A Strong Local Core
Auckland FC signings, Deine Mariner/Brisbane Broncos, Blackcaps & White Ferns stocks, NBL Finals & Breakers rebuild, Wellington Phoenix & more
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Joseph Parker Has Done It Again, This Time Defeating Zhilei Zhang Over 12 Rounds (Boxing)
Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Battling vs Storm (Rugby League)
Flying Kiwis – March 13 (Football)
Ben Old Has Dribbled His Way Into Golden Boy Status At The Wellington Phoenix (Football)
The Breakers Have Bowed Out Of NBL24, But It Wasn't Without A Fight (Basketball)
2023/24 Plunket Shield: Northern Districts Winning Mahi & More Notes (Cricket)
27fm Weekly Playlist: March 15 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
In our Subscriber Pod delivered yesterday we rolled through some NZ Warriors details and various kiwi footballers doing their thing around the world. We also chatted Blackcaps cricket and talking through all things Blackcaps in both podcasts this week has led me to ponder if the Blackcaps are a top-four team in the world of men's cricket.
To simplify things, I've gone with ICC events as a guide. Blackcaps have made five consecutive ODI World Cup semi-finals and three consecutive T20 World Cup semi finals. We have recent updates with the ODIWC last year and T20WC in 2022. Semi-finals are the four best teams and Blackcaps reach that mark consistently. Blackcaps won the first World Test Championship, finished sixth in the 2021-23 cycle and are currently ranked third in this WTC cycle.
The only blemish there is the second WTC campaign. Everything else is top-four. Australia is my pick for first, India second. England and South Africa are in the mix for the other spots. I reckon South Africa could be third with NZ fourth and it's all fluid depending on how stars align - one day I might be extra generous to England or something. The case for Blackcaps being in the top-four is solid though and it's worth keeping in mind given that Aotearoa is one of the smallest 'Test playing' teams.
This is all up for grabs with a T20WC this year, as well as Test tours overseas. White Ferns feel like fifth/sixth range and their upcoming series vs England will be a key juncture in gauging things. Here are the best performers for White Ferns vs England A across two T20s...
Suzie Bates: 46 runs, 1 run
Berndadine Bezuidenhout: 17 runs, 31 runs
Brooke Halliday: 12 runs, 29*
Izzy Gaze: 17*, 26*
Molly Penfold: 2w, 0w
Hannah Rowe: 2w, 3w
Rosemary Mair: 3w, 1w
Fran Jonas: 2w, 1w
Best thing there is Gaze scoring runs and she was also listed as the wicket-keeper in both games. Her selection has been based on potential and Gaze can chill folks who question this selection (like me) with runs, especially as Gaze scores quickly when she is in a groove.
Here are Plunket Shield stats for players who intrigue me in the Blackcaps mixer. Lads like Jacob Duffy who are on the fringe and youngsters who you should tap in with to learn about the next wave...
Blackcaps
Henry Nicholls: 393 runs @ 78avg/58sr
Josh Clarkson: 233 runs @ 29.1avg/61sr | 8w @ 27.5avg/3rpo
Jacob Duffy: 29w @ 19.7avg/2.7rpo - 1st
Ajaz Patel: 23w @ 27.1avg/2.6rpo - 4th
Ben Lister: 5w @ 20.4avg/1.8rpo
Emerging
Gareth Severin: 512 runs @ 64avg/49sr
Will O'Donnell: 426 runs @ 38.7avg/41sr - 5th
Dale Phillips: 411 run @ 37.3avg/69sr
Muhammad Abbas: 403 runs @ 50.3avg/51sr | 3w @ 23avg/3.5rpo
Mitch Hay: 353 runs @ 39.2avg/50sr
Curtis Heaphy: 295 runs @ 73avg/41sr
Nathan Smith: 28w @ 15.9avg/2.9rpo - 2nd
Kristian Clarke: 25w @ 21.2avg/3.5rpo - 3rd
Matt Fisher: 19w @ 21.1avg/3.rpo
Zak Foulkes: 223 runs @ 20.2avg/49sr | 18w @ 27avg/3rpo
Two tries for Deine Mariner including a chip and chase in the Broncos win over Rabbitohs. Jordan Riki was in his usual edge forward spot and after being named for round one, then whipping up a Kiwi-NRL Spotlight about Xavier Willison, he hasn't played in the first two games.
We have so much Deine Mariner stuff that it's easier to just search his name with Niche Cache on Youtube or Google and it's all there. I refreshed my basics and found a few more things that link Mariner to junior footy with Manurewa before moving to Marist - the latter is kinda like a finishing club for juniors who are off to Australia. Mariner is a hearty Aucklander regardless and while his best position is centre, he has been the starting winger in two games this season.
Mariner could opt for Samoa, while also eligible for Aotearoa. Players like Mariner, Matthew Timoko, Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua ease any anxiety about Joseph Manu moving to rugby union and dipping out of Aotearoa Kiwis footy. Mariner could command Kiwis selection with breakout mahi this season and the Kiwi-NRL depth is so impressive/diverse that there are ample options to absorb eligibility queries.
Buzy to think that Riki hasn't played for Kiwis yet. Willison has represented Cook Islands.
Lost in my shuffle on Monday was Caius Fa'atili scoring two tries in his first game with Sunshine Coast after leaving the Broncos system for Storm. Fa'atili played a trial for Storm and is in his third year of Queensland Cup although he was still U21s when he played three games in 2022. Apparently he didn't score a try in his first two seasons (14 games last year), which is different to his younger brother and fellow Hornby junior Felix.
While with Wynnum U21s in 2022, Felix scored 13 tries in 16 games. Then he moved to Sharks and scored seven tries in as many games of U19s last year, as well as three tries in nine games of U21s. Last weekend Felix scored in the U21s win over NZW so he's one from one.
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
Auckland FC is the name of the new A-League team, with Black Knights only an officially endorsed nickname (whether anyone uses it or not, we shall see). The badge has been unveiled. A mock-up of their kit has also been released – black and blue stripes akin to Inter Milan (still wish the Welly Nix would bring back the stripes). The team will enter the A-League Men’s next season and the A-League Women’s one year later.
That’s all well and good but what we really want to know about is players, right? According to Stuff, they’ve pretty much already got Francis de Vries, Cam Howieson, Michael Woud, Jesse Randall, and Luis Toomey on board. Sounds like Callan Elliot and Joey Champness will join them, while Jake Brimmer and Dan Hall are also going to be there as Aussie influences.
To be honest, I quite like how that team is coming together. I’ve said all along that I don’t want to see them signing settled players from overseas, rather that they should boost up guys from the domestic scene to expand the player pool, but obviously they still needed to find some guys with ALM experience. And there are always a few lads who need rescuing, like Woud for example. He was practically in goalkeeper jail during his time in Japan, stuck as the third or fourth choice for much of his time at Kyoto Sanga. Jesse Randall had a go over in the American second tier and they hardly gave him a chance. Well, Max Mata hardly got a chance at that very same level and he’s done alright since, so that’s no reflection of Randall as a player.
Elliot and Champness are fringe All Whites in unique spots. Elliot’s in Scotland with Motherwell but has yet to make a debut after more than a month and his contract is only until the end of the term. Champness is now a free agent after an early release from another Turkish club. This time more due to injury than anything... but he will be a fascinating fella with AFC because we know what he’s capable of at this level yet he also needs to shed the unserious tag. The other three NZers are domestic troopers. FDV was at a high standard in Sweden until a knee injury led him back to Eastern Suburbs (where he was good but not great in the last National League). Howieson has been a National League superstar for many years. Toomey had his breakthrough campaign in 2023. All deserving of this chance, though all for different reasons.
By the way, there was a quick point made by Giancarlo Italiano in his latest press conference that the Wellington Phoenix have offered a contract to Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, the speedy winger who made his senior debut last game to become the youngest ever first team player for the Nix. As Chiefy put it, it’s now up to GSR whether he wants to sign that deal and hang about with the Nix or to try his luck elsewhere. My guess is that would mean overseas, rather than Auckland FC in case you were thinking that way – although his age does cause limitations. I expect he signs a scholarship gig with the Nix and gives them another year or two since he’s already around that first team picture.
