Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites captain Chris Wood’s road to recovery from a knee injury has taken many routes, but the striker has had positive news as he looks ahead to the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wood suffered the injury in mid-October while playing in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest and had surgery in December.

While he has been sidelined, Wood has watched Forest slip towards the relegation zone and fire a third manager this season.

“The easiest thing to say would be it’s part and parcel of football, but it’s been frustrating,” Wood said of his recovery in an interview recorded by Nottingham Forest.

“The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It’s not been smooth sailing.”

Wood said by “suffering through the lows” of this season it would help him “come back stronger and better”.

“It’s getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it’s better for my rehab now.

“I’ve got to do the right things to get back fit and ready.”

The 34-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to play before the end of the Premier League in May and the World Cup, which kicks off in June.

“There is a lot on the horizon which will be fantastic to be a part of, and the World Cup is definitely one of them.”

He will miss the All Whites’ FIFA Series in Auckland next month.

The All Whites’ last warm-up game before the World Cup is against England.

“Coming up against England will be a great occasion, a tough opponent for us… we’ve always wanted to pit ourselves against the best and England is definitely one of the best and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it will be a good experience, for sure.”

Wood was recognised with The New Zealand Society’s inaugural Pride of New Zealand award in London last week.

Aware of the influence he had on the next generation of football players in Aotearoa, Wood said he wanted to be an inspiration.

“We’ve had a lot of Kiwis playing across the world at great levels but we’ve only ever had six ever play in the Premier League, and that’s something you’ve got to be extremely proud [of].

“We want more Kiwis playing in the Premier League or playing at high levels around the world, and we’ve got quite a lot who do it, but hopefully there can be a lot more coming after seeing what can be achieved with Kiwis around the world.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites captain Chris Wood’s road to recovery from a knee injury has taken many routes, but the striker has had positive news as he looks ahead to the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wood suffered the injury in mid-October while playing in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest and had surgery in December.

While he has been sidelined, Wood has watched Forest slip towards the relegation zone and fire a third manager this season.

“The easiest thing to say would be it’s part and parcel of football, but it’s been frustrating,” Wood said of his recovery in an interview recorded by Nottingham Forest.

“The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we’ve tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It’s not been smooth sailing.”

Wood said by “suffering through the lows” of this season it would help him “come back stronger and better”.

“It’s getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it’s better for my rehab now.

“I’ve got to do the right things to get back fit and ready.”

The 34-year-old said he was looking forward to returning to play before the end of the Premier League in May and the World Cup, which kicks off in June.

“There is a lot on the horizon which will be fantastic to be a part of, and the World Cup is definitely one of them.”

He will miss the All Whites’ FIFA Series in Auckland next month.

The All Whites’ last warm-up game before the World Cup is against England.

“Coming up against England will be a great occasion, a tough opponent for us… we’ve always wanted to pit ourselves against the best and England is definitely one of the best and one of the favourites for the World Cup, so it will be a good experience, for sure.”

Wood was recognised with The New Zealand Society’s inaugural Pride of New Zealand award in London last week.

Aware of the influence he had on the next generation of football players in Aotearoa, Wood said he wanted to be an inspiration.

“We’ve had a lot of Kiwis playing across the world at great levels but we’ve only ever had six ever play in the Premier League, and that’s something you’ve got to be extremely proud [of].

“We want more Kiwis playing in the Premier League or playing at high levels around the world, and we’ve got quite a lot who do it, but hopefully there can be a lot more coming after seeing what can be achieved with Kiwis around the world.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Wellington Phoenix can be forgiven for showing a bit of swagger after reaching the top of the A-League standings.

For the first time in their history, the Phoenix were number one in the standings, albeit briefly, after beating Brisbane on Waitangi Day, their fourth successive win.

Melbourne City took over top spot later in the weekend, but the Wellingtonian’s brief stint at the summit did give coach Bev Priestman the opportunity to think about the possibility of winning the league.

“It’s there right, it’s real and it is definitely in sight for us,” Priestman told RNZ.

