes with some of our younger blokes, and 66 00:03:45,867 --> 00:03:48,147 Speaker 4: you know that was that was part of the rationale. 67 00:03:48,227 --> 00:03:52,747 Speaker 4: And you know he's he's gone beyond our expectations both 68 00:03:52,787 --> 00:03:54,747 Speaker 4: on and off the grass. He's been tremendous. 69 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:57,707 Speaker 2: How will you make your decision about starting first five 70 00:03:57,747 --> 00:04:01,787 Speaker 2: between he Taha, Kamara, Revez Rayhanna, of course, how do 71 00:04:01,827 --> 00:04:02,667 Speaker 2: you make that decision? 72 00:04:03,947 --> 00:04:07,107 Speaker 4: Well, Rivers has got a bit of an unfortunately three 73 00:04:07,107 --> 00:04:11,427 Speaker 4: weeks ago sustained a reasonably serious ankle injury which he's 74 00:04:11,507 --> 00:04:16,827 Speaker 4: probably three weeks away from returning on. So that unfortunately 75 00:04:16,867 --> 00:04:19,747 Speaker 4: takes them out of the equation. Tahas really matured and 76 00:04:20,347 --> 00:04:24,587 Speaker 4: grown immeasurably over the last six or eight months since 77 00:04:24,587 --> 00:04:27,587 Speaker 4: we had him in our environment last time, and so yeah, 78 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:31,147 Speaker 4: there's a delicate decision to be made. Both boys are 79 00:04:31,147 --> 00:04:35,867 Speaker 4: performing well. So yeah, we're really fortunately post from last 80 00:04:35,907 --> 00:04:37,827 Speaker 4: year where we were really struggling in that area. We've 81 00:04:37,987 --> 00:04:40,027 Speaker 4: we've finally got a weave of depth, which is great. 82 00:04:40,347 --> 00:04:42,827 Speaker 2: We wait to see who gets ten for the Valentine's 83 00:04:42,867 --> 00:04:47,147 Speaker 2: State clash. Inside there at halfback you've added Wellington's Kyle 84 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:49,667 Speaker 2: Preston to your mix now a hope of Mitchell Drummond there. 85 00:04:49,987 --> 00:04:52,347 Speaker 2: How competitive do you expect competition for the nine and 86 00:04:52,387 --> 00:04:53,427 Speaker 2: twenty one jerseys to be? 87 00:04:54,707 --> 00:04:59,107 Speaker 4: Yeah? Very They're all very competitive men in their own rights. 88 00:04:59,227 --> 00:05:03,427 Speaker 4: Noah's had some exposure there around the all Black environment. 89 00:05:04,787 --> 00:05:08,187 Speaker 4: He's got a massive future. And the other two boys 90 00:05:08,187 --> 00:05:12,947 Speaker 4: are you know, as you know, Kyle's led the Wellington 91 00:05:13,027 --> 00:05:16,587 Speaker 4: team to NPC victory last season and Drummy's Drummy. He's 92 00:05:16,787 --> 00:05:21,627 Speaker 4: one of the most competitive and you know, committed crusaders 93 00:05:21,947 --> 00:05:25,187 Speaker 4: he's ever been. And so, like you know, we'll be 94 00:05:25,227 --> 00:05:27,907 Speaker 4: a very competitive selectorial discussion around that area. 95 00:05:28,227 --> 00:05:30,307 Speaker 2: You only got five games out of Ethan Blackhead of 96 00:05:30,387 --> 00:05:32,747 Speaker 2: last season. How's he come through pre season? 97 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:35,787 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, maybe there's a wee bit of a message 98 00:05:35,787 --> 00:05:38,427 Speaker 4: in this. Ethan's come in week two of our pre 99 00:05:38,547 --> 00:05:40,507 Speaker 4: season in November. He has come all the way through, 100 00:05:40,627 --> 00:05:43,867 Speaker 4: never had a problem at all, and he's had two 101 00:05:43,907 --> 00:05:46,467 Speaker 4: hit outs. He had thirty odd minutes against the Blues, 102 00:05:46,507 --> 00:05:51,107 Speaker 4: he had forty minutes last week against the Highlanders, and 103 00:05:51,147 --> 00:05:55,627 Speaker 4: his