You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB.

Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.

Hi There, Welcome into a new week.

Welcome into a fresh episode of the Sports Fixed podcast and association with GJ.

Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Monday, October sixth I'm Jason Pineape.

You had a good weekend, Quinta Pia had a very good weekend and a very first appearance in the All Blacks number thirteen jersey on Saturday night in that p Ledislow Cup test, the standout in a black jersey in the eyes of many.

So is he now the long term solution at center for the All Blacks, one of the best to ever wear that jersey.

Frank Bunts going to join us on Sports Fix to chew that over.

I'll jump aside the chamber with Clay Wilson to talk at Rugbat's talk net Forland to talk it to the NRL as well the latest and sports news too.

So let's get into it.

In other news, Let's get things up.

The way is always with a look at some of the big sports stories around today.

The Broncos are NRL champions, coming from behind to win last night's Grand final the sad Ago.

Nineteen.

The Broncos up back on top of the regular world threes, Walsh conjuring up one of the great performances in a final to break Brisbane's nineteen year premiership trout a twenty six twenty two win over the Melbourne Storm.

George Russell has secured Formula one's Singapore Grand Prix for Mercedes, with Red Bulls Max for staff and second on a day though where the Constructors' Championship was decided.

McLaren are Constructors Champions in twenty and twenty five for the second year running.

And new Nottingham Forest football boss and pastor Corglu has been bullish in the face of questions about whether his tenure at the Premier League club will be a short one a two new loss of way at Newcastle means they're now winless in seven man since poster Cod Blue took over.

People outside don't think I'm the right person or even internally think it makes any difference from me.

I took this role on knowing it will be a massive challenge with changing the direction of the club.

Nothing I've seen in the last three and a half weeks has changed.

By view.

Dissecting the sporting agenda, It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine.

You're listening to the Sports Flex podcast.

As the All Blacks beat Australia on Saturday night in Perth, the standout performer in the eyes of many was Quinn to Pia.

In his first test starting at center, he scored a couple of tries and had a strong all round game.

So is he now the long term solution at center for the All Blacks?

One of the best to ever do it.

Frank Buntz fifty five test matches, sixty nine games in total for the Abs.

Frank, thanks for joining us.

What did you make first of all of Quinta Pire's performance on Saturday night?

Ah, I loved it.

You know, we've been we've been sort of waiting a little bit, you know, for oh, you know what will he propped her really to fire and and you know, Quintupie got his chance and took it with you know, with open arms.

And then really, you know, he he was involved in everything.

So I was I was really I was really happy, you know, And and for a guy to to have come back from from what he did.

You know, it's a long journey back for such a serious injury, and you know, to get his opportunity and then and then take it was.

Yeah, it was awesome to watch.

What did you like most about what you saw from him on Saturday?

I I like the fact that he was you know, he stood out, he went, he was looking for work.

You know, he was making break you know, just just I think, you know, nothing, I wouldn't say there was anything specific, but you know, he was, he was involved.

I just liked the way that he was.

He was in a lot of the play.

You know, he made ground when he carried the ball.

You know, his passing was good.

Is he just had a real good all round I think contribution.

He himself said that he was quite surprised when the coaches said to him, how you're playing center.

We've only really seen him at Super rugby and for the All Blacks as a second five.

How interchangeable are twelve and thirteen?

They're they're well, they're interchangeable for some.

You know, it's easier for some people than others.

I think I think, you know, in this day and age, things have changed a little bit, and I did hear.

I can't remember who said it actually, but you know, Jeff Wilson or Milsey or someone like that, you know, had said that it was the style of the game that was kind of hindering, you know, Billy Proctor, And I see that.

You know, I don't think I don't think a center's role is you know, is the same as it used to be.

Necessarily, you obviously still want someone who can who can distribute the ball well, who can set up as outsides.

Do you know when he when he needs to?

And yeah, I'm not taking away from Billy Proctery there because I you know, I've seen him do that.

But I think test level again is another level up, and you know, you're just under a whole lot more pressure.

But you know, in terms of in terms of you know, couldn't I forgot the first what was your question?

No, No, not at all.

I was just really interested to know about the adjustment from twelve to thirteen, because for me, it looked like he made it seamlessly.

You know, I know you played a bit of twelve, but mainly thirteen.

So I just just wonder whether you know, some guys play one or the other, don't they Some like Anton Lena Brown can play both.

I just wonder, like, is it more challenging with ball and hand?

Do you have to learn different defensive patterns?

For example, when you're when you're defending, Yeah.

Yeah, it's it's well, you know it doesn't sound right, but it's the same.

But it's different.

You know, you have you're under a bit more pressure because you're closer in you know, when you're playing at twelve, you're closer to the defense.

You're you're closer to you know, the loose forwards can get to you, you know, the just two or three steps closer, So you have to make decisions, you know, very very quickly.

But I think I think I ended up as a as an outside tender, you know, plaid second five and never liked it because you were under that pressure and you didn't get the room that you know, someone like me needed.

You just have a little bit more time, a little bit more, a little bit more space, you know, before the defense gets to you.

So I think it's that type of person.

I guess it depends a bit on what type of person you are, too.

I just like I preferred that rather than the closer you know, and probably more physical role of a second five because you know you're right there, You're there for the taking, but you know it's up to you to take the ball up up to you to carry into you know, into you know, some of the bigger loose forwards that are that are going around.

So yeah, different different positions name, but different and you need to be a you know, I think, a different type of player actually, and.

The hallmark of all great centers like yourself, Joe Stanley before you, Conrad Smith after you always had the ability with ball in hand to put their outsides into space.

I know, it's it's it's perhaps more difficult now with defensive patterns being different.

But what was the key What is the key to making space for your outsides?

I think it is it is vision.

You know that you can see, you can see things that that opportunities that open you can see.

You know, it's it's the vision.

It's it's seeing the not necessarily that it is going to happen, it's the possibility of something you know, happening.

So I think I think it is a it is more a vision aspect to the game in saying that you know, when you're playing at twelve, you don't get a you don't get a you know, like a chance really to you know, to have a lock outside, to take the time to to have a look at see where they're with their you know, the opposition is standing and what's likely.

You know, it's all about figuring out where people are, where they aren't.

You know, what holds, what what might occur.

You know, it's it's all of that thing and it sometimes you have to do that all in the space of a few seconds.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Well, he certainly marked himself out as an option in both the twelve and now the third end Jumper.

Thanks Frank, I appreciate your time.

Frank Bunce joining us on sports fixing.

The sporting agenda.

It's sportsfex with Jason Vine.

Look, I hate to break this to you, and actually I'm pretty sure you've worked it out for yourself.

Perhaps, but I think it's fairly obvious now that Dame Nolen Todoua won't be coming back to coach the Silver Ferns.

If she and Neple New Zealand haven't been able to work through the issues that have arisen despite days of mediation, then they're not going to be able to.

They've clearly reached an impasse.

There are points over which the two parties simply cannot reach agreement or even reach compromise.

On CEO Jenny Wiley wouldn't confirm yesterday that mediation will even continue.

If it doesn't, then what what next.

Dame Nolen released a statement on Saturday.

She said, I cared deeply about the Silver Ferns and want to be back coaching the team.

I've seen the media statement issued by Nepball New Zealand setting out their views.

My views are different, that's the end of the quote.

Her views are different.

So if we look at the New Zealand Nepball state and it says, despite considerable and genuine effort from Netborn, New Zealand and Dame Nolen Todoa, a resolution regarding the Silver Ferns high Performance program and environment has not yet been reached.

Well, that's not a view, that's a fact.

It's the next bit though.

It says from Netborn, New Zealand.

Over the past few weeks, Netburn, New Zealand has pursued every pathway with Dame Nolen to bring her back into the Silver Ferns environment at this time.

Netborn, New Zealand is disappointed that this has not been possible.

