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Kia ora team, super pumped to bring in Episode Eleven! In this episode, I am joined by a childhood friend but also a New Zealand Rugby superstar, Naitoa Ah Kuoi. We talk all about what it's like to be a rugby professional playing for the super rugby Chiefs, how to take on fatherhood in your 20s and what it's like to be a friend and lose a friend. A deep chat into the journey through grief and keeping up mental well-being, post losing teammate Sean Wainui.Naitoa is incredible in all aspects of his life & this chat is seriously such an inspiration to me! Listen now and make sure you take this in with an open mind, as it is Naitoa's personal life and journey - he is still going through.*Trigger warning* Our chat involves discussions of men's mental health, depression, anxiety struggles, losing someone and grief, please click off if these topics feel too triggering.New Zealand HELPLINE - Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).Follow us @thehardwaypodcast & @mollyyblanchardhttps://linktr.ee/thehardwaypodcast
6pm Lockdown Beers & Rugby Chat - Sam Not Ready with Paul and ConWe'll be hosting 5pm lockdown beers on twitter everyday of the NZ lockdown talking about Rugby related topicsWe'll be talking about Moana Pasifika, All Blacks, Sean Wainui and more.Become a Supporter of New Zealand Sport Radio via Patreon:https://patreon.com/NZSportRadio Get bonus content on Patreon as a Supporter of New Zealand Sport RadioSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/new-zealand-sport-radio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week on the Ball and All Podcast we welcome Noa Deane - a young man with a unique story that links surfing's past, its present and may possibly shape its future. Born into surfing royalty as the son of world champion parents Wayne and Colleen Deane, Noa has gone on to carve out his own reputation as one of the very best 'free surfers' on the planet. Ridiculous airs, blistering turns combined with a creativity and eye for detail more accustomed to an artist than an elite athlete - Noa (along with the likes of Dane Reynolds) are continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible both above and beyond the lip in the year 2021. Whilst it is hard to predict where surfing will be in 20 years time, it would be fair to say that Noa Deane will have a blazed a bloody bright path for whoever follows. As always we would like to thank the people who support us:The Station Grocer Lennox Head - Your 'one stop shop' for all things fuel, food, coffee and Ball & All Merchandise in Lennox Head and the Northern Rivers. Get down and see Matty, Joel and the team and who knows, if Woody has his way they may be selling small reptiles and Army tanks very soon.Lennox Pizza and Pasta - The best pizza this side of Naples and a huge supporter of the podcast - call in and see Mez and the team when next in Lennox Head or get online and check them out at https://lennoxheadpizzaandpasta.com.au/Elders Lennox Head & Bangalow - with the real estate market really struggling in small map dot locations like Lennox Head and Bangalow, Elders thought it was time they got their name out there on the world stage - that is why they market themselves on the internet at https://www.elderslennoxhead.com.au/. https://bangalow.eldersrealestate.com.au/
Sean Wainui will have tributes paid to him this weekend.The Chiefs centre died aged 25 in a car accident at McLaren Falls in Tauranga.Bay of Plenty's match against Northland will be postponed as it clashes with his tangihanga.The All Blacks' clash against the US in Washington, D,C. will also start with a minute's silence for Wainui.Sam Whitelock will captain the team for the remaining All Blacks test this year.Phil Gifford and Nigel Yalden joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the week's sports news
It's okay to lay the opposition to waste. It's okay to put them to the sword, to run through them like General George S Patton used to say (slightly altered for decency), to run through them like poop through a goose. This is what will happen tomorrow morning. The All Blacks, the relatively inexperienced All Blacks, will hunt the Eagles down. Pluck ‘em, truss ‘em and stick them on the rotisserie. This is partially due to the strength of the men in black and the weakness of an American team, hamstrung through a lack of their first-string players due to the fixture falling outside of an international window. The ABs will of course be carrying the grief of the passing of Sean Wainui and the annoyance of having been beaten by the Springboks a few of weeks back. That defeat would have been riding their shoulders like an angry chimp, hooting and shrieking the whole time. The release valve will be struck and the Americans will be burnt by the overpowering steam release.So is it good for international rugby? Does that even matter? Is it NZRs responsibility to grow the game? Is okay to take the money and run? Put the plimsoll on the other flipper. Take American football. If the Patriots were to turn up and take on our national side the Steelblacks, would we drop to our knees and sob in unison as 50,000 of us watched a massacre at Eden Park. No. We'd take it for what it is, an exhibition. An advert for the game which is a mere curiosity in our land. It may well encourage some participation; it'll demand some interest fleetingly and then we'll go back to watching rugby. Granted, that's not the most accurate parallel, but it's close enough. It's not up to NZ to spread the gospel, to foster growth of the game, hell we can't even get it together enough to help our Pacifica cousins. That's the job of World Rugby, the impotent stain attempting to run the game globally, whose most proactive step of recent times is to allow pantyhose into the game. The ABs don't have to pay lip service to anyone here, with talk of giving the yanks a leg up. They'll use the match as a conduit for their trans-hemispherical jaunt, take the money, satisfy the sponsors, cook the Eagles and carry on. Nothing wrong with that right? As they say, it is what it is.
