Imminent Cult Hero
NZ Warriors superiority, Premier League Kiwis, Tall Blacks on tour, NRLWahine Team of the Week, Kate Sheppard Cup semis & more
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First Impressions Of The Wellington Phoenix In Their Giancarlo Italiano Era (Football)
What Comes Next For The Football Ferns After This World Cup Campaign? (Football)
Winter Notes & Nuggs For Each Domestic Cricket Team (Cricket)
Forecasting The Blackcaps 2023 ODI World Cup Squad (Cricket)
White Ferns Stumble In ODI Series Loss vs Sri Lanka (Cricket)
Same Old White Ferns In T20I Series Win vs Sri Lanka (Cricket)
Recapping Tall Ferns Exploits at the 2023 Asia Cup (Basketball)
The Quotable Steven Adams: 2022-23 Edition (Basketball)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Eventual Arrival Of Rocco Berry (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Pompey Pedigree (Rugby League)
Aotearoa Warriors Diary: What You Are Missing About The 2023 Season (Rugby League)
Scotty’s Word
NZ Warriors had NRL and NSW Cup wins on Saturday, sealing their superiority over Wests Tigers. Warriors defeated Tigers 30-22 in the NRL and the reserve graders had a 26-16 win over Western Suburbs Magpies. A winning weekend for Warriors has them near the top of the ladder in both competitions...
NRL: 3rd, 14-7, 515 for / 386 against
NSW Cup: 2nd, 13-1-8, 576 for / 426 against
The NRL Warriors are on a 5-0 run since losing to Rabbitohs in round 18. Oddly, their biggest wins were against Eels and Sharks who are both hunting finals footy. Wins over Raiders, Titans and Tigers weren't so easy. Raiders are an odd footy team but good enough to play finals, while Titans and Tigers are disruptors who have nothing to lose.
NZ Warriors results since round 18 loss vs Rabbitohs...
Win vs Eels: 46-10
Win vs Sharks: 44-12
Win vs Raiders: 21-20
Win vs Titans: 28-18
Win vs Tigers: 30-22
Warriors haven't played their best footy for a few weeks now. I'm pondering the balance of gritty wins by any means vs dominant mahi heading into finals. There isn't anything easy about defeating Titans or Tigers at this stage of the season. Titans were fizzed up for a physical clash with a unique dose of speed. Tigers provided a funkier attacking style - with minimal defensive grit.
Tigers weren't really building anything throughout their loss to Warriors and, like Titans, their tries came from flashes of magic. Warriors, on the other hand, had their three starting middle forwards register a linebreak or a try against Tigers despite their disjointed attacking flow.
Warriors went right through the middle of Tigers. Addin Fonua-Blake was bonkers...
71mins, 1 try, 27 runs - 270m @ 10m/run, 6 tackle busts, 27 tackles @ 93%.
Warriors cruised through the middle with ease. That starts with Fonua-Blake but it's important to note the yin-yang combo with Tohu Harris. Fonua-Blake is 1st for post contact metres in the NRL, with solid defence and 5-10 passes per game. Harris is 21st for tackles made and leads the Warriors (20 more tackles than Jackson Ford), churns out solid running mahi and has 15-20 passes per game. Harris averages 132m/game and is tackling with 94.2% efficiency.
Perhaps part of Warriors not quite playing their best footy features coach Andrew Webster managing his roster. Along with the Bunty Afoa/Tom Ale tweak…
Jazz Tevaga's first stanza this season featured five games of 40+ minutes, three of which were 60+ minutes. Since returning from injury, Tevaga has 21 and 22mins.
Walker has played 40+ minutes in every game this season except the last two. 30mins vs Titans and then 20mins vs Tigers.
Coach Webster may be juggling workloads and ensuring everyone is ready for various roles. Warriors were also impacted by the loss of Wayde Egan during the Tigers game. Bayley Sironen played 45+ minutes for the first time this season with 58mins. While he's not a hooker, he is capable of nifty craft to disguise passes as he did for Harris' try.
Changes in the NRL team impact NSW Cup. Taine Tuaupiki played NRL, Afoa dropped down to NSW Cup and Freddy Lussick only played the first half vs Magpies before being 18th geezer for the NRL squad. SG Ball graduate Patrick Moimoi was a late inclusion at centre and he is another powerful outside back on the rise from De La Salle College.
