The Dazzling Lights
The Dazzling Lights
Kiwi-NRL calibre, Joseph Parker's latest buzz, County Cricket x Blackcaps, NBL basketball, and another domestic footy roundup
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Reading Menu
Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Winning Footy Notebook (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Greg Marzhew Journey To A Knights Groove (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Demitric Sifakula Yarn (Rugby League)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: A Starford To'a Celebration (Rugby League)
Forecasting a Football Ferns FIFA World Cup Squad (Football)
The 2023 Wellington Phoenix Offseason Preview – Part 1: The Women (Football)
The 2023 Wellington Phoenix Offseason Preview – Part 2: The Men (Football)
Aotearoa at the 2023 Men’s U20 World Cup: Victory Against Guatemala (Football)
Scotty’s Word
As I listened to Brandon Smith chat through Roosters struggles on the Triple M Saturday show, I was reminded of the calibre of young Kiwi-NRL lads. Smith is viewed as a funny geezer, someone who Aussies quickly embraced because of his humour. Smith suffered an injury in the Roosters loss to Dragons and he was not playing his best footy, allowing his maturity to shine with thoughtful explanations and ponderings.
Smith also does weekly podcasts with James Graham. Kiwi-NRL fans can hear Smith talk footy every week and be transparent with his mahi at Roosters. The Triple M appearance wasn't his first either and while I can highlight how Smith's journey from Waiheke Island to NRL brewed his grounded maturity, this is not unique to Smith.
Joseph Manu wasn’t playing his best footy and then suffered an injury. Manu is a humble lad from Tokoroa who has consistently done charity work in his home community. Manu will play fullback for Aotearoa Kiwis and his season has been stunted by a shift from centre to halves; Manu thrives in either position when Roosters are flowing in attack.
Roosters are 6th for missed tackles and penalties conceded. Roosters are 17th for set completion and tries scored - the worst. They have scored 22 fewer tries than Eels in 1st. Roosters are 7th for errors. Roosters issues are far bigger than the form of Smith and Manu.
Panthers are 7-4 to start the season, 2-2 without James Fisher-Harris (5-2 with him). Fisher-Harris is a quiet leader full of mana from the Hokianga region and along with Moses Leota, they form the best starting prop duo in the league. I was curious to see how Leota was fully involved in the Maori portion of a Panthers cultural evening earlier this year as well.
Leota is a Samoan who moved from Auckland to Sydney at a young age. Like Ronaldo Mulitalo with Queensland, Leota was keen to play for New South Wales and when that fell through, both these lads jumped on board the Aotearoa wagon. Leota dominated a strong Broncos forward pack with Fisher-Harris over the weekend and they are cornerstones of the best NRL team right now.
Mulitalo's eligibility drama has seen him re-connect with Otara, where he was raised before moving to Queensland. Mulitalo might be doing the most charity work in the NRL and is constantly helping folks under the leadership of Nicho Hynes at Sharks. Sharks defeated Knights with Braden Hamlin-Uele and Briton Nikora. Hamlin-Uele returned from injury with 7 runs - 89m @ 12.7m/run against a rugged Knights forward pack.
In his second season of NRL, Napier's Leo Thompson has played all 11 games for Knights this year. 35+ minutes in every game.
Christchurch junior Jordan Riki is a consistent starter for Broncos, who have Deine Mariner and Xavier Willison waiting for their opportunities. 23-year-old Riki has now played 57 games.
Dyan Brown was immense in an Eels win over Rabbitohs, along with a full crew of Kiwi-NRL jokers...