In her first season in charge, Priestman has the team playing some impressive football despite the loss of a couple of key players to injury.

She said the unbeaten run in the last month had shown the team’s desire.

“Players getting through moments and willing to do anything for the team is the difference. You see teams be successful with players running through a brick wall for each other.”

However, she said they can’t get carried away.

“There is a mindset when you’re top of the table to be hunted rather than be the hunter, so we’ve got to forget about the table and just do us and get as many points as we can in our remaining matches.”

The Phoenix have seven wins, three draws and three losses this season and sit two points behind Melbourne City. They take on seventh-placed Central Coast Mariners in Porirua on Sunday.

They have scored the most goals so far this season (27) while their defence has also been solid, conceding just 10 goals – the least in the league, while they’ve had five clean sheets.

Pia Vlok is sixth in the goal-scoring rankings with five goals, Makala Woods is second in goal assists and Brooke Nunn is third in chances created.

Despite their lofty standings, Priestman is expecting more from her side.

“This team hasn’t hit the level that I know they can and that is the scary thing as a coach, I still think this team has more.”

However, Priestman said the players need to remember what has go them to this position and that means remaining positive.

“What we don’t do is play it safe, (we’ve got to) go full throttle, doing us and doing it well.

“We just have to keep being brave, playing forward. What I don’t want is sideways and backwards. I want us to step forward, stand up and be counted.”

Priestman doesn’t believe they are the best team in the league, but that isn’t the priority for her.

“Everywhere I go right now people are talking about this team and that’s what we wanted, to create a movement and make this country a women’s football country.

“That’s what it means to this group, more than points and accolades, we want people talking about this team and what this team can do.”

In their four previous seasons, the Phoenix have finished 10th, 11th, 8th and 9th.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Liam Lawson got through 50 laps in the morning session on day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain admitting they had a few issues.

The 24 year old spent much of the session sporting an aero rack on his new 2026 Racing Bulls car.

He recorded a best time that was 3.7 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who was the quickest in the session in his Ferrari.

Lawson spent his first session in data gathering mode for the team with the aero rack placed in front of the rear wing collecting information on air flow.

The information can be used for the front wing set-up and also for future car upgrades.

“We had a few little issues today that stopped a bit of running so early days. We’re learning as fast as we can, it’s obviously all very new,” Lawson said.

There are significant changes in 2026 with the cars smaller and lighter and no longer running DRS while half of their power is now electrically generated.

“It’s very new, it’s very different, a different driving style and it is more sensitive so we have to be a lot more aware behind the wheel.

“It is definitely something I haven’t mastered yet so we’ll spend the next few weeks trying to be as prepared for Melbourne as we can.”

Lawson will spend all day in the car on Friday with another test session again in Bahrain next week.

“Coming into the test we know to try not to be frustrated when we have these small things that stop runs, but the main thing is to try and put the car in a good place today and we have tomorrow to learn a lot more.

“Next week is probably when we spend a lot more time on performance rather than anything else.”

Lawson’s new team-mate Arvid Lindblad drove the car in the afternoon session and got through another 82 laps and went slightly faster than Lawson.

Leclerc completed 139 laps with the fastest time ahead of world champion Lando Norris in a McLaren and Oliver Bearman in a Haas.

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri were among the seven drivers who didn’t take part in testing today.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Highlanders v Crusaders

Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 13 February

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Live blog updates on RNZ

And we’re back. Super Rugby Pacific returns with a southern derby between the Highlanders and the Crusaders, two teams coming in with very contrasting situations right now. The home side has arguably their best player ruled out for the whole season this week, while coach Jamie Joseph may only have that title for a few more weeks. Oh, and the Highlanders came dead last in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders are defending champions after a remarkable comeback season last year. They tipped over the Chiefs in a tense final, after a highly entertaining Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Team lists

Highlanders: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Jack Taylor, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 4 Oliver Haig, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 7 Sean Withy, 8 Lucas Casey, 9 Folau Fakatava, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Jonah Lowe, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Bench: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

Crusaders: 1 Finlay Brewis, 2 George Bell, 3 Seb Calder, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 5 Jamie Hannah, 6 Dom Gardiner, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 9 Noah Hotham, 10 Rivez Reihana, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (c), 13 Braydon Ennor, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Chay Fihaki

Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Will Jordan

Highlanders team news

Fabian Holland is the big name missing, with the All Black lock suffering a shoulder injury that’ll keep him out of rugby till the test season. Pumas import Tomas Lavanini has not been adjudged fit to take his place so Mitch Dunshea and Oliver Haig pair up in the second row.

All eyes will be on young number eight Lucas Casey after his standout NPC season last year, while the backline has Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jonah Lowe pairing up in midfield.

Crusaders team news

The depth that Rob Penney has available to him is on show in this Crusaders side, with Codie Taylor and Will Jordan set to come off the bench. Ethan Blackadder is the most intriguing starter in the pack, can he stay injury free and regain his spot in the All Blacks? He’ll have the help of a dependable crew around him, George Bell is coming off a big NPC season and test recall, while out in the backs Noah Hotham has been given the start at halfback over Kyle Preston.

Key stats

The Crusaders have won four of their last five matches against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with the only blip being a 32-29 defeat in their horror 2024 season.

The Highlanders have lost their last six Super Rugby Pacific matches against New Zealand opposition teams by an average of 15.8 points per game.

Crusaders wing Sevu Reece has been directly involved in 23 tries across his last 23 Super Rugby Pacific games (16 tries, seven assists).

What they’re saying

“I’m thinking about the Highlanders, that’s been my focus. The publicity around the (All Black) job has been surprisingly simple for the players, there hasn’t been a lot said. This is my first game this season, I’m really focused on the Highlanders.” – Jamie Joseph.

“I hope (the starting players) are relishing it deeply. It’s a great opportunity for them, in a number of areas. For them to get this much time to play, it’s awesome for us to see how they cope with it … it’s up to them to take it.” – Rob Penney.

The last time they met

Crusaders 15 – 12 Highlanders

After a wretched season, the Highlanders almost pulled off a massive upset in Christchurch. Unfortunately, Cam Millar’s usually dependable kicking form deserted him on the last play of the game, as he pushed a penalty attempt that would’ve sent the game to extra time wide of the posts.

What’s going to happen

The Crusaders will probably win, and comfortably too, but this still stands as the Highlanders’ best chance to pull off an upset. They started the season well last year but now have to contend with injuries and the Joseph situation, so that will be playing on their mind. The Crusaders just need to pick up where they left off, with Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece sure to come off the wings and cause havoc.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Alpine skiier Alice Robinson’s hopes of securing a medal at the Super Giant Slalom finals have been dashed after a great start to the season.

However, Robinson did manage to compete the run – a feat which eluded favourites like Germany’s Emma Aicher and Italy’s Sofia Goggia – on Thursday night at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The 24-year-old is competing in her third Olympics, securing her first career win in the opening event of the season in St Moritz, followed by a second-place finish a week later in Val d’Isère.

She became New Zealand’s youngest-ever Winter Olympian when she attended the 2018 games in South Korea at the age of 16.

Italy’s Federica Brignone sealed an astonishing comeback from career-threatening injury to win gold on home snow.

Known as the “Tiger” for her ferocious determination, the 35-year-old had looked doubtful for the Games after a crash last April but fought back to fitness and produced one of her greatest runs on a foggy Olimpia delle Tofane piste.

France’s Romane Miradoli took silver, 0.41 of a second slower, with Austria’s Cornelia Huetter third, according to provisional results.

– RNZ / Reuters

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Blues v Chiefs

Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 14 February

Eden Park, Auckland

Live updates on RNZ

Blues coach Vern Cotter confirmed today that the side he’s named for Saturday night’s season opener is very much in line with what he’s expecting from their opponents. Cotter identified the Chiefs’ ability to change gears in the back end of games.

“We’re very conscious of the Chiefs’ ability to go 60 minutes and apply pressure to have a very good 20 minutes at the end,” he said at Blues training on Thursday.

