1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from News Talk zedb. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:17,627 Speaker 2: NRL All Stars Weekend returns to Hamilton next Sunday FMG Stadium, 4 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:21,707 Speaker 2: Waikatal to twenty five touch then at three point thirty 5 00:00:21,947 --> 00:00:25,307 Speaker 2: the New Zealand Malori wa Heni Tour All Stars against 6 00:00:25,307 --> 00:00:29,347 Speaker 2: the Australian Indigenous Women's All Stars and at five forty 7 00:00:29,347 --> 00:00:32,987 Speaker 2: five it's the men's game. Paramatta E All Star. Kennedy 8 00:00:33,227 --> 00:00:36,187 Speaker 2: Cherrington is going to be part of the Mali wa 9 00:00:36,267 --> 00:00:39,707 Speaker 2: Heni Tour All Stars and joins us now. Kennedy, thanks 10 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:41,467 Speaker 2: for taking the time. How much you're looking forward to 11 00:00:41,507 --> 00:00:43,707 Speaker 2: being part of this special day again? 12 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:47,107 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. Oh, I am so pumped. 13 00:00:47,227 --> 00:00:49,587 Speaker 4: This will be my first time ever playing back home 14 00:00:49,627 --> 00:00:52,587 Speaker 4: and al Unfortunately in the past I've missed all the 15 00:00:53,147 --> 00:00:55,587 Speaker 4: games that have been here, so yeah, I'm keen to 16 00:00:55,867 --> 00:00:58,267 Speaker 4: come back and play on my finnwa outstanding. 17 00:00:58,307 --> 00:01:01,027 Speaker 2: I think you played in this fixture previously though, didn't you? 18 00:01:01,067 --> 00:01:03,067 Speaker 2: The I think twenty twenty one you played. Was that 19 00:01:03,267 --> 00:01:04,067 Speaker 2: your first one? 20 00:01:04,707 --> 00:01:06,107 Speaker 4: Yes, that was my first one. This will be my 21 00:01:06,627 --> 00:01:08,627 Speaker 4: All Stars campaign. I'm getting old. 22 00:01:08,427 --> 00:01:11,947 Speaker 3: Now, but yeah, I'm just really looking forward. 23 00:01:11,987 --> 00:01:14,467 Speaker 4: I was so, I was so stoked that the fixture 24 00:01:14,507 --> 00:01:17,067 Speaker 4: got announced in white Cuts, all such a hearty area, 25 00:01:17,787 --> 00:01:19,427 Speaker 4: keen to see what they put on for us. 26 00:01:19,707 --> 00:01:23,067 Speaker 2: You've played both rugby union and rugby league, obviously, you 27 00:01:23,067 --> 00:01:26,787 Speaker 2: know across a long, a long career. How do you 28 00:01:26,827 --> 00:01:29,507 Speaker 2: find the switch between the two and in this league 29 00:01:29,667 --> 00:01:32,107 Speaker 2: your absolute preference or do you still have that hankering 30 00:01:32,107 --> 00:01:33,867 Speaker 2: for the for the fifteen a side game? 31 00:01:34,467 --> 00:01:34,707 Speaker 3: Yeah? 32 00:01:34,747 --> 00:01:36,827 Speaker 4: So I started playing rugby league when I was ten 33 00:01:37,307 --> 00:01:40,347 Speaker 4: and then obviously growing up in Australia, the Ossie sevens 34 00:01:40,387 --> 00:01:43,267 Speaker 4: won the gold medal at Rio Olympics, and you know, 35 00:01:43,307 --> 00:01:45,827 Speaker 4: for high schoolers like me that were aspiring to be 36 00:01:45,987 --> 00:01:49,147 Speaker 4: female athletes, it kicked off big time in Australia. So 37 00:01:49,227 --> 00:01:52,027 Speaker 4: that's when I made the switch to sevens and fifteen's 38 00:01:52,067 --> 00:01:55,267 Speaker 4: and it was actually, you know, comparing the two looking 39 00:01:55,307 --> 00:01:57,547 Speaker 4: at them now, it was probably the tackle tech was 40 00:01:57,587 --> 00:02:00,747 Speaker 4: the most difficult thing to get my head around with 41 00:02:00,827 --> 00:02:04,147 Speaker 4: rugby league versus union. I do think it's easier coming 42 00:02:04,147 --> 00:02:06,987 Speaker 4: from union to league than league to union, just rules wise. 43 00:02:07,027 --> 00:02:10,387 Speaker 4: Obviously union's a lot more in depth than a territorial game. 44 00:02:10,427 --> 00:02:12,587 Speaker 4: It's hard to get your head around where rugby league's 45 00:02:12,547 --> 00:02:13,307 Speaker 4: is just quite simple. 