A quick 9 minute episode to tribute my brother Seanyboi. What you did for me as an 18 year old Māori boy in a Professional Rugby environment was massive. Thank you.Speaking about it helped me get things off my chest and made me feel better talking about my memories with him - if any of the boys want to do the same in the form of a podcast lets make it happen.Love you my brother - Moe mai ra!
On this weeks episode, the crew are back at "Since 86" Studios to chat all about the passing of Sean Wainui, the upcoming tours for the All Blacks/Wallabies + the recent signings for the Moana Pasifika & Fijian Drua teams. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
It's been a sad week for New Zealand Rugby with the death of Sean Wainui, Sam Cane returns to the All Blacks after injury ahead of the USA test and the Black Caps are up against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
It's been a sad week for New Zealand Rugby with the death of Sean Wainui, Sam Cane returns to the All Blacks after injury ahead of the USA test and the Black Caps are up against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
In this special and short podcast bonus, we pay tribute to a man who's life and career was also special and far too short - Chiefs player and Maori All Black Sean Wainui. RIP you legend x See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
All Black hooker Codie Taylor choked back tears at an emotional All Blacks press conference today as he paid tribute to his teammate Sean Wainui. 25-year-old Wainui, who played for the Māori All Blacks, the Crusaders and more recently the Chiefs, was killed when the car he was driving hit a tree yesterday morning. The All Blacks, many of whom played alongside him, were shocked to learn of his death following their arrival in Washington after a 30-hour journey from the Gold Coast. Felicity Reid was on the emotional zoom conference call.
We pay tribute to Sean Wainui after his tragic passing, while former Crusaders playmaker Steve Brett - now USA Eagles assistant coach - joins the podcast to talk us through his journey and preview the All Blacks test this weekend.
And we're back with The Latest - the weekly episode that Rahni and Los bring you guys all the thoughts, movements and happenings within One Three Eight!In memory of our fallen brother Sean Wainui, we quickly touch on what he meant to us and how much of an impact he had on New Zealand as a whole. We reflect on drop day last Friday and the learnings that came with it, Facebook Marketing and how we can be better in this space and cover Rahni getting his first stern word.Hopefully this will give you some positivity in and amongst the times we're in right now as a country - we're right beside you.
Sky Sport Rugby Commentator Tony Johnson chats with Staffy about Sean Wainui legacy and also looked ahead to the All Blacks games against USA in Washington DC on Sunday.
Sport Today is a weekday sports news podcast designed to put sports lovers ahead of the game.Sean Wainui five tries v WaratahsJarvo invades the NFLCurtis Campher's double hat-trickFollow Sport Today on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
5pm Lockdown Beers & Rugby Chat - A Sad Day For Rugby with Paul and CoWe'll be hosting 5pm lockdown beers on twitter everyday of the NZ lockdown talking about #Rugby related topicsWe'll be talking about the Sean Wainui, MLR, Moana Pasifika, Provincial Rugby and more.Become a Supporter of New Zealand Sport Radio via Patreon:https://patreon.com/NZSportRadio Get bonus content on Patreon as a Supporter of New Zealand Sport RadioSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/new-zealand-sport-radio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Today on the show you'll find out how you can get a four day weekend, and we'll discover the ins and outs of being an embalmer. Plus we chat to rugby legend Dan Carter, and we mourn the passing of one in the making - Sean Wainui. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The rugby community is mourning the death of Sean Wainui.Wainui was a supremely young talented player for the Chiefs, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Maori All Blacks and captain of the Takapuna 1st XV.He died in a single-car crash near McLaren Falls in Tauranga aged 25.He wrote himself into the record books in June when he became the first player to score five tries in a Super Rugby match.Taranaki coach Neil Barnes joined Andrew Dickens.LISTEN ABOVE
Māori All Black Sean Wainui is being remembered as a player with immense mana both on and off the field. The 25-year-old father died in a car crash yesterday morning at McLaren Falls Park, near Tauranga. Earlier this year, Wainui became the first player in Super Rugby history to score five tries in one game. New Zealand Māori Rugby Board chair Dr Farah Palmer spoke to Susie Ferguson.
Māori All Black Sean Wainui is being remembered as a player with immense mana both on and off the field. The 25-year-old father died in a car crash yesterday morning at McLaren Falls Park, near Tauranga. Earlier this year, Wainui became the first player in Super Rugby history to score five tries in one game. New Zealand Māori Rugby Board chair Dr Farah Palmer spoke to Susie Ferguson.
The Aotearoa Rugby Pod panel of Ross Karl, Bryn Hall and James Parsons pay tribute to the late Sean Wainui, dissect the biggest test facing the All Blacks on their northern tour, and discuss a possible Club World Cup. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Māori All Blacks 35Manu Samoa 10When the Māori All Blacks met Manu Samoa in Wellington on Saturday night, a lack of match fitness proved the defining factor.For Manu Samoa, who were hosting the game at Sky Stadium, it was their first outing since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the physical battle took its toll. Although the Māori All Blacks also hadn't played a test since 2019, they played against Moana Pasifika last year and could call upon a squad of battle-tested players from Super Rugby, and it showed with the Māori side running away in the final 20 minutes to claim a 35-10 win.Impressively, despite the swirling wind, the goal kickers of both sides combined to convert all seven attempts at goal.Manu Samoa were well and truly up for the contest, and made their presence felt immediately. Kicking off, the Manu Samoa side were strong in defence and forced the Māori All Blacks to kick for territory.It was a tactic that wasn't executed well by the Māori side, with Bryn Hall's box kick being carried by the wind and pushed over the dead-ball line from inside his own territory. While that gifted Manu Samoa an early opportunity, they weren't able to capitalise on it.Instead, it was a Chiefs connection that saw the scoreboard start to tick over. After being awarded a penalty and winning the subsequent lineout deep in Manu Samoa's half, the ball was spread to midfielder Alex Nankivell, who found fullback Kaleb Trask lurking out the back in plenty of space.With winger Shaun Stevenson on his outside and playing under advantage, Trask put in a deft little grubber and Stevenson was the first to get there.While the Māori All Blacks opened the scoring, Manu Samoa were taking the physicality to them in the contact areas. Early in the match, the Samoan side were causing plenty of problems at the scrum for the Māori All Blacks' front row and were able to stop the Māori All Blacks' rolling maul close to the line on several occasions.It looked as though Manu Samoa had hit back on the scoreboard, but a try was ruled out due to foul play off the ball. However, they did score soon after, when winger Neria Formai swooped on a loose ball and finished of a chip and chase to level the score while the defence seemed to stand and watch.The Māori All Blacks had the final say of the half, though. Winger Sean Wainui was put over by a Nankivell offload after a suspect pass from hooker Ash Dixon in the lead-up, before Trask linked up with Stevenson to push the margin to 14 at the break.Manu Samoa scored the first points of the second half with a penalty from the boot of Rodney Iona, but from that point the Māori All Blacks controlled proceedings. With tries to Dixon and flanker Whetukamokamo Douglas, the margin stretched out to show a comfortable win for the Māori All Blacks.The sides will meet again next Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, playing prior to the All Blacks' test against Tonga at the same venue.Māori All Blacks 35 (Shaun Stevenson 2, Sean Wainui, Ash Dixon, Whetukamokamo Douglas tries; Otere Black 4 cons, Josh Ioane con)Manu Samoa 10 (Neria Formai try; Rodney Iona con, pen)HT: 21-7text by Christopher Reive, NZ Herald
Hurricanes 31Chiefs 18Victory and a crucial bonus point has kept the Hurricanes in the mix for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title.The Hurricanes consigned Warren Gatland's Chiefs to the ignominy of a winless campaign - nine straight defeats dating pre-lockdown – and a 73rd minute Billy Proctor try off a brilliant Jamie Booth offload sealed the bonus point which keeps Jason Holland's unheralded outfit in contention for the New Zealand crown.The Crusaders are heavily favoured to clinch the title when they host the Highlanders in Christchurch on Sunday but, for now at least, the third-placed Hurricanes moved one point behind the Blues and three behind the Crusaders. Next week the Hurricanes travel to Dunedin where they will again need a bonus point victory to have a chance at claiming the title, if it remains alive.Regardless of the Super Rugby Aotearoa title implications, the Hurricanes can take pride from extending their winning streak to five matches – a run which includes being the only team in the past four years to knock over the Crusaders in Christchurch. It's been a remarkable recovery from the Hurricanes after dropping their first two matches of this campaign.In front of a frozen 21,489 Wellington crowd, the Hurricanes were a class above the Chiefs, leading 12-3 at halftime before eventually kicking away for a comfortable five-tries-to-two victory.Jordie Barrett and Peter Umaga-Jensen led the Hurricanes from an individual standpoint but concerns were palpable for Sam Cane after the All Blacks captain was knocked out in an ugly incident.Everyone held their breath 26 minutes into the contest when Cane copped a nasty hip to the head and lay prone on the turf. The contact with Barrett's hip left Cane unconscious and he did not return to the game, but he at least left the field without the use of a stretcher.Two years on from the neck fracture in South Africa that almost ended his career, this was a scare he could do without.Gatland's Chiefs, meanwhile, finish their season with the fewest points, tries, line breaks and most tries and turnovers conceded. While they didn't lack heart their attack in particular was again bereft of confidence, and they will probably welcome the chance to escape the losing habit.The intent to chase the bonus point from the Hurricanes was clear from the outset. They turned down shots at goal in favour of kicking for the corner and their rate of offloads was more akin to touch rugby. Vince Aso in particular pushed passes in contact at every opportunity.The Hurricanes were at their best when they settled, somewhat. With Tyrel Lomax anchoring the scrum this area continued to be a solid platform to launch attacking raids and TJ Perenara took ownership of the kicking to plug the corners on several occasions.Umaga-Jensen was the standout of the first half. The 22-year-old has made his mark in the midfield since lockdown and his two tries and brilliant line-running ability again left a lasting impression.To open the scoring he hit the line at pace to collect a flat Perenara ball and crash over in the tackle of Anton Lienert-Brown. For his second, Umaga-Jensen dished and then received a pass from Wes Goosen on the left edge.Barrett survived a scare when he twisted his knee to deliver another influential display from fullback, a position he is making his own. Whether it was laying on crunching hits, knocking over goals, being safe under the high ball or offloading in contact, Barrett was ever-present as he has been throughout this campaign.The best moment of the first half for the Chiefs came when Hurricanes wing Kobus Van Wyk was yellow carded for unnecessarily throwing Brad Weber into a dangerous position. Even then, though, the Chiefs attack struggled to exploit their one man advantage, only doing so once at the start of the second spell when Sean Wainui scored the first of their two strikes.When the Hurricanes returned to their full contingent, however, they were always in control.W...
The Blues have beaten the Chiefs for the first time since 2011, a victory which was relatively straightforward in the end and which keeps them in the hunt for an unlikely playoff place.They got home at Eden Park thanks to a disciplined second half and a bit of luck, although they survived a scare when Chiefs loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula was awarded a try with 10 minutes remaining only to have it ruled out due to a knock-on, a decision Chiefs coach Colin Cooper was unhappy about.To make it even better for the Blues was lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti's late try which turned a fairly comprehensive victory into a bonus point win. It was no more than they deserved because they played with commitment and intensity and flair, too.It is the Blues' second derby victory of the season after their win here against the Highlanders. They have a tougher assignment next weekend against the Crusaders in Christchurch, and their struggles away from home are well documented, but this victory will give them belief at least.It also keeps them in the hunt as they have moved from 14th to ninth. The Chiefs, meanwhile, drop to 13th and are almost certainly out of the scramble for a top-eight position.Virtually the only positive on a night for the Chiefs as their prop Angus Ta'avao celebrated his 100th Super Rugby game was the fact loose forward Sam Cane made a successful return from a broken neck suffered last October.Their biggest problem was creativity; they had too few ideas on attack, especially in the second half, although the Blues should be applauded for keeping them in check, with halfback Jonathan Ruru excellent and first-five Harry Plummer outplaying his opposite Marty McKenzie."We scrambled well and didn't give away too many obvious penalties," Blues coach Leon MacDonald said. "We weren't letting them in and we grew in confidence as we felt we were suffocating them with our defence. We got excited about getting the ball in our hands again and we made the most of it."With midfielder TJ Faiane always alert to an opportunity, the Blues did not lack for attacking options and the pack, led by Patrick Tuipulotu, Alex Hodgman and Ofa Tuungafasi, fired too.Tuungafasi scored an important try in the second half - although it was disputed by the Chiefs, who thought he knocked on - and he and Hodgman played the whole match, a remarkable achievement in the modern age, following Karl Tu'inukuafe's late withdrawal due to illness.Hooker James Parsons was also ruled out late due to a back injury. There was a change for the Chiefs, too, with wing Sean Wainui out after his partner went into labour.And while Chiefs lock Mitchell Brown left the field with a leg injury after only five minutes, it was the visitors who had the better start.The Blues were a bit loose early and retained the infuriating habit of turning attack into defence with one mistake. Mitch Karpik's try, after a mix-up between Rieko Ioane and Melani Nanai, was almost comical.But their perseverance paid off when first-five Plummer went over in the left corner for his first try at this level after a Caleb Clarke turnover and Nanai somehow got the ball down in the other corner to give his side a slim lead at halftime.In the end, outside backs Nanai and Ioane finished on the right side of the ledger with their attacking verve which was nearly irresistible.Cane was a temporary blood replacement for Karpik in the first half and came on for final 26 minutes but not even the All Blacks vice-captain could turn it around for the Chiefs."At 10-8 we were in the fight," Cooper said. "Tries went their way which maybe should have been looked at and weren't looked at. We were awarded a try and unless the TMO got another view, I couldn't understand why Pita Gus's wasn't a try. We didn't get the rub of the green."Blues 23 (Harry Plummer, Melani Nanai, Ofa Tuungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti tries; Plummer pen)Chiefs 8 (Mitch Karpik try; Marty McKenzie pen)Halftime: 10-8
Last night's showdown was meant to be the Blues' moment of truth, but 80 minutes later, there is still plenty of doubt whether a true Super Rugby playoff contender exists in Auckland.Searching for a fifth consecutive victory, the Blues did indeed make it five in a row - five straight away losses - as the Chiefs clung on to a 33-29 win in Hamilton.On one hand, it was the same old Blues in their first test of whether they were true contenders. Having not beaten the Chiefs in 14 games, and not victorious in an away New Zealand derby since 2013, the Blues needed to prove they could produce in more than just home comforts.Ultimately, they didn't - and those lengthy winless streaks could continue to be a fatal flaw. Yet, with all that said, there are still reasons to retain hope. Once again, they were in the contest right down to the final minute – where a Jed Brown knock-on eventually saw their attempted comeback fall short - and their upcoming trips to play the out-of-form Highlanders and lowly Brumbies won't inspire fear.It would be hard to deny the Chiefs' victory wasn't deserved though, and one that has to put at least a slight dampener on all the optimism building around the Blues of late. Sure, their four victories were impressive, but all came at home, against teams currently outside the top six in the standings.While they had their moments, this time they didn't have the close-game variance fall their way. Most impressively for the Chiefs – or perhaps worryingly for the Blues – is the fact they triumphed despite losing Damian McKenzie to a concerning knee injury. The All Blacks utility hobbled off in the 41st minute, after seemingly twisting his knee when trying to corral Otere Black at high speed.He had been such a factor in steering the Chiefs to a 14-10 halftime lead that it stood to reason that his unfortunate absence could be a boost for the Blues' chances of continuing their recent rise. Instead, McKenzie's replacement - Ataata Moeakiola – crossed just two minutes later, giving the Chiefs a buffer that was tested, but never overcome.While Karl Tu'inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi had their way early on with Angus Ta'avao and Nepo Laulala at scrum time, the Chiefs were more dangerous when running with the ball. They had a hand from the Blues' blunders – James Parsons' attempted inside ball was intercepted by Brad Weber for a runaway try, but the Chiefs also produced some magic, with a delightful 14-phase move being finished off by Lachlan Boshier.Still, the Blues do seem to have more fight about them than prior iterations. Melani Nanai struck back after the halftime hooter to put them in touch, and while some silky Anton Leinert-Brown moves saw Moeakiola crash over, the Blues weren't done.Ma'a Nonu crossed twice – turning back the clock by barging through four defenders for one of them – and Rieko Ioane also displayed a deft touch to plant down in the left corner. In between, Boshier benefitted from superb skills from Sean Wainui to notch his double, and Jesse Parete also crossed in the corner, keeping the Chiefs in front, but by a slender margin.The Blues threw one last effort at the hosts, but this time, it wasn't to be. And, as one winning streak ends, another – the Chiefs have now won three on the trot – blossoms.Chiefs 33 (L Boshier 2, B Weber, A Moeakiola, J Parete tries; D McKenzie 2 cons, M McKenzie 2 cons)Blues 29 (M Nonu 2, M Nanai, R Ioane tries; O Black 2 cons, pen, H Plummer con)HT: 14-10