efficiencies as great as ever. And you know, he's 104 00:05:55,747 --> 00:06:01,107 Speaker 4: such an energizer around the group and his commitment to 105 00:06:01,187 --> 00:06:05,267 Speaker 4: the cause is unbelievable. And you know, having him in 106 00:06:05,307 --> 00:06:07,507 Speaker 4: the group and around the groups vice captain the shares 107 00:06:08,347 --> 00:06:12,547 Speaker 4: is tremendous and you know, the proofs of the putting 108 00:06:12,587 --> 00:06:16,467 Speaker 4: around the fact that he had a protracted conditioning block 109 00:06:16,587 --> 00:06:18,827 Speaker 4: during the pre season and we hope that will really 110 00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:22,587 Speaker 4: set him up for a great Crusades program and beyond. 111 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:25,187 Speaker 2: David HARVILLI will be your captain this year. How did 112 00:06:25,227 --> 00:06:26,347 Speaker 2: you arrive at that decision? 113 00:06:28,467 --> 00:06:33,187 Speaker 4: After lots of negotiation and discussion with many many people, 114 00:06:33,307 --> 00:06:38,147 Speaker 4: many different components of the organization. It was clear early 115 00:06:38,187 --> 00:06:40,907 Speaker 4: on that Davy was a front runner. It was just 116 00:06:41,027 --> 00:06:46,307 Speaker 4: really I guess, ensuring that anyone that wanted to have 117 00:06:46,307 --> 00:06:48,587 Speaker 4: a view on it was able to express that. And 118 00:06:48,627 --> 00:06:51,787 Speaker 4: it was very clear early on that Davy was, as 119 00:06:51,827 --> 00:06:55,147 Speaker 4: I say, the front runner to take over from Scoot. 120 00:06:55,307 --> 00:06:59,907 Speaker 4: And you know he's really embraced the role. He played 121 00:06:59,907 --> 00:07:03,787 Speaker 4: tremendous on his forty minute spell against the Honders last 122 00:07:03,827 --> 00:07:07,827 Speaker 4: week and leading from the front he does, and he 123 00:07:07,947 --> 00:07:09,987 Speaker 4: set up the leadership group which is going to be 124 00:07:11,907 --> 00:07:14,427 Speaker 4: or allow him to play hopefully at his best and 125 00:07:14,547 --> 00:07:19,907 Speaker 4: also grow people around him, and it's an exciting transition 126 00:07:19,987 --> 00:07:22,627 Speaker 4: to a slightly different leadership staff. 127 00:07:22,747 --> 00:07:24,907 Speaker 2: And you lost one of your coaching team, Tammoty Ellison 128 00:07:24,987 --> 00:07:27,027 Speaker 2: to the All Blacks and a full time capacity Brad 129 00:07:27,067 --> 00:07:30,427 Speaker 2: Moore though has rejoined the staff. How's he fitted back in? 130 00:07:31,787 --> 00:07:37,507 Speaker 4: Yeah, Well, Tom's was a big, a big piece of 131 00:07:37,547 --> 00:07:41,507 Speaker 4: the puzzle, you know, taking away from the organization at 132 00:07:41,507 --> 00:07:43,547 Speaker 4: the end of last season, as you say, and we're 133 00:07:43,827 --> 00:07:46,747 Speaker 4: really proud of the fact that he's gone back or 134 00:07:46,787 --> 00:07:49,627 Speaker 4: gone into the All Black environment and established himself there. 135 00:07:51,347 --> 00:07:55,187 Speaker 4: But Brads quality coach, quality man. He's been in the organization, 136 00:07:55,227 --> 00:08:01,907 Speaker 4: he had success before, very smart rugby coach and in 137 00:08:01,987 --> 00:08:09,187 Speaker 4: combination with James Marshall, putting together you know, the offensive 138 00:08:09,187 --> 00:08:12,147 Speaker 4: side of the ball really really efficiency and excited about 139 00:08:12,187 --> 00:08:16,867 Speaker 4: the you know, the direction that we're taking and hopefully 140 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:19,067 Speaker 4: you know, on the back of the work that they're 141 00:08:19,067 --> 00:08:22,827 Speaker 4: doing and the players import we