“I think the bench represents what they intend to do. So locking in for 60 and having players with experience and energy is going to be important to finish this game.”

Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbes has named All Blacks Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima to come on in the second half, with Cotter explaining that the decision to select rookie flanker Torian Barnes to start was part of the plan to combat their effectiveness. Barnes will presumably make way for the experienced Anton Segner in the second half.

“Having Anton there is great. He’s glued to the team, he’s experienced he’s good at defensive line outs. He’s good at calling his own lineouts. He can get over a ball when the team seems a little bit tired, he can get those turnovers needed.”

Cotter said that the new law variations, which they have played under for their two preseason hit outs, “haven’t made much of a difference at all”.

“But we don’t think it’ll have a too big effect. I’m sure that there’ll be a referee at some stage or another, will stamp as mark on the game. So we’re prepared.”

Cotter’s selections include Stephen Perofeta at first five, with Beauden Barrett not due back until round four due to All Black rest. Cotter said that Perofeta should play a big role in the Blues’ game.

We want to put in a good performance and Stevie will be key to that. Everybody sitting around and trying to contribute, and Stevie will be directing play, and it’s just nice to have him back in. And with Fin (Christie), a combination at halfback gives us a nice little bit of balance around how we want to control the match.”

The Chiefs are without their first choice first five as well, with Damian McKenzie on paternity leave. Josh Jacomb will wear the 10 jersey, with Xavier Roe starting at halfback.

Team lists

Blues: 1 Joshua Fusitu’a, 2 Bradley Slater, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 4 Sam Darry, 5 Josh Beehre, 6 Torian Barnes, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 AJ Lam, 14 Cole Forbes, 15 Zarn Sullivan

Bench: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai

Chiefs: 1 Jared Proffit, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 George Dyer, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 6 Kaylum Bosher, 7 Jahrome Brown, 8 Luke Jacobson, 9 Xavier Roe, 10 Josh Jacomb, 11 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 13 Daniel Rona, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo

Bench: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Kyle Brown

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A former All Black believes it’s time for a Pacific Islander to take the reins as New Zealand coach.

In 2024, players with Pacific Island heritage made up 14 of the 32-man All Blacks squad, with Christian Lio-Willie, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Du’Plessis Kirifi earning caps in 2025.

Star Moana Pasifika signing Ngani Laumape wants to see Tana Umaga given the job in the wake of Scott Robertson’s sacking in January.

With such a predominant Pasifika contingent in the squad, Laumape said it’s time for a cultural change and that Umaga is the inspirational leader needed.

“For sure. 100 percent. When ‘T’ speaks, everyone listens. When he talks about our purpose, it gives me goosebumps. When he talks like that, the boys are pretty revved up to go out and play for him. I feel like he’ll be an awesome coach for the All Blacks.”

Fellow former All Black Sonny Bill Williams also touted Umaga as the man for the role.

“We need some more flavour in the coaching group. I’m a big believer that in order to correct, you must connect, and these players at this level know how to play rugby. But what got the best out of me was believing in the coaches, wanting to go out there and run through a brick wall,” Williams said on Instagram.

The man himself was coy on the prospect when asked this week, shifting the focus to his side’s round one clash with the Fijian Drua.

“I’ve got a big enough job doing what I’m doing right now.”

Umaga said through the love of his parents and his Māori wife, he is privileged to understand what New Zealand means on “a lot of different levels.”

“I am a very proud New Zealander, born in Aotearoa, but I am passionate about my heritage.”

Like Robertson, Laumape himself also had a tumultuous tenure with the All Blacks, playing just 15 tests and arguably leaving at the peak of his powers in 2021 after being consistently overlooked.

However, Laumape said he has put that chapter of his career to bed.

“I feel like it doesn’t matter if you played one game or 100, you still achieved that jersey. You still achieve that dream of representing the All Blacks. But I think for me now, I’ve closed that chapter and It’s been an awesome journey being overseas the last couple of years, but it’s really refreshing being back representing Moana.”

The powerful midfielder is now setting his sights on representing Tonga at next year’s World Cup.

“You can have more than one dream, and for me, I I still have one more goal that I want to achieve in my rugby career and that’s representing Tonga and I feel like this is the closest way that I can build to that dream.”

As the big name signing for Moana, Laumape said he won’t be trying to replicate the influence of Ardie Savea in 2025.

“I don’t think anyone can fill those shoes, but I think for me what he did not only inspired the young Pasifika kids but also inspired a whole generation of old and young and I just want to credit my brother for being the leader that he is.”

Laumape said he was annoyed by the narrative surrounding Savea and Robertson’s departure.

“I’ve seen that he’s been getting a lot of backlash in the media, there’s more people that were in those meetings and I feel like it’s pretty bull crap that only his name was out there and I know there’s probably about 10 players in that leadership group who were also in that review, and if one name comes out, all of them should come out.”

As for the season ahead, Laumape said they are far from a one man band and will not let the standards set by Savea in 2025 drop.

“We’re not here to make numbers. We’re here to carry on what the boys did last year.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

NRL Pre-season: NZ Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles

Kickoff: 3.40pm Saturday, 14 February

McLean Park, Napier

Live blog updates on RNZ

Analysis: Take a deep breath and soak in the last warmth of summer – this could be as good as it gets for the next nine months of the NRL season.

This is the pre-season, a time when anything still seems possible.

If you’re a player, you feel the fittest, the strongest and healthiest you will be for a long time. Soon enough, you will be back to managing injuries from one week to the next, as each tackle takes its cumulative toll and life becomes a grind.

If you’re a coach, you have made no bad decisions – or at least, none that you know of yet.

If you’re a fan, your team have suffered no defeats and sit equal top of the table with 16 others.

If you’re a Warriors fan, you can still believe THIS is the year your team finally break their championship drought.

Hope springs eternal, but reality will be tested for the first time on Saturday, when the Warriors face Manly Sea Eagles in their opening pre-season trial at Napier.

Coach Andrew Webster is impressed by the individual work his players have put in during their off-season.

“Over the Christmas break, they made a pact to each other that they would go away and enjoy the break, but come back fit and hit their targets,” he said.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen every single player do so and I’m really impressed with that. It’s now about piecing the football fitness together, which we’re doing, and it’s enabled us to do more football, rather than just conditioning.”

Veteran Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who has endured hundreds of pre-season workouts during his 12 NRL campaigns, has already noticed a step up among his teammates.

“My biggest [impression] of the 2026 pre-season is everyone’s moving a lot faster now,” he said. “I think the game is forcing us that way, but it’s good.

“The boys are looking sharp out there, everyone’s moving at a speed that is different to last year already. It’s exciting.”

Webster thinks he more or less knows who will line up for the season-opener against Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on 6 March.

“I reckon 15 players have probably picked themselves,” Webster said. “I reckon two spots are up for grabs, but of those 15 that have their nose in front, things could change quickly.

“We’ve got some decent continuity, we know who we’re thinking, but at the same time, 3-4 weeks is a long time in footy and things could change.

“If you got through each position, we’ve got great depth. Where we’ve got experience, we’ve got great youth knocking on the door behind them.

“Happy to have that headache, but it can also be an Achilles heel. You have great competition, but it’s hard to give people clarity straight away over what their year looks like and where they’re going to be.

“Some payers think it’s the Olympics and round two comes around four years later. If they don’t make round one, their world ends.

“It’s good to have that goal and ambition, and to want that round one position really badly, but round two is only seven days away.”

Here’s a few things to watch for over the next couple of weeks, as the hits become real.

Positional battles

Webster may not agree, but perhaps only Tuivasa-Sheck would seem assured of his backline spot for round one.

Others may be pencilled in as incumbents, but they will have to defend those positions against legitimate challengers.

These contests become somewhat blurred this week, with seven players away on Māori-Indigenous duty and niggly injuries sidelining others.

Fullback: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is as courageous as they come at the back, but towards the end of last season, some were calling for Taine Tuaupiki to inherit the No.1 jersey fulltime.

Neither are available against Manly – CNK lines up in the halves for the Māori, while Tuaupiki tends to a leg injury – so reserve-grader Geronimo Doyle fills the position.

Wing: RTS seems embedded on one flank (although some still see him as the club’s best fullback, while others consider him the answer to the problems at centre), but Dallin Watene-Zelezniak struggled with injury and form last season.

The arrival of speedster Alofiana Khan-Pereira means DWZ must maintain high standards or lose his spot.

Centre: Seven different players started in the midfield last season, with specialists Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua plagued by injury.

Incredibly, many still don’t consider Adam Pompey an automatic selection, despite playing every minute of every game, but his reliability cannot be overlooked.

Hopefully, Kurt Capewell will not be wasted there this time round. CNK is a better option – he played there for the Kiwis – and powerhouse Leka Halasima fills the void this week against the Sea Eagles, as he did against Penrith Panthers in last year’s playoffs.

Halves: First-choice halfback Luke Metcalf will miss a couple of months, so his position is up for grabs. Tanah Boyd has the inside running, after filling in last season, but Webster has plenty of half options up his sleeve, including Te Maire Martin (who will likely lose his utility value under new interchange rules) and Jett Cleary.

Webster also warns not to sleep on newcomer Jye Linane, once he’s up to speed from knee surgery.

Forwards: At full health, the pack almost picks itself. Front-rower Mitch Barnett should be back near the start of the season, but if he’s not, Jackson Ford or Demitric Vaimauga can deputise ably.

Webster may need to scale back Wayde Egan’s use at hooker to preserve him for later in the season and understudy Sam Healey has proved himself at this level.

Dally M Lock of the Year Erin Clark appears ‘locked’ in, but exactly where Englishman Morgan Gannon fits remains to be seen. If Halasima stays at centre, that may open up a spot, but there are plenty of others queuing up to fill it.

Second row is probably where Webster’s biggest selection headaches lie. Who starts, who comes off the bench and who is consigned to NSW Cup may prove contentious.

Injuries

When he talks about how quickly things can change, Webster is referring to the almost inevitable pre-season injury that will alter his line-up for week one.

Last year, Watene-Zelezniak lasted only a few minutes before breaking his wrist.

Back-up fullback Tuaupiki described how he expected specialist winger Ed Kosi to get the call off the bench, but instead was suddenly thrust into a position where he had limited experience – and made it his own.

As DWZ returned to fitness, Tuivasa-Sheck tweaked a hamstring that extended Tuaupiki’s stay in the starting line-up.

“Taine played maybe the first 7-8 games on the wing last year and I think we won five out of those seven,” Webster recalled. “To be part of that and to have that depth, with everyone playing different positions is awesome.”

In fact, Tuaupiki stuck around through nine games, helping his team to a club-best 7-2 start and second place on the table. Soon after he was relegated to reserves, the Warriors began their slide.

The Warriors already have a series of minor injuries, but there’s every likelihood they will lose someone else in the build-up, as bodies adjust to impact again.

Bolters

Ten players have been named as reserves against Manly. None have played first grade, but most, if not all can expect some run this weekend – perhaps not enough to really push for places in the top team immediately, but maybe enough to delay their promotion further.

Tuivasa-Sheck highlighted a couple to watch out for – powerful outside backs Sio Kali and Motu Pasikala. Here’s some more.

Haizyn Mellars: With DWZ and AKP both away on all-star duty, the new kid from Souths gets an immediate chance to impress on the wing.

He has big shoes to fill, following father Vince into the Warriors programme, and is desperate to crack the top team to create a piece of family history.

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava: Often named as 18th man, Ieremia-Toeava finally made his premiers debut against the Dolphins in round 22, logged five games and scored a try against Gold Coast Titans.

He’s renowned for his work ethic at training, earning the nickname ‘Goggins’ after inexhaustible ultra-athlete and former US Navy SEAL David Goggins. He may be ready to jump a few spots in the second-row pecking order.

Kayliss Fatialofa: Maybe the last thing the Warriors need is another second-rower, but the club thinks enough of Fatialofa to secure him for the next two seasons.

He hasn’t played first grade yet, but appeared in every game for the champion reserves last season, logging 80 minutes in 19 of his 22 outings and finishing as equal top tryscoring forward in the NSW Cup. He’ll come off the interchange against the Sea Eagles.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Determination is at the heart of how a Hawke’s Bay-raised athlete became part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) first-ever winter Olympic team.

The small, desert country is fielding two athletes at these Games, including New Zealand-born Piera Hudson, who has had a long, hard journey to fulfilling her Olympic dream.

Hudson also had the honour of being a flagbearer for the UAE during the opening ceremony for the Milano Cortina Olympics.

Hudson will check into the Olympic Village in Cortina in a couple of days as she gets ready to compete in her first event on Sunday, the giant slalom.

The 30-year-old is set to become the first Winter Olympian Hawke’s Bay has ever produced and told Nine to Noon that it didn’t feel real yet.

“I don’t think it will until I’m sort of competing on the day and then it might hit me. The Olympic opening ceremony was just amazing, I was buzzing, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was the most surreal feeling to have finally sort of had that ‘I made it’ moment,” Hudson said.

“To be flagbearer on top of that was such a huge honour for my country, so couldn’t have asked for a better way to start it off.”

The alpine skier won multiple national titles and represented New Zealand on the international stage for most of her career. But the heartbreak of missing selection for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Olympic Games hurt.

In 2022, she tried fighting her non-selection, having made the official qualification mark, but that wasn’t enough for the Sports Tribunal to overturn the decision.

It was about that time she decided to make Dubai her base.

Hudson’s connection with the UAE goes back a couple of decades; she had a lot of family based there and growing up spent many holidays there with her cousins.

“Shortly after Covid I decided to move to Dubai myself just to make it my home instead of having to trek back to New Zealand so frequently.”

When not training in Europe, she trains at the indoor Ski Dubai facility – one of the biggest indoor ski domes in the world, based in the Emirates Mall.

“You walk into the mall and you’re carrying your skis and people are looking at you sideways and then you walk into Ski Dubai and there’s a chair lift …you can set up a course, you can get a good slalom training run in.

“I don’t train there too frequently because it doesn’t quite emulate World Cup and Olympics conditions but it is really lovely to train with the ski club there.”

The UAE Winter Federation welcomed Hudson with open arms when she decided to switch allegiances, but the challenge of getting citizenship and approval to represent the UAE seemed insurmountable at times.

It wasn’t until late last year that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) approved the nation change, and final acceptance from the International Olympic Committee came very late in the piece.

“It takes years and I knew that going into it, but I also knew it was what I wanted to do. It was going to be worth it …I just knew I wanted to represent that country.

“There’s been a lot of lows with the Olympics in the past, representing New Zealand and not getting that opportunity when I had made qualification in the past and things, it’s a tough time.

“I’m really glad that my parents raised me to be resilient and persistent …I don’t take no for an answer very often so it kind of got me through, which I’m really glad about.”

Hudson has also endured massive injury setbacks during her career, including a horrific leg break and a full rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament in recent years.

She grew up on farm near Tikokino, so how did the mountains come calling?

“I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the South Island during the winter school holidays growing up. My Mum is originally from Dunedin and both my parents grew up skiing.

“They sort of chucked my brother and I in the car every winter and we went down to Wānaka and we were on skis from a very early age and both fell in love with it, my brother became a ski instructor for many many years.”

The adrenaline rush of slalom is something that never gets old for Hudson.

“It’s a hugely technical event, but at the same time, you have to have the courage to send it, even though the turns are tight, it is a high-speed event and there’s just a lot coming at you very, very quickly.”

When to watch Piera Hudson from NZ

The women’s giant slalom event will be held at 10pm on Sunday, 15 February (run 1) and 1.30am Monday, February 16 (run 2).

The women’s slalom event will be held at 10pm next Wednesday, 18 February (run 1) and 1.30am next Thursday, February 19 (run 2).

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