Stand up you New Zealand Warriors, take a bow and be immensely proud of a defensive effort that was as stunning as it was courageous. To spend the entire second half on the back foot defending against the competition’s second placed team in the form of the Penrith Panthers was a mighty effort.
Your opposition threw everything at you, including the kitchen sink. They tried to bomb you often and you defused them with aplomb. They tried to get around the edges of your defence by putting the ball through the hands, but you held your ground. They offloaded in the tackle more and more as the match progressed, but you stood firm, winning 12-6.
Time and time again, with only a 12-6 lead at half-time, you defended your try line with the tenacity of a team desperate to be part of finals football. You threw your bodies at the invading Panthers with no thought for your own safety, nor did you stop to entertain the prospect that any of you may have no energy left after having made fifty more tackles than the home side. And that’s what made it even more remarkable; you were playing away in front of a hostile crowd, as well as being on the receiving end of an 11-3 penalty count.
By the 70th minute you were all out on your feet. Understandable, really. Yet, to a man, you kept throwing every last bit of physical exertion you had left to use into the cause. Just when it looked like a Penrith attacker was going to score the match equalling try, one of you, sometimes more, would come from nowhere with a steely determination to prevent losing the lead that you had so zealously protected.
Whether it was the experienced campaigner in Michael Luck making his fifty-seven tackles or Sione Lousi in only his third game for the Warriors, you all had the desire to stand alongside your mates and play for each other.
When you did get a few scraps to attack with, you were too tired to do anything meaningful in that attack. But, that’s okay, we all understand. And you still gave it your all, even if it only meant gaining three metres before being pummelled by a swarm of Penrith tacklers. There was Ian Henderson in the dying stages of the game, combative as ever, finding some energy from we don’t know where, making a few valuable metres here and there. It must have come from within. For how else could the seventeen of you withstand such an onslaught?
Some people don’t think you will make the top eight. But, then a lot of those same folk didn’t think you could beat Penrith today. Keep this up and there will be plenty of them with egg on their face. Hey, play like this and you might even make the top four. If you are going to show this kind of form each week from here on in, no doubt you will be right up there in the finals mix come mid September.
Not only did you show your strong mental fortitude on defence, but in the first half you displayed the ability to take heed of a superb game plan from your coach Ivan Cleary, and then put it into practice. You spent the good majority of the opening stanza going straight up the middle of the park with quick play the balls helping your worthy cause.
You only made two errors for the entire first forty minutes. That combined with the aforementioned tactics worked a treat. It gave Lewis Brown an opportunity in the 13th minute to bust the defensive line of Penrith, run twenty metres before passing to James Maloney to finish the movement off by dotting down under the crossbar. A marvellous effort.
Even better came along nine minutes later when stand-off Issac John put up a high kick on the last tackle and Manu Vatuvei chased through, retrieved the ball on the full and dived over in the left corner.
So you have attacking options there, too. Your last tackle kicking option in Maloney had a splendid time as well, finding space on all of his kicks in the first half. Which, backed up a by a vibrant chase from teammates gave Penrith fullback and danger man Lachlan Coote little room to operate.
It had looked at half-time, what with you having dominated for a good proportion of the half and only having a six point lead that Penrith would have a psychological advantage going into the second half, particularly as they scored only two minutes out from the break. But in the end it was you that were the tougher.
So, I bet there is a fair amount of self-belief in you now, isn’t there? There should be.
You have earned the right to go into the last eight rounds of the normal season, while knowing it is always going to be tough, that you have what it takes to give this competition a thoroughly good shake up.

This is the piece I enjoyed writing the most since I started this blog, so I have decided to put it up again today. It is about Irene Van Dyke, one of our true sporting champions in New Zealand. It is always very enjoyable when one has the chance to write about someone in a positive light.
As from next week there will be a similar type of article about one of our great sportspeople -past or present- every second week.


The Rugby season got underway several weeks ago and will soon be joined by Rugby league and Netball. So what better time to celebrate some of our champions of the winter. Those that inspire us all, for whatever the reason. Whether it is for their attacking brilliance, maybe their leadership skills or perhaps someone whose personality as well as their sporting prowess draws the sporting public to them.
