- 6 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:25Hello and welcome to Offsiders, I'm Abbey Jelmy.
00:27It's been a big week for Australian netball.
00:30The sport celebrated a new five-year television deal
00:33that brings Diamonds matches and Super Netball back onto free-to-air.
00:37And last night, the two top teams, the Vixens and the Thunderbirds, met in Melbourne.
00:41In another classic match-up, a flurry of two-point super shots
00:45had the sell-out crowd on their feet.
00:47Tactical changes have been made.
00:50The interesting one for me, Joe Weston in at goalkeeper,
00:54trying to shut down Elmeray-Vanderberg, right on super shot time.
00:59Kira Austin, timed to perfection.
01:02Austin gets herself into the white arch.
01:05She's bowed, draws the contact.
01:08Three minutes 30 on the clock in the third.
01:11Another one.
01:12Garvin.
01:14She hasn't shown up this season, now she does.
01:17Scores are even here at John Kane Arena.
01:19Gorgeous being largely left alone for that sweep coming into the circle.
01:24A real key moment here for the Vixens.
01:28Weston sits in front.
01:30The contact court comes.
01:32Bruce turns.
01:33She fires it up.
01:34They just can't sink a super shot.
01:36The Adelaide Thunderbirds.
01:38This Melbourne Vixens side.
01:40That's six wins in a row to start their season.
01:45Back-to-back is a real option for this Melbourne side.
01:50Good morning.
01:51It is a pleasure to have your company.
01:53It's also a pleasure to have the company of our panel.
01:55I'm joined by Jamie Pandora.
01:56I'm Joe Weston, who just featured in our opening pack.
01:58If you don't mind, she's here.
01:59And Ned Hall as well.
02:00Joe, we have to start with you, of course.
02:02Undefeated, the only team remaining.
02:03It's a nice way to start the season.
02:05Yeah, it's pretty good, actually.
02:06I almost had forgotten that we were trying to go back-to-back
02:09because we sort of, you know, once you've won a premiership,
02:11you sort of try and forget about that quite quickly
02:13and move on to the next thing.
02:14But, you know, I've got one more game
02:16until we're halfway through the season.
02:17We're travelling to Perth next weekend.
02:19And if we can knock off the fever in a grand final rematch,
02:21we would have beaten everyone.
02:23So that's a good position to be sitting in halfway through the season.
02:25Not a bad position, Jamie,
02:27when you can forget that you're trying to go back-to-back.
02:29Exactly.
02:30A common factor here is that you guys have been blowing teams
02:32off the park in the fourth quarter, Joe.
02:34What's the secret behind that?
02:36We were actually having a bit of a joke last night after the game
02:39that maybe we should play a half of netball
02:40before we start the actual matches
02:42because we seem to be kicking into gear
02:45in the third and fourth quarters.
02:46I'm not really sure.
02:47Maybe we're just trying to keep it entertaining
02:49or keeping our options open.
02:51But, yeah, hopefully next week we can get a better start.
02:55And it has been a big beat for the rights.
02:56We'll touch on that soon as well.
02:58Yeah.
02:58I think you look at the rights deal
03:01and look at the fact that it moves back to free-to-air TV,
03:03there's a lot of upside, I think, with that as well.
03:05And you can look at that comparison with other sports
03:07that getting more eyes on the sport
03:09and taking it away from sort of behind the paywalls,
03:11I think, can have a real positive effect.
03:13And now, Joe, we will go back to the match
03:14because let's get the highlights out again.
03:16Jamie just mentioned it is going to be later in the game
03:18that you seem to find another gear.
03:21But it is also just amazing to see the fact
03:23that the super shot is still having such an impact.
03:25Yeah, I feel like our shooters were very lucky,
03:27Kira especially.
03:28She has just been absolutely killing it this year.
03:30It was her 100th game on the weekend.
03:32So I feel like sometimes when there's milestone games,
03:34you're a little bit nervous about sort of, you know,
03:36the spotlight being on you.
03:37But she just really stepped up to the plate.
03:39And, yeah, the Thunderbirds have traditionally played
03:41a lower-scoring game, and that's worked for them.
03:43So we wanted to try something different
03:45and go on the offensive, and it seemed to have worked for us.
03:47And we were trying to catch up.
03:48So you sort of have to shoot your shot, in a way.
03:52Unintended.
03:53Yep.
03:53They've been very high scoring this year,
03:55the Thunderbirds, having a lot of their matches as well.
03:56So to keep it to a relatively low-scoring match,
03:58I mean, it was pretty much a Joe Weston highlights package
04:00you were just watching there.
04:01Well, I was playing goalkeeper,
04:02so there's a little bit more time to have a look back in the circle.
04:06I'm not as out of breath as I usually am playing out at goal defence.
04:10So, yeah, they've been pretty good this year.
04:12So I feel like they'll probably learn,
04:13and they made some changes in the last quarter,
04:15which probably went as effective
04:16as they were hoping they were going to be.
04:18And we just managed to run home in front of an amazing crowd.
04:21We've had great numbers this year.
04:22Amazing crowd, another sell-out crowd.
04:23And that's something that we saw late last season in particular,
04:26just how strong the crowds were.
04:28And it's continued into this season as well.
04:30It's been amazing.
04:31I mean, playing that final last year at Rod Laver Arena.
04:33I'm such a huge tennis fan,
04:35so I was sort of just geeking out the entire time.
