Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand driver Liam Lawson had a positive second day in his new Racing Bulls car at the Barcelona F1 Shakedown.

Teams have run their new spec 2026 cars behind closed doors at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Lawson described his first outing earlier this week as “very, very different” as he struggled to get to grips with the new design which this year means the cars are smaller and lighter with no DRS and more electrical power.

However after completing the morning session on Thursday, Lawson appeared to be happier.

“We just keep learning,” Lawson told F1.

“We’re making, obviously, big gains, but so is everybody else. Very, very different cars, but in a much better place than we were on Monday, which is the main thing. We just need to keep learning and improving the car.”

“The main goal is to just try and keep learning and improving the car and discovering what we can.”

Unofficially Lawson got through more than a hundred laps today and recorded a best time that was two seconds slower than the Mercedes of George Russell.

New team-mate Arvid Lindblad got behind the wheel in the afternoon session.

Aston Martin made their first appearance on Thursday.

Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin, the AMR26, hits the track in the Barcelona Shakedown! #F1 pic.twitter.com/ytWJSs0s2F

— Formula 1 (@F1) January 29, 2026

The Barcelona Shakedown concludes on Friday.

Formula 1 has two test sessions in Bahrain in February with the opening round of the 2026 championship in Australia on 8 March.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The WTA said that calls from players for more privacy away from the court at tournaments were entirely valid after broadcasts of Coco Gauff smashing her racket following her quarter-final defeat at the Australian Open sparked intense debate.

Gauff looked for a place without cameras to channel her frustrations shortly after losing to Elina Svitolina on Tuesday and was unhappy to learn that video of her striking her racket repeatedly on the floor near the match call area of Rod Laver Arena had been broadcast worldwide.

Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova were among the players highlighting the lack of privacy and the WTA agreed steps should be taken.

“Recent concerns raised by WTA players at the Australian Open about cameras in off-court player areas are completely valid,” WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo said on Thursday.

“This is a very human and fair request – athletes need spaces where they can recover and not feel constantly under scrutiny.

“Providing that space is part of our responsibility as a sport. The WTA is committed to listening to its players and acting on concerns like this.”

Tennis Australia, which organises the year’s opening Grand Slam, said cameras in warm-up and cool-down areas were set up to provide fans with a “deeper connection” to the players, but that it will work with them to find solutions to their concerns.

“We want to listen to the players, we want to really understand what their needs and what their wants are,” tournament director Craig Tiley told the Tennis Channel.

“So, that’s the first question we’ll ask; we’ve heard you and whatever adjustments we need to make we will make.

“It’s a fine line between the player promotion, event promotion, and where the cameras are.”

The WTA said it had already taken steps to reduce the number of cameras in off-court areas at its tournaments.

“We moved to this standard because we agree that there should be clear, respectful boundaries in off-court areas,” the governing body of women’s tennis added, calling for similar action from other stakeholders and broadcasters.

“We believe this issue should be reviewed by tournament organisers and broadcast partners to ensure appropriate boundaries are in place.”

-Reuters

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Football is increasingly becoming the sport of choice in New Zealand, with the latest numbers showing more Kiwis than ever are playing.

And New Zealand Football expected that to grow, with the All Whites competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to New Zealand Football’s 2025’s participation statistics, more than 180,000 players registered to play last year.

And football continued to be the most popular team participation sport in Aotearoa, according to Sport NZ’s most recent Active NZ Participation Survey.

Nearly 148,500 players took part in New Zealand Football organised football and futsal in 2025, a 3 percent growth in football and an 11 percent rise in futsal from 2024.

Adding to that, more than 34,000 players also played through New Zealand Secondary Schools.

Girls and women’s football continued to gain in popularity after the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with a 35 percent increase in female football and futsal players since 2022.

There had also been significant growth for under-represented ethnicities, with participation among Māori up 9 percent compared to 2024.

The biggest rise was in Asian participation compared to 2024, increasing by more than 10 percent, while participation in football by Pasifika increased 7 percent.

There was also a big jump in people taking part in New Zealand Football coaching courses in 2025. The biggest hike by far was seen in an 80 percent increase in Asian, Māori, and Pacific coaching participants.

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said New Zealand continued to show it was a footballing nation.

“With the All Whites competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, this year represents a massive opportunity to inspire more Kiwis to pick up the sport and join their local club.

“We’ve seen the power of football through major tournaments already, with the women’s game still blossoming through the legacy project established following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on home soil.”

Pragnell said the numbers showed they were on the right path towards achieving key outcomes in New Zealand Football’s 2035 strategy.

“Which includes football becoming the most inclusive sport in Aotearoa New Zealand, thriving participation driven by high quality experiences, inspiring performances through connected pathways, growing fans and growing revenue while ensuring financial sustainability.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Morgan Gannon has already had his ‘welcome to the Warriors’ moment.

The young English forward has travelled halfway across the planet to test his rugby league skills with the Auckland-based NRL outfit for the next three years, but has found a roster packed with talent playing his second row/lock positions.

Those incumbents have wasted little time putting the newcomer in his place.

“We were doing some defence, and Demitric ran straight at me and knocked me on my arse,” chuckles Gannon. “That taught me they run pretty hard over here.

“That was a good wake-up, but it’s been good how competitive and how physically we train. I feel like I’ll be prepared for that going into the season.”

Whatever other positional shortcomings the Warriors may have, the back row is not one of them, led by the experience of Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore, but ably supplemented by a production line of young local talent, notably Leka Halasima and powerhouse Demitric Vaimauga.

Just where Gannon, 22, fits into this pecking order – or whether the West Yorkshire lad will ever gain membership of the legendary ‘Zesty Boys’ – remains to be seen, but he seems up for the challenge.

“There’s obviously a lot of competition for every spot in the forwards,” he confirms. “The second row is good, but I’ve got on with Capey quite well and he’s taken me under his wing a bit with some of the learnings off him.

“I’ve been playing a bit of lock as well, so taking some learnings off Erin Clark.

“There’s a massive group of young boys and it’s shocked me how mature they all are – they all seem like they’re 25-26.

“They’re mature beyond their years and that was one of the big pulls coming here, seeing how exciting the young crew were coming through.

“It’s been good seeing that live in training, the energy they bring and the enthusiasm as well.”

Gannon fits right into that mould. At 17, he debuted for Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup and has since amassed 73 games for the club.

Dad Jim Gannon was an Australian, who played an NRL season with Balmain Tigers, before heading to England, where he played 15 years as a front-row prop, including 149 games for Halifax (where Morgan was born) and 100 for Huddersfield.

That’s where the groundwork for Gannon’s Mt Smart stint really began.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster was an assistant coach at Hull Kingston Rovers, where James Gannon played a season alongside Warriors reserves coach David Tangata-Toa. Webster’s brother, Richard, played with Gannon at Hull Kingston Rovers and Widnes Vikings.

Current Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar gave Morgan Gannon his professional start at Leeds.

“It started maybe this time last year,” Gannon Jnr says. “I had a call with Webby and Cappy [Warriors recruitment manager Andrew McFadden], which planted the seed.

“They set up a call with my mum and dad, and my partner to discuss the opportunity.

“I had an offer from Leeds as well, but I decided this opportunity doesn’t come around too often and, if I turned it down, it might never come again.

“I knew Rich Agar was a good coach and he looked after me during my time at Leeds, and with my dad already knowing a few of the coaches… there were a few links and family connections with people we trusted.”

Those connections put Gannon on the Warriors radar early and, 12 months ago, the stars aligned.

“I think Morgan’s ambition to come to the NRL and throw himself into this situation is something he’s wanted to do for a long time,” Webster said.

“We’re both on the same page – we both thought he was ready to come and he was keen to do it.”

The difference in standard and style between Super League and NRL is sizeable. Many who have excelled in the northern hemisphere find the transition too great, while many at the end of their Australian careers can usually squeeze out a few more seasons in England to pad their retirement fund.

Gannon has already discovered some major differences.

“I’m used to doing 6-8 weeks of pre-season before our first game,” he says. “Now I’m doing 14-16 weeks of pre-season and I can feel that in myself, in my body.

“I definitely feel like the speed of it and the arm-wrestles we’ve done so far will take some getting used to.”

Webster likes the flexibility that has seen Gannon even suit up in a No.6 five-eighth jersey before. His ball-playing ability puts him up against Clark in that role.

“It’s up to him and up to the rest of the squad, I suppose,” Webster says. “If anyone lets their guard down, he’ll take it.

“Edge back row or middle, it’s good to have that versatility from a guy who can play 20 minutes on the edge and then slot straight into the middle, and vice versa. Some guys can’t do that.

“We are stacked, but I also believe he’s one for the future too. Not every player in our squad is getting any younger and we’ve also got a lot of youth, so we’ve got to look with one eye to the future.

“There’s no pressure for Morgan to come in and play round one, but I’m sure, the way he’s tracking at training, he’s going to put a lot of pressure on to do that.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The New Zealand Breakers have not won any silverware in more than a decade but that could change next month.

This week the Breakers cemented their place in the final of the Ignite Cup, thanks to other results going their way, and they will face in-form NBL team the Adelaide 36ers in the decider of the new in-season competition on the Gold Coast on 22 February.

Making history as the inaugural Ignite Cup champions would be a boost for the team operating under new ownership and fighting to get into the play-offs for the NBL Championship.

Knowing the Cup champions take home $300,000, while the runners-up will get $100,000, with 60 percent of the prize money going directly to players, is a boost of a different kind.

The Breakers’ second-season head coach Petteri Koponen has not yet lifted any trophies with the Auckland-based club and said getting a trophy of any kind in any season was “not easy”.

With the Ignite Cup final a month away, Koponen does not want to look too far ahead as he realises his injury-hit roster still need to win the six remaining NBL regular season games before the focus can turn to the final to be played three days after their last scheduled game.

“Before this we have still other goals we try to achieve and we keep fighting for the play-in spot until the end, but really happy about [the Ignite Cup] and one game everything is possible.”

The back end of the season will be a battle for the Breakers who have not won more than three games in a row this season.

To achieve a run of victories without one of their standout players this season in Sam Mennenga, who broke his wrist and will miss the remainder of the season, will be a challenge that Koponen believes he has the roster to achieve.

“Rob Loe, Max Darling need to take his minutes, it’s hard to replace [Mennenga] but they need to do their job and find their way how they can help the team but everything starts from the defensive end if you can get stops and run and get to the open court everything becomes easier unfortunately we’re missing Sam but the next guys need to be ready.”

Not only will the Breakers have Mennenga missing from the starting five they are also without injured American import Rob Baker who was getting regular minutes from tip off.

Koponen will make some tweaks to the game plan but admitted not a lot could change.

“Luckily we have enough guys, Carlin Davison, Reuben Te Rangi can play a bit more at the four spot and Reuben’s been playing really well the last few games and Max and Rob are going to take the five spot and help the team.

“It’s opportunities for other guys to step up and play more minutes and show what they can do. We still have enough depth and enough quality to compete and it’s just the mentality needs to be there and the guys that maybe didn’t play so many minutes in the beginning of the season, or a big part of the season, now with the opportunities they’ve got they need to be ready to take it.”

Koponen was not yet thinking of resting players ahead of the Ignite Cup final.

“Every game for us is like a final at the moment so every game is important and we treat it that way, we try to take it one game at a time but one month [until the final] is a long time so we don’t have that opportunity to start to think that yet, later on [maybe] but every game is the next big thing.”

Fourth placed Melbourne United are the next challenge on Friday at Spark Arena before the Breakers back up against Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Pre-season for A-League clubs Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix will look different after Football Australia move to kick them out of the Australia Cup competition.

The Australia Cup is a domestic knockout competition pitting amateur club sides against A-League teams and was played last year from July to October, during the A-League pre-season.

A revamped model for the Cup will come into play this year and Auckland and Wellington are not part of the new-look structure.

Auckland made their debut in the latest edition of the Cup making it as far as the semi-final stage, while the Phoenix had to go through qualifying to get into the competition and lost at the quarterfinals.

The Phoenix and Auckland both said participation in the the Cup was expensive for the clubs and disruptive to pre-season plans.

Auckland FC chief executive officer Nick Becker said he would “not lose any sleep” over being omitted from the Australia Cup.

He said he was neither “blindsided” or “bothered” by Football Australia’s decision.

“It cost us money to do it, any pre-season is going to cost a bit of money, but all our games were in Australia, because of the knockout nature of the tournament you wouldn’t know who you were playing until a week out or two weeks out so it made it incredibly difficult to plan a proper pre-season.”

The the club now had different pre-season plans to play opponents close to home and from further afield.

“It gives us a real opportunity to plan a pre-season where we can actually get some quality opposition, we know what’s happening… create our own little tournaments down here or there will be Premier League teams that are touring that might be interested in coming to Auckland.

“I think it’s more exciting for us than anything else.”

Becker felt that Football Australia wanted to keep the ‘Australia’ in the Australia Cup but also believed Auckland FC’s involvement in the OFC Pro League was a factor in the club being left out.

Auckland’s team in the Pro League is not the A-League side.

“For us the OFC Pro League is a huge opportunity if we win it we qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup each year and if we’re the most successful team over four years we end up going to the FIFA Club World Cup.

“If you win Australia Cup you get something like Australian $25,000, you go to the Intercontinental Cup it’s more like $1.5 million and Club World Cup is a $10 million plus pay day so for us we know where our priorities and our focus lies.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams will sit out the rest of the NBA season after the Houston Rockets centre had ankle surgery.

Adams injured his left ankle late in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on 19 January while attempting to block a layup. He had to be helped from the court by medical staff as he could not stand unassisted.

Immediately after the game, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka gave a brief update on Adams’ condition.

“Nothing broken, not a high ankle sprain, not sure about anything as far as time wise but quite a bit of swelling and pain and obviously couldn’t put much weight on it,” Udoka said.

However, Adams has reportedly since had surgery and will not take the court again this season.

The 32-year-old posted on social media: “All went well. Grateful for all your thoughts and prayers.”

Adams has had a tough run of injuries – he missed a few games earlier this season with a right ankle injury and missed the entire 2023-24 season with a knee injury.

The Rockets are currently fourth in the Western Conference.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

While he is set to share halfback duties with one of the top number nines on the planet, Jordi Viljoen is not content with a spot on the bench.

The second generation Hurricane is looking to nip at the heels of incumbent and All Black Cam Roigard, who has rapidly risen to be regarded among the world’s best.

“I’m a competitive human and player, I want to be the best in the world as well. I don’t ever try and take a back seat, it’s in my nature to push everyone and I want to be the best in any team, it doesn’t matter who’s there.”

Viljoen said it was a privilege to compete with Roigard.

“If you are always trying to compete with the best, that’s going to accelerate your game and I don’t think there’s another halfback going around that you’d want to be alongside, learn from, or pick the brains of, he’s a great player and I’m lucky to have him here.”

However, should he get his chance, Viljoen is ready to prove his worth.

“I’m just trying to be the best version of myself, focus on what I can, and when there’s an opportunity, take it.”

Now in his third season of Super Rugby, the 22-year-old said he is feeling far more at home and finding his voice with the Hurricanes.

“Time helps with that, so I definitely feel a lot more comfortable and I’ve been able to speak up at times.”

With the likes of Jordie Barrett returning to the capital, Viljoen said there was plenty of depth in the ranks.

“It’s like another coach going around, his presence on the field helps as well. It’s pretty fresh squad. Some new faces coming in, some returning, some international players coming over. New and returning coaches, it’s a fresh feeling and I think there’s really something special here.”

It was a special off-season for Viljoen, who got married during the Christmas break.

“It was just a small wedding. Both of our families are quite extended so we just wanted to have it nice and intimate, it was a perfect day for us.”

A third generation player, Viljoen’s connection to South Africa is well documented.

He is the son former Hurricanes and Springboks halfback Joggie Viljoen, who played for Manawatū in the mid-2000s when Jordi moved to Aotearoa.

With both his father and grandfather having played for the Boks, Viljoen is open to either a black or a green and gold jersey in the future.

“I’m just taking each year as it comes, trying to focus on the present and just allow those pathways to open and whatever’s meant to happen will happen.”

A third generation halfback, Viljoen’s younger brother has bucked the family trend by not only playing first five, but signing with the Chiefs development side.

Jordi was hopeful though that Jamie would one day make the move to the ‘Canes.

“I’m just happy that he’s happy and he’s got an awesome opportunity there if the Chiefs and Taranaki, but never say never. Obviously the goal is to play together one day and that’ll be amazing, but I’m just happy that he’s got an opportunity and he’s going to really thrive there in that environment.”

After finishing fourth in the 2025 Super season, Viljoen believes the ‘Canes can go deep and win their first title since 2016.

“With the new faces here, and a lot of experience, I think we can definitely go all the way.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Andrew Webster knows there’s one thing even he can’t coach and he’s added to his stocks of this precious commodity for the upcoming NRL season.

Pure, unadulterated speed.

Last season, before his untimely knee injury, halfback Luke Metcalf reportedly held bragging rights over his NZ Warriors teammates in this regard, but as he rehabs towards a competitive return maybe seven rounds into the schedule, he may have lost his crown.

The arrival of fleetfooted winger Alofiano Khan-Pereira from Gold Coast has added a whole new dimension of velocity to the roster.

“He is very fast,” the Warriors mentor marvels.

Faster than Metcalf?

“Definitely,” Webster insists. “That will upset Luke.

“Fast guys, it’s effortless for them. It’s really easy and they’re gliding, then they just put their foot down and run away from everyone.”

Khan-Pereira, 24, is in that class.

In 2023, his NRL rookie campaign, he became the first Gold Coast player to score 20 tries in a season. The following year, he crossed 24 times to lead the competition in four-pointers.

Along the way, he equalled the club single-game record, when he piled on four against the Warriors in a 66-6 rout.

Last season, Khan-Pereira seemed to fall off coach Des Hasler’s selection radar, playing just 10 games, and became a player desperately seeking a fresh start.

The Warriors may have let their share of homegrown talent slip through their fingers over the years, but they have also proved a fertile environment for outcasts needing to resurrect careers.

Khan-Pereira has followed the trail of breadcrumbs left by former Titans teammates Erin Clark and Tanah Boyd. Back at his junior club, Clark emerged from last season as the Dally M Lock of the Year, while Boyd was NSW Cup Player of the Year, leading the Warriors reserves to an interstate championship.

“I didn’t have one of the best years, I really wanted to turn that around and try somewhere new,” Khan-Pereira says. “I was fortunate to end up talking to Webby.

“It was a great chat and not too much about rugby – he just really wanted to know me as a person first. I really respect that and he got me excited about where the club was headed.”

Last season, the Warriors were stretched for depth along their backline, with a revolving door at centre and back-up fullback Taine Tuaupiki also the next best option on the wing.

Both Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak missed games through injury, and by the end of the year, DWZ copped much of the blame for a leaky right-edge defence destabilised by the constant changes further infield.

Webster insists his new recruit has the ability to snatch a starting spot off his two veterans.

“Lofi’s obviously very fast and the boys are loving how he plays,” he says. “He’s been exceptional and gives us plenty of competition in that area.

“It allows us a little bit of X factor – he can make a break and turn a half chance into a full chance.

“It’s up to him and it’s up to the other two not to let him in the door.”

After falling out of favour with Hasler, Khan-Pereira knows his attacking prowess won’t be enough to earn a regular role under Webster.

“I’ve really been nailing my focus down to getting a really good defence and good combinations with the boys I’ve been working with,” he says.

“Nothing’s ever given, you’ve got to earn it and that was one of the chats I had with Webby. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I can only put my best foot forward.

“You’ve got Dall and Roge there, two experienced wingers and two great wingers in my eyes. I’ll definitely be trying to push my way up there.

“I really want to become a consistent first-grader and get out of my comfort zone. My defensive movements and my decision-making are something I want to work on.”

Khan-Pereira – who is Samoan/Māori on his father’s side and Indigenous/Pakistani on his mother’s – adds to an already eclectic cultural mix at the Warriors.

He’s arrived at Mt Smart with a big reputation, but insists he hasn’t gone looking for early scalps on the training field.

Khan-Pereira has taken some time to scope out his new running mates, and with Metcalf still finding his way back to full fitness, he’s identified Watene-Zelezniak and teen sensation Leka Halasima has worthy rivals.

“I’m more like someone who sits back and scans the area for a bit,” Khan-Pereira grins. “It is great to have that skill, that speed, but you’ve got boys like Dall and Roge, when you try to run around them, their experience comes into play as well.

“I think they’ve caught on a bit and they’ve taken an extra step to the outside – it does get harder and harder for me to get around them.”

Webster warns of another newcomer that may yet challenge for speed honours – former Newcastle Knights half Jye Linnane.

“I reckon Jye is close,” he reveals. “I think he’s faster than Luke.”

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Wellington Phoenix A-League women’s player Ella McMillan is passionate about helping the next generation step into the space she is in at the moment.