Well, Dame Nolean says her views are different, so presumably she believes that they haven't pursued every pathway.

Look, whatever you believe, whoever you believe, whoever you think is at fault here, whatever you think of the process, this is an unfortunate and quite frankly, extremely sad series of events enveloping one of our biggest sports, a division in the Silver Ferns, over the way they're coached and the way they're coached by one of our greatest ever.

I just now feel a sense of great sadness for those involved in the sport.

And as I say, it seems highly unlikely now that Dame Nolene will ever coach the Silver Ferns again.

She clearly wants to, many of the players want her to.

The weight of public opinion feels like it's on her side.

But I just can't see, given the events of the last few days and what we heard from Jenny Wiley yesterday and what I've read in the statements, that there is a way back.

Sometimes agreement can't be reached, and employment matters in relationship matters.

Sometimes things just can't be worked through.

The chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.

You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast, and into the chamber we go to kick around a couple of sporting issues.

What a delight, What an honor to have sports editor at news Talk, said be Clay Wilson Poppin.

Hello, mate, thanks for having me Piney, It's good to have you on board.

Can we start with the All Blacks Saturday night they beat Australia, so back to back test when in the Rugby Championship for the first time.

I don't think they would say it was an absolutely banner performance.

But what did you make of it?

And how should we feel about the All Blacks Rugby Championship campaign?

Well?

Was it an improvement on Eden Park?

Maybe?

But then again, kind of the All Black bar this year isn't as high as it would you would normally hold it by All Black standards, is it?

You know?

It was a stop start game of rugby.

I saw a good comment from someone that said, out of all the All Blacks games I've watched, that was one of them, and I think that kind of sums it up.

It wasn't a game that's going to go down in memory outside from a couple of standout performances here or there.

So what does it say in terms of where they are?

I don't really know.

It's hard to say because it has been such an up and down year.

I guess they were in terms of being consistent from week to week.

This was their most sort of consistent performance in terms of backing up from Eden Park.

But it still wasn't you know, that kind of breakthrough, scintillating performance that everyone's been looking for from the All Blacks.

And I think that probably says a bit about where they actually are going into this break and then ahead to the Northern Tour.

Look.

I totally agree, Clay.

I totally agree with everything you've said there.

And I look at the record that the All Blacks have fashioned in twenty twenty five, and that is nine Test matches now the three against France and then the Rugby Championship.

They've won seven of those nine.

There are four to go Ireland, Scotland, England Wales.

If they would have win those four then that would give them eleven Test wins from thirteen this year.

Last year they won ten of fourteen.

So it's you know if they were to lose one of those tests, it would be ten from thirteen.

Let's say, hypothetically they lose to Ireland or lose to England, they would be ten wins from thirteen off the back of ten from fourteen last year.

I know results are only one part of it, but has this All Blacks team actually improved in the last eighteen to twenty four months.

You know, I don't think they have.

And that's not to say they've played poorly all the time.

I mean that result in Wellington obviously jumps out as one where they were very poor.

But I struggle to see where this team has actually improved from last season under this coaching team, under Scott Robertson.

Now, like you say, the Northern Two is coming up, they could go and win all four of those games.

But I'm looking less at the numbers and more how this team is playing.

Because they've beaten Australia back to back, but I can't say I've really been overly enamored with either of those performances.

Yes, have they been okay, have they been great in patches for sure, But we're so used to this All Blacks team being dominant in a lot of the games they play and we just haven't seen that in the last couple of years.

They're going to need to go away when all these four games are up in the UK and then also performed to a level that's going to keep people a bit more satisfied, I think in terms of the way they're playing how you know how while they're playing across the eighty minutes and and sort of holding holding other teams at bay, because at the moment these games are ebbing and flowing, aren't they.

While they've won these last two, the Wallabies certainly had their moments and I think that's been true for all the All Blacks games largely in twenty twenty five.

Is it quite telling as well that when we review All Blacks wins we tend to focus on individuals rather than on the team.

We look at the game on the weekend and there's a lot of talk about Quinta Pia.

The previous week at eden Park, there were rave reviews about cam Royguard.

When we beat South Africa at eden Park, it was all about Ardie Savia and is one hundredth in our Hercule and he was that night.

We're not saying, hey, this is an amazing All Blacks back line that's functioning perfectly and scoring lots of tries, or a forward pack that is utterly dominant against all comers.

I feel like we're talking more about individuals than about the team.

I think it's a very salient point.

And what are the All Blacks known as throughout history?

They are known as a great team, yes, a team that's always had great players, but primarily as a great team.

And I think you've hit the nail on the head.

It says a lot about where the All Blacks are that in a lot of these games we're talking about one or two individuals as opposed to how the team performed, because that consistency from game to game and within games just hasn't been there.

So you can't really talk too much about how the team is performing outside of looking at things where you know things aren't working and things need to improve.

So yeah, I think you bang on.

Let's move to the NROL Grand Final.

Last night done, all done for twenty twenty five the NRL season.

I thought it was a brilliant Grand Final, terrific climax to what has been a pretty intriguing season.

I think a lot of people you know, without his skin in the game, probably thought Melbourne were favorites going in, but they didn't count on Reecee Walsh, or if they did, they didn't count heavily enough on them, because that was from Reese Walsh.

A performance for the Ages, the Clive Churchill Medal and done.

I don't know.

I was quite happy to see Brisbane beat the Storm.

I remember the old days.

This is probably before your time, but the days of you know, Alan Lang and Wally Lewis and Steve Runoff doing great things for the Broncos.

Good to have them break their nineteen year NRL title drought last night, wasn't it.

Yeah.

I think that will surprise a lot of people that it's been that long since the Broncos have won a title.

But you know, this is a storied club, a club that's had huge success in this competition.

To not win the competition for nigh on twenty years, to break through and win it is a big moment and I think you're right.

You know a lot of people would have said the Storm, with favorites coming in, had a more consistencies in a bit of an easier run in perhaps, But yeah, look, I mean twenty two twelve down at halftime.

You're back in the Melbourne storman in a Grand Final, aren't you.

You're saying, this is a Craig Bellamy side.

They're going to close this out.

And you know a great team, but man, Reese Walsh, if there's one, you know, one man who could take the game by the scruff of the neck and do things that you know Melbourne couldn't account for, it was going to be him.

And you know, I listened to Ryan Pappenhausen during the week speaking and you know, we got our about Reese Walsh's opposite and he said, you know, he's just that type of player where you're not going to stop him from doing brilliant things.

You have to limit him.

And it was just one of those nights where they simply couldn't limit him in terms of what he'd done.

He was he was just doing everything, wasn't He was everywhere, he was passing, running, he was popping up in all bits of the field and then and then a try saving tackle in that final player of the game there.

Man, I struggle to remember a more you know, standout performance in a Grand Final than something like that.

And you look back as a you know Warriors fans here, and you say, and I know the circumstances of his departure.

Perhaps we're out of their control.

But uh, what a phenomenal player and at twenty three, what a height to reach in your career.

Man, what is his ceilings as a league player?

It's just just a magnificent ef it.

Indeed, I guess we were about to find out over the next few years.

Clay, great chatting sport with you in the chamber.

Thanks for stopping in today, No worries, Thanks pining.

Leading a vex.

We've got just the ticket.

It's Sports Vex powered Blay News Talks.

IVY and that'll blow the final.

We're still on sport Fix for today.

Thank you so much for downloading and for listening in, and in particular for those of you who subscribe to Sportsfix.

If you're not a subscriber and you've stumbled across Sports Fixed for the first time or the first occasion, then well give us a like, give us a subscribe.

A new episode will drop into your podcast feed same time tomorrow and every weekday.

And for more from News Talks EDB Sport, be sure to check out Sports Talk weeknights between seven and eight pm and on the weekend's Weekend Sport midday to three Saturday and again on Sunday.

For more from News Talks, EDB, listen live on air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio