Smashing Hands, Pt.2
Blackcaps in Sri Lanka, White Ferns in Oz, Warriors NRLW signings, Wellington Phoenix ALW signings, Kiwis in the NBL
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2024 Women’s National League Season Preview (Football)
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Flying Kiwis – September 17 (Football)
White Ferns 2024 T20 World Cup Preview (Cricket)
2025 New Zealand Women Warriors Signings Tracker: First Wave (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Finals Footy With Naufahu Whyte (Rugby League)
Early Signs That Bulldogs Will Enter NRLW With Strong Connections To Aotearoa (Rugby League)
Scotty’s Word
Some Blackcaps Test things for ya...
Tom Latham has averaged 30+ in every year of Test batting (31+ average). That’s 11 consecutive years with at least five Tests in every year, at least six Tests in every year up to 2024 (plenty more to come). He has at least two 50+ scores in all 11 years of Test batting.
Kane Williamson has averaged 50+ in eight consecutive years of Test batting.
Williamson's Test batting averages from 2020 onwards…
2020: 83avg
2021: 65.8avg
2022: 74avg
2023: 57.9avg
2024: 66.8avg
The Devon Conway Test batting slump continues. Conway's yearly breakdown is below and peep the drop in his strike-rates which is an indicator that he is grinding hard for the runs he does get. Conway is the only Blackcaps batter who scored below 30sr in the first innings vs Sri Lanka (ahead of day three) and the only other lad who is below 50sr is another batter scratching for form in Tom Blundell...
2021: 63.1avg/50sr
2022: 49.9avg/52.4sr
2023: 32.4avg/48.6sr
2024: 12.8avg/36.3sr
First innings strike-rates vs Sri Lanka (WTC strike-rates)…
Tom Latham: 70 runs @ 63sr (46.2sr)
Devon Conway: 17 runs @ 28.8sr (34.5sr)
Kane Williamson: 55 runs @ 52.8sr (50.8sr)
Rachin Ravindra: 39 runs @ 81.2sr (56.7sr)
Daryl Mitchell: 41* @ 68.3sr (49sr)
Tom Blundell: 18* @ 34.6sr (53.9sr)
On March 1st we had a newsletter named 'Smashing Hands' because Will O'Rourke smashed some Aussie hands. In Sri Lanka, O'Rourke smashed the hand of Angelo Mathews and forced him to get treatment off the field. Consider this a theme of O'Rourke's mahi now as he did it in Aotearoa against Australian batters (known for their ability vs bouncy bowlers) and then in Sri Lanka against the hosts.
From the March 1st dispatch:
There were a few wild deliveries from O'Rourke on day tahi but after nipping the ball both ways against South Africa, hovering around 140km/h and enjoying funky bounce, O'Rourke repeated it all against Australia's batters.
Most notably, O'Rourke smashed Aussie hands and if Aotearoa has a seamer smashing Aussie hands then I'm chuffed. Not only did O'Rourke nip balls past both edges, numerous deliveries bounced and/or seamed straight into the gloves of Australian batters. There was also a delivery that smacked Cameron Green on his arm and along with the body blows, O'Rourke had batters hopping around
Yeah, O'Rourke is awesome but like most things - you'd already know all about that if you are tapped in with The Niche Cache. Ahead of the second bowling effort vs Sri Lanka, O'Rourke has 16w @ 15.3avg/2.8rpo in Test cricket.
Glenn Phillips Test bowling by year…
2023: 44ov, 8w @ 16.3avg/2.9rpo
2024: 75ov, 11w @ 19.8avg/2.9rpo
Ajaz Patel by location…
Home: 49ov @ 2.1rpo
Away: 430.4ov, 51w @ 27.7avg/3.2rpo
Neutral: 135.5ov, 13w @ 29.6avg/2.8rpo
White Ferns and the Women's Development team were soundly beaten by Australia and Australia U19s last night. The development crew have another game Friday afternoon against Sri Lanka U19s before doing the Australia/SL rounds again next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The development team is not named the NZ U19 team unlike Australia and Sri Lanka. I'm not sure if this is legit but the slight difference here makes me wonder if the NZ crew skews younger, which won't help the results but would be a funky development phase for these youngsters.
Canterbury's Izzy Sharp was the best player in the loss to Australia with 33 runs off 25 balls. NZ scored 90 runs all out and Australia cruised to victory in the 13th over, losing just 2 wickets. Northern Districts duo Eve Wolland and Tash Wakelin took a wicket each after opening the batting together.
White Ferns had their eighth T20I loss in a row and they are now 2-12 since the start of last summer. Most of the losing streak was against England but I keep referring back to the series loss vs Pakistan in Aotearoa early last summer because that was an almighty low point.