46 00:02:13,347 --> 00:02:15,787 Speaker 3: But uh, you know, not downplaying the game, but yet 47 00:02:15,787 --> 00:02:18,667 Speaker 3: it's I think it's a lot more phys the coal 48 00:02:18,747 --> 00:02:21,187 Speaker 3: in that sense. So yeah, I've learned to play both, 49 00:02:21,227 --> 00:02:23,867 Speaker 3: but I do miss rugby union a bit of ball 50 00:02:23,907 --> 00:02:25,067 Speaker 3: in hand for the backs as well. 51 00:02:25,347 --> 00:02:28,627 Speaker 2: I love that state of Origin you've played the obviously 52 00:02:28,707 --> 00:02:31,387 Speaker 2: you've been in the NRLW for a while. It's a 53 00:02:31,427 --> 00:02:35,067 Speaker 2: cool time, isn't it for for for certainly females in 54 00:02:35,107 --> 00:02:37,027 Speaker 2: the sport of rugby league. Do you feel like it's 55 00:02:37,027 --> 00:02:38,187 Speaker 2: only going to grow from here? 56 00:02:38,947 --> 00:02:39,067 Speaker 1: Oh? 57 00:02:40,067 --> 00:02:42,827 Speaker 4: Like I'm I'm actually a part of the ROLPA board 58 00:02:43,747 --> 00:02:46,867 Speaker 4: that that speaks on behalf of the players to the NRL. 59 00:02:46,987 --> 00:02:49,187 Speaker 4: So just to see the growth, you know, this is 60 00:02:49,227 --> 00:02:51,587 Speaker 4: my sixty year of the NROLWNS. To see where it's 61 00:02:51,627 --> 00:02:54,387 Speaker 4: gone in justin six years as a professional, semi professional 62 00:02:54,427 --> 00:02:57,067 Speaker 4: sport has been outstanding, and you know the next five 63 00:02:57,147 --> 00:03:00,267 Speaker 4: years is going to be even better. You know, standalone 64 00:03:00,267 --> 00:03:02,107 Speaker 4: games for State of Origin, we're looking at twenty to 65 00:03:02,187 --> 00:03:06,627 Speaker 4: thirty participants for a standalone game, and the NLW just. 66 00:03:06,547 --> 00:03:08,147 Speaker 3: Going to different heights every season. 67 00:03:08,507 --> 00:03:11,507 Speaker 4: Obviously, expansions has helped and all the NERL clubs are 68 00:03:11,507 --> 00:03:14,827 Speaker 4: backing to have an NROLW team, so you know, to 69 00:03:14,867 --> 00:03:16,827 Speaker 4: see I want him to have a team, you know. 70 00:03:16,867 --> 00:03:18,587 Speaker 4: But the Warriors coming back into the fold, I think 71 00:03:18,587 --> 00:03:21,947 Speaker 4: that's helped the growth massively. And to be at the 72 00:03:21,947 --> 00:03:26,507 Speaker 4: forefront of leading the woman's game, it's just it's just massive, 73 00:03:26,507 --> 00:03:28,987 Speaker 4: and you know there's so much responsibility we hold on 74 00:03:28,987 --> 00:03:31,427 Speaker 4: our shoulders as what he needs to make this pathway 75 00:03:31,427 --> 00:03:33,667 Speaker 4: a realistic pathway for our young woman coming through. 76 00:03:33,747 --> 00:03:35,547 Speaker 2: Absolutely, yes, do any any chance we'll get you over 77 00:03:35,547 --> 00:03:37,107 Speaker 2: here to play for the Warriors or is that not 78 00:03:37,147 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 2: going to happen? 79 00:03:38,747 --> 00:03:39,427 Speaker 3: Yeah? 80 00:03:39,627 --> 00:03:42,707 Speaker 4: You know a lot of people have thoughts, have said 81 00:03:42,707 --> 00:03:43,947 Speaker 4: otherwise to come over. 82 00:03:44,027 --> 00:03:46,787 Speaker 3: And you know when I was younger, I was I 83 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:47,547 Speaker 3: am a I. 84 00:03:47,507 --> 00:03:49,787 Speaker 4: Am a proud Warrior support of course you have to 85 00:03:49,787 --> 00:03:52,947 Speaker 4: be being mildy. But yeah, at the moment, my heart 86 00:03:52,987 --> 00:03:55,307 Speaker 4: still lies with Paramatta. I've seen that I've grown that 87 00:03:55,347 --> 00:03:56,427 Speaker 4: club from the ground up. 88 00:03:56,507 --> 00:03:59,507 Speaker 3: So you know, maybe who knows what happens one day, 89 00:04:00,067 --> 00:04:01,907 Speaker 3: we'll just have to wait till till then. 90 00:04:02,227 --> 00:04:04,227 Speaker 2: Well, the door will always be open over the side 91 00:04:04,227 --> 00:04:06,827 Speaker 2: of the test. But I can tell you that for nothing. 92 00:04:06,907 --> 00:04:08,907 Speaker 2: Where do you see the big growth areas. You talked 93 00:04:08,907 --> 00:04:10,987 Speaker 2: about being an advocate for the game with the NRL. 94 00:04:11,387 --> 00:04:13,827 Speaker 2: You know, how how big can it get and where 95 00:04:13,867 --> 00:04:16,107 Speaker 2: are the areas that you would really like to see 96 00:04:16,147 --> 00:04:17,987 Speaker 2: improvement over the next five ten years or so. 97 00:04:18,707 --> 00:04:21,507 Speaker 3: Well, you know you've got the fixture with Vegas. 98 00:04:21,587 --> 00:04:25,347 Speaker 4: I do think that's like an unforeseen growth area. You know, 99 00:04:25,427 --> 00:04:28,467 Speaker 4: with rugby league, it's such a limited audience because we're 100 00:04:28,587 --> 00:04:31,347 Speaker 4: you know, all the men's sports are competing for players 101 00:04:31,347 --> 00:04:34,227 Speaker 4: and juniors and everything. Where women's sport, every every woman 102 00:04:34,267 --> 00:04:36,787 Speaker 4: can play anything like it's such a realistic thing to 103 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:40,187 Speaker 4: do with any sports. So I just think that, you know, 104 00:04:40,427 --> 00:04:42,587 Speaker 4: with the American audience, maybe we could tap into that. 105 00:04:42,747 --> 00:04:46,867 Speaker 4: Even parts of Western Australia and northern territories untap talent there. 106 00:04:46,947 --> 00:04:50,267 Speaker 4: Obviously here in Old Tilda, I don't think we've really 107 00:04:50,427 --> 00:04:53,547 Speaker 4: capitalized on, you know, those country kids that are bloody 108 00:04:53,547 --> 00:04:55,427 Speaker 4: living off the land out on you know, in the 109 00:04:55,427 --> 00:04:57,587 Speaker 4: middle of nowhere that we can you know, pick up 110 00:04:57,587 --> 00:05:00,187 Speaker 4: and make great rugby league players. I know it's obviously 111 00:05:00,227 --> 00:05:02,987 Speaker 4: competitive for rugby union over here, but if you know 112 00:05:03,027 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 4: we're leading number one in rugby union, why why can't 113 00:05:06,427 --> 00:05:08,867 Speaker 4: they lead you know number two in rugby league over. 114 00:05:08,787 --> 00:05:11,067 Speaker 2: Here, Absolutely right, And there are a lot of options 115 00:05:11,067 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 2: now for young women on both sides of the Tasman 116 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:15,547 Speaker 2: to have a professional pathway. I'm sure you know this 117 00:05:15,627 --> 00:05:19,347 Speaker 2: has an escape your attention football obviously, cricket, Australian rules 118 00:05:19,347 --> 00:05:21,627 Speaker 2: football on the Australian side of the Tasman Rugby union 119 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:25,107 Speaker 2: rugby league. I guess it's it's fantastic, isn't it. But 120 00:05:25,147 --> 00:05:27,747 Speaker 2: it's still quite competitive to tune the heads of the 121 00:05:27,747 --> 00:05:30,027 Speaker 2: most talented young female athletes. 122 00:05:30,867 --> 00:05:32,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's it's definitely getting there. 123 00:05:33,027 --> 00:05:34,427 Speaker 4: You know, we just have to keep putting up a 124 00:05:34,427 --> 00:05:38,347 Speaker 4: big you know, those big games and putting the best products. 125 00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:41,507 Speaker 3: On show and just marketing for our women. You know, 126 00:05:41,547 --> 00:05:42,147 Speaker 3: we want more. 127 00:05:42,067 --> 00:05:44,507 Speaker 4: Standalone games, but we also want to use the men's 128 00:05:44,587 --> 00:05:47,867 Speaker 4: as like a double header and just using those opportunities 129 00:05:47,867 --> 00:05:50,707 Speaker 4: to grow. Like I do see an opportunity to combine 130 00:05:50,747 --> 00:05:53,387 Speaker 4: maybe game three of them women's state of version and 131 00:05:53,387 --> 00:05:55,547 Speaker 4: game one of the men's that are urgin just to 132 00:05:55,627 --> 00:05:57,347 Speaker 4: have those, you know, a day out of the foot 133 00:05:57,467 --> 00:05:59,827 Speaker 4: and double header for state of version, Like what what 134 00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:02,907 Speaker 4: an opportunity that could be? And even more double headed 135 00:06:02,947 --> 00:06:05,547 Speaker 4: Test match with the Kiwiferns, and I just think there's 136 00:06:05,547 --> 00:06:08,227 Speaker 4: so much opportunity that we haven't tried, just set that 137 00:06:08,267 --> 00:06:10,707 Speaker 4: we could really capitalize on, Like these are our growth 138 00:06:10,747 --> 00:06:14,267 Speaker 4: years and these are the times that we could really 139 00:06:14,347 --> 00:06:16,547 Speaker 4: really try some things because it's like in its guinea 140 00:06:16,547 --> 00:06:17,187 Speaker 4: pig areas. 141 00:06:17,427 --> 00:06:21,427 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, amazing. Your uncle, the late Norm Berryman, absolute 142 00:06:21,427 --> 00:06:25,027 Speaker 2: cult hero and rugby over here. Yeah did he did 143 00:06:25,067 --> 00:06:26,867 Speaker 2: he have an influence over you? 144 00:06:27,827 --> 00:06:29,587 Speaker 3: Yeah? So we grew up together in Perth. 145 00:06:29,867 --> 00:06:31,947 Speaker 4: I went to school with his kids, and you know 146 00:06:32,027 --> 00:06:35,067 Speaker 4: he's far now from up North, so he Yeah, he 147 00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:37,667 Speaker 4: was always like one of the loudest supporters for me 148 00:06:37,747 --> 00:06:40,707 Speaker 4: on the sideline and he just had big aspirations that 149 00:06:40,987 --> 00:06:42,907 Speaker 4: you know, I could I could do anything, and he 150 00:06:43,147 --> 00:06:44,747 Speaker 4: instilled that confidence in me. 151 00:06:44,907 --> 00:06:47,627 Speaker 3: So back then it was a rugby dream. 152 00:06:47,707 --> 00:06:50,307 Speaker 4: But you know it's it's still the same shape ball, 153 00:06:50,467 --> 00:06:53,347 Speaker 4: just a different it's a different league rule set. But 154 00:06:53,867 --> 00:06:55,947 Speaker 4: now he played a massive part and I miss him 155 00:06:56,067 --> 00:06:58,387 Speaker 4: very very much, and you know he left such a 156 00:06:59,387 --> 00:07:03,027 Speaker 4: such an empty piece when he left. But obviously, yeah, 157 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:05,507 Speaker 4: I just want to keep making him proud and keep 158 00:07:05,507 --> 00:07:05,987 Speaker 4: doing my thing. 159 00:07:06,347 --> 00:07:09,187 Speaker 2: I bet you, I bet you are absolute hero and 160 00:07:09,387 --> 00:07:12,227 Speaker 2: as I say, an icon, a cult figure over here 161 00:07:12,227 --> 00:07:14,867 Speaker 2: at Norm Berriman. Kennedy can't wait to see you at 162 00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:18,747 Speaker 2: all NRL All Stars Weekend on Sunday, February fifteen. Thanks 163 00:07:18,747 --> 00:07:20,187 Speaker 2: for taking the time for a chat. 164 00:07:20,747 --> 00:07:22,747 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you. Make sure everyone gets down there, 165 00:07:22,787 --> 00:07:22,987 Speaker 3: you know. 166 00:07:23,107 --> 00:07:24,747 Speaker 4: And there's three games on from the Touch to the 167 00:07:24,787 --> 00:07:26,347 Speaker 4: Woman's the men, so it's a day out for the 168 00:07:26,347 --> 00:07:26,987 Speaker 4: fun there. 169 00:07:26,827 --> 00:07:30,747 Speaker 2: Awesome stuff. Thanks Kennedy. That is Kennedy Cherrington, part of 170 00:07:30,187 --> 00:07:33,867 Speaker 2: the New Zealand Mauli way Heneta All Stars. They're going 171 00:07:33,907 --> 00:07:37,187 Speaker 2: to take on the Australian Indigenous Women's All Stars. That's 172 00:07:37,187 --> 00:07:40,027 Speaker 2: at three point thirty. There's the Touch game first two 173 00:07:40,107 --> 00:07:42,227 Speaker 2: twenty five, the Women's game at three thirty, the Men's 174 00:07:42,227 --> 00:07:45,187 Speaker 2: game at five point forty five. That's all next Sunday, 175 00:07:45,187 --> 00:07:49,627 Speaker 2: February fifteen at FMG Stadium, White Kittle in Hamilton. 176 00:07:50,347 --> 00:07:53,547 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 177 00:07:53,667 --> 00:07:56,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 178 00:07:56,987 --> 00:07:58,587 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio