Natural Reliability
Natural Reliability
National League football, NRL/NRLW goodness, Tauihi basketball grand final, NZ men's U20 footy squad,
Kia ora and welcome to The Niche Cache. There are many ways to support our mahi. Patreon has an extra podcast each week. Word of mouth works great too. Engagement is fabulous and if you’re on our website, dwell on those ads. Love ya self.
Podcast
Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | Youtube
Reading Menu
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Straight Outta Cook Islands With Kayal Iro (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Ka Pai Kelston With Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega (Rugby League)
The Football Ferns Are Staying Busy, Here’s Another Squad Write-Up (Football)
Blackcaps Winter Tour Notebook Dump (Cricket)
Returning To The Suzie Bates Status-Quo (Cricket)
Looks Like The Wellington Phoenix Blokes Are Embarking On Another Aussie Cup Run (Football)
Flying Kiwis – August 23 (Football)
27fm Weekly Playlist - August 29 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
Reliable like nature...
Lydia Ko racked up another top-10 finish in Canada, finishing 4th with an epic final round of -8. Ko steadily improved through each round and not only does Ko's results page have a lot of single digits, her stat page looks lovely as Ko is either second or third in Putts per GiR, Putting Average, Sand Saves, Scoring Average, Rounds Under Par and Birdies.
Ko is also third in CME Globe Season and Rolex Rankings. In June Ko had a 46T she has since brushed that aside as a blip among fantastic mahi as Ko got straight back into a run of top-10 results. Ko is first for top-10 finishes this year.
Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly scoring tries in a Knights team that has started strongly this season, without all their kiwi wahine. Knights have wins over Broncos and Titans, with Stephens-Daly doing her job as a finisher.
Georgia Hale is first for tackles in NRLW, fresh off 50 tackles vs Knights. Hale leads all players for tackles and making that many tackles usually results in a few misses, but Hale has missed just one tackle in each game. Eels forward Simaima Taufa is second for tackles and she has missed 10 tackles.
Unfortunately for Broncos and Amber Hall's excellence, they have lost their first two games. Broncos recruited Kiwi Ferns veteran Nita Maynard to play hooker and she is first in missed tackles, missing 16 tackles across two games. That's more missed tackles in two games than Maynard has had in any of her four seasons prior.
Kelston Boys High School is incredibly reliable. I reckon KBHS is the best footy school in Aotearoa. Best footy school feels like a better honour than 1st 15 school, even though those 1st 15 schools produce lots of NRL talent, because KBHS combine elite league and union. KBHS win championships in both and produce talent. Many schools shine in both codes and Rotorua Boys High School feels next best ... perhaps KBHS has taken over from RBHS in this top spot.
KBHS now has back to back 1st 15 championships. This puts KBHS alongside Mt Albert Grammar (2009-10) and St Kentigern College (2011-13) in consecutive championship since 2000. KBHS won NZRL National Secondary Schools championships in 2003, 2013 and 2014 before finishing second in 2016 and 2017, then winning in 2018.
A measles outbreak in 2019 means that the NSST tournament returns this week in Rotorua for the first time since 2018. Think about the Kiwi-NRL explosion since 2018 (Kiwis team with five Warriors for their last Test of 2018 vs Kiwis with no Warriors mid-2022) and that has taken place without the NSST. There has been lots of NZRL regional tournaments and representative fixtures for NRL teams to scout, but the NSST will be a mandatory event for every NRL scouting office and player agents.
Here are some notable lads from tournament team named after the last two NSST…
2017: Konrad Tu’ua (Tweed Heads), Kayal Iro (Sharks), Hayze Perham (Eels), Tom Ale (Warriors), Tukimihia Simpkins (Tigers), William Fakatoumafi (Panthers), Starford To’a (Tigers), Sione Moala (Raiders), Christian Tuipulotu (Sea Eagles), Caius Fa’atili (Wynnum), Jordan Riki (Broncos).
2018: Moala Graham-Taufa (Eels), Christian Tuipulotu (Sea Eagles), Sione Moala (Raiders), Caius Fa’atili (Wynnum), Konrad Tu’ua (Tweed Heads), Tukimihia Simpkins (Tigers), Jonah Palota-Kopa (Sea Eagles).
That starts tomorrow and KBHS will be eager to defend their championship belt. Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega played in the 2018 championship and made his debut for Sea Eagles this round, shining in 1st 15 and league for KBHS. KBHS do what the fancy schools tend not to do in celebrating their cross-code ability, not only allowing them to play both codes but doing so with a certain tinge of excellence.
However that has come about (Autex sponsor KBHS footy and that dude owns NZ Warriors), KBHS win championships in both codes and produce professional blokes. Tuaimalo-Vaega made his debut alongside Josh Aloiai and Junior Pauga started on the wing for Tigers as KBHS jokers now in NRL. There is an army of lads on the rise from KBHS featuring Naufahu Whyte (Roosters) and Zyon Maiu'u (Warriors).
Xavier Tito-Harris continues to be the big prospect out of schoolboy footy, playing fullback for KBHS and playing both codes while at KBHS. Tito-Harris has featured in numerous NZ Warriors junior stuff and performing at this level in 1st 15 obviously generates Super Rugby interest. Whether Tito-Harris plays at the NSST this week may offer clarity.
KBHS is a reliable footy school, perhaps the best in Aotearoa.
Ali Leiataua has been a reliable figure for Warriors/Redcliffe Under 21s and this team has been a reliable pocket of intrigue all seasons. Redcliffe had a 42-2 win over Sunshine Coast to settle into third ahead of finals footy and having played all season at centre, Leiataua popped up in the halves. Leiataua scored a try and had 10 tries in eight games prior to this round.
Kina and Valingi Kepu started as props, Jacob Laban (had a year at KBHS) on an edge and Maiu'u at lock. Lleyton Finau and Demitric Sifakula came off the bench as they have done for a few weeks - Sifakula returned from a long injury break to play a few games before finals.
Nature is reliable and make sure you tap in with Kevin Iro who has been a major factor in establishing a comprehensive marine reserve around Cook Islands via 'Marae Moana'. Kevin's son Kayal made his debut for Sharks this round.
Tim Southee has been reliable for Aotearoa and this an enticing juncture for the veteran seamer. Southee's worst format has been ODIs and if Trent Boult plays less ODI cricket, that might open up space for Southee as opposed to fringe options like Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy and so on.
Since the start of 2019, Matt Henry has played 24 ODI games and Southee has played 11. Despite playing three or fewer ODI games in three consecutive years, Trent Boult has played 27 ODI games since 2019. All it takes is Southee playing a few more ODI games to plug the ODI hole left by Boult - if Southee is good enough.
Southee took 7w in 22 overs @ 4rpo vs West Indies which is far better than 4w in 29ov @ 6.47rpo in 2020. Southee was in his best phase of Test bowling for four years prior to 2022, while his T20I mahi kept improving and hit a peak last year for the T20 World Cup. A key theme of Blackcaps culture is how players chase improvement, which leaves me intrigued about Southee’s performances against Australia and beyond.
Funky hip-hop from reliable sources...
Madlib & Declaime - In The Beginning (Vol 4)
Roc Marciano & The Alchemist - The Elephant Man’s Bones
Wildcard’s Notebook
Outstanding areas in the Tauihi basketball grand final. The semis on Friday night weren’t up to much as the Northern Kāhu burst out to a big lead early on against the Whai. They were leading 23-6 after the first quarter but then settled back into cruise control over the next couple frames as the Whai closed things up thanks in large part to the work of import Kyra Lambert. The lead got as low as five points late in the third. Then the Kāhu stepped it back up in the fourth. Krystal Leger-Walker and Marte Grays were both fantastic and the league MVP Tahlia Tupaea absolutely bossed the fourth quarter. 78-63 final score.
Straight afterwards it was a similar journey as the Tokomanawa Queens beat Mainland Pouākai by a score of 92-68. There were only two points in it at the half but then the Queens went into overdrive with Florencia Chagas, Jaime Nared, and Stella Beck leading the way. Queens blowing them out in the end. Might’ve been different had Tessa Boagni and Mary Goulding been fit for the Pouākai but so it goes. No doubt at all about who was the best team on the night. Or over the course of the season, to be fair.
Northern Kāhu vs Tokomanawa Queens was an ideal final match-up. The two semis may have ended up being kinda routine but the final was much tougher to predict as the two strongest teams throughout the season competed for the silverware.
The Queens didn’t even score for the first four minutes (whereas the Kāhu scored on the opening possession thanks to Micaela Cocks) but were able to get a few things going at the free throw line and Jacinta Beckley drilled a corner three right at the end of the first. That tied it up for the first time since that opening possession and it was back and forth for the rest of the half. Tough, physical defence was the theme of the game. Krystal Leger-Walker got a couple early fouls. Jaime Nared was in the same boat.
But a 12-2 Queens run in the third blew this thing wide open. Chagas was the catalyst with a bit of help from Nared. A sudden run of scoring in an otherwise close game establishing a lead that would last the rest of the way. The Kāhu only scored 8 points in the third quarter. Difficult times. What Northern needed was a run of their own but that wasn’t gonna be possible unless they could slow down Florencia Chagas and Jaime Nared and... they just couldn’t. Timely buckets the rest of the way kept the Queens ahead by an arm’s length.
And there you have it: the Tokomanawa Queens are the inaugural champions of Tauihi basketball.
Florencia Chagas was a deserving Grand Final MVP with 22 points shooting 50% from the field with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and a couple of steals. She, along with Stella Beck, played all forty minutes. Never subbed. 36 year old Micaela Cocks also played a complete game for the Kāhu, impressively. Chagas was aided by Nared’s 14 points - the American only shot 4/18 but she made all six free throws and scored a couple key buckets early in the fourth.
Stella Beck was the glue for them as always, the captain leading from the front especially with her defensive effort (5 steals). And 19yo Taranaki youngster Parris Mason (an age-grade international in basketball, netball, and touch rugby) chipped in with 7 points and 4 boards off the bench and the best plus/minus in the game (+13). The worst, surprisingly, was MVP Tahlia Tupaea with -13 in her 34 mins, shooting 5/17 for 12 points. Jaime Nared wasn’t at her best offensively but she did a fantastic job on Tupaea defensively and that was crucial to the title win.
After the men’s NBL, I served up the season leaders counting only the local players. The Tauihi probably had a bigger gap between the calibre of the import players and the average rotation-level kiwi player – which is about as expected for the first year of a new professional league. But while the imports dominated the end of season awards, with Micaela Cocks the only NZer in the all-star five and all the individual awards going to overseas players, there was always a strong local presence on the court. So here’s the Tauihi version of the kiwi-only leaderboards, including where they rank overall when counting everybody. Also I’m ignoring anyone who played five or fewer games to keep the sample sizes up.
POINTS
Micaela Cocks – 17.4 points per game (5 overall)
Sharne Robati – 12.1 (9)
Stella Beck – 11.5 (12)
Akiene-Tera Reed – 10.4 (15)
Tiarna Clarke – 9.5 (16)
REBOUNDS
Tessa Boagni – 7.8 (3)
Mary Goulding – 6.3 (9)
Akiene-Tera Reed – 6.3 (10)
Stella Beck – 6.1 (11)
Zoe Richards – 5.5 (13)
ASSISTS
Krystal Leger-Walker – 4.2 (3)
Micaela Cocks – 3.6 (6)
Stella Beck – 3.4 (7)
Mary Goulding – 3.0 (9)
Lauryn Hippolite – 2.9 (10)
STEALS
Stella Beck – 2.5 (3)
Krystal Leger-Walker – 2.4 (5)
Micaela Cocks – 1.4 (10)
Samara Gallagher – 1.4 (11)
Gabriella Fotu – 1.3 (12)
Oh mate, here’s a tale. Following on from the National League yarns on Friday we had an incredible weekend of domestic football, headlined by a Southern League title race that went down to the actual wire. Photo finish material.
As detailed on Friday, Cashmere Technical’s 1-0 win over Christchurch United had broken CU’s undefeated league streak and drawn them level on points heading into the final round. Cashy Tech were up on goal difference by six goals. If both teams won then that’s what Chch Utd would have to overcome but at least they were up against last-placed Mosgiel whereas Tech had a tricky trip away to Dunedin City Royals. Both games kicked off simultaneously.
10 minutes in, United were already up 2-0 in their game. Cashmere Tech would take a 24th min lead in theirs but were dragged back for a 1-1 score at half-time whereas Christchurch United scored three more times to be up 5-0 lead at the same point. If Tech scored then they’d go back ahead but that six-goal advantage was in danger if Chch kept up that pace.
Two goals in three mins meant that Cashy Tech were leading 3-1 a little after the 60 minute mark. United led 6-0 by then. Dunedin City scored again ten mins later but then another quick pair of strikes had Cashmere Tech up 5-2 after 75 mins. Still 6-0 in the other game. As it stood, both would finish on 49 points but Technical’s goal difference was sitting at +61 while United were back at +58. Three goals between them, Cashmere Tech with the tie-breaker split thanks to goals scored. Fifteen minutes remaining.
DCR scored in the 80th minute for 5-3. Christchurch United went up 7-0 at about the same time. Only one goal between them now. Then United scored again. And again. And again. Plus Technical conceded in the fifth minute of stoppage time. 5-4 win for Cashmere Tech and a 10-0 win for Christchurch United. Christchurch United lifted the Southern League title with a couple goals to spare. Unreal.
Elsewhere the Central League (almost) wrapped up with Wellington Olympic beating Havelock North 7-1 while Miramar Rangers hung on after two early own goals in their favour for a 2-1 win over Napier City Rovers to ensure that the postponed September 23 meeting between those two clubs will decide the title. Olympic are two points ahead of Rangers, so a win or a draw and they get the trophy. But if Miramar win then it’ll be all theirs. Exciting. Shame we have to wait an entire month for that.
The Northern League may have won more week left but Manukau United went down to Hamilton Wanderers and beat them 2-1 while Melville United beat North Shore 3-0. Either of those results was enough to ensure that Melville booked a top four spot and the National League qualification that comes with it. Hence I can update this little ditty from Friday of the qualified NL teams.
Here, ladies and gents, is what the National League will look like in 2022:
Women: Northern Rovers, Western Springs, Eastern Suburbs, Auckland United, Central, Capital, Canterbury Pride, Southern United
Men: Auckland City, Birkenhead, Auckland United, Melville United, Wellington Olympic, Miramar Rangers, Wellington Phoenix Reserves, Napier City Rovers, Christchurch United, Cashmere Technical
We’ve just finished up the latest Women’s U20 football cycle, now it’s time to turn the attentions towards the Men’s U20 team. Oceania Football have released the submitted 26-man squads for all the nations heading to the OFC U19 Championships in Tahiti starting next week. This is the Aotearoa selection, to be coached by Darren Bazeley (pretty sure they’re ordered by shirt number)...
Joseph Knowles – Eastern Suburbs (GK)
Jackson Jarvie – Eastern Suburbs
Adam Supyk – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Isaac Hughes – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Finn Surman – Wellington Phoenix
Fin Conchie – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Noah Karunaratne – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Jackson Manuel – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Oliver Colloty – Melville United
Jay Herdman - Whitecaps FC 2
Oliver Fay – Auckland United
Oscar Mason – Napier City Rovers (GK)
Lukas Kelly-Heald – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Marco Lorenz – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Aaryan Raj – Eastern Suburbs
Dan McKay – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Sebastian Barton-Ginger – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Charlie Beale – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Kian Donkers – Cashmere Technical
Josh Rudland – Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Theo Ettema - Wellington Olympic
Everton O’Leary – Birkenhead United
Henry Gray – Waterside Karori (GK)
Wilson Souphanthavong – Miramar Rangers
Chase Taylor – Birkenhead United
Regan Diver – Northern Rovers (GK)
No surprises that there’s an extremely heavy Wellington Phoenix representation in this group. Recent NZ youth teams have been dominated by players from the WeeNix and the Ole Academy but Ole are kinda in between generations at the moment. Western Suburbs went from fourth place in the Central League in 2021, qualifying for the National League, to only barely avoiding relegation by two measly points in 2022.
They’ll come back around soon enough but that’s why there isn’t a single current Western Suburbs dude in that group... whereas nearly half of them are Welly Nixers – including senior contracted Finn Surman (but not including Henry Gray who has only recently graduated from the academy having spent some time with the Welly Nix A-League squad in Oz last season).
Big shout from Surman to show up to qualifiers. The fully pro fellas don’t always appear until the tournament itself so his presence is a funky one.
Anyone born after 1 January 2003 is eligible for next year’s U20 World Cup (hence why the qualifying tournament a year out is an U19 one) so there are a few overseas blokes who should come in contention down the line. Ole Academy grad Kees Sims for one. Maybe they can convince the multi-national Matt Dibley-Dias to play for his birth nation (unlikely). There’s a kiwi-born goalie named Lawton Green at Greenock Morton in the second tier of Scotland. USA colleges have surely got plenty in attendance. That’s only a quick squizz through some notes for eligible fellas. Bound to be heaps more.
The one overseas fella in the squad is Jay Herdman. 18 year old midfielder who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps youth team in MLS Next Pro. Come up through the ranks in Canada including playing for their U20 team but here’s the thing: he was born in Invercargill. His dad is John Herdman, the Englishman who moved to Aotearoa in the early 2000s and coached the Football Ferns between 2006-2011 before moving to Canada, first coaching their women’s side and since 2018 coaching their men’s side – recently leading them to a first World Cup for 36 years. Good get.
The majority of this squad will play National League after they come back from this tournament. Plenty of chances to get a proper look at the players whom NZ Football have determined are the best prospects of their generation.
Enjoyed this short Fazerdaze doco ahead of her upcoming album. No shortage of wicked kiwi tunes these days, that’s for sure. The new Recitals album on Flying Nun is red hot too. Also Troy Kingi’s announced his latest genre exploration and we’re in for an 80s synth treat.