The Wellington Phoenix Women have a massive game on Sunday against Sydney FC. The Men are always playing Sydney FC, they’re on Saturday evening at Eden Park in Auckland. Last time they’ll ever be the home team in Auckland. Both against Sydney but not a double-header as the WahiNix are belssedly back at Porirua Park following an outrageous run of 8/9 games being on Australian soil. A stretch that included a lot of losses but which ended with a glorious 3-1 win against Perth Glory.
I got halfway through writing a piece about that win had gotten their finals hopes back on track... but I didn’t finish it in time to stay relevant because I got sick (you can hear it in my voice on the podcast, no doubt – shout out to the medicinal benefits of kawakawa tea for getting me that far). I’ll flip that piece around next week, especially if the Nix can win again, but here’s the situation as it stands...
ALW Remaining Fixtures - The Finals Hunt
6th Place - Western Sydney (27 PTS/-1 GD/8 W): Perth Glory (H), Western United (H), Wellington Phoenix (A)
7th Place - Newcastle Jets (24 PTS/-4 GD/7 W): Western United (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Adelaide United (A)
8th Place - Perth Glory (24 PTS/-3 GD/6 W): Western Sydney (A), Brisbane Roar (A), Melbourne City (H)
9th Place - Wellington Phoenix (22 PTS/0 GD/7 W): Sydney FC (H), Adelaide United (H), Canberra United (A), Western Sydney (H)
10th Place - Brisbane Roar (20 PTS/-9 GD/5 W): Adelaide United (A), Perth Glory (H), Canberra United (H)
Big unfortunates for the Phoenix on Wednesday night when Western Sydney won their catch-up game against Canberra United. Could have done us a huge favour if the Greenies had won there. They actually scored first inside of a minute... but WSW levelled within three mins and went on to win 4-1. Bugger.
But because the Phoenix plays WSW in the final round, that doesn’t take anything out of their hands. A loss against Sydney FC would… but they pushed Sydney very close last time so in home conditions off the back of that confidence-boosting win in Perth they’ve got every chance. In fact it’s not out of the question they could win five in a row to close the regular season. It’d be more than tricky. Take it one week at a time. But they’re capable of that – it’s a fortuitous run-in (which was always in the odds after how ruthless their past two months of fixtures have been). Note that all the other teams competing for sixth have now played one game more than the Nix, who play their midweek catch-up against Adelaide next week.
The NBL Finals have been set, with one team as expected and one team not as expected. The underdogs won both the second games of the semi-final series which led each into a decisive game three. Melbourne United were too good for Illawarra Hawks in that one, with Shea Ili delivering a starring role in their 100-94 victory. Ili scored 22 points with 3 rebounds and an assist, taking on the unusual mantle of being his team’s top scorer. A big part of that was his ability to get to the free throw line. Top work from Ili. Flynn Cameron only played like one minute of that series, dropping out of their playoff rotation, but that’s not abnormal for a rookie (esp for a team with Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova).
So United strolled on as expected... and they’ll be big favourites after their expected opponents Perth Wildcats were dropped in game three by the Tasmania JackJumpers. Tai Webster scored 9 points with 3 assists and 2 steals. Hyrum Harris had 13 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Corey Webster scored 8 points off the bench. But the Jumpers were able to limit Bryce Cotton’s effectiveness and then rolled with their deeper chemistry, with their own imports going nuts. Didn’t get to see any Tom Vodanovich in that game but guess what? That dude has now made NBL Finals in three straight seasons with three different teams. Sydney Kings in NBL22, NZ Breakers in NBL23, Tasmania JJ in NBL24. He won the first, lost the second, and TBD on the third.
The Perth Wildcats had the deepest NZ influence so it’s a shame to see them fall... but the JackJumpers do have Vodanovich plus development player Walter Brown. They’re up against Shea Ili and Flynn Cameron. Guaranteed two Kiwi champions for this Aussie NBL season, a fitting outcome after more New Zealanders played in the comp than ever before in this past year.
Meanwhile I got sucked into some NBL.com.au aggregation this morning to see this emphatic assertion...
Unfortunately it turns out that interview was from a chat that Walshy did with Martin Devlin on The Platform (which NBL referred to as On The Platform, lol)... a further sign of the degradation of the media in this country that the grumpy old blokes are the only ones left to get the scoops. Still, there were some informative details in the ol’ NBL summary.
As it stands, Dane Pineau is the only contracted player for the Breakers next season. An Aussie backup centre who didn’t play a whole lot. Walsh refers to “local” players as Australians and New Zealanders in his quotes so keep that in mind. There are mutual options for Will McDowell-Whites and Finn Delany. Tom Abercrombie has retired and Parker Jackson-Cartwright has already signed with Galatasaray in Turkey. A reminder that this club has not retained an import since the change in ownership. Already one more down in that quest. At least they’ve got a great coach.
Ah but the first domino may fall soon because Sam Mennenga has been released from the second year of his Cairns Taipans contract. SM averaged 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in his rookie NBL campaign, though did fade deeper into the rotation as the season progressed. He’s been released “to enable him to return home” which is a lot like what SEM Phoenix said when they released Izayah Le’afa... who promptly signed with the Breakers. It’s also the same strategy the Breakers showed with Yanni Wetzell as well: sign the young kiwi dude after he’s had a year to prove himself with a rival club. Risky business, and in both cases they’d have been better off simply bringing them in as rookies, but it beats them making another random Aussie addition... assuming that he does indeed end up with the Breakers. If he does it’d be a very good start.
Also, I do appreciate how much love Abercrombie got from the organisation in his last couple years. He stuck with the team during some tough years and that’s been appreciated. Walsh calls him the “greatest Breaker ever” and they’ve made no secret of wanting to retire his jersey. I’d still like to know why this reverence for the team’s history hasn’t yet extended to the legacy of Mika Vukona though. Their previous retired jerseys are for CJ Bruton (23), Dillon Boucher (24), and Paul Henare (32) and it was at one stage a given thing that Vukona would join them... then the ownership changed and Vukona left and nothing but crickets since.
You just can’t trust those jokers at FIFA, always doing silly things (which coincidentally shape to make them way more money). The sad thing with these FIFA announcements is that you’re never entirely sure you’re not being hoaxed and yet they always turn out to be real. The latest is that the U17 World Cup is going to move to being an annual competition instead of every two years.
It’s every two years (men one year, women the next) because that fits in with the age range. If it were every four like the senior World Cup then there’d be 14 year olds too young for one tournament then too old for the next. Two works well. One year gaps... you’ll be sending most of the same team each time. It messes with qualification windows, let alone talent identification windows since this is the youngest international age grade. It’ll potentially drag a lot of 16-17 year olds out of senior football, whilst diminishing the value of the U17WC by oversaturation. Let alone what this does to those players’ schooling. It’s not like this is a major blockbuster event as it is.
Oh yeah and they’re expanding the men’s one to 48 teams and the women’s to 24 teams. The women’s is actually a good idea. They’d still been stuck in 16-team formats which is ridiculous. But 48 teams for the blokes is baffling and stupid and what are we even doing here? It dilutes the event to such a degree that it kinda loses its purpose for existing... and given that the only reason FIFA does these things is for cash, that seems self-defeating.
Except for the last point which is that the next five Men’s U17 World Cups in a row will all be hosted by Qatar. So, righto, that pretty much explains where the money’s coming from (while the next women U17 WWCs are to be hosted by Morocco). Most nations don’t care about the U17 World Cup very much, but for New Zealand it’s an important pathway for our net generation players, especially with the exposure they get to foreign scouts. Hard to see how any of this benefits the young footballers of Aotearoa.
Here’s my pick of our latest selection of tunes for the 27fm Weekly Playlist (link up top), you know the drill...