After finishing SG Ball (U19), Moimoi popped up for Mt Albert in Fox Premiership. Mt Albert won the Fox Prem Plate Grand Final on Saturday and while they didn't have Moimoi, they had William Piliu at fullback and Raphael Sio on the wing. Both are hearty Warriors juniors who played SG Ball.
Selumiela (Leka) Halasima is still awesome. Not sure if he is still 17-years-old or now 18, but he had another 80min performance vs Magpies with a signature try. While probably still at school (Southern Cross), Halasima has played seven consecutive games of 80mins and played full games in nine of his last 10 games. 17 games overall covering edge and middle forward as well as plugging holes at centre. Halasima has a tackle break in every game, 105m/game and 21 tackles/game @ 88.6%.
As much as I appreciate Halasima as one of the best young prospect across the NRL, Warriors have many high calibre youngins. Demitric Sifakula and Ali Leiataua have already played NRL. Moala Graham-Taufa will be an NRL factor next season. Moimoi is settling into reserve grade. Eddie Ieremia and Etuate Fukofuka are fabulous juniors. Jacob Laban is just as good as Halasima as an SG Ball lad playing NSW Cup, same thing for Tanner Stowers-Smith.
I love Zyon Maiu'u though. No one runs as hard as Maiu'u in the NSW Cup team, including NRL forwards Ale and Afoa. In recent podcasts I have talked about Maiu'u being a cult hero as soon as he takes a run for the NRL Warriors. Don't be tricked by Maiu'u dropping to the bench for the last three games after starting 18 games in a row. This dude is an absolute monster.
Georgia Hale is still the best tackler in NRLW by a hefty margin. Hale made 55 tackles @ 100% in the Titans loss vs Knights. Abigail Roache scored two tries for Knights and Mele Hufanga also scored a lovely try in the Broncos win over Eels.
Georgia Hale: 210 tackles @ 99.5%
Simaima Taufa: 156 tackles @ 96.3%
Alexis Taunaneai: 138 tackles @ 96.5%
Mariah Denman: 136 tackles @ 82.9%
Sara Sautia: 121 tackles @ 91.7%
NRLWahine stat leaders
Tackles
Georgia Hale: 1st
Alexis Tauaneai: 3rd
Tries
Mele Hufanga: 1st
Leianne Tufuga: 3rd
Abigail Roache: 4th
Linebreaks
Leianne Tufuga: 1st
Mele Hufanga: 3rd
Post Contact Metres
Annessa Biddle: 1st
Tackle Breaks
Mele Hufanga: 3rd
Cheyelle Robins-Reti: 6th
Offloads
Alexis Tauaneai: 6th
NRLWahine Team of the Week
Fullback: Apii Nicholls
Wingers: Leianne Tufuga, Annessa Biddle
Centres: Abigail Roache, Mele Hufanga
Halves: Tyla Nathan-Wong, Gayle Broughton
Middles: Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale, Teuila Fotu-Moala
Edges: Otesa Pule, Kerehitina Matua
Musical jam…
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Wildcard’s Notebook
Chris Wood only got about ten minutes (most of that injury time) in Nottingham Forest’s season opener but that was more than enough to book a kiwi football milestone. That appearance meant that we’ve now gone twenty consecutive seasons with a New Zealander playing in the English Premier League.
Lee Norfolk got there first with three games for Ipswich Town in 1994-95, then Danny Hay was next with four matches for Leeds in the 2000-01 season. However The Streak began with Ryan Nelsen’s debut for Blackburn Rovers, leading into Chris Wood at Burnley/Newcastle/Nottm Forest, with Winston Reid’s West Ham days overlapping them. Bit of Simon Elliott in there too, to be fair.
In fact Chris Wood is now only one game away from matching Nelsen’s NZ appearance record in this competition. This was game 197, Nelsen made it to 198. So here he set the 20-season streak. Next game he’ll tie Nelsen. Game after that he’ll surpass him. Then the one after that will be Prem game 200 for The Woodsman. Alas, it’s likely they’ll all be 5-10 minute cameos but then again perhaps he’ll bag a winning goal in one of them.
Most Premier League apps by NZers:
198 - Ryan Nelsen
197 - Chris Wood
166 - Winston Reid
12 - Simon Elliott
4 - Danny Hay
3 - Lee Norfolk
Most Premier League goals by NZers:
55 - Chris Wood
9 - Ryan Nelsen
6 - Winston Reid
The Tall Blacks have played a couple more games as they continue their World Cup preparations. They’ve been in Germany lately where they met Canada and then China in a small friendly tournament. Annoyingly, they lost both games... doing so in very different manners. Neither of these games were televised for NZ audiences by the way.
Against Canada they were pumped by one of the best teams on the planet. It was 16-all midway through the first quarter but then Canada stretched it out before scoring 39 points in the second frame and it ended up as a 107-76 defeat. The pesky Canadians were stacked with NBA talent. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points on 9/12 shooting in less than twenty minutes of action. RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, Dwight Powell & Kelly Olynyk filled out the starters. SGA and Brooks are past teammates of Steven Adams while Olynyk was drafted with the pick directly after Steve-o back in 2023. They also had two more ex-Steve teammates on the bench in Lu Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Weird how that goes.
Turnovers were a big issues for the TBs same as they were in the game they lost to Japan on the previous leg of this tour. Finn Delany had eight of them all on his own... although he also top scored for NZ with 13 points including 3/6 from deep – FD’s three-point shooting could be a sneaky factor at the World Cup. Again there was no Shea Ili but this time Isaac Fotu did kit up and log 14 mins with 11 points. Yanni Wetzell and Flynn Cameron were the other two kiwis in double figures.
Aotearoa fared better against China in the next match but alas they were pipped at the post for a 69-68 defeat. An Izayah Le’Afa turnover with eight seconds to go kept them from getting up a potential match-winning shot. NZ had led for most of the game, including at the ends of each of the first three quarters, but they couldn’t get it done late on. Only shot 2/10 in the last six minutes of the game. Again there were too many turnovers. 21 of them in total. It’s one thing to do that against a Canadian team with that calibre of defenders but they’ll need to be better than this if they’re going to advance at the World Cup.
Delany had 12pts/5ast/5reb in 30 minutes (and only 1 TO this time). Flynn Cameron scored 12 points on 4/6 shooting. They did get beaten on the boards for the first time in four matches but their shooting percentages were pretty good again. 40% from three against Canada, 38% from three against China in a low scoring game. It’s getting to the shot that seems to be the issue. But hey it’s much better to get these things out of the way with early when there’s still time to learn from them. Major positive: Shea Ili played 10 minutes and was a team-best +13 on the floor. Clearly he and Delany are going to be the key blokes at this tournament.
China’s best? That would be Li Kaier who scored 18 points off the bench with 5 assists and 4 steals. Heck of a player, that fella. You may know him better by his English name: Kyle Anderson. Yes the same Kyle Anderson who was a teammate of Steven Adams in his first year in Memphis.
The TBs will be meeting another teammate of Steve’s when they face USA to open their World Cup because Jaren Jackson Jr was voted Team USA’s best player through their preparations so far. Ah but blessedly they won’t have to deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo who has withdrawn from the Greece squad after knee surgery a month ago. He gave it a shot but he’s not going to be ready in time (but he promised to be there at the Olympics next year).
Weekly Domestic Football Roundup...
Did somebody say Kate Sheppard Cup semi-finals? Yep somebody did. It was Eastern Suburbs vs Wellington United and it was Western Springs vs Coastal Spirit. Both games crossing over the regions. National League talent splashed throughout all four teams. Eastern Subs named a line-up about as close as they’ve been to last year’s NL champions as we’ve seen for a long time... and yet it wasn’t enough against the Diamonds of Welly Utd. Sarah Alder’s 70th minute goal was the difference, Alder whipping in an inswinging left-footer directly from a corner kick. Suburbs had a lot more of the ball but weren’t able to break down the WU defence – anchored by Zoe Barrott and Hope Gilchrist.
So Wellington United are through to the KSC final and there they’ll meet... Western Springs. Continuing on their sharp form, Springs were able to get past Coastal Spirit (currently second in the South Island League) in a game that was at once even closer and also somehow more comfortable in its margins than the other semi. Celia Mayo scored first for Springs inside twenty mins, nudging in at the back stuck from a Lara Colpi cross. That was the way it stayed up until the 68th min when Whitney Hepburn equalised with a header from Lauren Dabner’s corner kick.
There was nothing to split them after ninety to onwards we went into extra time. Take note of the presence of Alyssa Whinham for Spirit – one of a handful of Welly Nixers who’ve been getting winter reps at club footy. Yet it was veteran Liz Savage for Western Springs who made the diffo. Great interception down the right wing then a cross which somehow floated into the goal despite a very narrow angle. 97th minute go-ahead goal. WSAFC then romped home from there. Megan Lee (105’) and Maia Lythe (109’) each scored before Savage added a second on 118’ – all three were substitutes brought on after an hour. Quite possibly the greatest triple sub ever made. Western Springs won it 5-1 after extra time and they’ll be there on cup final day too.
Chatham Cup semis are next weekend. Christchurch United vs Eastern Suburbs. Melville United vs Waterside Karori. Should be good.
Wellington Olympic are Central League champions for the third year in a row. The three-peat complete. The Greeks were too good for Stop Out in a crazy match. They were 2-0 up, then suddenly 3-2 down at half-time with ex-Olympic striker Conor Gaul getting a brace for the visitors. But they stormed on to a 6-3 win and, coupled with an extra youthful Wellington Phoenix team losing 4-1 to Napier City, it’s now impossible for Wellington Olympic to be caught. Huge win for NCR too – they’re up to third now only a point behind the WeeNix. Doesn’t matter for the Nix because they get National League entry regardless but this was a crucial win for Napier City as they charge towards qualification.
On the flipside, Western Suburbs are slipping up at the wrong time. They only drew 1-1 with last-placed Whanganui Athletic. Huge point for the latter as North Wellington also lost so there’s still life in the relegation battle yet, only two points between them. And the team that beat NW was Petone who did it 3-0 and yes Matt Brazier scored, of course he did. That lifts Petone up ahead of Wests by a point with two weeks remaining. NCR are one further point ahead of them. Only two of those teams can make the Nats. And despite Miramar Rangers winning 2-1 against Waterside Karori, they’re officially out of the top four hunt now. Funky days.
No surprises that Christchurch United won again in the Southern League. 6-1 against Nelson Suburbs with Eoghan Stokes and Sam Philip both scoring hat-tricks. The Rams need one point from their remaining three games to clinch the title... and they’re unbeaten all season so might as well clear space on the shelf already. At least Cashmere Technical kept it alive for one more week thanks to a 4-1 victory against Dunedin City Royals. More importantly that win secured them National League footy again. The two Southern League entrants are confirmed and they’re the same two teams as last year.
The Northern League had midweek games with Eastern Suburbs beating Takapuna 5-2 and Auckland City beating Hamilton Wanderers 2-0. Tidy wins for the title contenders. Auckland chased that with a 2-0 win over Takapuna with Angus Kilkolly scoring both goals. Ah but Eastern Suburbs did not. They were held 1-1 by relegation threatened Bay Olympic. Liam Bailey with the second half leveller. Finally a break after weeks of ACFC and the Lilywhites matching serve for serve. City are now two points clear and can lift the trophy again if they win out.
Auckland United were smooth sailors with a 4-0 win over West Coast Rangers. They’re going back to the National League thanks to that, in fact both the men’s and women’s teams at AUFC will be there for the second year running. Eastern Suburbs have also matched them in that this year and Western Springs maybe could too... but then again maybe not after their fellas lost 1-0 to Manurewa in a massive match. Monty Patterson with the only goal in the 29th minute.
Rewa are now seven points clear in fourth with three games to go. South Auckland represent... although the other South Auckland team, Manukau United, did concede an 88th minute winner to lose 2-1 to Hamilton Wanderers. Hard to see them staying up from here but it ain’t over yet. A Curtis Hughes double gave Birkenhead a 2-0 win over Melville in the other match. Both of those clubs made the NL in 2022. Neither will in 2023.