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Warriors bits and bobs, Tall Blacks beat Aussie, Chris Wood stats, NZ-A cricket in Bangladesh, Football Ferns games, and more
Scotty’s Word
Lots of New Zealand Warriors bits and bobs...
NRL: 2nd | 7-2
NSW Cup: 1st | 8-1
Jersey Flegg Cup: 13th | 2-6-2
Notable Team Stats
Completion Rate: 1st - 83%
Next best is Sharks on 81%
Penalties Conceded: 17th - 39
Next best is Dolphins on 49
Post Contact Metres: 7th - 5,235
Second best team on nine games, Raiders are first overall on 5,816
Kick Metres: 7th - 5,560
Second best team on nine games, Rabbitohs are first overall on 6,989
Stat Leaders
Post Contact Metres
Erin Clark: 16th - 535
Mitchell Barnett: 21st - 499
Jackson Ford: 24th - 489
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad: 28th - 483
Run Metres
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad: 18th - 1,539
Erin Clark: 29th - 1,451
Dummy Half Runs
Wayde Egan: 1st - 60
Adam Pompey: 45th - 8
Linebreaks
Ali Leiataua: 42nd - 5
Tackle Breaks
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad: 25th - 33
Taine Tuaupiki: 32nd - 32
Tries
Luke Metcalf: 13th - 7
Adam Pompey: 46th - 4
Try Assists
Chanel Harris-Tavita: 13th - 7
Offloads
Erin Clark: 28th - 12
Kick Metres
Luke Metcalf: 8th - 3,186
Chanel Harris-Tavita: 16th - 2,165
Missed Tackles
Kurt Capewell: 1st - 51
Wayde Egan: 29th - 27
Errors
Luke Metcalf: 28th - 12
New Zealand Warriors Winning Notebook vs Dragons & NSW Cup Dominance
Autumn Exploration Of The 2025 Aotearoa Kiwis Mixer
For paid subscribers and the Patreon whanau there are more NZ Warriors notes about the youngsters in NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup. There is also a spotlight on Tom Latham after his big ol' knock of 184 runs for Warwickshire vs Nathan Smith's Surrey as well as a wrap of all County Championship action.
NZ-A got a win in their third one-dayer vs Bangladesh A and the longform games start on Wednesday. The third game was a hearty team effort...
Zak Foulkes: 1w @ 3.7rpo | 28* @ 67sr
Ben Lister: 2w @ 5.4rpo
Jayden Lennox: 2w @ 3.5rpo
Adithya Ashok: 3w @ 4.4rpo
Dean Foxcroft: 2w @ 5.3rpo | 36* @ 84sr
Rhys Mariu: 33 runs @ 100sr
Dale Phillips: 34 runs @ 74sr
Joe Carter: 33 runs @ 89sr
Results
Bangladesh win by 7 wickets
Bangladesh win by 87 runs
NZ win by 4 wickets
Games played
Three: Dale Phillips, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox
Two: Dean Foxcroft, Kristian Clarke, Zak Foulkes, Rhys Mariu, Joe Carter, Mitch Hay, Josh Clarkson, Adithya Ashok, Muhammad Abbas, Curtis Heaphy, Matt Boye, Ben Lister
Batting
Dean Foxcroft: 108 runs @ 108avg/100.9sr, 1 x 50
Dale Phillips: 113 runs @ 37.6avg/104.6sr
Rhys Mariu: 75 runs @ 37.5avg/89.2sr
Joe Carter: 46 runs @ 23avg/76.6sr
Mitch Hay: 42 runs @ 21avg/68.8sr
Josh Clarkson: 41 runs @ 20.5avg/73.2sr
Kristian Clarke: 39 runs @ 39avg/105.4sr
Zak Foulkes: 39 runs @ 39avg/63.9sr
Nick Kelly: 33 runs @ 11avg/55.9sr
Muhammad Abbas: 19 runs @ 9.5avg/59.3sr
Curtis Heaphy: 15 runs @ 7.5avg/35.7sr
Adithya Ashok: 13 runs @ 13avg/144.4sr
Jayden Lennox: 10 runs @ 5avg/43.4sr
Ben Lister: 4 runs @ 40sr
Matt Boyle: 1 run @ 0.5avg/11.1sr
Bowling
Dean Foxcroft: 12ov, 3w @ 19.3avg/4.8rpo
Adithya Ashok: 18ov, 4w @ 22.2avg/4.9rpo
Kristian Clarke: 15ov, 4w @ 25.2avg/6.7rpo
Ben Lister: 14ov, 2w @ 44.5avg/6.3rpo
Zak Foulkes: 19ov, 2w @ 54avg/5.6rpo
Jayden Lennox: 28ov, 2w @ 58avg/4.1rpo
Dale Phillips: 3ov @ 7.6rpo
Muhammad Abbas: 7ov @ 7rpo
Josh Clarkson: 9ov @ 8.4rpo
Mana boosted…
Dean Foxcroft - 27yrs - Otago
Already snuck in six games for Blackcaps. Scored runs (72, 36*) and took a wicket (1, 2) in both his games in Bangladesh. Batted eight in his first game then seven in the other, which is much lower than usual but could align with possible Blackcaps roles in the future. Third most overs for NZ-A spinners and most efficient. Has four 50+ scores in last 10 games and is on eight innings streak of scoring 10+ runs, six of which are 20+ scores. Also has at least one wicket in his last six innings bowled.
FC: 31.56avg/53.5sr | 26.58avg/3rpo
LA: 31.7avg/81.2sr | 37.61avg/5.3rpo
T20: 38.18avg/125.8sr | 28.9avg/8.3rpo
Dale Phillips - 26yrs - Otago
Started slow but scored runs in the last two games (0, 79, 34) and looked glorious doing so - think of a more orthodox Glenn Phillips. Opened the batting in all three games and finished the season with a steady flow of scores (last 10 games): 48, 58, 39, 36, 29, 39, 52, 8, 28, 20, 15, 0, 79, 34.
Longform is his best batting format so it would be nice to see him get a decent crack in the next two games. Best format with bat and ball...
FC: 36.77avg/54sr | 24.4avg/4.4rpo
LA: 30.14avg/84.3sr | 57.5avg/6rpo
T20: 18.42avg/124.3sr | 13.6rpo
Kristian Clarke - 24yrs - ND
Probably the least known player in this squad and this makes him a notable riser even though he took the same number of wickets as Ashok. Clarke snared 2 wickets in both his games and was the only NZ-A seamer who conceded less than 5rpo. He also scored 39* @ 108.3sr in the second game which was the second highest score for the kiwis.
Since the start of Plunket Shield second stanza...
Scores: 48, 32, 23, 15, 12, 21, 0, 39*
Wickets: 1, 5, 0, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 2, 2
FC: 22.69avg/50.3sr | 32.26avg/3.4rpo
LA: 13avg/75.2sr | 26.12avg/5.6rpo
T20: 10.16avg/115sr | 25avg/8.9rpo
Musical jam...
Wildcard’s Notebook
Massive performance from the Tall Blacks to beat Australia in Hamilton on Sunday. Having scored 68 and 67 points in the two games in Aussie, the Tall Blacks had 57 points at half-time in game three. The lead got as high as 30 points as the Tall Blacks continued to hit tough shots, grab copious rebounds, and play rugged defence... although the Boomers did make a run in the fourth quarter with the final score only 106-97.
Taylor Britt was the main man for NZ playing 31 minutes in the absence of an injured Shea Ili. Britt scored 23 points on 8/16 shooting (3/5 from deep) with 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Reuben Te Rangi also chipped in with 18 points (including 4/4 three-pointers)... surely a beautiful sight for Petteri Koponen seeing two of his new Breakers recruits looking so flash. Another Breaker, Carlin Davison, also balled out off the bench showing the full range of his athleticism.
It’s been five years since the Tall Blacks last won against Australia... although it feels like it should have been longer because we’d lost 13 of the last 14 against the Boomers. That previous win was a 108-98 win in Asia Cup qualifying in 2020 in Brisbane. Reuben Te Rangi also had a big game that day with 21 points. Taylor Britt was in that squad but didn’t play. Tohi Smith-Milner was the only other bloke involved in both wins. Prior to that there was a nine-game losing streak against Australia dating back to 2009 when the TBs won 100-78 in Wellington. Corey Webster is the only player left from that group who could have played in this one but he was out injured.
Naturally the Aussies were also well below full strength but no matter what side they put out, for the Tall Blacks to win missing almost all of their overseas players (except Finn Delany who turned up mid-series) and with Corey Webster, Flynn Cameron, and Shea Ili all out injured to gut the guard position depth... that’s amazing.
Alas, the Tall Ferns weren’t able to replicate that result in their game... though that was to be expected with a squad with minimal international experience, many of them currently out of season, and a brand new head coach in place. The Tall Ferns haven’t beaten the Opals since 2008 back when Suzie Bates was still playing basketball. That’s now an 18-game losing streak after being dropped in all three of this series. Their game two showing was pretty nasty, getting blown out 98-57... but game three in front of a home crowd was much brighter. They were only down four points after three quarters before the fourth quarter blues overcame them again in an 86-71 defeat. Those fourth quarter blues were a commonality between both teams in all games...
Fourth Quarter Scoring in Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Tall Ferns 13-27 Australia (Adelaide)
Tall Blacks 17-20 Australia (Adelaide)
Tall Blacks 17-32 Australia (Sunshine Coast)
Tall Ferns 11-23 Australia (Sunshine Coast)
Tall Blacks 18-33 Australia (Hamilton)
Tall Ferns 14-25 Australia (Hamilton)
Something to work on there, no doubt. But Esra McGoldrick scored 19 points on 7/10 shooting while Sharne Robati’s 11 points took her to double figures in all three matches. McKenna Dale hit three triples within her 11 points and Tegan Graham had another all-rounder effort. Once again turnovers were a problem but we saw some very decent shot-making in games one and three which is a big stride forward for a Tall Ferns side that often struggles with that aspect.
They’ve got heaps of players to come back into contention for the Asia Cup in July so this was a positive series regardless of the outcomes. Think of players like Penina Davidson, Tera Reed, Tahlia Tupaea, Tayla Dalton, Lauren Whittaker, Ritorya Tamilo, Stella Beck, and others who’ve been involved in the past few squads but didn’t play against Australia.
That Asia Cup will probably too soon for Charlisse Leger-Walker – she should be fit by now but she’s not played since January 2024, having eventually opted to sit out all of last season with UCLA after her recovery proved a bit slow. This way she can focus on full fitness for the next NCAA term with an eye on earning her way up the WNBA draft board rather than rushing back with rust still showing and risking that future. By the way, the Tall Blacks also have an Asia Cup to play in August. Both teams should be aiming for semi-finals same as they managed last time.
Travel beyond the paywall to check out some Football Ferns fixture chat as well as a bit of NZ U16s Men squad chat. Always plenty more goodness after the jump for our heartiest readers.
There wasn’t a single New Zealander involved in the A-League Men’s finals games this week. Luka Coveny is on the books at Western United but the 19yo hasn’t made a matchday squad all season so he’s not about to do so in the finals. There aren’t that many kiwis with Aussie teams and those that are there didn’t make it this far. Dane Ingham and Lachie Bayliss at Newcastle. Storm Roux at Central Coast. Oli Sail at Perth. So it goes. Fortunately, Auckland FC have got us covered there with a plethora of potential kiwi champs.
In the elimination finals, Western United won 3-2 against Adelaide while Melbourne Victory won 2-1 against Western Sydney. That means that it’ll be Auckland FC vs Melbourne Victory at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday 24 May at 6pm. Don’t wanna miss it. That match will be the second leg after the two sides meet in Melbourne this Saturday. Western United vs Melbourne City is the other semi-final.
Over in the A-League Women’s, they’re two weeks ahead so we just got the second legs of the semis over the past couple of days. Melbourne Victory were too good for Adelaide United, winning 3-1 in both legs of that tie. Claudia Bunge scored twice in the away leg to set things up. Claudia Jenkins was in goal for Adelaide in both games while Geo Candy was on the bench for Victory in both. Bunge has already won two championships with Melbourne Victory so this is all standard stuff for her. She’s had a superb season returning after a spell in Denmark... and she confirmed prior to the second leg that she signed a 1+1 contract and thus expects to be back with the Victory next season when they inevitably take up that second-year option. That’s one target who definitely won’t be playing for Auckland FC next season.
In the other semi-final, Rebekah Stott’s Melbourne City drew 2-2 with Central Coast in the first leg but then spoiled their home leg when import Lourdes Bosch got sent off for retaliation after only 25 minutes. They ended up going to extra time, meaning they’d played in excess of ninety minutes with ten women when Isabel Gomez (the former Phoenix midfielder) popped up with a winner for Central Coast in stoppage time at the end of extra time. Didn’t help that she was about two metres offside and somehow it didn’t get called. This was Melbourne City’s only defeat all season yet it’s cost them a shot at the championship. It’ll be Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners in the decider on Sunday at 5.15pm.
Players who have scored 20+ goals in an English Premier League season...
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, Alexander Isak, and Chris Wood
Two other Chris Wood stat pockets to be aware of with two games left in the season...
And there’s an even grander stat which I can’t find the exact list for... but after nodding one in this morning against Leicester City, Chris Wood is closing in on the record for the most Premier League goals against former clubs. Back in February 2024, just prior to a match against Newcastle United, the BBC’s preview write-up included this note...
“Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has scored nine Premier League goals against sides he has previously played for, including a hat-trick against Newcastle in this season’s reverse fixture. He could be the fifth player to score 10 such goals, after Nicolas Anelka (18), Andrew Cole, Peter Crouch and Louis Saha (all 12).”
Well, since then he’s gotten a double against Burnley to close last season, then this campaign he bagged four against Brighton, three against Leicester City, and one against Ipswich. That would take him past Anelka for the record… except the numbers don’t add up for all of Woodsy’s former clubs. Combined together, he’s scored eight times against Leicester City, seven times against Brighton, three against Newcastle (plus once before he played for them, which doesn’t count), twice against Burnley, once against Leeds, once against Ipswich, once against Huddersfield, and once against West Brom.
That adds up to 24 goals... so they must only mean former clubs that he played for in the Premier League. In that case, scratch everyone except West Brom, Leicester City, Burnley, and Newcastle. Not Nottingham Forest because he hasn’t played against them as a former club, only as a future club.
Okay then, keep the eight against LCFC, the three against Newcastle, the two against Burnley, and the one against West Brom. That puts him at 14 in second place. Five more to go to beat Anelka. With West Ham and Chelsea left to play this season that’ll have to wait until the following term but that works alright because Burnley just got promoted back to the top flight (at the expense of Leicester City).
So we’ve got the record for most headed goals on the horizon. We’ve got the record for most goals against former Prem clubs on the horizon. And he’s also three short of matching Mark Viduka for the Australasian scoring record (92 goals) which isn’t really a record, Australia aren’t even in the same confederation as us, but it would be cool to beat the Aussies.
Musical Jam...