04:37But being back at John Kane,
04:39you know, it's such a, you know, it's a fortress for us.
04:41And we had over 9,000 people there last night.
04:44So, and for 7pm on a Saturday night,
04:46you know, there's a lot of competing sports interests in Melbourne.
04:49Last weekend of school holidays,
04:50I think it's just been amazing so far.
04:52And there was another match yesterday
04:53and the Firebirds beating the Swifts.
04:55But one of the big stories that did come out of netball this week,
04:57as we've already mentioned,
04:58is that Netball Australia has signed a five-year deal
05:00with the Nine Network,
05:01which will bring the games back to free-to-air TV.
05:04Now, we haven't got the exact figure,
05:06but we do understand that it's a fair bit less
05:08than the $35 million that Foxtel paid
05:10for the last five-year broadcast rights in the last deal.
05:13So, the big question is,
05:15will more viewers that come from free-to-air TV
05:17translate into more sponsors for the sports?
05:19And I'm sure, Jo, for you, you're wondering,
05:21and how about the pay for the players?
05:23You are the president of the Players Association,
05:26so you're the perfect person to ask.
05:28How have the players seen this deal?
05:30Yeah, I think for the most part, it's really exciting.
05:32I feel like having that element of being back on free-to-air
05:35is what the sponsors are looking for.
05:37And we also want to be where the fans are.
05:39We want to make sure the sport is accessible,
05:41especially being one of the premier women's sports.
05:43I feel like for young people watching,
05:45they really want to see their idols on the television
05:47in an accessible way.
05:49So, I feel like that's really exciting for us.
05:51In terms of the pay,
05:52obviously, we're going to have to go back
05:53to the negotiating table
05:55now that we have a broadcast deal that has been signed.
05:58I'm not sure of the exact figure as well,
06:01so it is slightly less.
06:02But when it comes to us in terms of the revenue share
06:04that we're looking at,
06:06broadcast revenue is just one element of that.
06:08I feel like when you look at total revenue for the sport,
06:10I was just saying we had such an amazing crowd there last night.
06:13We have ticket sales, we have merchandise,
06:15we have other sponsorship.
06:16You know, we're signing badges with our faces on them,
06:19and at the moment,
06:20players don't get a percentage of that revenue.
06:22So, I feel like if we want to continue
06:23to remain the sport for girls,
06:26it's a very competitive market out there,
06:29AFLW, NRLW, the WNBL.
06:31We want to make sure that we're capitalising
06:33and keeping players in the sport
06:34and wanting to become netballers.
06:36And it is.
06:37I was going to say,
06:37it looks like it's so positive
06:38in terms of so many metrics.
06:39You say that the fans are getting there,
06:41the participation rates as well.
06:43It's like all it feeds in as a product overall.
06:45Netball seems to be in great health
06:47compared to where it was a few years ago
06:49when there were those real financial difficulties.
06:51I think there were great financial figures
06:52posted in 2024.
06:53So, it all seems to be moving
06:55in the right direction as a sport overall.
06:57Yeah, I feel like we're just trying
06:58to get people to watch.
07:00You know, netball has really high
07:01on-demand viewership numbers,
07:03but probably struggle in the live capacity.
07:05So, I think being on TVs
07:06where people can switch it on easily
07:08rather than behind a paywall
07:10will be really great.
07:11And I think it's just continuing
07:12to spread the word.
07:13We need positive news stories.
07:14We have people coming to watch.
07:15We just want people to get on board
07:17and support people
07:18so that way we can continue to grow the game.
07:20And a guaranteed two games per week
07:22on-air, on free-to-air,
07:24is currently a better deal
07:25that we have than Super Rugby
07:26in terms of those eyes on the sport.
07:28How important is it for sports
07:30like netball, like Super Rugby
07:31and even like A-League here in Australia
07:33to not be behind a paywall?
07:35Yeah, hugely.
07:36I mean, that's one of the biggest complaints
07:37that rugby fans have
07:38is that they can't watch Super Rugby
07:40at the moment without having to pay for it.
07:42There is the option for Nine
07:43to show some games free-to-air.
07:45They've chosen not to this season.
07:49Look, I think the only two sports
07:51that can exist behind a paywall
07:52and thrive in Australia
07:53are the AFL and NRL.
07:55Yeah.
07:56You know, you see the impact
07:58that it has once you go
08:00behind the screen
08:01and you've seen it with football,
08:03with rugby.
08:04It's good that netball has this now
08:06for accessibility,
08:08especially for the younger generation.
08:10Look, also it's a time
08:12where media companies are struggling.
08:13You know, there's not as much money
08:15as there once was.
08:17Most of the deals have been done now.
08:18The NRL is looking at a package
08:21where it mirrors the NFL,
08:23where they might farm out games
08:25to multiple streaming services
08:27and free-to-air networks.
08:28They could probably afford to do that,
08:30but it also comes at a time
08:31where one media company
08:34is not going to be able to come up
08:35with billions of dollars in a package.
08:37And also for the players,
08:38I mean, this is something
08:39that's worth noting.
08:39We have the best domestic league
08:41in the world with the best players
08:42in the world all here
08:43in the highest female participation sport
08:45playing in Australia.
08:47And yet, as players,
08:48you don't have any financial security
08:50beyond the end of this season.
08:52It's a remarkable position
08:53for the players to be in.
08:54How close are you getting
08:55to knowing what might be happening
08:58going forward, Jo?
08:59And, I mean, unsurprisingly,
09:00it's not unfamiliar.
