Buy The Pub

NZ Cricket in the USA, Chiefy In at the Wellington Phoenix, Warriors on Anzac Day, Chris Wood's goal hunts, Steven Adams rotations & heaps more

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Scotty’s Word

During our latest podcast I shared my appreciation for kiwi cricket. Kiwis love cricket. Players love representing Aotearoa and their domestic teams. NZC does a good job in managing the tricky landscape internationally and everything in Aotearoa is well organised, including the diversity of community cricket and funnelling high performance towards Blackcaps and White Ferns.

So when NZC makes some sort of investment into Major League Cricket in USA, good for them. I have faith in NZC to make the best decisions for kiwi cricket - NZC is the best sporting organisation in Aotearoa.

Cricket in USA? Americans don't care about anything outside of America. NRL probably won't make much progress in America and after the T20 World Cup, Americans still don't give a shit about cricket.

Gathering another revenue opportunity is wise for NZC. They are buying into something outside of Aotearoa while the England Cricket Board and the Counties have sold parts of English cricket. Big difference there and, as we discussed in the Bonus Podcast, the English example is similar to how NZ Rugby sold some of their soul with foreign investment. I'd rather take the NZC route in pursuing ownership outside their box rather than selling the backyard.

What did NZ Warriors do? They bought a pub. And that seems like the best move of them all.

Everyone is fascinated by the USA market. Meanwhile, the bloke who covers cricket in America tells the story of a shambolic organisation that runs cricket in America. Peter Della Penna does Jah's work in covering USA cricket and scrolling through his Twitter account throws up these gems - all from the past two months...

• USA cricket social media using a photo of a player who didn't bat in that game

• Board members suing each other

• (Not USA but close) Cricket Canada CEO arrested for fraud

• MLC games will be played at Oakland Coliseum which has capacity for 55,000 and ticket sales will be capped at 12,000

• USA cricket is sending their T20 squad to the Cayman Islands and nobody at USA cricket bothered to tell anyone

• There is no cricket venue at the site for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

• USA cricket social media saying someone will make their debut ... after they made their debut the day before

• USA cricket social media using a picture of a player who isn't in the squad

• USA cricket social media getting bowling figures and name spelling wrong

• Inflated reporting about cricket's popularity in USA

I'm doubtful that cricket in USA will grow to the extent where investment and ownership will have any big rewards, let alone doing anything to boost NZ cricket. Add in the ol' USA political situation and USA doesn't seem like the most attractive place.

For paid subscribers there are County Championship stats (boosted by Suzie Bates playing for Durham) and I explain why no one should be surprised if Kane Williamson only plays Tests. There is also a break down of the halves depth for NZ Warriors. I just got a parking ticket so any donations through Buy Me A Coffee or new members to the Patreon whanau would be greatly appreciated.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad re-signed with NZ Warriors...

Players want to be at NZ Warriors. Whether they want to stay at Mt Smart or move from Australia to Auckland, players want to play for NZW and develop in this system.

The fullback position doesn't have much depth at NZW so the double-whammy of Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki suits everyone. Geronimo Doyle is the fullback in NSW Cup right now but he probably won't play NRL. Caelys Putoko is the U21s fullback and he will need a few seasons of reserve grade before entering the NRL mixer. Below that there are Tallan Egan, Meihana Pauling and Joseph Ratcliffe who won't nudge NRL for two years at least.

Tuaupiki has space to continue his development and push Nicoll-Klokstad. Don't stress about Tuaupiki being blocked at NZW because he wants to be here and he isn't in danger of losing his place anytime soon.

NZW have their Anzac Day game vs Newcastle Knights in Christchurch on Friday night. This will be a reminder that NZW consistently get bigger crowds than Super Rugby and rugby league's takeover of Christchurch/South Island.

There aren't any South Island juniors in the NZW team. Halswell junior Tanner Stowers-Smith is in the wider squad but will probably stay in Auckland where he will play NSW Cup alongside Jason Salalilo (Papanui). Makaia Tafua (Linwood) is starting hooker for the Jersey Flegg Cup team and will play against another Linwood junior Te Kaio Cranwell who is starting edge forward for Knights.

Other notable Kiwi-NRL/NRLWahine juniors I'm tracking this year...

• Felix Fa'atili: Sharks NSW Cup/U21 - Hornby

• Bronson Reuben: Bulldogs (all grades) - Kaiapoi

• Oliver Lawry: Sea Eagles U21 - West Coast/Halswell

• K-Ci Newton-Whare: Storm U21 - Riccarton

• Josiah-Ekkehard Neli: Storm U21 - Hornby

• Antonio Verhoeven: Burleigh U19 - Cobden Kohinoor (Greymouth)

• Torino Jackson: Tweed U19 - Zingari-Richmond (Dunedin)

• Manisha Seebeck: Roosters U19 - Hornby

• Dejah Tuilau: Panthers U19 - Linwood

• Te Koha Te Rito: Rabbitohs U19 - Murihiku Matatu Maori (Invercargill)

• Ezekiel Faga-Ieti: Knights U19 - Hornby

• Xavier Lynch: Knights U19 - Halswell

• Jackson Stewart: Roosters U19 - Hornby

• Sosaia Alatini: Bulldogs U19 - Hornby

• Ezekiel Paulo: Sea Eagles U19 - Papanui

• Kairus Booth: Warriors U19 - South Otago High School (Balclutha)

• Mason Lome-Hindle: Warriors U19 - Otago Boys High School (Dunedin)

• Meihana Pauling: Warriors U19 - Halswell

• Rico Lemalie: Warriors U19 - Linwood

• Bishop Neal: Warriors U17 - Hornby

• Dougal Grant: Warriors U17 - Aoraki

• Kenny Lafituanai: Warriors U17 - Sydenham

• Calieb Fidow: Warriors U17 - Celebration

• Amasio Tiatia: Warriors U17 - Celebration

• Christiano Elia: Warriors U17 - Riccarton

NZ Warriors vs Knights in the two Andys era...

• 2023 in Wellington: 20-12 win

• 2023 in Newcastle: 24-34 loss

• 2023 in Auckland: 40-10 win

• 2024 in Auckland: 20-12 win

• 2024 in Newcastle: 14-8 loss

NZW have a U17 Harold Matthews Cup finals game on Sunday vs Rabbitohs. Remember they are defending champions and went 6-2 through the regular season before a 20-4 win over Roosters in the first round of finals footy. Neal, Lafituanai and Grant are named as juniors from Christchurch and there are a few spots in the top-17 left to fill.

Musical jam…

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Wildcard’s Notebook

Giancarlo Italiano will remain as Wellington Phoenix head coach, having been re-signed on a one-year contract with the option for another after that. Presumably a club option, allowing them to cut ties if things don’t improve next term... or easily extend things if they do. I predicted this outcome on the subscriber podcast this morning if you wanna listen to that (subscribers only but that’s easily amended with a paid Substack sign-up... plus you’ll be helping us get paid for our mahi and for that we’ll love you forever).

My argument is that Chiefy deserved the re-up. At the very least, his brilliant season last time and his terrible one this time cancel each other out... though I’d argue he ought to come out in the positives when that ledger is balanced.

A lot of this season’s problems were out of his hands (albeit he’s not blameless for recruitment, while the ever-shifting tactics clearly didn’t help). On top of that, you’ve gotta be careful about the greener grass over the fence when you’ve got a manager who has laid two years of foundations having established a solid core of locals and some excellent youth development (even this year, the likes of Matt Sheridan, Alby Kelly-Heald, Nathan Walker, and Luke Brooke-Smith have exceeded expectations). Tearing that up and starting over would be very hasty if you’re not completely convinced it isn’t working. And I also just don’t like the cut-throat impulse in football to dump a coach as soon as things go bad without allowing them to learn from their mistakes in the way that players get to. By the sounds of it, the Phoenix brass feel a similar way...

Director of football Shaun Gill: “It seems a lot of people in the sporting world have short memories. I understand the frustration and disappointment with how the men’s season has unfolded, but Chief has built up a lot of credit. He not only guided the men to within touching distance of the club’s first trophy last year, but Chief was also an integral member of the staff during the preceding four seasons when they were finals regulars despite spending the best part of two years in Australia. We have faith that he will be able to help turn around the team’s fortunes next season and have the Phoenix back in the top six and challenging for silverware.”

Giancarlo Italiano: “I’ve learnt how to manage players and their expectations on the back of such a successful season, and how to look after a young group when a lot of pressure has been placed on them unnecessarily. And overall, I’ve learnt how to navigate through so many different issues this year with injuries, player availability and expectation and how you balance all of that. I feel like I’m one year better for it and the experience has put me in a better spot.”

Italiano’s press conference also featured a hint towards offseason recruitment with a few “creative options” and a couple of defenders being mentioned. It sure sounds like those Scott Wootton and Sam Sutton to Perth Glory rumours are going to prove true. That explains the defensive additions. Another striker and an attacking midfielder wouldn’t go astray for the creative options – maybe one of those will be Chico Geraldes, who knows. Frankly, they might even be able to coax Ben Waine back considering how his stuff’s been going. He might need a guaranteed/familiar spot for a year to make sure he’s in that World Cup squad.

I also found it interesting that Shaun Gill and Chiefy both echoed the same idea that imports get better in their second season in the A-League. That’s probably true, it certainly has been with guys like Bozhidar Kraev and Scott Wootton, and the Nix will have three returning imports as it stands: Kazuki Nagasawa, Hideki Ishige, and Josh Oluwayemi. Gill also confirmed the intention to keep fellas like Kosta Barbarouses, Corban Piper, and Chico Geraldes if possible.

New Zealanders in the A-League Women Regular Season

Most Minutes

1. Claudia Bunge (MVC) – 1980

2. Claudia Jenkins (ADL) – 1980

3. Annalie Longo (WEL) – 1952

4. Lara Wall (WEL) – 1902

5. Mackenzie Barry (WEL) – 1845

6. Rebekah Stott (MCY) – 1740

7. Liz Anton (CAN) – 1710

8. Grace Jale (WEL) – 1671

9. Deven Jackson (NEW) – 1439

10. Alyssa Whinham (WEL) - 1411

Most Goals

1. Deven Jackson (NEW) – 6

2. Kelli Brown (PER) – 5

3. Manaia Elliott (WEL) – 4

4. Emma Main (WEL) – 3

5. Annalie Longo (WEL) – 3

Most Assists

1. Annalie Longo (WEL) – 5

2. Claudia Bunge (MVC) – 3

3. Kelli Brown (PER) – 2

4. Rebekah Stott (MCY) – 2

The two Melbourne teams finished first and second, with Melbourne City going through undefeated. So Rebekah Stott and Claudia Bunge can wait until the next round of the finals before they put it all on the line. This initial finals round sees the two elimination games with Canberra United (Ruby Nathan) away to Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United (Claudia Jenkins) at home against Western United. Keep in mind that Liz Anton left Canberra a few weeks ago to link up with Olivia Chance at Kolbotn in Norway where they’ve been starting games together.

In total, there were 24 kiwis who took the pitch this season. That’s down quite substantially on the 31 we had last season, though that can be explained easily enough. The Nix only used 22 players after using 27 in the previous term. Fewer injuries and more consistent squad selection were the reason for that. Also there were only eight NZers at Aussie clubs (and one of them, Claudia Jenkins, we only found out about midway through when she committed to the Football Ferns), down from an even dozen last time. Hannah Wilkinson retired. A couple others stepped away from the pro stuff. And, encouragingly, we saw Milly Clegg, Macey Fraser, Mickey Foster, Kate Taylor, and Hannah Blake all move upwards and onwards to higher levels.

A-League Women’s kiwi debutants in 2024-25:

Lara Wall, Ela Jerez, Amelia Abbott, and Brooke Neary

Chris Wood is now one mere goal away from joining the illustrious crew that have scored 20+ goals in a Premier League season. Stan Collymore is the only player who ever did so for Nottingham Forest (back in 1994-95). Mark Viduka is the only Australasian player to have achieved it (2002-03 with Leeds)... Viduka scored 92 career goals in the Prem so Woodsy is only four shy of matching that Australasian record as well.

Back to twenty goals in a season, there have been 94 previous instances by 50 different players. Alexander Isak got there recently, pipping Woodsy to becoming the 50^th player to achieve the feat. Alan Shearer has the record with seven such seasons. Here are all those players that The Woodsman will be calling comrades if he can score one more pesky goal...

Alan Shearer (7), Harry Kane (6), Sergio Aguero (6), Thierry Henry (5), Mo Salah (5), Ruud van Nistelrooy (4), Jamie Vardy (3), Les Ferdinand (3), Erling Haaland (3), Andy Cole (2), Robbie Fowler (2), Ian Wright (2), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2), Didier Drogba (2), Carlos Tevez (2), Wayne Rooney (2), Robin van Persie (2), Luis Suarez (2), Diego Costa (2), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2), Louis Saha, Mark Viduka, Stan Collymore, Chris Sutton, Andy Johnson, Romelu Lukaku, Ivan Toney, Darren Bent, Kevin Phillips, Danny Ings, James Beattie, Matt Le Tissier, Peter Beardsley, Cole Palmer, Frank Lampard, Teddy Sheringham, Gareth Bale, Heung-min Song, Jurgen Klinsmann, Dwight Yorke, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure, Alexis Sanchez, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Alexander Isak

Chris Wood has five more games with which to add his name to the list. But the actual Golden Boot is going to be beyond his abilities with Mo Salah having run away with things. He’s got 27 of them. Isak and Haaland are on 21 each. Wood is on 19 goals one ahead of Bryan Mbeumo. However, there is a golden title of another description that The Woodsman might win: The Golden Flag.

He’s twice before been called offside more than any other player in a given season. It happened in 2018-19 and it happened in 2019-20. It’s interesting that in his initial days with Nottingham Forest, under Steve Cooper’s management, that was very much not something he did. Lots more dropping into pockets to hold the ball up. Lots more back-to-goal stuff. Under Nuno Espirito Santo the offsides have been revived and he’s in career-best form Coincidence? Surely not.

Chris Wood being flagged offside lots means that Chris Wood is playing off the shoulder, looking to summon those early crosses in his direction, engaging the defensive line, and generally staying active in the play. When he’s doing that, he’s scoring goals. Every season in which he’s been top ten for offsides, he’s also scored double-digit goals.

This is Damien Duff, Shelbourne manager, speaking about Moses Dyer after the Mighty Moses scored a double against his team on the weekend:

“Of course we have our meetings but you don’t need me to highlight one of the top, if not the top, strikers in the league. Unless you’re hid under a rock. So yeah we knew he was a threat. And two goals again for him today.”

There you have it, Moses Dyer is ten games into his Galway United stint with five goals to his name and he’s already getting Best Striker In The League shouts (and from an Irish legend, no less).

Musical Jam (guess who watched Sinners this week)...