1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks d B. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:17,507 Speaker 2: After an incredible career spanning over fifteen years, Blacksticks men's 4 00:00:17,507 --> 00:00:21,627 Speaker 2: defender and former captain Blair Tarrant has announced his retirement 5 00:00:21,667 --> 00:00:25,587 Speaker 2: from international hockey. He's been to three Olympic Games, three 6 00:00:25,627 --> 00:00:29,587 Speaker 2: Commonwealth Games and three World Cups, racking up two hundred 7 00:00:29,987 --> 00:00:33,747 Speaker 2: and seventy two matches for the national side. Blair Tarrant 8 00:00:33,787 --> 00:00:37,507 Speaker 2: has with US congratulations made on a stellar career. How 9 00:00:37,547 --> 00:00:40,347 Speaker 2: did you know that it was time? Yeah? 10 00:00:40,467 --> 00:00:44,387 Speaker 3: Thanks, I kind of felt like it was time probably 11 00:00:44,387 --> 00:00:47,307 Speaker 3: about six months ago and then yeah, feel good about 12 00:00:47,307 --> 00:00:47,547 Speaker 3: it now. 13 00:00:47,587 --> 00:00:50,387 Speaker 2: To be honest, did any part of you want to 14 00:00:50,427 --> 00:00:50,787 Speaker 2: carry on? 15 00:00:51,987 --> 00:00:54,547 Speaker 3: Oh, there's a World Cup next year, so there was 16 00:00:54,587 --> 00:00:57,347 Speaker 3: a small part of me that was considering whether to 17 00:00:57,427 --> 00:01:00,267 Speaker 3: push through to that, but the time had passed definitely. 18 00:01:00,907 --> 00:01:03,187 Speaker 2: Well, how do you know, though, because I'm sure if 19 00:01:03,187 --> 00:01:05,107 Speaker 2: you carried on you could go to that World Cup 20 00:01:05,147 --> 00:01:08,227 Speaker 2: and who knows beyond that? Did what was your decision 21 00:01:08,227 --> 00:01:10,947 Speaker 2: making process? And once you did make the decision, as 22 00:01:10,987 --> 00:01:13,667 Speaker 2: you say, were you're pretty comfortable with it? 23 00:01:13,787 --> 00:01:15,987 Speaker 3: Actually, good question. I think there's a couple of things 24 00:01:16,027 --> 00:01:18,027 Speaker 3: The first thing is there's a bunch of young guys 25 00:01:18,067 --> 00:01:20,587 Speaker 3: who are really good, and I reckon they need a 26 00:01:20,587 --> 00:01:22,587 Speaker 3: good runway to the next Olympics. And then on the 27 00:01:22,627 --> 00:01:25,587 Speaker 3: flip side, the body is getting pretty sore. So that's 28 00:01:25,627 --> 00:01:27,307 Speaker 3: kind of answered my question of it there as are. 29 00:01:27,787 --> 00:01:30,027 Speaker 2: You da boot for the national team at the age 30 00:01:30,067 --> 00:01:34,067 Speaker 2: of what nineteen twenty? Did you feel ready for international 31 00:01:34,107 --> 00:01:35,627 Speaker 2: hockey when you Dbut. 32 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:41,147 Speaker 3: No, probably not. I think in New Zealand sometimes we 33 00:01:41,187 --> 00:01:43,747 Speaker 3: get chucked in reasonably young because of the depths in 34 00:01:43,747 --> 00:01:46,187 Speaker 3: this country, and it takes a while to get to 35 00:01:46,227 --> 00:01:49,107 Speaker 3: that level. So I think the truth is no, it 36 00:01:49,187 --> 00:01:49,867 Speaker 3: is not at the start. 37 00:01:51,227 --> 00:01:53,467 Speaker 2: And how long did it take? When did you start 38 00:01:53,507 --> 00:01:55,787 Speaker 2: to feel comfortable at international level? 39 00:01:57,387 --> 00:02:00,307 Speaker 3: It kind of comes in swings, like there was a 40 00:02:00,347 --> 00:02:02,067 Speaker 3: period where you know you might get a bit of form, 41 00:02:02,107 --> 00:02:04,827 Speaker 3: and then I think after maybe a year or so 42 00:02:04,907 --> 00:02:07,347 Speaker 3: in the environment, I started feeling it in every part 43 00:02:07,387 --> 00:02:10,467 Speaker 3: of the game. But it takes You need to keep 44 00:02:10,507 --> 00:02:12,347 Speaker 3: developing your whole career, and I tried to do that 45 00:02:12,347 --> 00:02:13,027 Speaker 3: my whole way through. 