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Alex Paulsen/Auckland FC, Warriors NRL futureproofing, Olympics, National League footy, NRLW antics, Breakers sign a kiwi & more
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NRLWahine Spotlight: The Continued Excellence Of Georgia Hale (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Keano Kini Continues To Soar With Gold Coast Titans (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Daejarn Asi Returns to Mt Smart (Rugby League)
Flying Kiwis – August 6 (Football)
The Wellington Phoenix Deployed The Youngsters And Got Knocked Out Of The Aussie Cup (Football)
Three Funky Pockets Of The 2024/25 Domestic Cricket Contracts (Cricket)
Exploring The Blackcaps Test Mixer For The Great Asia Adventure Of 2024 (Cricket)
27fm Weekly Playlist: August 9 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
The Subscriber Pod is open to all Substack friends this week as a bonus. Late in that podcast I brought up my excitement about Wellington Phoenix vs Auckland FC derbies and how the rugby folks aren't ready for how big these games will be, as well showing that Aotearoa can host two franchises in Australian leagues which might help the case for a second NRL team.
That was amplified/lit on fire by news this morning that Alex Paulsen would join Auckland FC on loan. Previously I was in the 'suuuuuurely that won't happen' camp but now it's happening and I love it. My comrade will type more footballin' words below but my derby hype has increased and, yeah, that Subscriber Pod is open for all this week.
Also hit us up in the Substack chat or comments if you have any questions or queries.
NZ Warriors announced new deals for Kalani Going, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Motu Pasikala this week. I'm not too fussed by the types of deals as all three can play NRL footy without top-30 contracts but these moves do highlight NZW intentions. Stowers-Smith and Pasikala are youngsters on their way to NRL footy having started in Under 19 SG Ball; Stowers-Smith is a similar style to James Fisher-Harris and Leo Thompson, Pasikala is a freaky outside back.
The Going deal is the funkiest because it tells us that NZW are still brewing him for NRL footy. I covered the Going basics when one of the many untrustworthy NRL punders (punter/pundit) suggested that Dylan Walker wanted to return to Australia and this deal informs us that Going isn't a NSW Cup matua helping the youngsters, he is here to build into NRL footy.
As noted previously, Going is a small forward with strong passing skills. This is a style of middle forward that NZW don't have in their young brigade who are full of power and mobility. Going offers depth in a role that the pipeline isn't covering right now and his maturity can be an asset to NZW moving forward.
I have been pondering Luke Hanson a wee bit this week as he continues to churn out solid halves mahi in NSW Cup. Hanson didn't play last week as Luke Metcalf returned to join Te Maire Martin and now Martin is named in the squad for the trip to Brisbane vs Dolphins, leaving a Metcalf/Hanson halves pair in NSW Cup.
NZW announced the signing of Jett Cleary earlier this year, yet folks didn't seem to know that NZW already had a young half from Panthers in their system. Cleary has dabbled in U21s footy for Panthers this season and Hanson has played 13 games of NSW Cup, which puts Cleary in a similar bracket to Jesse Soric and Tallan Egan who are also young Aussies in the NZW system.
Here is a breakdown of the number of games played by young NZW halves and Cleary this year across SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup...
(U19 | U21 | NSW Cup)
Luke Hanson (Penrith): 0 | 6 | 13
Caleb Laiman (Marist): 0 | 9 | 7
Maui Winitana-Patelesio (Upper Hutt): 8 | 9 | 0
Jesse Soric (Byron Bay): 8 | 7 | 0
Tallan Egan (Lithgow): 3 | 5 | 0
Jett Cleary (Penrith): 7 | 3 | 0
Hanson played U19s last year and started in U21s this year so he is probably 20-years-old at the moment. What's this youngster been up to in NSW Cup?
13 games @ 62% wins, 5 tries, 7 try assists, 70m/game, 5 forced droppies, 166 kick metres/game, 90.4% tackling
Hanson is the young play-maker at Mt Smart who is closest to NRL footy. Thankfully NZW have Martin, Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita and maybe a bit of Ben Farr/Paul Roache covering the short-term to allow Hanson to simmer. Hanson quickly transitioned from U21s to NSW Cup earlier this year and he's not just playing NSW Cup as a youngster, he's winning with good mahi.
Another lovely weekend of NZ Warriors 'the development club' in NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg...
U21s named for NZ Warriors in NSW Cup:
Motu Pasikala, Luke Hanson, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Jacob Laban, Eddie Ieremia, Makaia Tafua, Harry Durbin, Zyon Maiu'u
U19s named for NZ Warriors in U21s:
Ratu Naborisi, Nganatatafu Vake, Raphael Sio, Maui Winitana-Patelesio, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, Jacob Auloa, Kayliss Fatialofa, Augustino Filipo, Jeriko Filipi-Talisau, Francis Tuimauga
Over the last few seasons, the last stanza of regular season NRL footy has seen Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy deploy Nelson Asofa-Solomona at edge forward. This happened last night in the Storm win over Rabbitohs with Asofa-Solomona named to start at lock and Trent Loiero named on an edge, yet Asofa-Solomona was on the right edge.
Asofa-Solomona played 68mins vs Rabbitohs which is his first game this season over 50mins. Having tracked Kiwi-NRL stuff closely in recent years, I've learned to chill with Asofa-Solomona involvements/news as it always seems like coach Bellamy is keeping the Wellington big bopper tuned up for finals footy. This means random game time throughout the season, swapping between starting/bench and then appearances at edge forward.
2022 Nelson Asofa-Solomona Edge Forward Mixtape
2023 Nelson Asofa-Solomona Edge Forward Mixtape
As a massive/mobile lad, Asofa-Solomona is a nightmare for edge defence. That applies to trying to tackle Asofa-Solomona as well as accounting for his decoy runs. Asofa-Solomona scored a try vs Rabbitohs and Kawerau's Will Warbrick bagged two while Asofa-Solomona was on the right edge:
68mins, 1 try, 13 runs - 101m @ 7.7m/run, 4 tackle breaks, 17 tackles @ 89.5%
Asofa-Solomona has played 10+ games in 10 consecutive NRL seasons.
Nine consecutive seasons of over 60% wins, 30+ tackle breaks, 400+ PCM, 10+ offloads, 80+ m/game, over 88% tackling
Will Warbrick since joining Melbourne Storm...
2023: 25 games @ 60% win, 17 tries, 20 linebreaks, 131m/game, 76% tackling
2024: 18 games @ 78% win, 10 tries, 10 linebreaks, 152m/game, 77% tackling
Stacey Waaka is named on the wing for Brisbane Broncos in her first game of NRLW footy. Tyla King and Tenika Willison are named on the extended bench for Dragons and Knights fresh after their gold medal at the Olympics. Waaka on the other hand is straight into the Broncos team and her role on the wing allows for the easiest crossover from Sevens to league.
Broncos also have Gayle Broughton returning to footy after an injury break, taking her spot in the halves. Broughton played for Black Ferns Sevens with Waaka and they are coming up against Niall Williams-Guthrie who is starting centre for Titans. Add in Tafito Lafaele who is named on the bench for Broncos as a former Black Fern and Mele Hufanga who is in her usual centre spot as a former Super Rugby Aupiki player; Broncos have four wahine in their team from rugby union in Aotearoa.
NRLWahine Stat Leaders
Linebreaks
Mele Hufanga, Madison Bartlett, Mackenzie Wiki: 2nd
Post Contact Metres
Annessa Biddle: 1st
Alexis Tauaneai: 6th
Leianne Tufuga: 8th
Run Metres
Annessa Biddle: 7th
Alexis Tauanaei: 10th
Tackle Breaks
Mele Hufanga: 3rd
Apii Nicholls: 6th
Offloads
Amber Hall, Najvada George: 6th
Kick Metres
Raecene McGregor: 9th
Tackles
Georgia Hale: 1st
Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa: 2nd
Brooke Anderson: 3rd
Alexis Tauaneai: 10th
Lydia Ko is chasing her third Olympic medal and is third after two rounds, heading into Friday night's action. Key thing here is that Ko is the only golfer ever to win two Olympic medals and while a gold medal would be amazing to finish her trifecta, three Olympic medals of any colour is still historic nugget.
Men Medals
2016: Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar
2020: Xander Schauffele, Rory Sabbatini, Pan Cheng-Tsung
2024: Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama
Women Medals
2016: Inbee Park, Lydia Ko, Shanshan Feng
2020: Nelly Korda, Mone Inami, Lydia Ko
Musical jam…
(Just learned about Wellington’s Tom Langford aka Naram)
Wildcard’s Notebook
Too much drama going on for a Friday... somehow Alex Paulsen has ended up joining Auckland FC on loan? The A-League this morning announced that they were reviewing the Caceras Rule, which specifically banned that sort of behaviour (ownership groups buying players to loan to their affiliates), and then roughly half an hour later Paulsen was announced AFC. Great for the budding rivalry – none of us are yet prepared for how cool that’s going to be, hopefully taking football in Aotearoa to a new level in the process. Not so sure it’s the best thing for Paulsen’s development though. This is just keeping him at the same level that he’s already dominated. Admittedly he’s inexperienced but I really thought a British loan was the way to go there within Bournemouth’s supposed four-year plan for him. Perhaps they tried and nothing eventuated.
Also, poor old Michael Woud just spent a couple of years riding the pines in Japan, before signing with Auckland FC to finally chase some consistent first-team footy… only for his new club to sign the reigning ALM goalkeeper of the year on loan. Which, presumably, also confirms that Joe Knowles’ deal as a scholarship one. You’d have to think so. They were never clear about that, possibly because they were waiting to see if they’d be allowed to make the Paulsen move. They might have overstepped the mark because the rule change hasn’t actually been approved. Possible egg + face outcome here. We’ll see how it goes.
Speaking of overstepping the mark, Aotearoa’s Erica Dawson and Micah Wilkinson got a bronze medal in the Mixed Multihull Sailing because Great Britain did this...
The two crews were tied heading into the medal race so whoever finished higher was probably going to get the third medal. Not only did GB make a false start but they realised too late and were disqualified (when they could otherwise have circled back, as Finland did, and still had a chance of an unlikely recovery). We tend to hear a lot about when things go wrong for the kiwi crews (like that Men’s C2 500 canoe duo who were terrible and only entered so they could qualify enough athletes to also enter a boat in the K4 500... which did no harm to anyone else’s event and was perfectly legal so not sure why the kerfuffle was necessary)... hence this is a timely reminder that weird stuff happens to everyone at the Olympics.
By the way, you’ll be pleased to know that after the Women’s K4 500 kayak team and Ellesse Andrews in the Women’s Keirin track cycling both won gold this morning, New Zealand is now ahead of Australia in gold medals per capita. Even though Australia is having their best ever Olympics. Australia is 55th in the world population ranks, New Zealand is 129th. But the Aussies are third in Olympic medal standings and Aotearoa sits twelfth as things stand on Friday afternoon. We’ve got more to come too, no stress.
The Breakers did something nice, praise the basketballing deities. They’ve upgraded Max Darling from a scholarship deal to a fully rostered spot – giving the Canterbury Rams fella a two-year deal with a team option for a third for their final local roster spot. That in itself is nothing special, other than the pay-rise that Darling will get, since was already with the team as a development player. There isn’t any guarantee he’ll play more than the one total minute he got last season... Sam Timmins could tell you what it’s like being at the bottom of the main roster is like. He hardly featured at all for Sydney Kings last term (and has signed in Japan for the upcoming year).
However, the Breakers did use the DP spot that they cleared with this move to bring in Kaia Isaac and that’s where the goodness arises. Another member of that Rams championship team. Really good outside shooter with good strength for his position. He was the MVP of the Rapid League and spent much of last season training as a non-contracted player with the Breakers so he’s known to the organisation.
Isaac grew up in Australia (the NBL accounts referred to him as an Aussie player) but the NZ NBL classes him as a local and his brother Tama is in the NZ age grade system so absolutely no dramas there. Hopefully he and the other scholarship players actually get some minutes under Petteri Koponen. Speaking of which, doubtful that Coach Kop had much of a say in these moves considering the squad doesn’t even assemble until next week and, while Koponen has touched down in Aotearoa, he’s only been here for like a week. But you know how these things go with NZB.
One more import and a Next Star left to come for the Breakers NBL25 roster. Still got six Australians to two New Zealanders on the main roster. Still going to be shattering records for the fewest combined NZ minutes in a Breakers season. Still a very disappointing situation overall... but at least they did something.
NZ Breakers in NBL25:
PG - Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I) | Alex McNaught (DP)
SG – Mitch McCarron (AU) | Sean Bairstow (AU) | Kaia Isaac (DP)
SF - [Probable Import] | Mojave King (AU) | Max Darling
PF – Jonah Bolden (AU) | Grant Anticevich (AU) | Carlin Davison (DP)
C – Freddie Gillespie (I) | Sam Mennenga | Dane Pineau (AU)
Auckland FC had another friendly game on Wednesday night, beating Bay Olympic 1-0 thanks to a first-half Luis Toomey goal. Toomey has scored in both games so far. Toomey and Finn McKenlay have managed to start both friendly games as scholarship players – getting good opportunities to show what they can do before the squad is filled out. This game also gave those at the ground their first glimpse of Hiroki Sakai in black and blue as he played the last half hour off the bench.
Just like the match against Auckland United, Steve Corica also brought four trialists into the squad. NZ U19s defender James Bulkeley retained his position but the other three were new faces. None of them from Eastern Suburbs either, if you were wondering. Here’s the list of publicised trialists across these two friendly fixtures...
Nikko Boxall (Eastern Suburbs) G1
James Bulkeley (Fleetwood United, UAE) Both
Dejuan Naidoo (Eastern Suburbs) G1
Ralph Rutherford (Eastern Suburbs) G1
Reid Drake (Western Springs) G2
Carlos Ranui (Melville United) G2
Codey Phoenix (Auckland United) G2
I’m assuming that’s Reid Drake because they only said “Drake” on the teamsheet and there are a few Drakes around the Northern League. Also, Codey Phoenix scored against AFC in that previous friendly then trialled for them in the next. Carlos Ranui is a Waikato boy but did spend some time with the Wellington Phoenix academy. Nikko Boxall briefly played for the Welly Nix first team (as did his brother before him). Not that it should be any surprise that the second professional team in Aotearoa would find themselves scooping up a few leftover players from the other professional team in Aotearoa. For example: Max Mata, Logan Rogerson, Callan Elliot… Alex Paulsen.
Meanwhile the Wellington Phoenix Women have announced their latest visa player. They’ve signed English import forward Olivia Fergusson for the upcoming season, a 29-year-old striker who most recently played for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English third tier, though that seems to have been a sentimental move to play for her childhood club. Earlier in her career she made 38 appearances in the WSL for Bristol City and Yeovil Town before three consecutive Championship stints with Sheffield United, Leicester City, and Coventry City. Quick spell in Scotland with Celtic afterwards where she won the cup competition, coming on as a late substitute in the final against Vic Esson’s Rangers. Fergusson was a teammate of Olivia Chance at Celtic and also of kiwi-born Samoan international Monique Fischer at Yeovil Town.
Lots of clubs there, although this will be her first time outside of the UK. The big question mark is whether she can score copious goals at this level because she’s never really done that anywhere else... albeit she played for some losing teams and wasn’t often getting starter’s minutes at others. She scored six goals in 33 matches for Wolves most recently. Probably more an Isabel Cox replacement than a Mariana Speckmaier replacement.
Of more immediate note is that this deal is a departure from past import additions in two ways. One is that she’s 29yo and therefore someone we can reasonably classify as an experienced veteran. The oldest import they had last season was 25yo (Rylee Foster)... in fact Fergusson would have been the second oldest player in the squad last season after Annalie Longo. As things stand, Longo has yet to re-sign so Fergie’s currently the oldest on the books. In a squad with so many young players, that’s pretty crucial. Gotta have that leadership and guidance.
And then also she’s a European import to add to 23yo Portuguese goalkeeper Carolina Vilão. All five of last year’s crew were North American products (even if one of them did play for Venezuela internationally, while a few of them had played for European clubs). Now there’s that pesky USL Super League snapping up all of those players, including Hope Breslin, Hailey Davidson, and Isabel Cox (plus Grace Wisnewski) from last yearn’s Nix squad. So the club have pivoted towards Europe instead.
Auckland City beat Birkenhead United 3-1 on Wednesday night, an enormous midweek victory that sends them to the brink of another Men’s Northern League title. Birko had been running them bloody close lately but couldn’t get the job done in the head to head. Goals for Stipe Ukich (15’), Adam Mitchell (40’), and Kailan Gould (77’) did the trick, with Dino Botica (83’) grabbing a consolation for the home side. It’s been super impressive how Auckland City have continued to find the necessary heat whenever they’ve needed it. Even just look at those three scorers, where you’ve got the club’s number one youth prospect, a veteran of many trophies, and a mid-season addition.
Eastern Suburbs did concurrently grab a 3-0 win against Manurewa AFC so the title race isn’t over yet. Auckland City leads Birko by five points with three games each to go, but Eastern Subs could move within two points if they win their remaining game in hand, while Western Springs aren’t officially out of it yet sitting seven points back but also with a game in hand on ACFC. It’s looking like those will be the four National League qualifiers... which could be confirmed this weekend if Auckland United loses to Birkenhead and Springs and Suburbs both win.
Auckland City are the only one of those teams who have mathematically qualified already. Wellington Olympic have already done the same in the Men’s Central League and a win against Miramar Rangers this weekend will clinch them that title. Rangers do need points to have a chance at catching Napier City Rovers for the third MNL spot though. Western Suburbs are four combined points away from confirming their return to the Nats – which could also happen this weekend if Miramar loses and they get at least a point off relegation-threatened North Wellington.
It’s the Men’s Southern League where things are friskiest with three teams battling for two places (and one trophy) with four points between them and four rounds remaining. And it’s the conference’s defending champs Christchurch United who are on the outside looking in. Coastal Spirit vs Christchurch United this weekend will go a long way towards determining these fates... granted, the Rams do also have to play Cashy Tech again so even if they win there’d still be work to do.
Men’s Southern League Remaining Fixtures
Cashmere Technical (37 PTS / +57 GD):
Universities (H), Nomads (A), Ferrymead Bays (H), Christchurch United (A)
Coastal Spirit (36 PTS / +35 GD):
Christchurch Utd (H), Dunedin City Royals (A), FC Twenty 11 (H), Universities (A)
Christchurch United (33 PTS / +33):
Coastal Spirit (A), Selwyn United (H), Nelson Suburbs (A), Cashmere Technical (H)
Meanwhile Auckland United and West Coast Rangers have long since booked their Women’s National League places. United remain undefeated with four games left and a six point lead. It’s the next two spots that are going to go down to the wire with Eastern Suburbs (25pts), Fencibles (25pts), and Western Springs (24pts) all in competition. Fencibles are the underdogs there, trying to upset the apple cart... but sadly for them they face both AUFC and WCR in succession so if they do finish top four then they’re going to have to earn it the hard way. Then again, Eastern Suburbs have to play them both as well, while Western Springs still have another match against Auckland United. Plenty more water to go under that bridge.
As for the Women’s Central League... Wellington United and Waterside Karori are running away with it once again. Only one point separates the pair with four rounds to go and a rescheduled clash between the pair in early September in the final game of the season likely to determine the champions. But they’ll both be going to the Nats unless Petone does something incredible combined with either of them absolutely choking. Which will not happen. And the Women’s South Island League doesn’t have WNL spots because the federation teams will return for at least one more year so no dramas there apart from a funky title race between Dunedin City Royals (16pts), Cashmere Tech (13pts), and Coastal Spirit (12pts)... each with four matches left.
2024 National League Qualifying Situation
MNL:
Northern (4): Auckland City, Birkenhead United/Eastern Suburbs/Western Springs/(Auckland United)
Central (4): Wellington Olympic, Western Suburbs/Napier City Rovers/Miramar Rangers, Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Southern (2): Cashmere Technical/Coastal Spirit/Christchurch United
WNL:
Northern (4): Auckland United, West Coast Rangers, Eastern Suburbs/Fencibles/Western Springs
Central (4): Wellington United/Waterside Karori/(Petone), Wellington Phoenix Reserves, Central Football
Southern (2): Canterbury United, Southern United
(Bold teams are guaranteed, bracketed teams are unlikely but still possible)
Musical Jammery...