White Ferns put up 143/7 @ 7.15rpo. Suzie Bates (33 runs @ 122sr) and Maddy Green (35 runs @ 106sr) were the only batters who scored 20+ runs. Australia reached 145/5 @ 7.76rpo with Molly Penfold taking 2w @ 6rpo.
Good stuff from Penfold as Amelia Kerr (4ov @ 6.75rpo) was the only other NZ bowler who conceded less than 7rpo of the seven bowlers used.
Since December 1st 2023...
Lea Tahuhu is the only batter averaging 30+ or 130+ strike-rate (65avg/132.6sr). Stretch that out a bit further and Tahuhu is the only batter over 28avg or 127sr. The 'or' is important here because this isn't a combo: no other batter averages 28+ in this period of 14 games and no other batter has a strike-rate over 127.
Molly Penfold is the only bowler averaging below 20 aside from Suzie Bates (3ov, 2w @ 9rpo/6rpo). This is a bit goofy though because Bates was celebrated for her bowling last summer but she hasn't bowled in her last 10 games (including three Hundred games) and she didn't bowl an over in the entire 0-8 tour of England.
Bates' 3ov, 2w @ 9avg/6rpo makes her the most efficient White Ferns T20I bowler since December 1st 2023. Since her 3ov in NZ last summer, Bates hasn't bowled.
The only White Ferns below 7rpo in this period are Penfold, Bates, and Fran Jonas. Jonas bowled 1ov @ 12rpo vs Australia last night.
The New Zealand Women Warriors announced three more signings this week. Lavinia Tauhalaliku returns to Auckland after her whirlwind journey to NRLW footy this year. Matekino Gray returns to Aotearoa after leaving Rotorua to pursue rugby league in Queensland. Emmanita Paki is from Rockhampton and she has a link to coach Ronald Griffiths from a stint with Knights in NRLW when they won the 2022 championship.
Paki isn't playing NRLW right now because she had a major knee injury in the grand final win. This sets up a swift nugget for each player...
Emmanita Paki: played for Queensland without a NRLW gig this year
Lavinia Tauhalaliku: earned an NRLW debut with Cowboys after half a season with Sea Eagles in NSW Women's Premiership.
Matekino Gray: played Queensland U19s and four NRLW games at 19-years-old this year
Here's a quick round up of NZWW signings with possible positions...
Fullback: Apii Nicholls
Outside backs: Lavinia Tauhalaliuku, Emmanita Paki
Middles: Mya Hill-Moana, Harata Butler
Edges: Laishon Albert-Jones, Matekino Gray
Hooker: Capri Paekau
NZW also announced the signing of Sam Healey this morning. Healey is a 21-year-old hooker from Sharks and his NSW Cup season this year started with two tries vs NZ Warriors, so he must have perked the antenna of the two Andys. This falls into the theme of Andrew McFadden recruiting from Australia for specific needs such as classy play-makers and Healey has zip from dummy half that NZW need.
I also think this falls into the theme of the two Andys slow-brewing NZW juniors. Healey will enter NZW ahead of Makaia Tafua and Jacob Auloa, who don't have his burst around the ruck but they are crafty and rugged defenders. At every level of NZW, the two Andys are slowly building players up and I reckon this is A) a key learning from their previous mahi at NZW when juniors were rushed into NRL and B) an observation of the best Aussie systems like Panthers/Storm.
Here's Healey's mahi in NSW Cup...
2023: 12 games, 5 tries, 4 try assists, 9 offloads, 58m/game, 94.9% tackling
2024: 24 games, 8 tries, 4 try assists, 21 offloads, 56m/game, 94.3% tackling
Sneaky move from Knights with the signing of Francis Manuleleua from Panthers. This takes us deep into the Kiwi-NRL mangroves...
Manuelelua is a Papatoetoe junior who dominated 1st 15 at Kings College. He was in the NZ Warriors system before leaving school and signed with Panthers where he must have been injured last year because he only played one U19 game and two U21 games. This year he has played 16 games for Panthers U21s as an edge forward.
Recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan made a sneaky shift from Dolphins to Knights a few weeks ago. O'Sullivan had a stint with NZW a few years ago (2018-2021) which overlaps with Manuleleua's time at Mt Smart. GM of Football Brian Smith said this in 2019 after a Future Warriors game...
“It was hard to single out one player among some great performers but Francis showed his class. It is extra special considering he is still only 14 years of age"
O'Sullivan said this about signing Manuleleua to Knights (among many kind words)...
“I’ve watched him play since he was Fourteen"
Knights have one of the biggest Kiwi-NRL junior clusters in Australia and they had that before O'Sullivan joined the mid-year. All the lads listed below are U21s but I don't go lower than SG Ball and there are a few lads I'm tracking in the U17 bracket. They were all recruited to Knights prior to this year's footy…
Sebastian Su'a (Mt Albert), Temple Kalepo (Ellerslie), Elijah Leaumoana, Jarome Falemoe (SCC), Jayden Harris (Hokianga), Sosaia Latu, Haami Loza (Mangere East), Bailey Carmichael, Tamakaimoana Whareaorere (Te Puke)
O'Sullivan may shuffle some of these lads out and Knights have had a weird history of loving talent from NZ, until they get to the NRL level. Starford To'a (Tigers) and Simi Sasagi (Raiders) are the best examples of lads who Knights recruited from Aotearoa, investing in their development and then they departed after a few NRL games.
Manuleleua was a 1st 15 wizard and O'Sullivan loves his 1st 15 footy. While at Dolphins, O'Sullivan set up their NRL pathway with lads who dabbled in rugby league but they all played 1st 15...
Valynce Te Whare: St Paul's Collegiate
John Fineanganofo: Auckland Grammar School
Elijah Rasumussen: Westlake Boys High School
Patrick Kailahi: Hamilton Boys High School
Tevita Naufahu: Saint Kentigern College
Last year the NZ Schools rugby union team had Naufahu and Caelys Putoko (HBHS), who both entered NRL systems this year. Putoko is now playing for Bay of Plenty in the NZRL National Premiership but he had a two-year deal with Titans so they may have allowed him to return to Aotearoa where he can be at home and play the highest level of rugby league in NZ right now.
The 2024 NZ Schools team was announced during the week. Siale Pahulu is named in the squad via St Kents and he played U17s for NZW. Hiraka Waitai-Haenga played U19s for NZW this year and he is named in the NZ Maori U18 team.
Finals footy in Australia...
Queensland Cup
Redcliffe: John Fineanganofo (AGS), Valynce Te Whare (East Tamaki), Tray Lolesio (Otara), Sheldon Pitama (Kaiapoi)
Norths: Tukimihia Simpkins (RBHS)
NSW Cup
Raiders: Simi Sasagi (Ellerslie), Peter Hola (Marist)
Jets: Chris Vea'ila (Waitemata)
NSW Women's Premiership
Wentworthville: Sade Schaumkel (Otahuhu)
Knights: (no official team list yet but likely to have) Isabella Waterman (Sydenham), Fane Finau (Otara), Grace Kukutai (Lynfield College)
Illawara: Jessia Patea, Trinity Tauaneai (Wainuiomata)
U21 Jersey Flegg
Raiders: Siamani Leuluai (Mid-Northern)
Sharls: Salesi Ataata (Otahuhu), Felix Fa'atili (Hornby) | Richie Tupuailei (Hornby)
Musical jam...
Wildcard’s Notebook
A few stat notes from the Blackcaps vs Sri Lanka match...
Before scoring 55 in the first innings yesterday, Kane Williamson’s scores at Galle International Stadium (with that glorious brick fort in the background) were: 0, 10, 0, 4... averaging 3.5. It was his worst venue by average, as you’d hope would be the case with those numbers, but he’s now upped that Galle average to 13.80 and maybe he’ll get another bat before the game is done. That’s nice. McLean Park (4 runs, 4.00 avg) and Nagpur, IND (8 runs, 4.00 avg) are now tied for worst Williamson venues.
After 3 Tests, Kyle Jamieson had 13 wickets at 16.46 average with one five-for
After 2.5 Tests, Will O’Rourke has 16 wickets at 15.37 average with two five-fors
After 10 Tests, Kyle Jamieson had 52 wickets at 16.03 average with five five-fors
After 19 Tests, Kyle Jamieson has 80 wickets at 19.73 average with five five-fors
The second half of KJ’s career (so far) has been injury-plagued and simply not as effective as he had been prior – those 11-19 Tests saw him average 26.6... which is still excellent but just not as excellent as he had been before. That was always going to happen. The 16-average was unsustainable long-term. Nevertheless, it’ll be fun to track how Will O’Rourke compares to Kyle Jamieson down the line given the obvious comparisons in height, the Auckland to Canterbury aspect, and the similar beginnings at Test level.
Best Test Batting Averages vs Sri Lanka (min. 15 innings)
Kane Williamson – 76.88 (1384 runs in 22 innings with 5 100s)
Virender Sehwag – 72.88 (1239 runs in 18 innings with 5 100s)
Tom Latham – 69.31 (1109 runs in 18 innings with 4 100s)
Virat Kohli – 67.81 (1085 runs in 18 innings with 5 100s)
Joe Root – 62.54 (1376 runs in 24 innings with 6 100s)
Also, Daryl Mitchell already has scores of 102, 81, and 17 in his previous two Tests against Sri Lanka.
Innings bowling figures by Glenn Phillips in Tests:
4/53 & 1/47 vs Bangladesh in Sylhet
3/31 vs Bangladesh in Mirpur
1/30 vs South Africa in Mount Maunganui
2/50 vs South Africa in Hamilton
5/45 vs Australia in Wellington
1/14 & 0/27 vs Australia in Christchurch
2/52 vs Sri Lanka in Galle
Even if we don’t overreact to the 5/45 and 4/53 and still treat him like a part-time bowling option then he’s a part-time bowling option who seems to take a wicket every time he gets handed the ball. He’s done that home and away and against four different nations. That’s an incredible trait to have for a dude who’s batting (and fielding) is good enough to earn him selection alone.
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The Australian NBL season tipped off last night with Melbourne United beating Tasmania JackJumpers 88-79 in a grand final revenge game. This is part of a bonus round of action where all the teams are playing in Perth this weekend, basically basketball’s version of the NRL Magic Round. The A-League also has Unite Round. Even the AFL has Gather Round. Now the NBL has Hoopsfest.
One healthy aspect of this version is that they’ve given every team an extra game for Hoopsfest (aka the season is now 29 games instead of 28) so that nobody loses their home advantage - which was a killer for the Phoenix Women last season (though doesn’t affect the Warriors because a neutral game in Brisbane was basically a home crowd for them anyway… the Warriors beat the Panthers in Magic Round 2024).
That season opener was superb for kiwi action. Rob Loe was given a slightly surprising start by Melbourne – it looks like he’ll split minutes with Marcus Lee but it wasn’t necessarily expected they’d split them so evenly. Loe played 18:50, Lee played 19:26. With 7 points and 8 rebounds, Loe was pretty effective... but it was his passing (4 assists) that really shone. Couple of silly turnovers and also got called for an unsportsmanlike foul near the end, which was a tad harsh IMO, but a really nice return from the big man.
Shea Ili was typically superb. 14 points and 5 assists with some excellent defence. Plus Flynn Cameron got a tidy 5 points off the bench playing a shade under ten minutes. That’s right around his season minutes average from last year, so hopefully he’s poised for a big season too. No reason to doubt it. Meanwhile, we didn’t see development player Walter Brown for the JackJumpers even though he was kitted up... but Reuben Te Rangi started and played 18 minutes. Not his best 18 minutes, he’s still settling into his new team having been a later arrival replacement player. His -11 plus-minus was the worst in the game... partly because Melbourne staggered their line-ups with Chris Goulding and Marcus Lee playing off the bench so RTR got caught with the Tazzy second unit a few times and it wasn’t pretty. Close game in the first half but Melbourne opened it up with a 27-16 third quarter that made the difference.
The Breakers face Brisbane on Saturday night. Don’t expect much from them. I’ve detailed their lack of kiwis players but besides that they also just don’t have a very good/reliable roster and the decision to add a rookie foreign head coach into that equation is just absolutely baffling. Plus they’re doing that glory-thirsting thing of playing NBA preseason games in October, needlessly interrupting the early phase of their season (they’re the only NBL team to bother this year). At least Sam Mennenga seems poised for a bright campaign... though if you’re looking for kiwi talent then it’s the opposition to focus upon. Tyrell Harrison won NBL Blitz MVP during preseason and everything anyone says about him seems to suggest that his career year last time is going to be left in the dust by what he does in NBL25.
Hoopsfest also incorporates the WNBL’s version of NBL Blitz. The regular season doesn’t begin for the ladies for another month but preseason games are coming thick and fast over the next few days. Problem there is that there aren’t really any NZers involved. Tera Reed has made the switch from Melbourne Boomers – who changed ownership and are now Geelong United – to Southside Flyers, which keeps her in Melbourne city. Recent Tall Ferns debutant Ella Tofaeono is also a DP for UC Capitals. And that’s it.
Including Tofaeono, who was aligned with Aus at the time, there were seven NZers in last year’s WNBL. Amittedly rosters are still being constructed and it seems like trial players are featuring during Hoopsfest. But more to the point is that the rearranged Tauihi season now overlaps with the WNBL so players can no longer do both. Penina Davidson (Northern), Tahlia Tupaea (Northern), Jade Kirisome (Tauranga), Esra McGoldrick (Mainland), and McKenna Dale (Tauranga) have all opted for the NZ stuff instead. Ritorya Tamilo has moved to college in Hawai’i.
Tauihi is doing a bunch of busy stuff, trying to be as active as possible in building out the league. Some of that is a bit annoying, like requiring every team to sign at least two Australians/Asians and three imports (although there is a rule that states a kiwi must be on the court at all times... lucky the Breakers don’t have to abide by that). Some of it is strategic, like shifting their season from aligning with the WNBL offseason to that of the WNBA instead. All of it is ambitious and ambition does go a long way.
The Wellington Phoenix Wahine have announced American midfielder Maya McCutcheon as their third import for the upcoming season. She joins goalkeeper Carolina Vilão (Portugal) and forward Olivia Fergusson (England) in the visa ranks with up to two more foreigners still to follow ahead of November’s opening game.
McCutcheon joins the Nix directly from NWSL club North Carolina Courage where she had spent the whole of 2024 in various capacities. First as a “non-roster invitee” during preseason, presumably meaning she was on trial, but she’s remained with the team in a training capacity ever since whilst also signing two short-term contracts as a national team replacement player – once around the time of the Olympics, then again recently around the U20 World Cup (with the Courage having call-ups for both). She made it onto the bench on 11 occasions for the Courage... but the buggers never gave her a debut. She’s 22 years old and considers herself an athletic, physical midfielder.
Frankly, that’s exactly what the team needs with Kate Taylor, Grace Wisnewski, and Macey Fraser all having left. It’s also probably a position that they regretted not using an import on last term, with Hope Breslin spending much of the second half of the term as a deeper midfielder despite having been signed as a forward. Admittedly, that was after Chloe Knott also left and Wisnewski suffered her knee injury so the midfield stocks had been damaged.
Michaela Robertson has also announced that she’s going on sabbatical from her pro career. She actually took a year or so away from football prior to joining the Wellington Phoenix two years ago. Going to assume that for a 28yo, this decision was pressured by financial/job commitments same as when Chloe Knott departed – the ALW doesn’t offer particularly glamorous salaries after all.
They Phoenix always like to follow bad news with good news so soon after the Robertson announcement came the reveal that Annalie Longo is returning. The Nix website called it a “major coup” but it was literally just re-signing their own free agent… although she did admit there was interest from other ALW clubs. The feeling it that Longo still has levels to unlock in a Welly Nix jersey after an injury-plagued campaign last time. She’s won this league before. She has 134 international caps. She’s a leader on and off the pitch. She’s been absolutely carving up (as usual) for Cashmere Technical in the offseason.
McCutcheon and Longo’s additions brings the SheNix up to 18 players on the books, although that includes four scholarship players – one of whom is Ella McCann who just tore an ACL and will miss the whole season. It also means that all of their free agents are accounted for except for Helena Errington who’ll probably try and have a go overseas. She was only a scholarship player.
Wellington Phoenix ALW Departures:
Macey Fraser (Utah Royals), Hailey Davidson (Dallas Trinity), Hope Breslin (Brooklyn FC), Grace Wisnewski (Lexington SC), Kate Taylor (Dijon FCO), Kelli Brown (Perth Glory), Mariana Speckmaier (Melbourne City), Rylee Foster (Everton - rumoured), Brianna Edwards (Sydney FC), Isabel Cox (Brooklyn FC), Mickey Foster (TBD), Mickey Robertson (N/A)
Additionally, Isaac Hughes has signed a three-year extension with the Men’s team, keeping him in town through the 2027-28 season. He joins Matt Sheridan as being contracted for the next four campaigns (it was a little confusing how they announced Sheridan but this news seems to confirm he had his second scholarship year upgraded to a senior deal and then signed a three-year boost on top of that). This is what’s gotta be done early if you want to protect these dudes for future transfer fees. Hughes right now looks like he could be a front-runner for starting centre-back replacing his old reserves buddy Finn Surman.
Welly Nix ALM Contracts
2027-28: Isaac Hughes, Matt Sheridan
2026-27: Lukas Kelly-Heald, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Alby Kelly-Heald, Luke Brooke-Smith
2025-26: Kosta Barbarouses (option), Alex Rufer, Fin Conchie, Luke Supyk, Paolo Retre, Kazuki Nagasawa, Hideki Ishige
2024-25: Marco Rojas, David Ball, Tim Payne, Sam Sutton, Scott Wootton, Mo Al-Taay, Oskar van Hattum, Josh Oluwayemi, Dublin Boon, Corban Piper
Musical Jam...
I think the NZ Women’s Development cricket team skews *older*, hence the name. At least 2 are over the age eligibility - I think Sharp is one of them.
All up, a great (small) step to better Wahine toa in cricket!