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Alex Chapman: Wahs Wobble, Blackcaps Cruise, Sailing loses a legend
Alex Chapman • August 11th, 2025 10:20 am
Erin Clark | Photo: Photosport
This is perhaps better suited as a question – should the Warriors, and therefore their fans, be worried?
As coach Andrew Webster said after the loss to the Bulldogs, a lot of it was self-inflicted. In a performance that saw them struggling to get out of their own half for extended periods, they missed 30 more tackles, kicked for almost 300 fewer metres than the Bulldogs and had less than half of the tackle busts.
What never helps is losing one of your halves to injury after just 23 minutes. And Te Maire Martin’s absence was felt, as Chanel Harris-Tavita was forced to operate as a one-man band for periods, with not even a triangle or recorder in support.
That allowed the hosts to enforce more pressure, as the Warriors wrestled for any kind of control on both sides of the ball. The unfortunate irony is that the horrific conditions may have been better suited to the kicking game of Tanah Boyd. But we'll never know, given he was dropped to the NSW Cup side who have locked up the minor premiership for the first time in club history.
It’s now three losses in a row for a team which, thanks to the stumbling of the chasing pack, sits fifth. Eight points are on offer in the final month, so, yes, the calculators are out for the ‘bare minimum’ scenario as they face teams all outside the top eight. So, yes, it’s not all doom and gloom, after all, it’s the top four rather than the top eight they’re skirmishing to stop slipping out of.
The frustrating thing for Warriors fans, it doesn’t seem like there are any obvious solutions, given the number of occupants in the injury ward.
In better news for the club, as mentioned above, the NSW Cup team are on an unreal run at the moment. Unbeaten in their last 16 games, winning both pretty and ugly, and locking up some silverware with three weeks to spare.
Meanwhile, the Wahine now sit sixth in the NRLW after winning consecutive games for the first time this season. The 34-6 thumping of the Bulldogs was a statement performance, as they continue to prove they belong.
For a team that’s looking to change the landscape of the women's game in Aotearoa, these sorts of performances do wonders for that plight.
Comprehensive Caps
How about the Black Caps finishing before the Wahs on Saturday night?
So, what was actually attained from the Blackcaps series sweep over Zimbabwe?
Well, even the most critical and cynical doubters have to concede that there were positives out of the two matches.
Devon Conway notched up his fifth Test hundred and first in more than 30 months (given New Zealand hadn’t played since before Christmas, there’s a small asterix for the stat there).
Others such as Rachin Ravindra, Will ‘what will it take for me to score a ton’ Young and the ever in-and-out Henry Nicholls also scored runs, while, after 14 white-ball games, Zak Foulkes showed why there’s so much hype surrounding him, as he returned the best bowling figures by a New Zealand debutant.
Lockie Ferguson on educating fast bowlers with Yorker Co | Sport Nation Mornings
Matt Henry also continues to provide a reassuring level of comfort, with the safety of his swing bowling proving to be the downfall of opposition. His 16 wickets in a man-of-the-series performance is just the latest feather in his (black) cap during his journey of ascendency over the last few years.
In fact, since Trent Boult’s last test in June 2022, which coincided with Henry becoming a regular in the team, he has the second-best average (19.20) of all bowlers around the world to have taken 50 wickets (83) in that period. Top spot belongs to India’s slingsman, Jasprit Bumrah (96 at 17.37). That’s the company he keeps.
Both results were comprehensive as exhibited by the second test win being the largest in the side’s history, which illustrates the killer-instinct this side is playing with, and seamless switch Rob Walter has made into the coach’s seat.
And yes, cricket fans won, by being able to watch the side play in the middle of winter on free-to-air tv (well, a streaming site associated with said free-to-air channel).
However, having said all of that, you can’t help but consider the necessity for these two-Test bilateral series at a time when cricket is crying out for context.
But that’s a far bigger discussion for another day.
NPC delivers again
Honestly, it just continues to be a great entertainment product. For what it is, and for what it allows, it’s bloody awesome.
It’s been a fortnight of fun so far.
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Euro Kiwis Do It Again
What an absolutely Wilde comeback from our Hayden.
Less than 100 days after a training accident where he broke his scapula and ribs and suffered a punctured lung, the overwhelming emotion as he crossed the line in London said it all. The commentary of the T100 victory described it as “an incredible logic-defying performance” which is hard to argue with once you consider all he would’ve done just to get on the start line months ahead of schedule, never mind winning the damn thing.
Madness.
Cyclist Corbin Strong meanwhile has made it two wins across the last two weeks. His overall victory at the Arctic Race of Norway came with a 50kg salmon for claiming the first stage, and just eight days after tasting victory at a stage race in Belgium eight days ago.
Catch Hayden Wilde on Scotty & Izzy this Tuesday from 7am.
RIP Peter Lester
The word that continues to be used to describe sailing legend Peter Lester is kind - and he absolutely was.
Pete’s loss is being felt across the sport and all over the world because of that extraordinary kindness and warmth, pure passion, and infectious enthusiasm and love for his sport and life.
His method of conveying and sharing knowledge left both experts and nerds captivated and newbies educated, all without a dip in quality or respect.
Yachting and sailing are so much richer for what Pete Lester did both on and off the water, with his impact rippling in all waters.
Everyone associated with the sport will miss him so dearly.
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am to midday on Thursdays & Fridays.
