The Showcase
International rugby league joy, Welly Nix women emergence, Chris Wood's goals, Plunket Shield/Blackcaps nuggets, WNL Team of the Week & more
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All Whites vs Australia: The Soccer Ashes Remain Elusive (Football)
2023/24 Plunket Shield: Team Breakdowns (Cricket)
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Aotearoa A vs Tonga A Breakdown (Rugby League)
Flying Kiwis – October 19 (Football)
Here Are Six Future Football Ferns To Help Solve Our Goal Scoring Issues (Football)
27fm Weekly Playlist: October 23 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
Saturday was a fabulous day for Aotearoa rugby league. NZ A defeated Tonga A, Kiwi Ferns defeated Tonga and Kiwis defeated Samoa. Samoa offered the least resistance in being smoked 50-0 while both Tongan teams provided competitive outings at Eden Park.
All three games showcased the footy talent from Aotearoa with youngsters shining in Kiwi Ferns and Kiwis, along with the depth on display in the A fixture. Unfortunately one of the best youngsters in Aotearoa rugby league Amelia Pasikala suffered a horrible ankle injury, moments after she scooped the footy up from dummy half for a barnstorming try. Kiwi Ferns were up 10-6 at half-time and Pasikala's try came a few minutes into the second-half, a key moment that propelled Aotearoa to victory.
Pasikala was injured in a hip drop tackle which saw Ilaisaane Taufa get red carded. Didn't know the red card was an option for a hip drop and while Tonga competed valiantly with 12 players on the field, this flipped the game in favour of Aotearoa who ended up winning 28-10. Pasikala played her first season of NRLW this year after switching from Hawke's Bay rugby and commanded a Kiwi Ferns gig through her mahi with Roosters, then she flashed her power in scoring a crucial try for Aotearoa. Her injury is a major bummer but when folks like her share positivity in moments of darkness, we can all absorb some mana.
Aside from Pasikala, a few other things stood out for Kiwi Ferns...
Georgia Hale has now made 86 tackles with four missed in two Tests. Hale has 100+ running metres in both games and after 70 minutes against Australia, she played 63mins vs Tonga.
How did Annessa Biddle go at edge forward? 10 runs - 135m @ 13.5m/run with six tackle breaks and 24 tackles @ 100%. Biddle started NRLW on the wing before moving into centre for Sharks and after playing wing vs Australia, Biddle then offered a dynamic performance at edge forward. Kiwi Ferns have Otesa Pule offering similar power on the other edge (8 runs - 81m @ 10.1m/run) and there is no shortage of depth here with Laishon Albert-Jones also in the squad.
Having Pule and Biddle on the either edge is complimented by having Mele Hufanga and Abigail Roache in the centres. Every time Hufanga touched the footy there was a buzz in the crowd and this was an epic encounter for Hufanga, playing against Tongan homies and in front of her local community (along with Biddle and the rest). Hufanga is a superstar and just quietly, I've got Hufanga was the most exciting female league/union player in Aotearoa right now.
Roache missed out on selection against Australia but it's hard to see her missing the top-17 again. Roache backed up a championship campaign for Knights in NRLW with a slick performance for Kiwi Ferns where her speed and running prowess was equally matched by her defensive whack. Roache is just as impressive as Hufanga, Shanice Parker and any other Kiwi Fern shining at the moment.
Tiana Davison was also a standout coming off the bench and it would have been great to see her get a decent stint alongside Pasikala. Davison had 14 runs - 149m @ 10.6m/run in 34mins as a middle forward and this throws up a funky whanau wrinkle as her brother is Carlin Davison - NZ Breakers youngster who rarely plays because he's a kiwi.
Abigail made her Aotearoa debut last year, before her brothers Nathaniel and Paul. Paul was playing hooker for NZ A, both brothers played NSW Cup this year.
Ali Leiataua played for NZ A and his older sister Onjeurlina played for Fetu Samoa last week, having already played for Black Ferns and Kiwi Ferns. Everyone brings up uncle Ali Lauiti'iti as the funky Ali Leiataua connection but anyone who has tracked Onjeurlina's mahi would know where young Ali gets his sneaky powerful running from.
Kiwis forward Leo Thompson is the twin brother of Super Rugby's Tyrone Thompson.
Rocco Berry and Bailey Simonsson started as centres for NZ A. Both are sons of former All Blacks (Marty and Paul).
Kalani Going captained the NZ A team and yup, he's from the illustrious Going whanau.
Seeing Will Wabrick do haka for NZ A hits different knowing about the Warbrick whanau history. Joseph Warbrick started the NZ Native team which toured Britain back in 1888 along with his four brothers. The importance of the Warbrick whanau for Aotearoa footy can never be understated. Over a century after they played league, union and 'Victorian Rules', Will Warbrick was out there representing Aotearoa and will soon play for the Kiwis.
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The joy of Aotearoa Kiwis is that it doesn't matter what culture you are or where you come from, you are part of the whanau. This is evident in Kiwi Ferns as well with their squad featuring a variety of cultures and everyone is valued the same. In a space where representing heritage is celebrated and sometimes this can be delivered with a negative tinge, there is something to be said about Aotearoa bringing cultures together.
I can't remember Kiwis looking that slick in their attacking shapes and plans. This involves a lot of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who appeared even more comfortable with his passing than he did for NZ Warriors at fullback. This gives Nicoll-Klokstad an advantage at fullback over Joseph Manu who can pop up in funky areas from centre. Kiwis also flexed their mana in defence, consistently shutting down plays where Samoa found space and were able to beat the first or second defenders.
All the Kiwis were pretty good. Fa'amanu Brown was named to start but there was a late change with Kieran Foran playing 58mins as starting hooker where the grizzly veteran looked at ease. Foran made 31 tackles @ 91% and controlled the ruck nicely, before Brown came on for 22mins later in the game. Having been singled out by Stephen Crichton in the siva tau, F-Brown then had a touch or made a key play in most of the second half tries for Aotearoa.
James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota are always fun to watch. Fisher-Harris played 63mins and Leota grabbed 46mins, while Joseph Tapine was managed by coach Michael Maguire with 32mins. Never forget that Fisher-Harris and Leota have started as Panthers props in three consecutive Grand Final wins and with my bias I reckon they are as important as any other Panthers player.
That's amplified by Asofa-Solomona coming off the bench and now Kiwis have ample depth, with Griffin Neame and Thompson also excellent on debut. All three bench forwards averaged over 10m/run. Add in Matthew Timoko who was typically tricky to tackle on his Kiwis debut and all the youngsters impressed, while the leaders were immense.
A Plunket Shield round tahi deep dive will drop tomorrow morning before we record The Niche Cast. Here are some Plunket Shield stats and links to clips, plus my favourite Blackcaps/WBBL nuggets...
Plunket Shield Most Runs
Greg Hay: 115 runs @ 115avg/40sr
Sean Solia: 97 runs @ 48avg/50sr
Joe Carter: 94 runs @ 94avg/70sr
Nick Greenwood: 89 runs @ 44avg/54sr
Brad Schmulian: 86 runs @ 86avg/62sr
Josh Clarkson: 83 runs @ 83avg/95sr
Finn Allen: 83 runs @ 41avg/74sr
Tom Bruce: 81 runs @ 81avg/60sr
Plunket Shield Most Wickets
Peter Younghusband: 6w @ 8avg/3.6rpo
Nathan Smith: 6w @ 11avg/2.6rpo
Fraser Sheat: 6w @ 16avg/2.6rpo
Ray Toole: 5w @ 12avg/2.1rpo
Blair Tickner: 4w @ 22avg/3.2rpo
Adithya Ashok: 4w @ 35avg/4.5rpo
Blackcaps World Cup stats...
Best batters
Rachin Ravindra: 290 runs @ 72.5avg/100sr
Daryl Mitchell: 268 runs @ 89.3avg/108sr
Devon Conway: 249 runs @ 62.2avg/100sr
Will Young: 141 runs @ 35.2avg/82sr
Tom Latham: 126 runs @ 42avg/99sr
Best bowlers
Mitchell Santner: 12w @ 16.9avg/4.2rpo
Matt Henry: 10w @ 21.7avg/5.1rpo
Lockie Ferguson: 8w @ 20.3avg/4.9rpo
Trent Boult: 6w @ 34.1avg/4.5rpo
Glenn Phillips: 3w @ 22avg/5.5rpo
Daryl Mitchell averages 50+ in Tests and ODIs.
Tests: 57.21avg - 14th highest in the world - 1st for kiwis.
ODIs: 51.72avg - 9th highest in the world - 1st for kiwis.
Sophie Devine whacked 87* @ 197sr for Perth in their first game, a win over Hobart. Devine then scored 14 runs @ 100sr in Perth's loss to Brisbane and she has 2w @ 9rpo in her 6 overs so far. Amelia Kerr is yet to play for Brisbane and Brisbane are 2-0 without her.
Jess Kerr missed the first Sydney Sixers game and then took 2w @ 6.2rpo in the Sydney derby, which Sixers lost to Thunder. Suzie Bates scored 5 runs in the loss to Thunder and she has 11 runs @ 55sr so far in WBBL.
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
Last week the All Whites played a couple of games in which they scored one time in 180 minutes and it was a slightly dodgy ninetieth minute penalty. Old issues still lingering about a lack of creativity in the side, a lack of goal-scoring. Since those games we’ve had a weekend where Elijah Just, Matt Garbett, Chris Wood, Andre De Jong, and Michael Boxall all scored goals for their clubs. Might’ve had more but Ben Waine didn’t play and Alex Greive’s game got postponed. Callum McCowatt went close a couple of times in a lively bench cameo. These guys are getting it done at club level with a regularity that in the past belonged only to Chris Wood. The times they are a-changing. Also Indi Riley scored a majestic long range chip for PSV.
Chris Wood by Premier League Season...
2023-24 (Nottm Forest):
238 min | 3 goals | 2.1 xG | 1.13 goals/90 | 0.79 xG/90 | 3.40 shots/90
2022-23 (Newcastle/Nottm Forest):
818 min | 3 goals | 2.8 xG | 0.33 goals/90 | 0.31 xG/90 | 1.21 shots/90
2021-22 (Burnley/Newcastle):
2694 min | 5 goals | 7.3 xG | 0.17 goals/90 | 0.25 xG/90 | 1.67 shots/90
2020-21 (Burnley):
2741 min | 12 goals | 13.0 xG | 0.39 goals/90 | 0.43 xG/90 | 2.23 shots/90
2019-20 (Burnley):
2437 min | 14 goals | 15.7 xG | 0.52 goals/90 | 0.58 xG/90 | 2.36 shots/90
2018-19 (Burnley):
2588 min | 10 goals | 8.8 xG | 0.35 goals/90 | 0.31 xG/90 | 2.05 shots/90
2017-18 (Burnley):
1624 mins | 10 goals | 7.0 xG | 0.55 goals/90 | 0.39 xg/90 | 2.16 shots/90
The patterns to see there, which are the same with most strikers, are that the more you shoot the more you score. The xG stuff helps differentiate high percentage shots from low percentage shots however the seasons in which he scored the most were also both seasons in which he underperformed against the expected tallies so don’t put too much weight on that. Stats only work when they’re in context with each other. When Chris Wood plays often, and when his team give him service, he scores goals. His last six months at Burnley is really the only stretch where it felt like Wood’s personal form was the main issue and not the way that he was being used or the lack of service he was getting.
Alas, these are times of tragedy as well as triumph. For it has been told that Steven Adams, master basketballing squire of Aotearoa, has now been booked in for knee surgery and will miss the entire upcoming NBA season. We’re days out from the start. He’s been rehabbing all offseason. It wasn’t enough. After 27 minutes of preseason action (in which they were very cautious with him), the knee just hasn’t responded properly and now they’ve changed course.
This is... a shambles. Adams injured the knee in January and it’s only now in October that he’s having surgery. At the time they said it was going to be 4-6 weeks before he’d be reassessed with a hope towards returning. Then even after that they never officially ruled him out for the postseason. At exit interviews the general manager said that the approach would be “non-surgical” and that the expectation was he’d be ready for preseason. Which he seemed to be. Looking sharp, going through all the scrimmages. Getting rave reviews from his teammates. Limited minutes in the actual friendly games but that’s normal procedure in the NBA. Except now that initial 4-6 week timeframe has become 18 months, all of a sudden just like that.
The Memphis Grizzlies are known for having one of the very best medical teams in the NBA, meaning they have one of the very best medical teams in all of sports. This makes you think otherwise though, adding credence to the rumours that perhaps the injury was misdiagnosed to begin with. At the very least it seems clear that they didn’t fully know what they were dealing with and it has been reported that Adams went to Los Angeles to seek out a second opinion early in the year (which, to be fair, is also standard procedure).
Might be worth noting that the Grizz recently swapped medical allegiances to a different private clinic – that’s not their on-staff medical team, more of a commercial partner that they use for the big stuff like, for example, surgeries. Doubt we’ll ever get the inside word on what’s gone down there but bottom line is that New Zealand’s only NBA player will not partake in the 2023-24 season. Painfulness abounds.
To cheer you/me up, here’s some new Troy Kingi, fully instrumental and utterly groovy...
Article coming soon on the Welly Nix Blokes... the five takeaways I started writing for this ended up being too long. But that wasn’t even the major Welly Nix result of the day because the women won 3-0 away to Western Sydney. Goals from Mariana Speckmaier, Macey Fraser, and Manaia Elliott. All three are new signings, already contributing the goods.
Speckmaier is an import forward so she was signed to score goals. Putting one away in her first start seems like a good way to get going... she was a bit rusty at times however her dribbling speed has made her an instant weapon. Rylee Foster has been sharp in goal too... although you do wonder how injury prone she may be given her history. She’s needed physio attention in both games so far.
The other two imports are still settling in. Hailey Davidson at right back and Hope Breslin on the wing. Breslin did curl in the corner that Speckmaier scored from so that was nice. A corner/scorer combo to rival Mickey Foster and Marisa van der Meer. But a few sharp bits of skill aside, she hasn’t quite got it going yet. Emma Main felt like the more dangerous wide runner for the Nix and as for that tricky dribbling and clinical finishing... that was Macey Fraser territory. Early days for Davidson and Breslin so no worries. The point is more that the kiwis getting their chances this season are serving as much as the imported talents.
Macey Fraser is a special player. Just check out that goal she scored. The shot-fake came out of the bag about five times during this game and nobody ever picked it. Just like watching Warnie hurl another flipper back in the day. Then the way she picked out that bottom corner. Too good. Manaia Elliott is a different style of player but her bulldozing persistence earned her a goal and also the assist for Fraser’s one. And she’s a scholarship player. The team’s best defender has been Mackenzie Barry. They’ve got competition for places. The style of play under Paul Temple looks to be heaps of fun. And while they certainly had some iffy moments against WSW, they way that they finished sets them up beautifully moving forward.
Year One it took the WahiNix 11 games to get their first win
Year Two it took the WahiNix 9 games to get their first win
Year Three it’s taken the WahiNix 2 games to get their first win
The goal-scoring is just as starkly different. First season they needed seven games to reach three goals, second season they needed six games to reach three goals. Third season they did it in two. They’re not dreaming when they say they want to make the finals. We haven’t even seem them with Annalie Longo yet.
Women’s National League – Team of the Week #5
GK – Angelique TuiSamoa (Western Springs) – Don’t normally think of a goalie having been a standout in a 4-0 win but this was one of those occasions where a lesser gloveswoman would have made that a much closer contest. There was one outrageous save in particular to deny Zoe Benson... damn.
RB – Arisa Takeda (Western Springs) – Incredible scenes as Western Springs reversed the scoreline they lost by in last year’s grand final against Eastern Suburbs. Takeda was all over it. One assist plus heavily involved in two of the other goals. Defended well against Charlotte Lancaster. Two brilliant performances since she returned to the league.
CB – Toni Power (Southern United) – Power by name and Power by nature. Bossed it at the back in the South Island Derby as her team rallied from a goal down to make it four wins on the trot.
CB – Jessica Shilton (Waterside Karori) – Sarah Morton led the way in the first few weeks, Saskia Vosper has held it down since... but Jess Shilton is the only Wharfies defender to have started all five games. And her performance against Central was her best yet, dealing with those speedy wingers with disdain.
LB – Jemma Catherwood (Wellington United) – Admittedly her 90th minute winner, capping a two-goal comeback, might’ve been a bit of a fluke and it did require a goalkeeping mistake. But it was great reward for a tireless display of attacking wing-back mahi. Such an exciting player when in flow.
CM – Yume Harashima (Auckland United) – Fantastic yet again. She sits deep in the midfield, collects the ball, moves it on where it needs to go, and does this for ninety-plus minutes without fail.
CM – Hope Gilchrist (Wellington United) – Wasn’t so great for the Diamonds when they were 2-0 down at half-time but they outlasted the WeeNix with their usual flurry of late goals. As the Nix youngsters tired, and the first teamers got subbed, WU took more and more control and the imposing work of Gilly became definitive.
CM – Abby Rankin (Southern United) – What a wonderful thing to have a player who just always seems to be in exactly the spot where she needs to be. Did miss one golden chance but she’d already scored another to clinch a comeback win. Links up really nicely. Great energy. Top player.
FW – Sofia Garcia (Western Springs) – Sometimes Garcia just has these games where she cannot be stopped. Two goals and two assists. She’s the leading scorer in the WNL for a reason.
FW – Kaley Ward (Waterside Karori) – A couple more goals for the American forward, who also spent some time dropping deep and facilitating their possessions. Such a well-rounded striker who has been doing it all for the Wharfies this season.
FW – Ela Jerez (Western Springs) – This will not be the last you hear of this girl. 15 years old and she scored the winner in the Kate Sheppard Cup final recently. Represented NZ at the U16s Oceania champs. Now she’s played a blinder in a big win over the previously undefeated Eastern Suburbs. A goal and an assist. Magical dribbling skills. This one’s legit.