09:02So perhaps we just get used
09:03to being in a state of flux in a way.
09:06It is sort of frustrating, I think,
09:07from the Players Association point of view.
09:09We've sort of been trying
09:10to get the ball rolling
09:12on our negotiations
09:12even before the broadcast deal
09:15had been signed
09:15because other than the pay component,
09:17there's lots of other things
09:18that, you know,
09:19from five years ago
09:19that we want the contracts
09:20to change or shift
09:21or move a little bit.
09:23So hopefully we're sort of,
09:25you know, emphasising
09:26that we can get everyone in a room
09:28and get it done
09:28because we also have
09:30a Commonwealth Games
09:30for those in the Diamond Squad
09:31which comes straight after the season.
09:33And, you know,
09:34it's people's livelihood
09:35or if they're moving states,
09:36there's a lot of moving parts.
09:38Does it help having someone
09:39like Liz Ellis involved now
09:40at netball,
09:41a former player
09:42who's got that sort of
09:42the same mindset
09:43as the Players Association?
09:45Oh, Liz has been so incredible.
09:47I feel like having her
09:48back on board and championing,
09:50she's been working tirelessly
09:51and it's not easy.
09:52It's a very competitive landscape
09:54and I think having her
09:55has made things run a bit more smoothly
09:58and I guess she just understands it
09:59from a player's perspective too.
10:00And I think when you do speak
10:02about people like Liz,
10:03Netball Australia have been very big
10:04on wanting to be able
10:05to improve the playing conditions.
10:07It's just been about
10:08that sustainability piece
10:09that when we do see sports
10:11go to free-to-wear,
10:12we know that long-term
10:13more eyes mean more sponsorship dollars
10:14and it all is beneficial financially.
10:16It's just we haven't got
10:18that ball rolling yet.
10:20Yeah, and I think hopefully
10:21it's sort of like a grand swell of support.
10:23I know we keep saying that,
10:24you know, women's sport
10:25is in a boom moment,
10:26but I think it's about,
10:27you know, going out to the public
10:29and engaging interest
10:30and marketing players appropriately.
10:32I feel like that's sort of been
10:34a bit lacking for us,
10:35especially in the netball space.
10:37We probably haven't had
10:38something that pushes,
10:39you know, younger players,
10:40not me,
10:41but like our next generation
10:42of players through
10:43who are so talented.
10:44They've got some of the best style.
10:46They're so athletic.
10:46They're just all-round great people.
10:48And I think they go beyond
10:49the sporting style.
10:50You know, we see
10:51all these Gen Z athletes
10:53coming through now
10:53that are, you know,
10:54looked up to as role models
10:55on and off the court.
10:56And we probably haven't had
10:57that financial push behind players
10:59because, you know,
11:00people get invested
11:01in their favourite player
11:02and then they tune in
11:03to watch the team
11:04that they play for.
11:05It's sort of a flow-on effect.
11:06What we know is people
11:07are tuning out in droves to games.
11:08It's always so electric
11:09when you do tune in to watch
11:10because they ride
11:11every single pass
11:12and the league's been going
11:13from strength to strength
11:14as has the Vixens.
11:15So I feel like we've highlighted
11:17that enough today.
11:18So we might move on
11:19to the NRL.
11:20And Adam Reynolds kicked
11:21the match-winning field goal
11:23to see the Broncos
11:23pip the West Tigers
11:2421-20
11:25in an absolute thriller, Jamie.
11:27And I feel like
11:28this was a little bit
11:29of a statement
11:30from the captain,
11:31wouldn't you say?
11:31Absolutely.
11:32I mean, he's come under fire recently.
11:34Former legend of the Broncos,
11:36Gordon Tallis,
11:37took a shot at him
11:37saying that he really wasn't
11:39responsible for their
11:40premiership win last year.
11:42Well, you know,
11:42he's got the job done here
11:43without Rhys Walsh,
11:45without Pat Garrigan.
11:46Payne Haas was injured
11:47during the game.
11:48He really took the game
11:50upon himself
11:51and carried that team
11:53to victory.
11:54Really important win
11:55given they were down
11:56a few players.
11:56And just how well
11:58the Tigers had been playing
12:00and this was at a
12:00packed out Campbelltown stadium.
12:03They had the early momentum
12:04in the game,
12:05but as you see,
12:06Reynolds just clutch.
12:08So reviving hopes
12:09that they can go
12:11back to back.
12:11You know,
12:12this was a stern test
12:14of where they were at
12:15this season.
12:15And we do hope
12:16that the Broncos
12:17have a big injury wing
12:19because the Payne Haas
12:20being added to it
12:20is a concern,
12:21particularly it might have
12:22origin ramifications as well.
12:23Yeah,
12:24so it looks like an MCL
12:25which is usually
12:26about four weeks.
12:27So he'd be racing the clock
12:29for the Blues origin campaign
12:31which starts in six weeks.
12:33So yeah,
12:34they'll be sweating
12:34on the scans.
12:36We'll probably know
12:37a little bit more today.
12:38But look,
12:39New South Wales
12:40can't win origin
12:40without Payne Haas.
12:41He is the best front rower
12:42in the game.
12:43Just such a crucial player
12:46for their go forward.
12:4712 players in the Broncos,
12:48top 30 I think,
12:49are probably now missing,
12:50injured or suspended.