Bailey Simonsson: 2 tries, 18 runs - 177m @ 9.8m/run, 5 tb, 7 tackles @ 77%
Dylan Brown: 1 try, 14 runs - 140m @ 10m/run, 4 tb, 4 offloads, 23 tackles @ 94%
Wiremu Greig: 50mins, 19 runs - 201m @ 10.5m/run, 2 tb, 1 offload, 21 tackles @ 87.5%
Ofahiki Ogden: 39mins, 11 runs - 132m @ 12m/run, 19 tackles @ 95%
Makahesi Makatoa: 38mins, 15 runs - 164m @ 10.9m/run, 1 tb, 22 tackles @ 100%
Dylan Brown vs Kalyn Ponga basics…
Brown: 144m/game, 93.4% tackling
Ponga: 89m/game, 74.4% tackling
Most minutes/mahi for Greig, Ogden, Makatoa this season. Brown's second game with no missed tackles this season, first game with 4 offloads. Brown's 144m/game this season is career-high, on track for most try assists and offloads. Brown is cool, humble and vibrant. Along with Fisher-Harrs and his Eels homie Greig, these three are young Northland leaders.
You may have seen the Tigers result, a 66-18 win over Cowboys. The best Tigers player in this game was Starford To'a and his performance demanded another Kiwi-NRL Spotlight nod. To'a is another humble kiwi who played his 50th game vs Cowboys and they don't get much better as young kiwi leaders than Isaiah Papali'i - who has also been fantastic for Tigers this season.
Papali'i averages 122m/game and 95% tackling. The 24-year-old has already played a sneaky 126 games.
Storm won and Kawerau's Will Warbrick scored again. Warbrick has 6 tries in 11 games this season, starting every game on the wing for Storm while averaging 139m/game. The departures of Manurewa's Bromwich bros has seen two Wellington lads in Jahrome Hughes and Nelson Asofa-Solomona settle as Storm leaders.
Raiders lost to Sea Eagles but Joseph Tapine and Jordan Rapana also represent Wellington. Matthew Timoko is a fabulous centre who fits the humble/team-first mould of Kiwi-NRL youngsters. Timoko and Tapine are both averaging 161m/game.
Titans lost to Bulldogs which was a bummer for Aotearoa leaders Kieran Foran and Isaac Liu, although I was chuffed to see Hayze Perham win. Rotorua's Perham has played all 12 games at fullback and the Pikiao junior is averaging 169m/game with 2 tries, 3 try assists, 10 offloads and 2 forced drop-outs this season
Kiwi-NRL debutants this year? Valynce Te Whare, Keano Kini and Demitric Sifakula. All three are humble and dedicated, which is now the norm for any Kiwi-NRL junior.
These Kiwi-NRL lads come from all corners of Aotearoa, they are connected to their grassroots, they love their cultures and they lead in their own ways. Performances from Brown, To'a and Perham were especially funky this round; three young lads from Aotearoa.
Knights announced that veteran Kiwi Ferns hooker Nita Maynard was signed for NRLW, while Cowboys recruited Tiana and Ebony Raftsrand-Smith. I've been following Tiana Raftstrand-Smith closely as she grew up in Auckland, hoping she would opt to represent Aotearoa. Instead, Tiana played for Queensland last year and then Maori All Stars earlier this year. Tiana was in Aotearoa as recently as 2017 and wasn't named in the Queensland squad for State of Origin last week. While it seems unlikely, the fluent Te Reo speaker might sneak into Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns footy.
Ahi Ka Aotearoa finished the Women's National Championship with back to back wins over NSW Country and South Australia. Here are the basics...
8-14 loss vs First Nations
6-22 loss vs QLD Rubys
16-12 win vs NSW Country
32-0 win vs South Australia
Tries scored by Kyla Lynch-Brown x 3, Monica Samita x 2, Monika Fakaosilea x 2, Sade Schaumkel, Amarnee Shepherd, Ilasiaane Taufa, Tanaia-Aroha Martin-Herniman, Manea Waaka.
Tamara Ruaporo made the tournament team along with Alexis Tauaneai who was playing for NSW City. Both are from Wellington and played for Wellington Pride in rugby union. Ruaporo is from Tawa and Northern United. Tauaneai is from Wainuiomata and will move into NRLW with Dragons.
Smaller crew of Kiwi County Tour lads in the recent pocket of games, although Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel offered plenty of funk. Henry took 5w for Somerset in their win over Middlesex and also smacked 40 runs @ 174sr. Patel took 5w in both innings of Durham's win over Gloucestershire.
Matt Henry: 90 runs @ 90avg/145sr | 9w @ 16.7avg/2.7rpo
Ajaz Patel: 10w @ 26.6avg/3.4rpo
Doug Bracewell: 17w @ 24.7avg/4rpo
Henry has flashed his batting ability recently. Henry had a Ford Trophy batting record of 28.5avg/178sr and is averaging 37.5 in Tests this year. Meanwhile Lockie Ferguson is struggling for wickets and none of this warrants 1st 11 selection at the World Cup, especially if Trent Boult is available. Kyle Jamieson's availability could complicate this, plus the form of Blackcaps spinners.
Lockie Ferguson's recent struggles...
2022 IPL: 12w @ 35.5avg/8.9rpo
2022 ODI: 12w @ 47avg/6.2rpo
2023 ODI: 4w @ 74avg/5.9rpo
2023 T20I: 2w @ 47avg/10.4rpo
2023 IPL: 1w @ 96avg/12.5rpo
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
Joseph Parker fights on Wednesday night against Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. It’s his first ever bout in Australia. It’s a midweek effort. He’s up against an Australian lad with a 15-3-2 record (three losses, two draws) who last year busted Hemi Ahio’s unbeaten status. Parker is also fighting without a promoter, having previously always worked with either Duco, Matchroom, or more recently BOXXER. We’re a long way from heavyweight champion status here.
The promotion stuff is funky because he’s made a clear emphasis on trying to latch onto the British boxing scene but while that’s worked out nicely in terms of his trainer Andy Lee and his bro-ship with Tyson Fury. Less so with Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom. Hearn never treated Parker as anything other than a back-up guy behind his beloved Anthony Joshua. Shalom just didn’t seem to have a good idea of what to do with Parker, nor the clout to see it through. Now he’s in between reps... although with trusted manager David Higgins whispering in his ear as always.
He’s also got Tyson Fury. I watched the press conference earlier and old mate Tyson has flown all the way over from the UK to be there ringside in Parker’s corner – which is kinda bonkers, although Parker has done the same for him which Fury acknowledged – and they even chucked him straight into the press conference, despite the jetlag.
Tyson Fury: “Me and Joe are like brothers. He’s supported me in my career in Las Vegas and all over the world so I’m here to support him in Melbourne.”
The event itself is being run by No Limit Boxing Promotions – whose lead promoter and CEO is former NRL cult hero George Rose (his brother Matt is also a head honcho at the company). Another face that I wasn’t expecting to see at the presser. Rose represents the Tszyu brothers and Paul Gallen. Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Bommber is the co-lead on this card.
There was going to be a Commonwealth Title on the line between Parker and Opelu but that’s now not the case because the contracts were already signed and they didn’t get a renegotiation through (it would’ve had to be 12 rounds rather than 10 rounds – though Opelu and his manager were quite evasive about why they couldn’t renegotiate).
Parker’s also now working with American nutritionist/strength and conditioning coach George Lockhart, a former US Marine with a great reputation across combat sports circles, whom he knows through previous Fury link-ups. Parker claims this is one of the best preparations he’s ever had in his career... granted he says a lot of things, the proof will be in the ring.
Another point: Parker says his plan is to win this one after beating Jack Massey in January, then fight twice more before the end of the year.
David Nyika is also on the undercard, taking on Louis Marsters. Which is especially strange because Nyika literally beat that dude in a one-sided bout last year. Now he’s fighting him again for some reason. Are Aussie cruiserweights that hard to find? Whatever... Nyika’s just tallying them up at this early stage as a pro.
That NBL ladder is beginning to come together now and things are getting feisty. Otago Nuggets lost their first game of the campaign on Thursday night which I wrote about in Friday’s email. No more undefeated teams. The side that beat them, last year’s fellow finalists the Auckland Tuatara, then made it a perfect weekend as they topped the Canterbury Rams 84-72 away from home. Yep, the Tuatara went down south and beat the two leading teams in the competition back to back.
That win over the Rams was especially fun as all five of their starters scored between 12-19 points. It was a balanced effort with Cam Gliddon hitting threes alongside his compatriot Jarrad Weeks, while Rob Loe was one rebound short of a triple double. The Rams had kiwi college big man Tom Webley make his season debut in that game filling in for the departed Tai Wynyard, he only played 17 mins though. Gotta build him up first. Unfortunately Walter Brown and Max Darling, their two other young local big men prospect heroes, shot a combined 4/17 in this game. A statement weekend from the Tuatara.
However don’t sleep on the Franklin Bulls who are starting to figure things out themselves under the coaching of Breakers assistant Daniel Sokolovsky. They’re up to fourth after beating Taranaki to make it three wins from their last four (including a W over the ‘Tara).
Dan Fotu scored 20 points on 8/12 shooting in one of his best games of the season. Rickey McGill is doing quality things every week. Haven’t really got guys like Jayden Bezzant or Isaac Davidson firing offensively yet but we’re beginning to see what this team is capable of and hopefully Tyrell Harrison’s return isn’t too far away. The best teams this year have had strong defensive kiwi big men in tow (or in the case of Rob Loe a kiwi centre capable of doing absolutely everything) so the Bulls have another level in them when he recovers from injury.
Domestic Footy Roundup...
There’s something about Christchurch United on a Friday night. Those lights must be pretty dazzling. The Rams hosted FC Twenty11 this weekend and despite a very late red card the other way it looked as though United would finally drop their first points of the season as they struggled to find a way past the opposition defence. Then Jago Godden buried a winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time for the 1-0 victory. That makes it eight wins out of eight in the Southern League, already five points clear at the top. It was also the third time this season that they’ve scored a winning goal after the ninetieth minute of a Friday night fixture. They did also win 5-2 against Dunedin City on a Friday evening – DCR’s only loss so far - so it’s not all late drama. But their non-Friday league games so far have seen them turn up scorelines of: 3-0, 4-0, 6-0 & 4-0 so you can guess which day coach Paul Ifill probably prefers.
Christchurch United face Cashmere Technical next week in a banger of a fixture. Tech beat Ferrymead Bays 6-2 on Friday, with Garbhan Coughlan bagging a brace to rejoin Sam Philip (Chch Utd) at the top of the scorer’s charts with 12. But Dunedin City, who beat Tech 3-2 a fortnight ago, are so far keeping pace with them on the ladder. Don’t wanna be dropping more points, not even against the leaders. DCR won 4-2 against Green Island on Saturday. Ben Stanley, Connor Neil, and Oliver Petersen all have 5+ goals for that lot.
Nothing fancy in the Central League. Wellington Olympic beat Napier City 6-3 in a high-scorer. Hamish Watson pocketed himself three of those goals while Joel Stevens got two (Kailan Gould the other). Smooth way to bounce back after a shock loss to Stop Out before the Chatham Cup bye. That sends Olympic three points clear ahead of Western Suburbs who had already played their round eight game ahead of time against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves (to clear room for the Welly Nix to have the next few weeks off while the U20 World Cup is happening... since damn near half that squad belongs to them). It’s Wests vs Olympic next week, by the way. Some massive upcoming fixtures across the motu.
A shout out to Waterside Karori who scored twice after the 85th minute, including a 90+5’ equaliser from Luca Barclay, to draw 2-2 away at Petone (who’d been leading 2-0 since the 27th min). Miramar Rangers took advantage of that by beating Whanganui 2-0 to move within one point of Petone in fourth. Righto.
Up to the Northern League, Auckland City remain away at the Oceania Champions League. They had 3-1 wins over Solomon Warriors and Suva before getting a walkover victory in the third game after Lupe Ole Soaga SC withdrew due to accumulated injuries within their squad. So ACFC are into the semi-finals where Ifira Black Bird await them on Wednesday at 12.30pm NZT.
With no Auckland City in local action, Eastern Suburbs had the chance to move further clear in first... and that they did, rallying from a goal down at HT to beat West Coast Rangers 2-1. Jake Mechell and Luis Toomey with the goals. Toomey’s proving a real scoop for that Suburbs team this season.
Auckland United were able to bounce back from three games without a win when they pumped Melville 5-1 away. Keeps them ahead of Western Springs who rode an Oscar Ramsay double to beat Manukau Utd 3-2. There were also solid wins for Birkenhead (5-0 vs Takapuna) and Hamilton Wanderers (3-1 vs Bay Olympic) - those last three wins ensuring that nothing changed in the relegation zone.
There’s been some exciting footy in the Mainland/Southern Women’s comps as well since those leagues are being run as single quickfire round robins this year in order to find qualifiers for the inaugural South Island League, same as they did for the Southern League men a few years ago.
With one round left in the Mainland comp, Coastal Spirit and Cashmere Tech have done what they were expected to do and cruised through to qualify. Just a matter now of which two teams join them. Universities of Canterbury are on 7 points, Nelson Suburbs, FC Nomads, and Selwyn are all on 6 points. Two highest finishers of that quarter will advance. Nelson Subs are hosting Halswell and should win that. University vs Selwyn is another fixture. Plus Cashy Tech face Coastal so the top two are otherwise occupied meaning that Nomads have the bye... which probably isn’t gonna work out too well for them when the dust settles on a top four next weekend.
Four Mainland teams advance while two Southern Premiership teams will join them there. Those we already know, with Dunedin City Royals and Roslyn Wakari doing the business across qualifying. Royals won all six games without conceding a goal. They’ll definitely be welcoming the added competition from the Mainland region teams.
The Women’s Central League equivalent saw hefty wins for both Wellington Olympic and Waterside Karori, each perfect after four rounds. Petone are doing what they can to keep pace – they face Karori next match.
Then finally up north there was one shock result when Hamilton Wanderers topped Eastern Suburbs 3-2. Ayla Koopu got a brace there. Also West Coast Rangers rolled on with a 4-0 win over Northern Rovers, the latter still without a point after seven rounds, while Hibiscus Coast drew 1-1 with Ellerselie in the other game
Finally, Western Springs vs Auckland United was postponed due to that whole Springs situation which remains unresolved. NRF granted them a rescheduling as they await the mediation thing. Other clubs were apparently a bit miffed about that... however other clubs also stand to pick up many of those Springs players if a full resolution isn’t found so of course they feel that way.
All I’ve got to add to that kerfuffle is that I’m trying not to engage too much with the back and forth. The club has kept silent from the outset other than a couple of statements. The players can’t say anything while the mediation stuff is ongoing. It’s all just reckons from outsiders which is where this goes from being a helpful illumination of what’s surely widespread double standards at clubs all around the country, into dumb arguments about irrelevant specific points which miss the full picture.
The full picture is that the Western Springs women’s premier team felt like they weren’t getting the support they should have and the club clearly didn’t engage soon enough to appease those worries before it became A Big Thing. It’s not about the specifics of where this ended up. It’s about poor communication from the beginning that allowed the snowball to grow as it kept on rolling downhill. So best to let it sit on the backburner until the official course of action can take place.
There is a sneaky coincidence here with Norway set to use Western Springs as a training base for the World Cup. A lot of chat about the Springs stuff seems to involve the idea that it’s a shame it’s happening so close to a World Cup. Well, I kinda think the World Cup is a crucial impetus for getting these issues discussed at all so no dramas there (and nobody from outside Aotearoa cares at all so no damage done to the precious tourism industry).
It’s also been mentioned a lot how it’s embarrassing because Norway have such a good record for football equality... yet Norway is also the country whose star player, Ada Hegerberg, went on strike from international football for five years (including missing the last World Cup) because of how the women’s team was treated. Seems like they’re an ideal team to be hosted at Seddon Fields. Might even wanna get on the phone and get some tips for moving forwards.