The 20-year-old is juggling two fledgling careers – as a professional footballer, and a second-year sports scientist.

McMillan moved to the capital at the start of 2022 when she was just 16 to join the Wellington Phoenix Academy.

The young centre-back was a mainstay of the women’s reserves side for the 2023 and 2024 seasons before the academy graduate signed a two-year scholarship contract with the Wellington Phoenix in August 2024.

McMillan grew up in Hamilton so leaving home so young was a huge step. When Ella’s younger sister Libby joined the academy a year later McMillan’s parents moved to Wellington in 2023 to support her and her sibling.

“It was a big decision but really grateful that I did make the move and when I moved down to join the academy, I also started my studies as well,” McMillan said.

McMillan had been interested in sports science for some time, so jumped at the chance to sign up for a Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health degree at Auckland University of Technology, majoring in sport and exercise science.

The Wellington Phoenix have a partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) through the School of Sport and Recreation, which provides courses for many academy footballers in Wellington.

McMillan said the academy’s head of performance at the time, Steve Coleman, and technical director Paul Temple were integral in helping her get into the course.

“I ended up actually dropping out of school a year early to join the programme … I was always really interested in going down the sports pathway and being able to continue working in sport alongside playing. I’m really passionate about that kind of stuff so really grateful they let me into the course.”

As part of her course, she completed a 350-hour placement at the Phoenix academy, working alongside head of female sport science Issy Coombes.

McMillan finished the three-year degree at the end of 2024 and was appointed the academy’s youth female sport scientist at the start of 2025.

“It was a great opportunity. I’m really grateful the club was able to take me on, especially knowing they would have to be flexible with my training schedule. I’ve learnt so much over the past year and I just really enjoy working with the players on a day-to-day basis.”

McMillan said opportunities in women’s football had improved significantly over the past decade.

“There is a pathway … when I was younger there was no Phoenix women’s team, now I’m playing and working for the academy.”

McMillan said she liked to take a holistic approach as a sports scientist.

“…On helping the players be the best athletes they can but also the best people, so working with them in the gym, on the pitch, finding what areas of their game, their strengths and weaknesses and how we can look to improve that from a physical perspective. Looking at the mechanics, the technique, and especially with the younger players, that movement base and ensuring that we can reduce the risk of injuries from a young age.”

The Wellington Phoenix women have been hit with three season-ending ACL injuries so injury prevention is top of mind.

“It’s absolutely gutting for those three girls … I just feel for them, it’s a sucky situation to be in. I want to try and do everything in my control to hopefully reduce the risk of players being out for long periods of time. There’s more and more research coming out around that kind of stuff so we’ll just continue to keep learning more.”

At just 20, McMillan is barely older than the athletes she’s working with at the academy, but she sees that as a strength.

“I’m able to relate to them and connect to them better so I don’t think my age has really come into play a huge amount, especially not in this environment. I hope I can use that as a strength, rather than people viewing it as a negative thing.”

McMillan represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India in 2022 and was a key member of the Junior Football Ferns side at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

She made two appearances off the bench in her first season as a professional in the 2024-25 summer and admits her first year in the A-league was tough.

“I didn’t get a huge amount of minutes but I learnt so much from a training perspective but also how to handle myself off the pitch and how to continue to be a professional and do everything I can to help the team even if that doesn’t require me on the pitch.”

Opportunities have again been limited in her second season but patience is key for McMillan.

She also wants to utilise her knowledge around strength and conditioning to improve her physical capabilities.

“That was always a bit of a weakness of mine so using my knowledge in that aspect to try and better myself from a physical performance stand point.”

In the off-season the Phoenix recruited the highly credentialed Bev Priestman, who guided Canada to gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“She’s outstanding, her communication is top of the line and her knowledge is really good so I feel like I’m able to learn so much off her to be able to progress as a player and to continue to develop.”

McMillan flats with a couple of team-mates and her sister Libby, who still plays for the Reserves team, lives with her parents in Wellington.

McMillan said the Phoenix women, who sit second on the A-league ladder, were buoyant about their prospects.

“We’ve come into this season with a fresh mindset and we’ve got to see ourselves as title contenders. We’re all really confident in the team and the way we’re playing, I’m really excited for what the rest of the season has install for us, results are starting to click now so really exciting times ahead.”

The Phoenix Women head across the Tasman this weekend, to meet the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand