Sportstalk with D'Arcy Waldegrave

The Warriors' latest signing won't attract a ton of headlines, nor send fans into a frenzy, but could be important nonetheless. The club confirmed on Tuesday they have picked up fringe Melbourne Storm forward Aaron Pene on a two-year contract from next season. He has been signed on potential and promise, as the 25-year-old has only played three NRL matches, all interchange appearances off the benc...

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Tennis Open in response to the controversy of her refusing to front at media conferences. She has issued the news via social media and says her message could have been delivered in a clearer fashion. The 23-year-old says she has suffered bouts of depression since winning her maiden grand slam at the US Open in 2018. Long-running tennis correspondent Graeme...

Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 when she skipped the news conference after her first-round victory at the French Open on Sunday — and drew a stunning warning from all four Grand Slam tournaments that she could face stiffer penalties, including disqualification or even suspension, if she continues to avoid the media. Osaka returned to Roland Garros after sitting out the tournament last year and turne...

Canterbury's Stewart Mitchell has been appointed New Zealand Rugby chairman, with Dr Farah Palmer as his deputy, after a tense board meeting in Auckland on Monday night. Mitchell, a qualified accountant who has served on the NZ Rugby board since 2014, is thought to have narrowly edged East Coast president and Pango Productions chief executive Bailey Mackey. Former North Harbour chairman and Blues...

Reece Walsh has continued his swift ascension at the Warriors, named to start at fullback in their NRL match against the Cowboys on Friday. The teenage star has played at the back on three occasions this season, but never in the number one jersey. Against the Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers he made a late pre-kick-off switch with captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while in the round nine clash with the...

Warriors coach Nathan Brown has stuck with the status quo in the spine for Friday's clash with the Tigers. Despite growing calls for teenager Reece Walsh to have more of a role, the 18-year-old is listed on the interchange bench. Walsh had a big impact in last week's 34-18 loss to the Eels, helping to spark a mini revival from 0-24 down after entering the fray in the 35th minute. Brown stated afte...

An Olympic veteran is confident that the Tokyo Olympics can still go ahead.  The Tokyo Olympic torch relay is being pulled off the streets in Hiroshima prefecture as COVID-19 cases rise in Japan barely 10 weeks before the opening ceremony. Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki said that a ceremony next week without the relay is likely to still take place. This is at least the sixth change to the rela...

Chelsea Alley's back to reality after experiencing the high of the first women's Super Rugby Aotearoa match. The Black Fern was part of Waikato's historic 39-13 win over the Blues last weekend. Alley took to Instagram on Tuesday, saying she's physically and mentally struggling, juggling three jobs and playing rugby semi-professionally. She told D'Arcy Waldegrave it got to a point where she needed...

The 2021 Indian Premier League has been suspended. The decision was made at an emergency meeting with the IPL Governing Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India. An IPL spokesperson says the BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of players, support staff and others involved in the competition. Kane Williamson's Sunrisers Hyderabad team mate Wriddihiman Saha has tested positive fo...

The Blues women's side is hailing a professional build up befitting the occasion of today's historic Super Rugby game against the women's Chiefs at Eden Park. The inaugural women's match is the curtain-raiser for the men's sides. Assistant coach Anna Richards says the semi-professional nature of women's rugby's been a factor. "The girls from up north were able to get time off work so that's really...

One provincial rugby CEO has explained why he has backed a controversial deal around the future of New Zealand rugby.  New Zealand Rugby’s 26 provincial unions have voted unanimously in favour of the proposed Silver Lake deal at the Union's AGM in Wellington. NZR has agreed to selling a 12.5 percent stage in the Union's commercial rights to the US technology investment giants for $387.5 million. H...

New Zealand Rugby League boss Greg Peters is encouraging walking before running when it comes to expansion in the NRL. Reports have emerged that the league's pitched a proposal to split the competition into two conferences which would see new teams added in Brisbane and New Zealand. Peters told D'Arcy Waldegrave it's a great move, but does wonder whether the time is right. "As New Zealanders, we a...

Ex-Warriors interim coach Todd Payten's loving seeing his old NRL team under Nathan Brown. Payten, who replaced Stephen Kearney following his sacking last June, is now in charge of the North Queensland Cowboys. Ahead of facing his former side on Sunday, Payten told D'Arcy Waldegrave what he's made of them under their new mentor. "I think they know their identity. They're very comfortable in the wa...

Warriors coach Nathan Brown's revealed just how close his side came to losing their skipper prior to the NRL defeat to the Storm. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck fractured his finger in the warm-up, with prop Kane Evans describing it as a blood-bath after the bone pierced the skin. Brown's explained the running-repairs that were needed to ensure they didn't have another late withdrawal. "He got himself needle...

Former All Black Liam Messam has been called into the Chiefs squad as injury cover as the side prepare for the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa final in under a fortnight. The 37-year-old Chiefs great and Taranaki loose forward Tom Florence have been added to the squad following season-ending injuries to loose forwards Kaylum Boshier, Mitchell Karpik and Simon Parker. Boshier sustained a shoulder injury d...

IndyCar is back for another year - and Kiwi racing superstar Scott Dixon is hoping for another season on top. Dixon is the defending champion and six time winner - and another championship win would see him tie AJ Foyt as a seven-time champion.  He joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to speak about his enthusiasm at 40, the effects Covid had on last year's series, and what he makes of the changes this year....

The Breakers are set for a long-awaited homecoming with seven consecutive games to be hosted in New Zealand to round out their Australian NBL season. Scheduling for the final six weeks of the 2020-21 season has been released, with the Breakers first set to grace New Zealand hardwood floors on May 20 against the Sydney Kings. It will mark the first time the lone Kiwi franchise in the transtasman co...

A reshuffle is on the cards for the Warriors. Bunty Afoa and Peta Hiku return to the 17 for Sunday's NRL match against the Dragons, after suspension and injury absences respectively. They replace Eliesa Katoa and David Fusitu'a, the latter of which has a hamstring injury expected to sideline him for a few weeks. For Katoa, the 21-year-old second rower made his debut for the Warriors in March last...

The Black Caps have named a left-arm orthodox, right-arm swing heavy squad to face England for two tests in June. As anticipated, 21-year-old Wellington all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is the closest thing to a bolter in the 20-strong touring party named by selectors Gary Stead and Gavin Larsen. He will join provincial teammate Devon Conway and Otago's Jacob Duffy as the only uncapped members of the s...

A revolt could eventuate at Auckland Rugby. A review into the provincial side and subsequent feedback from senior Blues management, has allegedly led to the resignation of assistant coach Filo Tiatia and the potential exodus of headline All Blacks. The Herald reports discontent within the Auckland squad has seen several All Blacks, including Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu and prop Ofa Tu’ungafa...

The trans-Tasman bubble has finally arrived and will come into effect from April 19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The news is a huge boost for New Zealand sport, with several teams competing in trans-Tasman competitions and having to base themselves in Australia. Here's all you need to know about what the trans-Tasman bubble means for New Zealand sport. League Warriors CEO Camero...

Warriors coach Nathan Brown doubts the new 18th-man policy will be necessary. The NRL plans to introduce the extra player as an injury replacement when a team has lost three members to concussion. The reserve will be an emerging player. Brown told D'Arcy Waldegrave he's unsure whether it's needed. "You had three concussions for one team, I personally think they’re wasting their time bringing that...

Sean O'Sullivan has been named to make his Warriors debut in this weekend's NRL match against the Raiders in Canberra. The young ex-Broncos and Roosters half will partner Kodi Nikorima in place of Chanel Harris-Tavita. The 21-year-old is out for 12 weeks after sustaining a stress fracture in his left foot, which he picked up in Friday's 20-16 loss to the Newcastle Knights. Coach Nathan Brown says...

New Zealand named their squad to play the season-ending T20I series against Bangladesh and as was widely tipped, it will see a potential debut for explosive Wellington opener Finn Allen. The right-hander was at home in Auckland with extended family who gathered to say goodbye before he prepared to leave for the Indian Premier League, when he saw he had a call from Black Caps selector-coach Gary St...

Keep calm – and carry on. That the message from Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling, after a surprising opening day of the America's Cup match. Most experts were tipping a pronounced edge to the defenders– with some opining that it would barely be a contest – but that wasn't the case. Instead Luna Rossa showed they will be competitive, with little between the boats in the moderate breezes of be...