46 00:02:13,507 --> 00:02:16,787 Speaker 2: How did your game evolve and develop during your time 47 00:02:16,827 --> 00:02:17,827 Speaker 2: in the national side. 48 00:02:19,667 --> 00:02:22,107 Speaker 3: I think my on boll hockey got better and as 49 00:02:22,107 --> 00:02:24,507 Speaker 3: I got older, my defending got worse, so it was 50 00:02:24,947 --> 00:02:27,347 Speaker 3: a bit of a mixmag I reckon. 51 00:02:29,347 --> 00:02:32,067 Speaker 2: And what about the game of hockey itself? Did did 52 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:36,187 Speaker 2: did the game of hockey change and evolve significantly in 53 00:02:36,307 --> 00:02:38,667 Speaker 2: terms of the way it was played during your time 54 00:02:38,747 --> 00:02:39,267 Speaker 2: at the top? 55 00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:43,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, it has a lot actually, like for all changes, 56 00:02:43,627 --> 00:02:47,667 Speaker 3: et cetera. The biggest change for me these days is 57 00:02:47,667 --> 00:02:50,467 Speaker 3: probably the ability players had with the high ball, so 58 00:02:50,907 --> 00:02:52,667 Speaker 3: the ability to receive it and the ability to have 59 00:02:52,787 --> 00:02:55,627 Speaker 3: it on a dime to beat defenses. I reckon, That's 60 00:02:55,667 --> 00:02:58,947 Speaker 3: probably the biggest change I've seen. Also, the cool thing 61 00:02:58,947 --> 00:03:03,067 Speaker 3: about hockey is every kind of area in the world 62 00:03:03,067 --> 00:03:05,667 Speaker 3: plays quite differently, so we do playing against an Asian 63 00:03:05,747 --> 00:03:08,987 Speaker 3: team or europe team, like, it's quite unique in the 64 00:03:08,987 --> 00:03:11,187 Speaker 3: way each team plays. And I reckon, that's yeah, that's 65 00:03:11,267 --> 00:03:12,027 Speaker 3: quite cool fockey. 66 00:03:12,427 --> 00:03:14,547 Speaker 2: What were the hallmarks of the way the Black Sticks played? 67 00:03:14,587 --> 00:03:17,187 Speaker 2: What was in the Black Sticks Hockey DNA during your 68 00:03:17,187 --> 00:03:18,667 Speaker 2: time in the team. 69 00:03:19,427 --> 00:03:21,627 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think when we're at our best, we are 70 00:03:21,747 --> 00:03:24,147 Speaker 3: really dangerous on the counter attack, and we play a 71 00:03:24,187 --> 00:03:27,627 Speaker 3: skillful game, and we have to keep leaning into that 72 00:03:27,747 --> 00:03:29,787 Speaker 3: because you know, it is hard at the top. But 73 00:03:30,067 --> 00:03:33,187 Speaker 3: that for me, we are dangerous on the counter and 74 00:03:33,187 --> 00:03:35,387 Speaker 3: we have individual ability when we're at our best. 75 00:03:36,227 --> 00:03:39,147 Speaker 2: Does anything in particular stand out as a career highlight? 76 00:03:41,267 --> 00:03:47,787 Speaker 3: Oh, not no tournament in particular, but probably just the 77 00:03:48,267 --> 00:03:50,187 Speaker 3: environment at times when it was at its best, Like 78 00:03:50,227 --> 00:03:52,267 Speaker 3: it's so fun to be in and then you go 79 00:03:52,347 --> 00:03:55,107 Speaker 3: through the hard times which make it even better when 80 00:03:55,147 --> 00:03:56,827 Speaker 3: you push through when the team's going well again. So 81 00:03:56,907 --> 00:03:59,627 Speaker 3: probably the reflecting on that in terms of, you know, 82 00:03:59,707 --> 00:04:01,987 Speaker 3: getting the team through tough times to then launch into 83 00:04:02,027 --> 00:04:03,547 Speaker 3: the future probably my highlight. 84 00:04:04,067 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 2: And you captain the side for a five year peer 85 00:04:06,347 --> 00:04:08,187 Speaker 2: I read which took in the COVID years as well, 86 00:04:08,187 --> 00:04:10,427 Speaker 2: which must have been a challenge in itself. What was 87 00:04:10,467 --> 00:04:12,507 Speaker 2: your leadership style in the Black Sticks? 88 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:18,067 Speaker 3: I think reasonably direct when it comes to hockey, but 89 00:04:18,147 --> 00:04:20,987 Speaker 3: also just trying to trying to build a connection with 90 00:04:21,027 --> 00:04:23,387 Speaker 3: every player and the team. Don't always get it right, 91 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:26,987 Speaker 3: but yeah, connections first and then yeah, pretty direct when 92 00:04:27,027 --> 00:04:28,227 Speaker 3: it comes to Hopey itself. 93 00:04:28,827 --> 00:04:31,747 Speaker 2: You may mention of it before with some youngsters coming through, 94 00:04:31,947 --> 00:04:35,627 Speaker 2: how do you evaluate where the high performance men's programmers 95 00:04:36,187 --> 00:04:36,707 Speaker 2: right now? 96 00:04:39,827 --> 00:04:42,587 Speaker 3: The Black Sticks themselves, the men I think have a 97 00:04:43,387 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 3: lot of talent in there, and I think they could 98 00:04:44,947 --> 00:04:47,147 Speaker 3: do something, specially in the next two years. But I'm 99 00:04:47,147 --> 00:04:50,427 Speaker 3: an optimist and I like to think that. But yeah, 100 00:04:50,587 --> 00:04:52,627 Speaker 3: I think it's in a good space in the men's 101 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:53,867 Speaker 3: side and the women as well. 102 00:04:54,027 --> 00:04:56,227 Speaker 2: What are the challenges facing the game here? 103 00:04:57,507 --> 00:05:00,027 Speaker 3: Oh? Look, the challenges are we're on the other side 104 00:05:00,067 --> 00:05:04,267 Speaker 3: of the world and it's expensive, so for young guys 105 00:05:04,267 --> 00:05:09,947 Speaker 3: to get exposed to top tournaments, top coaching, etc. You know, 106 00:05:10,067 --> 00:05:11,827 Speaker 3: like it's hard from the start of the world, but 107 00:05:12,667 --> 00:05:13,987 Speaker 3: you know we can still make it work. 108 00:05:15,107 --> 00:05:16,507 Speaker 2: Do you think you'll miss it. 109 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:22,307 Speaker 3: I don't think i'll miss playing at the highest level 110 00:05:22,347 --> 00:05:25,067 Speaker 3: anymore because that's passed in my mind. But I'll definitely 111 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:28,147 Speaker 3: miss being around the guys and then working really hard 112 00:05:28,187 --> 00:05:29,547 Speaker 3: collectively to make something happen. 113 00:05:30,507 --> 00:05:31,867 Speaker 2: Will you stay involved in the game? 114 00:05:32,627 --> 00:05:34,747 Speaker 3: Yeah, I enjoy coaching, So I'm doing a bit of 115 00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:37,027 Speaker 3: coaching at the moment, and yeah, I really enjoyed that, 116 00:05:37,107 --> 00:05:38,067 Speaker 3: so I'll stand involved. 117 00:05:38,387 --> 00:05:40,267 Speaker 2: Do you reckon though, You'll be coaching and then you'll think, 118 00:05:40,267 --> 00:05:41,627 Speaker 2: oh gee, I could get back out there. 119 00:05:43,387 --> 00:05:47,067 Speaker 3: Yeah, my ego will think that it'll be wrong. 120 00:05:49,347 --> 00:05:50,987 Speaker 2: Love it, Blair, love it well, mate, It's been an 121 00:05:50,987 --> 00:05:54,547 Speaker 2: absolutely magnificent career. Congratulations on it. I'm glad you're staying 122 00:05:54,587 --> 00:05:56,707 Speaker 2: involved in the game, mate. Thanks for taking the time 123 00:05:56,747 --> 00:05:57,787 Speaker 2: for a chat this afternoon. 124 00:05:58,387 --> 00:06:00,427 Speaker 3: Yeah awesome. Thanks for chatting to me, mate, No, thank. 125 00:06:00,307 --> 00:06:02,467 Speaker 2: You for chatting to me. Blair Blair Tarrent there, who 126 00:06:02,507 --> 00:06:05,747 Speaker 2: has announced his international retirement from hockey fifteen years in 127 00:06:05,787 --> 00:06:09,187 Speaker 2: the national side, two hundred and seventy two matches, three Olympics, 128 00:06:09,187 --> 00:06:12,147 Speaker 2: three Commonwealth Games, three World Cups, as well. 129 00:06:12,827 --> 00:06:15,987 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 130 00:06:16,107 --> 00:06:19,387 Speaker 1: to news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow 131 00:06:19,427 --> 00:06:20,987 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.