Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

The Wellington Phoenix fans are coming together to support the team ahead of their anticipated clash against the Victory in Melbourne. One supporter, Christian, joined Piney ahead of the big event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Harlem Globetrotters are expected to tour New Zealand this July, stopping in Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Hamilton. Globetrotter Wham Middleton joined Piney to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild recaps the Blues v Hurricanes match, talks the Crusaders v Blues - and discusses the Wellington Phoenix and Richie Mo'unga's possible return to New Zealand shores. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expect the Tactix to talk up a storm on court against the also-unbeaten Central Pulse in the ANZ Premiership this afternoon at Palmerston North. Tactix defender Paris Lokotui joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Round 5 of netball's ANZ Premiership is expected to begin this evening. Accomplished defender Kelly Jackson joined Piney ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix are gearing up for the first leg of their A-League semi-final against the Melbourne Victory. In their three meetings this season, the Phoenix have drawn with Melbourne twice and beaten them once, 1-nil. Former A-League footballer Daniel McBreen joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are determined to out-muscle a physical Roosters pack through the middle in this afternoon's NRL encounter in Sydney. The Mt Smart club go in off the back of a winless month, while the hosts are riding high after thrashing the Broncos. Australian sports journalist Phil Rothfield joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the 2024 Paris Games, one of New Zealand's most accomplished Olympians is looking back at his athletic career. Ian Ferguson won three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and another gold in Korea four years later - one of the highest medal counts in the nation's history. He joined Piney to reminisce on his athletic legacy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crusaders are now in 'must win' territory as they head down to Dunedin to face the Highlanders.  Piney caught up with Highlander's assistant Dave Dillon to dig into how they’re preparing for a wounded Crusaders outfit.  Dillon told him that although they’re coming off the back of two good wins, it’s going up another level tonight.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Bellamy has extended his contract with Melbourne Storm.  Piney was joined by our Australian Correspondent Adam Peacock to discuss how important that signing is for the four-time champions.  He told him that Bellamy’s got a reputation up there with Wayne Bennett, if not exceeding him, for the consistency of the Melbourne Storm.  They don't have bad years, Peacock said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues are angling for the top spot.  They’re preparing to face the Hurricanes in tonight’s match, missing their star midfielder Reiko Ioane who's sitting out with concussion protocols.  Fellow back Mark Tele’a joined Piney to discuss the clash and dig into what Reiko’s absence means for the team.  He told him that they’ll miss him out on the field and will try and cinch the win for him as it’s the best way they can show love in that position.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hurricanes are facing the Blues in a top of the table clash.  Making their way to Auckland, the match is kicking off this afternoon at Eden Park.  Piney caught up with Hurricanes utility back Josh Moorby ahead of kickoff to preview the match.  He told Piney that it’s been a long, long few weeks since they last met the Blues, and both teams have grown stronger and stronger, so it’ll be an awesome clash.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Damian McKenzie and Stephen Perofeta would be in their rights to feel aggrieved at New Zealand Rugby’s attempts to bring Richie Mo’unga back from Japan, former Crusaders and Fiji utility Nemani Nadolo believes.   Mo’unga, 29, is currently enjoying his first of three years in Japan, after signing a contract to join League One side Toshiba Brave Lupus following the 2023 World Cup in France.   But, as Scott Robertson prepares to take the reins of the All Blacks later this year, New Zealand Rugby’s head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum revealed to the Rugby Direct Podcast the attempt to bring Mo’unga back early.  Robertson and Mo’unga share a strong working relationship after their time with the Crusaders, notably winning seven Super Rugby titles in as many years together.  Under current selection rules, Mo’unga would not be eligible to play for the All Blacks and reunite with Robertson, unless he returns to New Zealand.  However, with Mo’unga’s move to Japan known from mid-2023, this season of Super Rugby Pacific has presented a chance for Kiwi-based first-fives to stake their claim.  Based on current form, McKenzie of the Chiefs and Perofeta of the Blues stand out as the two front-runners, while Brett Cameron of the Hurricanes could also be considered a contender – if picking solely within Aotearoa.  But with the news of the attempts to bring Mo’unga home, Nadolo, who has experienced Super Rugby and Japan’s League One, told Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine that Kiwi-based prospects would be right to be upset by the reports.  “Competition is good competition,” he said. “From a player’s point of view, you’re gutted that it happens.  “But in saying that, it’s good competition for the All Blacks. It’s just going to give more headaches for Razor to pick his five-eighth.  “Perofeta and McKenzie have been playing really well this year. For me, as a player, I’d probably be annoyed, but it is great competition.  “New Zealand have always had that problem, over the years. They’ve always had some of the best five-eighths.  “It’s good competition, but you’d probably be a bit deflated knowing they’re trying to get Richie back.”  However, there are no guarantees Mo’unga will return to New Zealand, despite the national body’s attempts.  The Herald understands his Japanese contract is worth around $2.2 million per season. That kind of money would not be available from New Zealand Rugby alone, barring outside investment.  Instead, the main proposition would appear to be reuniting with Robertson, in the hope of repeating their Super Rugby success at the highest level.  Having shared a changing room with Mo’unga at the Crusaders, news of his return being sought isn’t a surprise for Nadolo.  “Richie’s been doing really well over in Japan, playing for Toshiba,” he said. “He’s a world-class five-eighth, you don’t lose that overnight.  “With what he’s done in the game, particularly in New Zealand rugby, it’s no surprise to see that New Zealand Rugby want to try to bring him back.  “The question is does Richie really want to come? He’s done everything in the game, particularly Super Rugby and the All Blacks.  “Maybe another World Cup might entice him to come back. But in saying that, from what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, he’s really enjoying his time in Japan.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-Black Caps batter Colin Munro believes he was “blacklisted” by New Zealand Cricket for opting to ply his trade as a Twenty20 freelancer.  Munro, 37, has not played for the Black Caps at any level since 2020, but on Friday officially confirmed his time as an international is done.  While he hasn’t appeared for New Zealand in more than four years, Munro has been a fixture in overseas Twenty20 leagues as one of the most prominent faces in the franchise game.  But speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine, Munro questioned the approach of New Zealand Cricket, and former chief executive David White, for overlooking players seeking to make the most of professional opportunities.  “I’ve always been available,” he said. “Under David White, if you were playing franchise cricket and weren’t playing domestic cricket in New Zealand, you were sort of blacklisted, I think.  “It was never told [like] that to me, but I think it was. There were the likes of Anton Devcich, myself, Mitchell McClenaghan, those players who all chose franchise cricket.  “As soon as you weren’t playing in New Zealand, there was a black mark next to your name. You weren’t going to play.”  Munro isn’t alone in that regard either.  As one of New Zealand’s white ball greats, Martin Guptill hasn’t worn the silver fern at any level since he opted out of his central contract in late 2022.   However, under new chief executive Scott Weenink, New Zealand Cricket appears to have relaxed its selection criteria.   The pair of Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham, both without central contracts to pursue franchise opportunities, were selected for last year’s 50-over World Cup in India, and the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and US.  As the Black Caps picked a heavily depleted squad to tour Pakistan earlier this year, Munro turned down an approach to return to the fold to spend time with his family after finishing his commitments with Islamabad United.  And having made the initial approach to see him return, Munro also questioned why New Zealand Cricket would sound him out, only to overlook him altogether.  Colin Munro (left) and Martin Guptill have both been consistently overlooked by New Zealand Cricket after opting to pursue franchise cricket. Photo / Photosport  “It was my dream, I thought it was gone,” he said. “Then you get a phone call out of the blue [to ask] are you available for a World Cup?  “You get up and about, start thinking and dreaming like a young kid. You haven’t played for four years, so you think you could probably get up to have one last hurrah in the black jersey, in conditions that I’m really familiar with in Trinidad.  “Then the World Cup squad was announced. I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit gutted I wasn’t in there, just because I was in talks and in the frame.  “But I can fully understand why. Those boys fully deserve it, I’ll be behind them every step of the way.  “I just don’t know why that was put in front of me. It would have been nice to know, did I have to go on the Pakistan tour? They said I didn’t have to, that’s why I ended up choosing not to.  “If I had gone over there and done well, I still might not have gone to the World Cup.”  If Munro had been selected for the World Cup, the Black Caps would have gained a valuable asset.  In the history of T20 cricket, only 11 players have appeared in more matches for the Black Caps.  All up, Munro has 428 appearances in the shortest format, with 79 of them coming for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.  Trinbago’s home ground of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is where the Black Caps will play three matches at this year’s World Cup, against hosts West Indies, Uganda and Papua New Guinea.  At international level, Munro played 65 T20 Internationals, and was the first man to score three centuries for his country in the shortest format.  That number could have been higher, were it not for spending the past four years on the sidelines.  In 2020, Munro lost his New Zealand Cricket central contract, and opted to dedicate his career to the shortest format as a T20 gun for hire.  Since then, he’s accrued experience playing everywhere from Australia’s Big Bash League to Canada’s Global T20.  Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss the weekend's Super Rugby results, the NBA playoffs, the Wellington Phoenix, the EPL's two-horse race and Qatar's 'sports-washing'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to coaching, there's debate over whether former elite players make for better coaches. Coaching guru Wayne Goldsmith offers his answer to these questions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sports expert from Amnesty International has expressed surprise over Qatar's interest in hosting a Nations Championship event. Reports have surfaced about the finals of the new competition being hosted in the Arab country, which has been accused of human rights violations and was heavily criticised when hosting the 2022 Football World Cup. Amnesty International Felix Jakens joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are striving for a defensive effort that reaps more control as they look to break out of a slump in league's NRL. This afternoon's game against the Knights in Newcastle comes after a stretch of three winless weekends for the Auckland-based club. Assistant coach Stacey Jones says a common theme of their struggles has been a lack of dominance in the ruck. Kick-off is at 4pm. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NZ Rugby chairman Brent Impey believes a Nations Championship hosted in Qatar is a smart move. Now chair of the Fijian Drua Super Rugby side, Impey says Fiji would seize the chance to participate in a tournament held in the middle-eastern nation. While acknowledging potential moral dilemmas Impey told Jason Pine that the undeniable financial appeal would be difficult to pass up. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirk Penney is reflecting on his career following the Hall of Fame announcement.  The Kiwi basketball legend is being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. He joined Piney to reflect on his career and what this honour means to him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.