Commentary Box: Andrew Saville and Jason Pine discuss the AFL grand final and Counties Manukau winning the Ranfurly Shield
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What were the hosts' opening highlights for the weekend’s sports roundup?
I know Andrew Seville, Jason Pine, morning to you.
Good morning.
Let's do highlights. My highlight was the AFL. I mean, I watched the highlights of the game from last night in the NRL. That looked to be an absolute just blinder. But I watched a bigger chunk of the AFL, which was just the occasion to revel in great sport. Andrew, your highlight was what?
Well, I looked up at the screen at one stage, Mike, and I thought Fremantle had won it. Yeah, they were. With about three or four minutes to play, and then they lost. Yes, they did. Extraordinary finish. A few highlights for me, a couple. The second half in that Panthers-Newcastle Knights game last night, I don't think I've seen a half of football like it for a very, very long time. The grit and determination from Newcastle, down to 12 men. And also Counties Monaco winning the Shield and going on this extraordinary bus ride home from Whangarei to Pukekohe and having their fans meet them. Yeah, wonderful images, Mike. That's what the Renfrewish Shield does for these smaller unions.
Jason, your highlights? Yeah, same too.
How did the AFL Grand Final finish and why was it so dramatic?
Same too for me. I mean, Newcastle beating Penrith yesterday, that was, I mean, it was just an astonishing piece of theatre. The try at the end that sealed it was just so utterly dramatic. And obviously Nathan Cleary's broken ankle and Newcastle down to 12. But yeah, counties winning the shield. You know, in a week where New Zealand rugby got together to try and look at the shape of what the domestic game should be moving forward. We cannot forget what that piece of wood, that log of wood means to people who win it. It's just remarkable what it does. And those scenes in the bus on the way back, Just awesome. And look, I hope counties can defend against Hawke's Bay this weekend. Keep it for the summer. Needs to be shared around.
But yeah, just drama. And this golf, Mike, this golf is just utterly, utterly engrossing. The
international are going to win it, aren't they? You
can't lose from where they are. I hope so. I mean, America and the U.S. are back in it this morning. Can you imagine how insufferable they'll be? The Americans, if they win it, and their crowds, it's just, they're like the party hole on every hole at this tournament. Hey,
Mike, just back to the Shield game. I don't think I've ever seen a game of rugby where one team's scrum has absolutely dominated the other team's, and the team that has been dominated, counties, won the game. It was quite extraordinary, just bizarre. And speaking of bizarre, did you see any of the Wallabies' spring box last night?
Apparently so,
yeah. Now, just a quick question on that.
Why was Counties Manukau’s Ranfurly Shield win such a big story?
Four yellow cards in the last 10 minutes in
the Wallabies' win. The more important question, and I've received texts on it this morning, it doesn't mean the Australians are any good, does it? It just happened to be one of those games at a certain point in time.
In other words, we're not going to
lose the Bledisloe Cup.
Well, I... I don't think so, but I tell you what, the All Blacks have just been put on warning. Yes, it was the South African team that had, I think, 13 changes to the 15 of the All Blacks, basically. And then when their bottom squad came off the bench, the South Africans looked much better. But... The Australians played with pace. Their skill level was extremely high. They were good under the high ball. So I think that's a warning for the All Blacks, definitely. Not saying they'll lose to Bredesloe, but it's a warning.
OK, Jason, the meeting, I don't know how much time you want to spend on this, but the rugby, and I read the Sky Rights story, it's gone from 99 down to 75 million and people don't watch it anymore and they're not making any money. The whole thing seems shambolic to me. Is there anybody there that's got the wherewithal to actually solve that problem, or are they just a world of meetings and whiteboards and blue skies?
Oh, I think there's the desire there. I don't think there's any lack of desire there amongst the participants. As always, it's just picking your way through the various, you know, interests across provincial unions, super rugby teams, New Zealand rugby, the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board and everything in between.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What were the hosts' opening highlights for the weekend’s sports roundup?
0:00–1:09
2
How did the AFL Grand Final finish and why was it so dramatic?
1:09–2:46
3
Why was Counties Manukau’s Ranfurly Shield win such a big story?
2:46–9:44
4
What caused the controversy with four yellow cards in the Wallabies‑Perth match?
9:44–11:55
5
How is New Zealand Rugby’s funding model under pressure and what solutions were suggested?
11:55–12:18
Speakers
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Full Show Podcast: 28 September 2026