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Sport Nation
Monday Musings: Port, Portia, and Pints
Alex Chapman • May 26th, 2025 2:26 pm
Sport Nation Mornings co-host Alex Chapman looks at the biggest plot lines and talking points from the weekend of Kiwi sport.
Bye for now Black Knights
What colour are the shoes? Is it Yanni or Laurel? When is a goal, not a goal?
It seems that the Auckland FC “goal” which wasn’t given, and may well have cost them a place in the A-League grand final, is an optical illusion to some, or perhaps seeing what you want to others.
Either way, it’s a call coated in conjecture.
Auckland FC’s inbox has been flooded with various views of the “goal”, and at the time of writing, the club have yet to receive a response to their please explain. Regardless of the reply, and despite how adamant coach Steve Corica remains that the ball wasn’t out, it’ll change nothing.
When asked after the game what he thought of the officiating as a whole in the 2-0 loss to the Melbourne Victory, a big exhale came from the gaffer, before a look into the corner of the Mount Smart press conference room and a wry smile ensued.
“I don’t think I want to comment on that. There should’ve been more yellow cards.”
Standing on the sideline throughout the game, it felt like there were periods when officials had little control, with consistent shirt pulling and arm pulling morphing the match into WWE. Acting included. The fact that Alex Paulsen, one of, if not the calmest players on the field, was involved in a tussle, probably says it all.
Officiating aside, unfortunately for Auckland FC, they just didn’t play their best football. They took too long to adjust to the Victory’s setup and formation, and in the end, a deflection, and a lapse in concentration defensively, cost them the two goals. Luck may well have been against them throughout both legs, with Corica admitting that Neyder Moreno’s double-post miss in Melbourne will haunt him.
But as much despair and dejection as there was on the field, there was also so much pride.
As some players rushed through interviews to join their teammates, they collectively walked from starboard to the Port.
Players, coaches, staff.
Some looked stunned, others were overcome with emotion, a handful fighting back tears. They were as grateful for their supporters, as they were for the journey.
Their faithful fans sung and danced, jumped and chanted - you wouldn’t have known they’d lost.
It’s the sort of support that other clubs can only dream of. The “fans” of said clubs who were celebrating their demise, despite struggling themselves both on and off field this season.
For Alex Paulsen, the final whistle also meant his final game for Auckland FC.
More than an hour after the game had finished, he emerged from the dressing room to cheers and requests for signatures and selfies. Half an hour after that, he and Scott Galloway trundled out to the middle of the field and sat down staring back towards the tunnel.
The same tunnel their coach and members of his staff had started to follow officials down as they rushed from the field to a chorus of boos.
Planning for next season is already underway, with 22 of the 26-man squad having signed on to return.
They’ll do so with extra motivation. There’s no doubt about that. And they’ll be back with a bit between their teeth and fires fuelled by fury.
Melbourne Victory snatch win from Auckland FC in ALM semi-finals | Sport Nation
24 hours later, the same result
It’s probably fitting that the seats at Mount Smart are blue because that’s how local fans felt leaving the stadium both days of the weekend.
The NZ Warriors weren’t awful, but their attack felt a bit flat in the 16-10 defeat to the Canberra Raiders.
It’s already been said, and will continue to be said, but the suspension of James Fisher-Harris and Origin call-up of Mitch Barnett, had them lacking impact and go forward through the middle, while struggling for consistent ruck speed.
Neither team was dominant or disciplined, with the Warriors completing 75 percent of their sets and the Raiders 77, while they missed 34 and 30 tackles respectively.
Slipping to third, it’s hardly a cause for concern for the Wahs, more perhaps an area to note down and improve.
Are the Warriors too one-dimensional on attack? | Sport Nation League
Wonderful Woodman-Wickliffe
From retirement to records, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe showed that, as if it was in doubt, she’s back.
A sensational seven tries in the Black Ferns throttling of the USA, seeing her now sit atop the Black Ferns all-time try scorer list with 45 from just 26 tests.
NRLW may now be kicking themselves for letting Woodman-Wickliffe go over a World Cup ambassador role dispute; the same World Cup she may now carve up later this year.
The signs were much-improved for the World Champions at North Harbour Stadium, with Katelyn Vaha'akolo’s four tries on the other wing and Jorja Miller seamlessly switching from World Sevens player of the year to 15’s threat, among the several talking points.
There are still clear areas of improvement, but the Black Ferns are starting to sharpen their swords as they look to defend their title in less than three months.
Points and Pints
Point of order, your honour.
Points dropped by the Highlanders (again!), piled on by the Chiefs, and secured by Liam Lawson for the first time this F1 season, while there were no pints of milk for the kiwis at Indy.
Hamish Kerr may be enjoying a pint or two though after his Diamond League win in Rabat.
Catch Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, every Thursday & Friday from 9am-12pm.
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