Unicorn Potential
Football Ferns at the FIFA WWC, Rob Loe unretires, Tera Reed to WNBL, Michael Wilson/Kiwi-NFL & more
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Reading Menu
Kiwi County Tour: A Celebration Of Matt Henry's Mahi (Cricket)
The Wellington Phoenix Blokes Appear To Have An Academy Player Resurgence On Their Hands (Football)
Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Raided Canberra, Defended Mt Smart (Rugby League)
Football Ferns at the 2023 FIFA World Cup: Back Down To Earth vs Philippines (Football)
Flying Kiwis - July 26 (Football)
Winter Notes & Nuggs For Each Domestic Cricket Team (Cricket)
Recapping Tall Ferns Exploits at the 2023 Asia Cup (Basketball)
10 NZNBL Players Who Deserve A Crack In The Aussie NBL (Basketball)
The Quotable Steven Adams: 2022-23 Edition (Basketball)
Kiwi County Tour: Matt Henry & Ish Sodhi Are T20 Blast Champions (Cricket)
27fm Weekly Playlist: July 24 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
Matt Henry, Tom Latham and Will Young whipped up impressive performances in County Championship cricket last week. All three offer intriguing Blackcaps context as well as they are sneaky important ODI World Cup lads. Henry took 6 wickets for Somerset in their loss to Surrey, who had Tom Latham hitting 99 runs. Young scored 21 runs in the first innings of Nottinghamshire's win over Kent and backed it up with 87 runs @ 110sr including three glorious maximums.
I may need to update the Henry celebration yarn with further excellence. Henry has 32w @ 16.18avg in County Championship and in our Subscriber Pod, we chatted about Henry's place alongside Trent Boult and Tim Southee as the core Blackcaps bowlers. Henry's pounced on the hole left by Boult but these three will be crucial at the World Cup and in our Sub Pod chat, we agreed that Kyle Jamieson was the best lad to join Southee and Henry in that core seam trio after the World Cup.
Henry now has a First-Class bowling average of 23.49.
Latham is super funky. Blackcaps could have Latham, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips as wicket-keeping options in their World Cups squad. Latham and Blundell are the main lads in this bracket and as I reckon Latham is a top-three Blackcaps batter (Kane Williamson, Conway, Latham - Conway's an all format wizard right now), I'm eager to see Latham operate in the middle order as the keeper.
Experience, craft and adaptability are Latham's strengths. Latham didn't roll out a combo of 41+ average and 90+ strike-rate in his first eight years of ODI batting. He then found a groove with three consecutive years averaging 48+ and strike-rates over 90. Latham has dipped down to 29.23avg/77.7sr this year in 13 games.
Latham does have a record of 52.7avg/86sr for ODIs played in India. For ODIs in Asia, Latham averages 41.33 with 85sr.
That's balanced by a World Cup record of 19.37avg/72sr. Latham's best ODI mahi comes under his own captaincy (47.8avg/90sr) which is a considerable leap up from 32.7avg/86sr under Williamson's captaincy. Latham has only played one game under Tim Southee's captaincy.
In five games for Surrey during the Kiwi County Tour, Latham has 318 runs @ 39.75avg with three 50+ scores. Latham has a FC average of 44, while averaging 35.4 in ODIs and 36.2 in List-A games.
Will Young has 299 runs @ 59.8avg in three games for Nottinghamshire. Young has an ODI record of 49.3aavg/90.6sr while averaging 42.6 in LA cricket. I have Young as the easiest solution to a Williamson hole in the ODI team, either a direct replacement as the third batter or slotting in at four with Daryl Mitchell moving up a spot.
As a consistently classy batter, Young has grown his slugging in recent years. Young has a T20 strike-rate of 134 with his ODI and LA strike-rates sitting at 90. Most importantly, Young is a good batter who can grind out an innings if early wickets are lost and adapt to any situation. Same goes for Latham, Conway and Mitchell. This gives Blackcaps four solid batters with Finn Allen doing his thing and the ever-funky Phillips oozing razzle dazzle.
I still view this as my favourite Blackcaps World Cup 1st 11:
Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Will Young, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
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There is a breakdown of the most undercover NZ Warriors thing coming tomorrow (Sunday). Warriors are winning and everyone loves them, but the most impressive thing I have noticed is the depth and development on offer below NRL. Here is my mahi to prepare for that yarn…
Backs
Taine Tuaupiki, Edward Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Brayden Williame, Viliami Vailea, Moala Graham-Taufa, Setu Tu, Sanele Aukusitino
Halves
Te Maire Martin, Ronald Volkman, Ben Farr
Hooker
Freddie Lussick, Michael Sio, Etuate Fukofuka (SGB)
Forwards
Demitric Sifakula, Zyon Maiu'u, Kalani Going, Isaiah Vagana, Jacob Laban (SGB), Selumiela Halasima (SGB) , Solomon Vasuvulagi, Tanner Stowers-Smith (SGB), Eddie Ieremia (SGB)
NZ Warriors who played finals (and grand final) for Redcliffe U21s last year:
Ali Leiataua, Zyon Maiu'u, Jacob Laban, Demitric Sifakula
Other SG Ball (NSW U19) who are playing Fox Premiership most weeks...
Backs
Raphael Sio, Patrick Moimoi, William Piliu, Kayliss Fatialofa, Siale Faeamani, Juelz Baker
Halves
Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo, Phranklyn Mano-Le-Mamea
Hooker
Makaia Tafua
Forwards
Harry Durbin, Presley Seumanu, Ben Peni, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Warriors have depth covering every position for NRL. Most of the Warriors players below NRL are from Aotearoa with Warriors making nifty recruitment moves of these lads, as well as precise recruitment of Aussies such as Ben Farr. Most of the U19 lads who played SG Ball are now playing against grown men in NSW Cup or Fox Premiership.
Bit of fun in Thursday's NRLWahine game between Broncos and Titans. Titans won in golden point, after Gayle Broughton and Niall Williams-Guthrie offered Black Ferns Sevens funk. Broughton scored a try and Williams-Guthries delivered a perfect flick pass for her winger. Below is a break down of all NRLWahine players by position, not including Laishon Albert-Jones (middle forward - Knights) and Amber Hall (edge forward - Roosters) who are out injured.
Fullbacks: Apii Nicholls
Wingers: Madison Bartlett, Cortez Te Pou, Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, Annessa Biddle
Centres: Mele Hufanga, Niall Williams-Guthrie, Cheyelle Robins-Reti, Mackenzie Wiki, Shanice Parker, Abigail Roache, Leianne Tufuga, Kiana Takairangi
Halves: Gayle Broughton, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Raecene McGregor
Middles: Annetta Nu'uausala, Georgia Hale, Mya Hill-Moana, Roxy Murdoch, Alexis Tauaneai, Harata Butler
Edges: Otesa Pule
Bench: Brianna Clark, Lavinia Gould, Kerehitina Matua, Lexi Kiriwi, Shannon Muru
Bench Hooker: Capri Paekau, Nita Maynard
This weekend's NRLWahine games feature debuts for Cortez Te Pou and Lexi Kiriwi. Te Pou is on the wing for Dragons after coming up through Hawke's Bay rugby. Kiriwi is on the bench for Roosters and is a Manurewa junior.
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
Tauihi’s only just begun but already some of those top players are looking forward with news this week that Akiene-Tera Reed will be joining Penina Davidson at the Melbourne Boomers WNBL next season. The Boomers made the semi-finals last time but Davidson is one of only two players on their main roster to return (with one of the departees being Tess Madgen, the Aussie international who is due to join Reed and Davidson at the Northern Kahu soon – she’s signed with Sydney Flames).
This is great news for Reed following on from an impressive outing with the Tall Ferns at the Asia Cup. ATR does have some pro experience outside of Aotearoa having played in Finland last year. Unfortunately it seems that the Boomers haven’t brought back Lauryn Hippolite after she spent the last few seasons as a development player.
The only other NZer in the WNBL last season was Krystal Leger-Walker who didn’t get an abundance of minutes for the Townsville Fire but she did win a championship. Mary Goulding and Tahlia Tupaea might have played but for injuries. Tupaea is under contract with UC Capitals so that should be sweet. KLW is off contract but ought to have a fair bit of interest from Townsville and beyond.
The NZers in Aussie Hoops news doesn’t stop there either: how about the shock news of Rob Loe joining the Melbourne United lads as an injury replacement, reversing on his decision to retire just months ago? Maybe the taste of losing a second straight NZ NBL grand final with the Auckland Tuatara wasn’t one he wanted to be left with as his pro career ended, despite his brilliant form the whole way through in winning the MVP award. There’s no doubting he’s still good enough. It just took Melbourne United to come up with the pitch that sold him.
Loe will hang around with MU while Jo Lual-Acuil recovers from surgery on an injured wrist – not sure how long that’ll be but the short-term nature clearly suits someone who isn’t entirely about that life any more. He joins two other NZers at Melbourne with Shea Ili long established as one of the best guards in the competition, especially defensively, while Flynn Cameron has signed there as a rookie out of college ball. There was a cool vid recently of Ili and Cameron training with NBA coach Brett Brown (formerly head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, currently an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs)...
Melbourne United are coached by former Breakers boss Dean Vickerman who obviously worked with Rob Loe back in the day. Hard not to love this for Rob Loe although you can imagine the Breakers not being chuffed this development. He was their free agent and chose to retire when they probably would’ve had interest in bringing him back. Now he’s popped up for another team. Then again, from Loe’s perspective he didn’t seem to have the best time with the Breakers these past couple years and while Mody Maor’s promotion did at least seem to fix their treatment of Loe it didn’t change much in terms of his minutes.
The bro only got 12.3 mins per game last season despite per-36 averages of 17.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists shooting 57% from the field and 50% from deep. Those per-36’s were probably boosted by the smaller sample size and more selective match-ups but you watch this guy cook for the Auckland Tuatara and there’s no denying that the Breakers weren’t using him to his full potential. Hopefully Melbourne United are able/willing to unlock his abilities a little better.
Football Ferns Touches Comparison (vs Norway | vs Philippines)
Vic Esson – 30 touches (0 in attacking third) | 27 (0)
CJ Bott – 82 (10) | 102 (24)
Rebekah Stott – 55 (3)* | 60 (5)
Katie Bowen – 58 (2) | 87 (6)
Ali Riley – 49 (12) | 120 (21)
Malia Steinmetz – 58 (2) | 50 (11)
Ria Percival – 51 (16) | 58 (13)
Betsy Hassett – 47 (16) | 29 (9)*
Indi Riley – 48 (19) | 29 (16)*
Jacqui Hand – 43 (21) | 62 (25)
Hannah Wilkinson – 34 (19) | 35 (18)
*subbed off prior to 70th minute
The Ferns went from 576 touches to 726 total touches of the ball from the Norway win to the Philippines loss. My write-up focused on how the two games were such stylistic contrasts – one to the Ferns’ benefit and the other not so much. This is more evidence of that.
150 additional touches as they went from 50% possession to 68% possession... but most of those extra touches belonged to the defence, especially the fullbacks CJ Bott and Ali Riley. Malia Steinmetz was able to get a little further forward thanks to the switch in formation. But the service into striker Hannah Wilkinson was basically the same despite having so much more ball. Wilkie had 4 shots with 1 on target in both games.
That’s a nutshell of why the Ferns lost that second match. They just don’t know how to break down a sturdy low block, they lack the creativity. Another example: they had 26 touches in the penalty area against Norway and 28 touches in the penalty area against Philippines. Barely any difference at all where it matters most.
In August last year, New Zealand drew 2-2 with Colombia at the U20 Women’s World Cup. The biggest thrill that day was probably Charlotte Lancaster’s banger of an equaliser with twenty minutes to play although it’s the other two goal scorers that day who get the spotlight here: Milly Clegg and Linda Caicedo. Clegg had opened the scoring with one of her trademark finishes in only the third minute. Caicedo equalised soon after and would briefly put Colombia into the lead in the second half prior to Lancaster’s effort.
New Zealand were eliminated with that loss, while Colombia advanced top of the group but were beaten 1-0 by Brazil in the next round.
The reason those two players are so funky is that two months later they were also each at the U17 World Cup. There Clegg scored both goals for a kiwi team that lost all three group games and Caicedo... well, she was one of the stars of the entire tournament scoring four times on the way to winning the Silver Ball as Colombia finished as beaten finalists.
Now they’re both at the senior World Cup, as is Caicedo’s teammate defender Ana Maria Guzman. They are the only three players to have featured at all three of those U17, U20, and Senior World Cups.
Milly Clegg hasn’t yet gotten on the pitch at this World Cup and neither has Ana Maria Guzman. But Linda Caicedo not only played in Colombia’s 2-0 win over South Kore, she made the starting eleven... and not only was she in the starting eleven, she scored a cracker of a goal. Meaning that she’s only gone and completed the set: scoring at all three World Cup tiers within the space of one year.
Not sure if Milly Clegg will get the opportunity to emulate that but it’s still technically possible. Just so you know, Caicedo is also a cancer survivor and she signed with Real Madrid back in February. Literally one of the best prospects on the planet right now. Decent company for Unicorn Clegg to be keeping.
I went down a Wikipedia Wormhole the other day whilst watching an excellent World Cup game between USA and Netherlands. At first I just wanted to know if USA’s brilliant young centre-back Naomi Girma had South Asian heritage due to her name (it turns out she’s got Ethiopian parents so there you go) and I ended up discovering that their left winger Sophia Smith is dating a bloke called Michael Wilson who was recently drafted into the NFL by the Arizona Cardinals. A late-third round pick as a wide receiver. Smith and Wilson went to Stanford together (as did Naomi Girma).
Michael Wilson, it turns out, is the son of Orville Wilson and Ngaire Jacobson-Wilson. And Ngaire Jacobson-Wilson was born in Wellington, New Zealand.
In fact she’s the sister of Maureen Jacobson who happens to be a Football Ferns legend, earning 60 caps for Aotearoa and becoming one of the first kiwi women to play professionally overseas. Jacobson played for Millwall Lionesses and HJK Helsinki. She actually won the 1991 FA Cup final with Millwall – which, if Wikipedia is to be believed, made her the first non-British/Irish player to feature in an FA Cup final, let alone to win one. She’s still the only NZer to have won the trophy although Donna Baker (1996) and Ria Percival (2019) have each been beaten finalists. Percival was the only one whose final was played at Wembley Stadium. Jacobson was also a member of the 1991 World Cup squad.
Fair play to Sophia Smith who was my pick for Golden Boot prior to the World Cup kicking off. That was based on the thought that she’d score about five against Vietnam, instead she ended up with two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win so she’s still in the wider conversation. But this yarn is no longer about her.
Those are some legitimate kiwi links for Michael Wilson. He even lived in NZ for a little while when he was younger and is clearly very proud of that heritage. Credit where it’s due: 1News already did a piece on him two months ago when he was drafted...
Michael Wilson stands at 6’2 so he’s not huge by modern wide receiver standards but he’s fast and athletic and also intelligent with leadership qualities… according to various scouting reports. They reckon he’s a keen blocker too which isn’t all that common in his position (that’s the kiwi in him, of course).
His draft selection apparently had a lot to do with an excellent showing in the Senior Bowl back in February where he scored a 44-yard touchdown as part of a 4-rec 76-yard performance, the only receiving touchdown in the game, and earned rave reviews from his coaches.
Frankly, he may have been drafted even higher were it not for pesky injuries. Multiple foot issues and a fractured collarbone combined to mean he only played 14 games across his final three years at Stanford. Wilson was predicted as a fourth or fifth round pick but ended up getting his call much earlier than that... and reportedly told his team that they’d gotten themselves the steal of the draft. There are probably about 100 blokes who toll their teams that same thing every year but for what it’s worth the Cardinals brass agreed with him.
The Arizona Cardinals are a funky landing spot for someone like him. Wilson being picked where as he was, he’d have to really stink it up not to get any playing time this year. Initially that should mean plenty of special teams stuff where he could be a real weapon with his running and tackling abilities. But there could be a lot more than that on the way. He was the only wideout picked by the Cardinals this draft, and while they did add a couple other free agents they also released their superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins, who has since signed with the Titans. There’s room for an underrated rookie to go surging up that depth chart, just saying.
NFL training camps began this week so Wilson’s been hard at work trying to win that spot. Word is that he’s already impressed during offseason camps. That means he isn’t over in NZ supporting the missus right now as he’d no doubt wish to be... though you know who has been? His teammate Zach Ertz.
Ertz is a Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles married to double World Cup winner Julie Ertz, who has started at centre-back for the USA in their first two WC matches. Zach was at Eden Park to watch the USWNT beat Vietnam 3-0 however he’s now back in Arizona for preseason as he continues rehab on a knee injury suffered last year. Julie Ertz gave birth to their son less than 12 months ago now she’s playing at a World Cup... wild stuff. She’s also now a teammate of Ali Riley’s at Angel City. Plus Zach Ertz went to Stanford (albeit about ten years before Wilson did). Weird how these things circle back around.