can really you know, 142 00:08:22,907 --> 00:08:24,867 Speaker 4: establish something pretty special in that area. 143 00:08:25,107 --> 00:08:27,347 Speaker 2: Just to finish rob As you look forward to twenty 144 00:08:27,387 --> 00:08:30,827 Speaker 2: twenty five, what were the biggest lessons you learned in 145 00:08:30,867 --> 00:08:31,707 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four. 146 00:08:34,347 --> 00:08:41,787 Speaker 6: Uh, every environment when you come into it, you know, 147 00:08:41,867 --> 00:08:48,187 Speaker 6: there's processes and systems and structures that are established, and 148 00:08:48,267 --> 00:08:50,707 Speaker 6: because of the sex the success. 149 00:08:50,067 --> 00:08:53,467 Speaker 4: Of the organization in recent history. Raiser done an amazing 150 00:08:53,547 --> 00:08:56,307 Speaker 4: job with the staff and the organization that had you know, 151 00:08:56,467 --> 00:09:03,027 Speaker 4: seven in a row without you know, assumption to mate. 152 00:09:03,027 --> 00:09:07,987 Speaker 4: I guess that everything will roll on. With the removal 153 00:09:08,027 --> 00:09:12,627 Speaker 4: of some some iconic players out of the environment, changes 154 00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:15,387 Speaker 4: in the structure of TIMS went from defense coach to 155 00:09:15,427 --> 00:09:18,547 Speaker 4: attack coach. Toddy came in as a new defense coach. 156 00:09:20,507 --> 00:09:24,307 Speaker 4: You know, there was some there was some I guess, 157 00:09:24,347 --> 00:09:29,027 Speaker 4: some internal bits and pieces that just needed adjusting. The 158 00:09:29,067 --> 00:09:36,227 Speaker 4: off season has been been a powerful part of not 159 00:09:36,307 --> 00:09:40,587 Speaker 4: a not a massive revolution, but an evolution. I would 160 00:09:40,667 --> 00:09:43,747 Speaker 4: describe it as within the organization around the high performance area. 161 00:09:44,587 --> 00:09:46,147 Speaker 6: And you know. 162 00:09:46,987 --> 00:09:52,547 Speaker 4: I guess the outcomes on game day where everyone will 163 00:09:52,707 --> 00:09:55,707 Speaker 4: dictate whether it's been a success or not. But it 164 00:09:55,827 --> 00:10:00,547 Speaker 4: already feels like we've made progress in a number of areas. 165 00:10:01,027 --> 00:10:04,867 Speaker 4: And the work ethic of the people in the organization 166 00:10:04,947 --> 00:10:08,147 Speaker 4: is unquestionable. And so we put those combination of those 167 00:10:08,147 --> 00:10:12,107 Speaker 4: two things together and I'm really boyed and boyant about 168 00:10:12,107 --> 00:10:16,067 Speaker 4: what the future holds for the organization. And I'm sure 169 00:10:16,107 --> 00:10:20,187 Speaker 4: that the players will embrace what they need to to 170 00:10:20,227 --> 00:10:23,107 Speaker 4: be the best they can be every week for the Crusader. 171 00:10:22,747 --> 00:10:24,987 Speaker 2: Fans can't wait to see you kick things off against 172 00:10:24,987 --> 00:10:27,627 Speaker 2: the Hurricanes to start the season. Rob, thanks so much 173 00:10:27,667 --> 00:10:29,867 Speaker 2: for chatting to us mate Pleasa. 174 00:10:30,027 --> 00:10:32,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, looking forward to the Super Aquis. It's going to 175 00:10:32,667 --> 00:10:33,347 Speaker 4: be an exciting year. 176 00:10:33,387 --> 00:10:35,427 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's sap so Rob. Thanks and date Rob Penny, 177 00:10:35,667 --> 00:10:36,667 Speaker 2: Crusader's head coach. 178 00:10:38,027 --> 00:10:41,187 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 179 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,587 Speaker 1: to news talks ed b weekends from midday, or follow 180 00:10:44,627 --> 00:10:46,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio