Next One Up
Next One Up
Kiwi NRL prospects, Macey Fraser replacements for the Phoenix, NZ Athletics team for Paris 2024, Lydia Ko, Blackcaps, Steven Adams & more
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Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Early Season Deep Dive (Rugby League)
Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Preview Notes vs Dragons (Rugby League)
The Wellington Phoenix A-League Women’s 2023-24 Season In Review (Football)
Notes From The Wellington Phoenix’s Soggy Last-Gasp Win vs Melbourne Victory (Football)
Flying Kiwis – April 16 (Football)
Macey Fraser Signs With Utah Royals: A Unique Journey, A Record Fee & Wellington Phoenix Pathways (Football)
Breaking Down The Blackcaps T20 Squad To Tour Pakistan (Cricket)
Updating The Blackcaps vs Pakistan T20 Squad Breakdown (Cricket)
2024 Kiwi County Tour: Nathan Smith In A Groove With Worcestershire (Cricket)
Scotty’s Word
Lydia Ko is in action this weekend in Texas and she started with -3 in the first round which has her tied-4th. Most of her LPGA stats are similar to when she was playing well in 2022 but there is a small and notable increase in her driving accuracy. When Ko has previously hovered around 70% driving accuracy (2018/19) she was averaging 245m. Now she has found a balance of longer and more accurate drives, which is aided by technology but also offers an indicator of how well Ko is playing.
2018: 69.63% - ranked 107th | 245.9m - 131
2019: 70.08% - 102 | 245.47m - 152
2020: 66.62% - 128 | 254.42m - 57
2021: 65.52% - 132 | 259.21m - 64
2022: 66.44% - 140 | 255.34m - 90
2023: 62.61% - 156 | 251.71m - 114
2023: 69.88% - 106 | 252.54m - 108
The first Blackcaps vs Pakistan T20 was washed out, but only after Tim Robinson had his stumps knocked over on debut (Robinson will whack boundaries and lots of his dismissals could be 'bowled'). Here is the team selected and lads not picked for the first game...
Team vs Pakistan:
Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Dean Foxcroft, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Ben Lister
Players not used:
Tom Blundell, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Will O'Rourke
Aotearoa Kiwis things...
Emerging Kiwi-NRL juniors yet to play for NZ:
Naufahu Whyte (Bay Roskill), Jordan Riki (Hornby), Xavier Willison (Waikato), Will Warbrick (Kawerau), Rocco Berry (Greytown), Deine Mariner (Marist), Jesse Arthars (East Coast Bays), Alec MacDonald (Auckland), Daejarn Asi (Aranui), Jacob Laban (Te Aroha), Keano Kini (Northcote)
Kiwi-NRL juniors who recently debuted:
Leo Thompson (Napier), Griffin Neame (Greymouth), Matthew Timoko (Otahuhu)
Australian born/bred players who may pursure Aotearoa Kiwis:
Bailey Simonsson, Reimis Smith, Joe Chan, Trey Mooney, Benjamin Te Kura, Jack Howarth
Scott Sorenson and Sebastian Kris are from Australia but played for NZ at the World Cup.
Kiwi-NRL juniors in SG Ball Finals this weekend…
Bulldogs: Roy Tatupu (MAGS), Sosaia Alatini (Hornby), Sione Siulua (Manurewa) - Shaye Faa'aoga (Pt Chev)
Knights: Sosaia Latu, Haami Loza (Mangere East), Te Kaio Cranwell (Linwood), Bailey Carmichael (RBHS)
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
The Aussie NBL made a big deal about their Free Agency period opening on Monday and there was a heap of initial signing news... then nothing really happened for the rest of the week, lol. But one thing that did pop up out of the blue was Melbourne United signing Rob Loe on a one-year contract. Yessir, he’s coming out of retirement again and this time for the full season not just the start of it.
Loe was an injury replacement for United in NBL24 while Jo Lual-Acuil was out for the first couple months of the campaign. Loe featured in eight games and United went 7-1 with an obscenely good defence. He only averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game but did a brilliant job within their system, far beyond what a back-up big man would’ve been expected to. He had a Defensive Rating of 98.0 in his 120 minutes of court time. Literally nobody else for any team all season could match that.
There was talk about Loe potentially being able to return in case of further injury as their designated IR... but Loe brushed that off at the time and it never happened. Seemed like he was happy to return to retirement. Except now old mate Dean Vickerman has coaxed him back again on a one-year deal, clearly making Loe a priority after JLA chose to explore his overseas options rather than return. They’ll probably sign an import big to start ahead of him but Loe’s knowledge of that playbook made him a rare asset.
As well as the fact that they were probably the only team who could have convinced him. He’s obviously not on idea terms with the Breakers or else he’d still be there and it’s unlikely he’d move to Aussie for any other situation given how much he’s stressed his young family being his priority. Seems like Melbourne United have taken care of those worries for him. Glad to see him back in the Aussie NBL because there’s absolutely no doubt that he’s still good enough to contribute at that level. He’ll join fellow kiwis Shea Ili and Flynn Cameron at Melbs Utd, both of whom remain under contract.
NZers Contracted for NBL25 As It Stands
Melbourne United – Shea Ili, Flynn Cameron, Rob Loe
Perth Wildcats – Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Dontae Russo-Nance (DP)
NZ Breakers – Sam Mennenga
Brisbane Bullets – Tyrell Harrison
Cairns Taipans – Sam Waardenburg
Tasmania JackJumpers – Walter Brown (DP)
Mixed messages out there as to the status of Breakers DPs Alex McNaught, Max Darling, and Carlin Davison. Some suggest they have another year, other sources don’t count them. It’s always a bit slippery with Development Players so we’ll wait until the team confirms them or not – the other two DPs mentioned have been specified, in fact DRN had his deal renegotiated with Perth (an extra DP year instead of full roster status in order for them to have more flexibility with local signings).
With Macey Fraser leaving the Wellington Phoenix for bigger and brighter skies, the question becomes: How do they replace her? This was a player who stepped into the first team and was immediately one of their most crucial players. She was key to the Small Ball strategy. Eight goal contributions, including five assists (a new club record for a season). Her workrate and tenacity off the ball was clear in how many challenges she won and we know exactly what she’s capable of in a creative sense.
The simple answer is that they can’t replace her. They need to evolve around the abilities of different players. But being a developmental club as the Nix are, with a strong emphasis on the academy, there are always more players ready to step up.
Alyssa Whinham – An obvious choice as someone who predates Fraser in the Welly Nix first team. Also as someone who began to really regain her form towards the end of the past season. Whinham looks to have become a more physical player without losing her creative x-factor. Took her opportunity when it came around and should get plenty more next season... assuming she re-signs because her contract is up.
Helena Errington – Like Fraser, Errington’s got some Ole Academy heritage (a lot more of it in this case). She’s also an all-round midfielder who can contribute in any phase of possession. An excellent sense of rhythm in her passing (arguably more so than MF), doesn’t have the same direct shooting threat but she’s a highly skilled technical player who spent some time training with Sporting Lisbon before returning to the Phoenix midseason and appearing in five matches as a scholarship player. She’ll have options, same as Whinham, but if she’s back at the Nix next season then she ought to be pushing for starts flowing on from the upcoming U20 World Cup.
Alyssha Eglinton – Another technical midfielder with a great passing sense, Eglinton impressed for the NZ U16s last year and will likely be a big part of the U17 World Cup squad this year. She played regularly enough for the Phoenix Reserves in National League last year... ALW next season might be a little too soon but you never know.
Sienna Candy – Looking even further into the future, Sienna Candy was playing National League at 15 years of age last year. More of an attacking mid here, someone who has shown she’s capable of scoring banger goals for the academy sides. She’s small but she’s quick-footed and gets into good areas and clearly has plenty of fans amongst the academy coaches.
That’s four players there who give a tidy indication of how the club has fortified its pathways: one proven first team player, one emerging first team player, and a couple who could be emerging players within the next two seasons. Seeing someone like Macey Fraser leave for a brighter opportunity should be nothing but positive for fans because there is always someone else ready to take their place.
The men’s team are doing the exact same futureproofing... but then you knew that already. That’s why they gave Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues a three-year deal earlier this week. 16 years of age, the youngest ever Wellington Phoenix player after his debut against Melbourne City a few weeks ago. GSR has only played that one minute cameo (plus some stoppage time) but has been in seven matchday squads despite his age. He’s a dynamic winger with immense skills. Oskar Zawada seems to have taken him under his wings. The first two years of this contract are scholarship deals then he’ll turn pro in the 2027-28 season.
Giancarlo Italiano: “I felt as though he had a little bit of x-factor about him. He was doing things different to what the other players were. He was taking on players, dribbling, switching the ball on the run and I just felt like he had a point of difference, and I liked it. When he first came into training he showed the same thing which I saw in the game so that gave me a lot of confidence. He needs time, but after two years in this environment he’ll be flying.”
Since Italiano took over, the Phoenix have handed out nine new contracts to Academy players. Ben Old and Alex Paulsen signed three-year extensions each, while Lukas Kelly-Heald, Fin Conchie, Isaac Hughes, and Luke Supyk all earned their maiden professional deals. Alby Kelly-Heald and Matt Sheridan have also gotten multi-year scholarship deals.
I only have details going back to the 2018-19 season but that was about when the Nix Academy started ramping up so nothing before that would rival what followed that. Of those six seasons, this one has tied set records across the board. 13 academy players getting ALM minutes. Record total minutes for academny players (9538) and percentage of minutes by academy players (38.62%). Would have beaten the goals + assists record already too except that the A-League has changed Fin Surman’s goal back to an own goal again upon closer inspection. Harsh. Chiefy says he’ll still get to keep his goal bonus (but Oskar van Hattum loses out on a delicious assist).
By the way, if you’ve been paying attention to WeeNix games lately then you may have noticed two of GSR’s U17 World Cup teammates Dylan Gardiner (formerly of Hamilton Wanderers) and Nathan Walker (formerly of Fencibles) have made the move to the capital city. There were already seven Nix players in that U17s squad. Now two more have joined since. Keeping up a theme I wrote about towards the end of the Macey Fraser yarn this week – where the last U17 World Cup for the women had two WeeNix players in the squad at the time (November 2022) and by the end of last year 11 of those players had joined the WeeNix. Right now the Wellington Phoenix is the place you go if you want to take that next step towards professional football. Hopefully Auckland FC sets up something capable of rivalling that system and we can double the kiwi prospect pool.
A 15-strong Athletics team has been confirmed for the Paris Olympics. That’s two more than last time, with the possibility still that more might get added if there are late qualifiers. This of course comes hot on the heels after a spectacular showing from the NZ team at the World Indoors earlier this year.
Hamish Kerr – Men’s High Jump
Geordie Beamish – Men’s 3000m steeplechase
Eliza McCartney – Women’s Pole Vault*
Olivia McTaggart – Women’s Pole Vault*
Imogen Ayris – Women’s Pole Vault
Tom Walsh – Men’s Shot Put
Jacko Gill – Men’s Shot Put
Maddi Wesche – Women’s Shot Put
Zoe Hobbs – Women’s 100m
Sam Tanner – Men’s 1500m
Camille French – Women’s Marathon
Connor Bell – Men’s Discus
Tori Peeters – Women’s Javelin
Lauren Bruce – Women’s Hammer Throw*
Ethan Olivier – Men’s Triple Jump
*(subject to additional performance conditions)
Good yarns. See there that Geordie Beamish is running the steeplechase not the 1500m which he won gold in at the World Indoors – this is the event that he’s been prioritising though. Fact is, he didn’t qualify (nor did he really try to) for the 1500m... even his WI final was below the qualifying mark, as a slow tactical race. Sam Tanner will represent Aotearoa in the 1500m instead. There’s always someone in that distance.
Special shout out to Camille French who became a mother in 2022 and has made her way back to a second Olympics after doing the 5k and 10k in Tokyo. Also Ethan Olivier who is only 18 years old. Zoe Hobbs will be the first kiwi woman to race the 100m in the Olympics since 1976. It’s been exactly 100 years since Arthur Porritt won bronze in the Men’s 100m, no NZer has even made a final in that event, men or women, since. The best medal chances from this contingent are Tom Walsh, Hamish Kerr, and Eliza McCartney.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka:
“You add Tari (Eason) to the mix, and Steven Adams to the mix, another offseason under our belt to kinda hit the ground running. Look at all those things and there should be quite a bit of improvement just with that.”
Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone:
“We’re ecstatic that we have Steven Adams and we think he’s going to add a real element to us.”
I’m telling ya, the Houston Rockets are positioned exactly where the Memphis Grizzlies were when Steven Adams rolled up and as long as that knee is going good then he’s poised to have a very similar impact. Memphis ultimately dropped the ball on that by failing to create the right culture around their young players, then eventually trading away Steven Adams despite all the ways in which he kept them together. If the Rockets win more games then the Grizzlies next season then it’s going to be extremely funny.
A tune for the people...