12:51So there's a big burden
12:53they've got to try
12:53and get through
12:53over the next few weeks
12:54anyway to keep
12:55that Premiership defence
12:56on track.
12:57And as much as the West Tigers
12:58didn't come away
12:58with the win here,
12:59it is great for the league
13:00to see them so competitive.
13:01And again,
13:02the atmosphere last night
13:03in Campbelltown,
13:03I think in recent years
13:04there's been some fairly
13:05flat matches there
13:06when the Tigers
13:07haven't been travelling well.
13:08They won three consecutive
13:08wooden spoons.
13:09But the last match,
13:10last weekend
13:11against the Knights as well,
13:12the place was jumping
13:13and it was last night
13:13as well against the Broncos.
13:15So really good
13:15for the Tigers
13:16and all their supporter base
13:17to see them competitive again.
13:19Interesting,
13:19Jerome Lewi back
13:20into the side last night
13:21and there was some talk
13:22about how he'd slot back in
13:23because Jock Madden
13:24had been playing so well.
13:25So they've just got to get
13:26that balance right
13:27I think in the next few weeks.
13:28Yeah, so close,
13:28so close to getting a win there.
13:30But we'll move on
13:30because in the Dragons
13:31loss to the Rabbitohs,
13:32Jadon Sewell was sent off
13:33for a horrible hit
13:34on Cameron Murray.
13:35I almost feel like
13:36I need to put a warning on this
13:37because every time
13:37I look at it I cringe.
13:39How many weeks
13:40do you think you get
13:40for this one?
13:41He was sent off.
13:42Yeah, it's a grade three
13:43so he'll cop three weeks
13:45if he pleads guilty
13:46which I think he will.
13:46If he tries to fight it
13:47he'll get four weeks.
13:50Look, it just surmises
13:52where the Dragons are at
13:53at the moment.
13:53I think he was going in
13:55for a big shot
13:56trying to knock the ball loose
13:57trying to come up
13:58with some sort of play
13:59to get the Dragons
14:00out of this rut.
14:01They 0-7 to start the year
14:04going back to last year.
14:05They've lost 11 in a row.
14:07Huge pressure on their coach
14:08Shane Flanagan
14:09on the entire playing squad.
14:11You know, he comes in
14:12and just gets it horribly wrong.
14:14So he'll be out for a while
14:16and the Dragons
14:17could be on the lookout
14:19for a new coach
14:19in the next couple of weeks.
14:20They've got the Roosters
14:22on Anzac Day.
14:23That's a traditional game.
14:24They haven't fared that well
14:26and it just
14:27they need answers
14:28and they just can't find them.
14:29Yeah, well the Dragons
14:30have lost seven in a row.
14:31The Storm have lost
14:31five games in a row.
14:33Something that they haven't said
14:34since 2012
14:34and fans will remind you
14:362012 wasn't actually
14:36a bad year for Melbourne
14:38but it is something
14:39that it's not like usual
14:40that we see this.
14:41Really unusual
14:42and as you mentioned
14:42in 2012
14:43they went on and won
14:44the premiership.
14:44They had those losses
14:45when they were top of the ladder
14:46and had been there
14:47for most of the season
14:48whereas this is very
14:49uncharted territory
14:49for them to be
14:50well outside the eight
14:51at the moment
14:52and just not looking
14:54like the Storm of Old
14:55and they haven't got
14:56a lot of players out.
14:57They quite literally
14:57don't look like the Storm of Old
14:58because there's been
14:59so much of a turnover
15:00on the list.
15:00Exactly.
15:01So they've got the likes
15:02of Eli Katara out
15:03at the moment
15:03Xavier Coates
15:04but the big names
15:05the Munsters are in there
15:06Jerome Hughes
15:07Harry Grant
15:07they're just not firing
15:09at the moment.
15:09This was a better performance
15:10against Canberra.
15:11Canberra let them
15:12back into the match
15:12with a few stupid penalties
15:14they gave away
15:14but they had 50 points
15:16put on the other week
15:17that doesn't really
15:17happen to them.
15:18They've looked a long way
15:19short of where the Storm
15:20have been in recent seasons.
15:21And Craig Bellamy
15:22of course the super coach
15:23himself has a few words
15:24to say after the match.
15:26We're all scratching our
15:27head at the moment
15:28so we'll come together
15:32the next day
15:33we'll meet up
15:34and hopefully
15:35someone's got some ideas
15:36and that will go from there.
15:38Hopefully someone
15:39has some ideas
15:39things that you only
15:40get away with saying
15:41if you're Craig Bellamy
15:41because no one's saying
15:42that he should be going
15:43anywhere but Jo
15:44you've been in teams
15:44that have had a slump
15:45and come out
15:46to have the ultimate success.
15:47What do you think
15:48as a playing group
15:49do you need to come together?
15:50I think you went
15:51to the pub correct?
15:52We did
15:54I think we were
15:55four and two
15:56last year
15:57before going on
15:58to win the premiership.
16:00I think some reflection
16:01is normally important.
16:03We kind of did a bit
16:03of a forward looking exercise
16:04to say how we want to feel
16:06at the end of the season
16:07and I think that kind of
16:08can spur some changes
16:10within the team
16:11but yeah I feel like
16:12going to the pub
16:13a bit of social bonding
16:13because when you are losing
16:14sometimes it is really hard
16:16as Bellamy was saying
16:17you're kind of like
16:17oh I've tried everything
16:19and maybe we're out of options
16:20and sometimes the harder
16:21you try the worse it gets
16:22in a way
16:23so sometimes letting go
16:24letting fate
16:25you know
16:25and also just maybe
16:27scoring a bit more.
16:29You did mention
16:29in our pre-show meeting
16:31that you all wrote letters
16:32to each other
16:32is that something
16:33you'd recommend
16:33that you can see
16:34the storm getting down
16:35as a group
16:35and putting pen to paper?
16:37It was more a letter
16:38to your former
16:39or future self
16:40it was sort of
16:41I don't know whether
16:42that's too touchy-feely
16:43for some sports teams
16:44but I feel like
16:45it was a great exercise
16:47and I do think
16:47we did read them
16:48at some point
16:49in some of our
16:50grand final celebrations
16:51but unfortunately
16:52those memories
16:52are a little bit hazy
16:53so
16:54It's amazing how that happens
16:55It's amazing how that happens
16:56Maybe letters to Santa
16:57for the storm
16:59but I would
17:00I would warn
17:01against writing them off
17:02I remember sitting here
17:03last year
17:04talking about
17:05how the Panthers
17:05were bottom of the table
17:06and you just knew
17:08that this is too good
17:09of a team
17:10to stay down
17:10for too long
17:12Bellamy will find
17:12the answers at some point
17:13whether he's got the cattle
17:14to go all the way
17:15is a different story
17:16I don't think so
17:17but I think
17:18they'll still be pushing
17:19for finals
17:20You mentioned the Panthers
17:21Nathan Cleary
17:22steering them to another
17:23incredible win
17:23Penrith just going
17:24from strength to strength
17:25so if you're a storm fan
17:26it's just been a very
17:26painful weekend
17:27because look at this
17:28I mean you just
17:29what is it about this guy
17:30that you just know
17:31that he's going to kick it
17:32Yeah look
17:32he's done it so many times
17:34I know
17:34there's only one player
17:35in the comp
17:35you want the ball
17:36to go to an extra time
17:37with the game on the line
17:39yeah he's just
17:40such a magical finisher
17:41so calm under pressure
17:43and Panthers
17:44remain on top of the table
17:46yeah it's a really
17:47interesting mix
17:48at the moment
17:48because you've got
17:49the Tigers still there
17:50despite their loss
17:51the Warriors
17:51second on the ladder
17:53South's coming up
17:54so quite competitive
17:55but
17:56dare say
17:57we could see
17:57a couple more
17:58of these highlights
17:59during the season
18:00from Nathan Cleary
18:00especially at the back end
18:01they never get old though
18:03he's just that good
18:04but we will move on
18:05to Super Rugby
18:06and it's been
18:06a massive week
18:07with the news breaking
18:08on Wednesday
18:09that Mono Pacifica
18:10is of chance
18:10to be disbanded
18:12at the end of 2026
18:13with the ownership
18:14confirming
18:14it will not continue
18:16funding beyond this season
18:17so Jamie
18:18this is in such
18:19a precarious position
18:20at the moment
18:21because there is still hope
18:23but it's slim
18:23yeah
18:24faint hope
18:25so there are
18:26some investors
18:27that are having
18:28a look at potentially
18:29coming in with
18:30a funding package
18:31to save them
18:31certainly
18:32Moana officials
18:33were hopeful
18:35when we spoke to them
18:36after the game
18:37in Sydney
18:37on Friday night
18:38whether that happens
18:40though remains to be seen
18:41they've got less than
18:41four weeks
18:42to come up
18:42with that package
18:43and make a firm commitment
18:44New Zealand rugby
18:45is awaiting that
18:47look
18:47Super Rugby
18:48has had numerous
18:49challenges
18:50with new franchises
18:52the Sunwolves
18:52have come and gone
18:53from Japan
18:53the Western Force
18:55were out
18:55came back in
18:56through the package
18:57of Twiggy Forest
18:58the Rebels are gone
18:59they're in
18:59you know
19:00court action now
19:00with Rugby Australia
19:01but I don't expect
19:02to see them back
19:02in Super Rugby
19:03it was once
19:04an 18 team comp
19:05and you know
19:07involving South Africa
19:08Argentina as well
19:09they've gone
19:09so if Moana
19:12can't get the team
19:13up for 27
19:14we'll have a 10 team
19:15competition
19:16which is essentially
19:17what it was
19:17before rugby
19:18became professional
19:19and it just goes
19:20to show the challenges
19:21I mean
19:22every club
19:23in Super Rugby
19:24right now
19:25still
19:26you know
19:26facing hurdles
19:27to make a profit
19:30a big challenge
19:31is that they only
19:32generally get about
19:32seven home games
19:33a year
19:33so if it does
19:35go to 10 teams
19:36they'd be looking
19:37at a home
19:38in a way
19:38my information
19:39is that
19:40that'll be very difficult
19:41to get up in 27
19:42because of
19:43the test calendar
19:44you've got to remember
19:45rugby makes all its money
19:46from the international game
19:47and it's a very congested
19:49schedule
19:50with the Wallabies
19:51so if you had
19:53a home and away
19:5418 round competition
19:55in Super Rugby
19:55that means
19:56you'd have to start it
19:57in January
19:57essentially
19:58Wallabies have a
19:59mandatory rest period
20:00so you'd be looking at
20:01you know
20:02most of the teams
20:03not having their
20:04household names
20:05you know
20:05for the start of the season
20:06and you can't really sell
20:08a competition
20:10without that
20:11like imagine
20:11starting an NRL season
20:12without Nathan Cleary
20:13and Reece Walsh
20:14so you've got to
20:15factor in all those things
20:17they do want to get to that
20:18eventually
20:19but at this stage
20:20it looks like it might be
20:22more of a clunky
20:22type of season
20:24where you might get
20:24eight home games
20:25instead of seven
20:26should the team dissolve
20:27what sort of impact
20:28does that have
20:28for rugby in the Pacific
20:30well
20:30the coach
20:31Tanu Amunga
20:33said it quite frankly
20:34that rugby league
20:35could really take over
20:37the Pacific Islands
20:38now
20:39when the Australian
20:40government pledged
20:41$600 million
20:42to get the Papua New Guinea
20:43team
20:45$250 million
20:46of that
20:47was set aside
20:47to go to target
20:48the Pacific Islands
20:49Samoa
20:50Fiji
20:51Tonga
20:51and they are really
20:53making
20:54you know
20:55a grand mission
20:56to try to lure
20:57the best talent
20:58to rugby league
20:59and if you look at the way
21:00that Tonga and Samoa
21:02is going on
21:02the international game
21:03the amount of
21:04high profile
21:05NRL players
21:06who are choosing
21:07to play for Tonga
21:08and Samoa
21:09rather than Australia
21:10and New Zealand
21:11gives youth
21:12something to look forward
21:13to
21:14something that they had
21:15in the Moana Pacifica
21:17and they're competitive
21:18absolutely
21:19so you know
21:20they're not only
21:21there to make up
21:22the numbers
21:22they're actually
21:23you know
21:23beating the kangaroos
21:24or on par with them
21:27and conversely
21:28you see Tonga
21:29and Samoa
21:30barely scraping
21:31into World Cups
21:32and you know
21:33really well outside
21:34the top 10
21:35top 15
21:36in the world rankings
21:37Moana Pacifica
21:38is there to represent
21:40the Pacific region
21:41and they're playing
21:42in the Super Rugby
21:43Pacific competition
21:44so
21:45can it still be
21:46the Super Rugby
21:46Pacific without
21:47the Pacific team
21:48that's right
21:48so look
21:49if they go
21:50there is a chance
21:52that what will happen
21:52is you'll get a Tonga
21:54and Samoa team
21:55into the Super Rugby
21:56Oz competition
21:57which they play
21:57at the back end
21:58of the year
21:58that might be
21:59a pathway
22:00for them
22:01now there'll be
22:02numerous players
22:03that don't have a job
22:04at the end of the season
22:05if they
22:06yeah well we were
22:06just talking to Joe
22:07about player instability
22:08imagine you're playing
22:09for your team
22:09and you're like
22:10should I start reaching out
22:12should my managers
22:12start having conversations
22:13that's what's happening now
22:14like they don't know
22:15because you've got
22:16this group of investors
22:17apparently coming in
22:18with a package
22:19to save them
22:19but at the same time
22:20how real is it
22:21and you've got to go
22:23well if I don't have
22:23a contract next year
22:24it's giving Rebels
22:25throwbacks way too quickly
22:27where they have to
22:28play out the season
22:29going what are we
22:29how am I even meant
22:31to have these conversations
22:32but we will talk about
22:34the actual Super Rugby
22:35results from the weekend
22:35because they've done
22:36some amazing games
22:37and in a match
22:37for the ages
22:38it was the Western Force
22:39that overcame
22:40a 19 zip deficit
22:42to stun the Crusaders
22:4431-26 in Perth
22:45and it was lead convert
22:47Zach Lomax
22:48who starred in the win
22:49and he's a bit
22:49rocks and diamonds
22:50but we'll show you
22:50some of the diamonds
22:51this is an unbelievable
22:53game Jamie
22:54it really was
22:55I mean after 20 minutes
22:56you thought
22:57okay the Crusaders
22:57put 50 on them
22:59and they staged
23:00a remarkable comeback
23:01in Perth
23:02I liked what I saw
23:04from Lomax
23:04yes he made a couple
23:05of errors
23:06a missed tackle
23:06a couple of drop balls
23:07but what he did
23:09under the high ball
23:10was really impressive
23:11and that's an area
23:12of the game
23:13that has become
23:13incredibly important
23:15in rugby
23:15the way the game
23:16is being played
23:17and reffed
23:18so I think
23:19the Wallabies
23:20will like the look
23:21of him under the high ball
23:23he's a natural finisher
23:24you know
23:25he's only
23:26he's only going to improve
23:27I noticed that one stage
23:28he got involved
23:29in a rolling mall
23:30which would be
23:30a new experience for him
23:32he would have been
23:32wondering what the hell
23:33he was doing in there
23:33but led to a try
23:35and look
23:36you know
23:37the more of these
23:38superstars
23:39we can get
23:39yes these household names
23:41and people talking
23:42about them
23:42before next year's
23:43Home World Cup
23:44the better it is
23:45for rugby
23:45I know there's a lot
23:46of complaints about
23:46why are we targeting
23:47rugby league players
23:49but if you go back
23:50to the last time
23:50we hosted a Home World Cup
23:52Lottie Tungheri
23:53Matt Rogers
23:53Wendell Saylor
23:54they came across
23:55and they created
23:56a new buzz
23:57and it was magic
23:58the Wallabies got
23:59to the final
24:00a lot of people
24:01that weren't watching rugby
24:02started watching rugby
24:03because how are they
24:04going to go
24:04we'll have the same
24:05situation next year
24:06when Lomax is in
24:07his second year
24:08Angus Crichton
24:09comes from
24:10the Roosters
24:11Mark No Angadintuasa
24:12is going to be available
24:13for the Wallabies
24:14this year
24:15so yeah
24:16there's a lot to like
24:17about the superstar
24:18aspect of the Wallabies
24:20what they're going to
24:21get right is
24:22the forwards
24:22and who their
24:23playmaker's going to be
24:24we still don't know
24:25and then everyone
24:26will just get behind
24:27because it's a home
24:27World Cup
24:28which is what we love
24:29so we've got always
24:30one eye on the World Cup
24:31but we will move on
24:32to the AFL now
24:33and the league
24:34has asked Carlton
24:35to please explain
24:36how forward
24:37Elijah Hollands
24:37was allowed to take
24:39the field against
24:39Collingwood on Thursday
24:40night when it was clear
24:41he was in no state
24:43to play
24:43now footage of Hollands
24:44behaving erratically
24:45went viral and he had
24:46only one touch for the game
24:48the Blues say that
24:49Holland suffered what
24:50they call a mental health
24:51episode
24:51the big question is
24:53how Blues staff
24:54or teammates just didn't
24:55spot that he was having
24:56difficulties before the match
24:58or during the game
24:58when you can see there
24:59he was even walking
25:00through the Magpies
25:01huddle at one point
25:02this it's really distressing
25:03to watch Ned
25:04yeah it is
25:05it's very tough
25:05it's a player as well
25:06who's spoken out publicly
25:07in the past about issues
25:09with alcohol and anxiety
25:11as well around the game
25:12so for nobody to really
25:14pick that up
25:15I think people in commentary
25:16had picked it up
25:16before members of the
25:18coaching staff had
25:19he was on the field
25:20in the fourth quarter
25:21I think it was nine minutes
25:21into the fourth quarter
25:22he was eventually benched
25:24I find it amazing
25:25that with all the support
25:26teams that people have
25:27now in professional sport
25:28and particularly in AFL
25:30they've got vast numbers
25:30of coaches
25:31they do have people
25:32who help with
25:33psychological issues as well
25:34that nobody picked it up
25:36any sooner
25:37and obviously
25:37it was a huge match
25:38they're playing against
25:39Collingwood at the MCG
25:40packed house
25:41and so for him to be
25:43going through that out there
25:44and nobody to spot
25:45that he probably
25:46shouldn't have been out there
25:46that's quite concerning
25:48and I think
25:49we want to be very sure
25:50that we're all worried
25:51about the player here
25:52but we're also questioning
25:53the system that led to it
25:55and Joe
25:55granted netball
25:56it's a different environment
25:57it's a much smaller
25:58team fraternity
25:59but it is hard to imagine
26:00that no one
26:01during the match
26:02would have picked up
26:02in the huddles
26:03that hey are you okay
26:05yeah I think
26:06we're a smaller team
26:07so you have probably
26:08more intimate relationships
26:09with each other
26:09but yeah you normally
26:10even if you're focused
26:11on the game
26:12you normally have
26:12awareness of what's
26:13going on beside you
26:15and I think especially
26:16if you play alongside
26:16like I play in defence
26:17so all of us
26:18you know we're pretty aware
26:19and I you know
26:20you think that if
26:21something is happening
26:22you'd sort of be like
26:22and maybe you know
26:24they did try and intervene
26:25and I don't know
26:25what really unfolded
26:26behind the scenes
26:27but yeah I guess
26:28you just feel for him
26:29and hope that he's
26:30you know being supported
26:31and we'll wait to see
26:32what Carlton's response is
26:33because the AFL
26:34have asked for an explanation
26:35but we're speaking of
26:36the AFL Tribunal
26:37has been in the news
26:38this week with Port Adelaide star
26:39Zach Butters
26:40found guilty
26:41of verbally abusing
26:42umpire Nick Foote
26:43in last week's
26:44loss to St Kilda
26:45now this became
26:45a bit of a he said
26:47he said case
26:47where no one could
26:48really assert
26:49what was actually said
26:51now Port have said
26:52they're going to appeal
26:53and it emerged
26:54that one of the
26:55Tribunal members
26:55was actually
26:56driving the car
26:58on a Zoom
26:59while the decision
27:00was being made
27:00this is just
27:02farcical right
27:04I've struggled
27:05to understand it
27:06as well
27:06that Jason Johnson
27:07one of the
27:07Tribunal members
27:08also works
27:09as a real estate
27:11agent as well
27:11and was on his way
27:12to a viewing
27:12so he actually started
27:13off on his desktop
27:14and switched to his
27:15in-car mode
27:16during the hearing
27:17he said he didn't
27:18miss any of the key
27:18evidence
27:19but it's not a great look
27:21it's something that's
27:21become obviously
27:22a huge story
27:23they'll go back
27:24to the appeal
27:24be heard on Monday night
27:25and it's only over
27:26a $1,500 fine
27:28but obviously
27:28it's due to
27:29abuse to a number
27:30well it was a massive
27:31case though
27:31and you've got
27:32one of the biggest
27:32names in the competition
27:34saying I didn't say this
27:35and it did come down
27:36to a cheating
27:37allegation
27:38as in how much
27:39are they paying you
27:40being the phrase
27:40that was used
27:41and it was sort of
27:42integrity that was
27:43on the line here
27:44but it's just
27:44it's a billion dollar game
27:46it is
27:47and I think there's
27:47been a lot of focus
27:48on again
27:49the process
27:49and the tribunal
27:50and how it works
27:51and particularly
27:51with cases like this
27:52when as you say
27:53it's a he said
27:54he said issue
27:54I don't know
27:56how they ever get
27:56to the bottom of this
27:57without one of their
27:58reputations being damaged
27:59whether it's the umpire
28:00Nick Foote
28:01or Zach Butters
28:02who's adamant
28:02that he didn't say
28:03what he's being reported
28:04to have said
28:04so nobody comes out
28:06of it with a great look
28:07and it's this adversarial
28:08contest that they go into
28:09in these tribunal hearings
28:11that again
28:12nobody comes out
28:13of it looking great
28:13I might just finish
28:14the rest of the show
28:15from my car
28:15because it's going to be okay
28:17that's professional anyway
28:18we'll see how this all plays out
28:20but something that we do
28:21love to see
28:22is gout gout racing
28:23anytime
28:23and coming off
28:24what was an incredible week
28:26where he broke
28:26the 22nd mark
28:27at the
28:29national champs
28:30here he is
28:31at the under 20s
28:32in the 100 metres
28:33and has the time
28:34to look down the barrel
28:35down the end
28:36and just give the fans
28:37a little bit of a wave
28:38do we love this
28:39do we not
28:39he still hasn't broken
28:40the 10 second mark
28:41he's run 10 flat
28:42would you prefer to see him
28:43just put the pedal down
28:44and give his best
28:45or do we like the showmanship
28:46I love the showmanship
28:47and you know
28:48that's the sort of confidence
28:49that's actually going to see him
28:50break that 10 second barrier
28:52you know
28:52people at that level
28:54they have to have
28:55a certain level of flair
28:56and charisma
28:57and he's got that
28:59he's still in development mode
29:00you know
29:00he's still very much a kid
29:02so look
29:03I like it
29:04he's bringing something new
29:06something attractive
29:06to athletics
29:08people are tuning in
29:09to watch
29:10and you know
29:10he'll be a charismatic guy
29:13that we look forward
29:14to watching over many years
29:15I love it
29:16I love watching him
29:16I'd love to see him do it
29:17when he's running a time
29:18that starts with a 9
29:19but that's okay
29:19I'm sure that he will get there
29:21but it is time
29:21for observations
29:22and Ned we'll start with you
29:23look huge night tonight
29:24English Premier League
29:25pretty much the title
29:26is on the line
29:26Manchester City play Arsenal
29:28Manchester City coach
29:29Pep Guardiola says
29:30unless they win
29:31the title is Arsenal
29:32so that's just going to be
29:33an enormous decider
29:34Arsenal's form's
29:35dropped off a little bit recently
29:36Avidia Jo
29:37I'm a massive Essendon supporter
29:39so we've finally had a win
29:40not this week
29:41but we're playing Collingwood
29:43on Anzac Day
29:43which is always such
29:44you know
29:45a goose bump
29:46moment
29:47and I think
29:47maybe we stand a chance
29:48this year
29:49I'm backing us in
29:50they were competitive this week
29:51we'll give them that
29:52I'll firstly up the Gunners
29:53and secondly
29:55Maddie Levi
29:56Australian 7s superstar
29:58she has just been
30:00carving up
30:01she has now
30:02overtaken
30:03Portia Woodman-Witcliffe
30:05as the second highest
30:06tri-scorer
30:07in women's 7s history
30:08she only trails
30:09Kiwi Michaela Blyde
30:11she'll get that mark
30:13her tri-scoring rate
30:14is phenomenal
30:14and you know
30:16she'll probably be
30:17the poster girl
30:17for the 2029
30:18Women's World Cup
30:19which is from
30:207s to 15s
30:21has to be
30:22she's like watching
30:23someone play on cheat code
30:24she's playing a different
30:25game to everyone else
30:26an absolute weapon
30:27team thank you so much
30:27for your time today
30:28we really appreciate it
30:29that is all we have time for
30:31we leave you
30:31with a touching moment
30:33from the Adelaide Oval crowd
30:34paying its respects
30:34to Crows captain
30:35Jordan Dawson
30:36after the tragic loss
30:38of his brother Jared
30:39during the week
30:39with a standing ovation
30:40at the 12 minute mark
30:42of the first quarter
30:43of last night's game
30:44Dawson didn't play
30:45against St Kilda
30:46but he was in the box
30:47at the ground
30:47and his teammate
30:48Tex Walker
30:49spoke about the tribute
30:50after the match
30:51thanks for watching
30:52when things like this
30:54happen in life
30:55Kath
30:55the best places to be
30:57is footy clubs
30:58we've got amazing people
31:01we've got an amazing
31:02amount of care
31:02and support
31:03and we're going to
31:05wrap our arms
31:05around Dawson Millie
31:07and Tony Marion
31:08and Chloe
31:09his sister
31:10for a long time
31:11and it'll be nice
31:12to get the skipper back
31:13when he's ready
31:14so yeah
31:15this is for
31:15all the Dawson family
31:18we've got a lot of
31:18we've got a lot of
31:18we've got a lot of
31:18we've got a lot of
31:19we've got a lot of
31:19we've got a lot of
31:19we've got a lot of
31:20we've got a lot of
31:21we've got a lot of
31:22we've got a lot of
Comments