One such person is Irene Van Dyke. The South African born goal shooting star with the golden smile and a winning personality to match her superstar status as the world’s best goal-shooter has got it all. Not only does she have a wonderful gift as a match-winner but no matter how much pressure she is put under she goes about her business with that infectious smile permanently planted on her visage. How infuriating for her opposition it must be that no matter how much they attack her, they are still unable to combat her genius, not to mention having to see that smile still firmly planted on her dial.
For as much as they physically pummel Van Dyke in an attempt to unsettle her, she continues to shoot at over ninety percent. And she does it with a smile. It must be oh so tempting for Van Dyke to give it back in retaliation. Most of us would surely resort to such antics. But not Van Dyke. She simply just lets her playing ability do the talking for her. The fact that she doesn’t retaliate shows just how good she is and what personal standards she maintains.
That she has been without peer now for twenty years speaks volumes for her playing ability. Not only that, but she clearly is an extremely dedicated lady to keep at her chosen sport at this high level for twenty years. And she shows no sign of slowing down, whether it is physically or mentally. And mentally, there are very few in any sports that are a match for this supreme sporting being.
Nudge, budge, you name it, Van Dyke’s opposition have tried with all their might to put her off her A game, yet she handles the pressure with supreme ease. Her rivals could plant a bomb as the goal defence and Van Dyke would still somehow find a way to shoot at ninety-five percent. Maybe send her back to South Africa, would do the job. But then, other than those few rivals, this country would be up in arms, so much is Van Dyke loved and cherished by the New Zealand public. You can’t blame them really can you? I mean, who wouldn’t like a 6ft3in blond Amazonian chick with a stupendous personality?
And she has clearly dedicated herself to the cause of the Silver Ferns, and, even more so, to being a great member of our society. Van Dyke could have easily come to New Zealand to achieve her netballing ambitions, and then taken off back to South Africa to live. But not for Van Dyke to do things by half measures. Instead she threw herself into becoming a proud Kiwi and, luckily for New Zealand, she has stated her intention to continue living in New Zealand long term.
Van Dyke goes about playing her chosen sport with the brilliance that comes from being a genius but, also, and more importantly, she does it all with great humility.
Irene Van Dyke, you are a true champion.
For that, all of New Zealand salutes you.

It’s the weekend. What better way to spend the day than to go to a game of rugby league.
When you arrive, do feel free to congregate at the ticket sales kiosk, indulging in harmless banter with opposition fans regarding how ineffective their team’s player’s talent is. Also, feel free to loudly announce to all and sundry that you hold those same player’s in as high esteem as what you do Hitler himself, not to mention his foreign policy of the early 1940’s.
Once inside the arena, if it is a wet day, please do your utmost to stroll along with your umbrella up, not looking where you are going. This has the advantage that you can take out as many innocent pedestrians as possible. Such good sport, isn’t it? I mean, how inconsiderate of those innocents to expect to use the footpath as well you. You’re right, complete vermin, the lot of them. And surely the good folk from St John’s have so little to do with their time that they would deeply appreciate your tremendous efforts in injuring as many pedestrians as possible, hence allowing to test the skills that they learnt in their training.
So you have managed to negotiate your way to the merchandise stand, then. Good for you. This is a splendid place to purchase items that can be used as weapons to make your fellow spectators day at the league a complete and utter misery. A magnificent choice for you would be to buy a team flag to support your team with.
Ahh, I see you have found your way to the food and beverage facilities. Nothing quite like some chips and a hot dog on a cold day is there? Yes, I see you agree, Sir. But please do not handle those hot dogs with so much uncontrolled glee. Your wife certainly is looking somewhat surprised!
Anyway, it seems that you have located your seats. It’s still early and the Warriors under 20’s are playing Parramatta. The home side is giving their opponents a sound thrashing. But don’t let this stop you from giving a running commentary on the faults of your local side for the entire eighty minutes of play. After all, they are only leading by twenty points. Go on, show that strong moral fibre that you so clearly possess, by announcing in as loud and obnoxious manner as you are capable of, that these young players are dickheads whenever they do what you would never be capable of: making an error. But it’s okay, don’t worry, they are only trying their hardest. And you certainly appreciate that fact, don’t you.
Finally, the main game starts, the crowd is building up, but, despite this, please do your best to take up more than one seat, even though you don’t seem to have a particularly big frame. And as the Warriors are on attack, don’t mind leaning over the person seated next to you towards the end of the field your team is heading towards. They wouldn’t possibly mind. This is also an ideal occasion for you to spill your food or drink over them, as well. Don’t worry what they think of this though, as I’m sure they will be forever grateful to you offering them food. Wouldn’t want them to starve, now would you.
As the game twists and turns it ways through various scenarios, Big Manu Vatuvei charges for the try line. Please note that this is an extremely suitable time to stand up (even though you can see the action perfectly clearly sitting down) so that anyone beside you or behind you cannot see what is happening. Even better if you wave your flag around as well so as to obscure the view of others even more. Hey, they only paid $45 per ticket. Why the hell could they possible ever be expecting to see some of the game for that kind of money, I will never know.
The Warriors are doing a demolition job on the Parramatta Eels, but don’t let that stop you from abusing the referees. They are Australian and couldn’t possibly referee the match fairly. Never mind that your team may have a ten to five lead in the penalty count. You’re right, bloody cheats the lot of them.
And don’t just stop with the referees. After all, there are twenty-six players on the field as well that deserve nothing better than to be called c---suckers(it actually happened last Sunday). What’s more, take no notice of the fact there are young children at the ground that have come along with the parents to enjoy the game. But then you are doing those children a favour by teaching them a second language, aren’t you. After all, everyone should be bi-lingual. How thoughtful of you.
With the Warriors having won, everyone, I’m sure, will be forever grateful that you were on your best behaviour and the rest of us no doubt are exceedingly happy that you have had a thoroughly enjoyable day out at the rugby league.

It is often said that the greatest commodity one can possess in rugby league is speed. But what about courage? Doesn’t harm, does it. Better still, if one was to unite the two; good things could come of it, surely.
Kevin Locke is one such person that possesses these qualities, of which he displayed at AMI stadium in Christchurch today. Having already scored two tries for his side in the first half against the Sydney Roosters and with the New Zealand Warriors trailing 18-14 with eighty seconds remaining in the match, he toed the ball ahead from halfway and scampered off after it. His speed was there for all to see as he outran his opponents. Not only that, he then displayed tremendous courage to dive on the ball and score the match equalling try. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Not so on this occasion as the ball was right next to the upright. To force the ball, he gave no thought to self preservation as he smashed into the right upright as he scored the sensational 79th minute try.
As he was taken from the field on a stretcher while receiving a rousing reception from 20721 delirious fans, all that was left now was for James Maloney to slot the conversion for a miraculous 20-18 win. Which, he duly did.
How the Warriors managed to conjure up the victory, most would still be trying to ascertain. They were on the back foot for the majority of the eighty minutes and looked to be struggling against a bigger Roosters forward pack. The Roosters were making headway up the middle of the park with relative ease, despite a determined effort from the Warriors, not to mention atrocious conditions that should have made ball handling a nightmare. But they managed it with aplomb.
In fact both sides gave a magnificent display of error free football which was a credit to them. You could even be forgiven for thinking the Roosters didn’t realise that it was wet, as they continually offloaded in the tackle. When they weren’t busy doing that, they would be putting in chip kicks or spreading the ball wide to try and outflank the Warriors defence. Which they managed to do on numerous occasions as the Warriors were playing with a tightly compressed defence.
With undesirable weather conditions, this was always going to be a tight affair. And Locke’s first try, which was dubious at best, was the decider. Having chased a last tackle kick through from Maloney, Locke was deemed to have forced the ball a just inside of the dead ball line. It was a contentious call from the video referee and in the end was the difference. Sydney City could rightly feel aggrieved with the decision.
For the Warriors though, it kept them in the match as the Roosters proceeded to take the lead with two tries, one in the 19th minute to Mitchell Pearce, followed not long after with the second in the 22nd minute to Todd Carney.
With a 12-4 lead and looking the more fluent of the two sides the Warriors had to hang on and hope to stay close enough to use the wind advantage in the second stanza. It was Locke, again, that achieved this when he dived over in the right corner in the 36th minute.
To be only four points down at half-time was a mighty effort, for they had had far less possession than the Roosters. Even with the wind behind them in the second half, things didn’t improve for the Warriors. It was the Roosters that were acquiring the right go forward to enhance their chances, not the Warriors.
And the Roosters capitalised on their territorial advantage with a try to centre Shaun Kenny-Dowell in the 64th minute. With the conversion from Carney, they had procured themselves a ten point lead. Having dominated the game thus far and with the awful conditions it seemed the Roosters were about to head off across the Tasman with two competition points safely tucked away.
Which just goes to show that you should never count your chickens before they hatch. This Manu Vatuvei would surely agree with, as he held designs on getting his team back into the contest. And in the 74th minute the Vatuvei and the Warriors came to life as he barged his way across the chalk to dot down in the left corner. This brought them to within six of the Roosters, so the conversion from the sideline was going to be crucial if the Warriors were going to pull off a win in the remaining three hundred seconds. It was never in doubt though, as Maloney nailed the kick from the sideline. It was a fine goal, that’s to be sure.
All that was left now was for Locke to produce his heroics. He may well have given himself a stay in a hospital ward for a night.
Not that he will be too perturbed as he has also kept the New Zealand Warriors right in the hunt for a top eight spot.

Be careful you All Whites.
If you keep this current run of form up you just may raise the expectations of a nation. As it is, there is already an inexhaustible safari of chest thumping nationalistic pride overwhelming the nation.
First you do what you patently were not meant to do in qualifying for the World Cup. Then when you arrive, you stare madness down and talk yourselves up by claiming you can gain points at a World Cup. The rest of the world sniggered, preferring to think a tad more rationally, believing you were there to make up the numbers.
What’s more, you had three quarters of New Zealand believing all this gibberish of accruing points. Hell, you lot even had the general populous believing you could escape pool play and progress to the second round.
Okay, so you got a draw against Slovakia and gained New Zealand’s first ever point at a world cup. You rejoiced, we rejoiced, even our neighbours across the ditch were giving New Zealand some credit. It was a stupendous effort. As a nation, we were all so proud of you. Our collective bosom was swelling to bursting point. If you didn’t gain another point, no one was going to hang you for it. Sure, we’d all be a bit disappointed. Like you would, I guess. But our heads would stay high with pride; there would be no sagging in morale.
We’re not a Soccer nation, so we would all accept that you would lose the remaining two matches in your pool. But, what’s that we hear you say after drawing with Slovakia, you think you can draw- even win- against Italy. We could all understand this coming from some of the more fanatical fans. After all, you had just given your Country one of its more memorable fist pumping moments. But, surely, it was just a case of a few delusional souls getting carried away?
So some of us thought so, anyway. Until, that is, you turn up on Sunday afternoon and faced off against the reigning champions, the all mighty Azzurri. A cake walk for Italy, surely. A walk in the park, that is, until the eighth minute when Shane Smeltz scored the first goal of the match. It wasn’t meant to happen like that you know. But then, it seems you lot don’t just talk the talk. You walk the walk, as well.
Although it was early on in the game, we were all hoping you could go on with the job and get New Zealand’s first ever win at a world cup. But, deep down no one really thought it was going to happen, did they? It was only a matter of time before Italy would crank up that mighty footballing machine of theirs and knock in a few effortless goals.
It didn’t happen though, well, accept for that one penalty goal they scored. We all claimed they had cheated ( they did), and you felt you should have won. But, let’s be fair, the goal Smeltz scored was from an offside play too. Admittedly you didn’t deliberately cheat, unlike the Italians who admire gravity way too much and give it far more credit than it deserves.
In the end, a 1-1 draw was a fair result. Again you did us, and more importantly, yourselves proud.
Now, I suppose you lot are going to claim you can go out and beat Paraguay on Thursday. Thus, gaining entrance into the second round. Gee, you probably will even claim that you can qualify top of your group which would give you a second round match-up against either Japan or Denmark. Much better than playing Holland, that's for sure.
So go on, say it, you believe that you can do what no one thought you could do: advance to the second round. Because we are all starting to sense something truly special is about to happen.
Qualify top and I bet you will rate yourselves a massive chance in reaching the quarterfinals.
then...

If you were after a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, you could have done no better than a trip to Leichardt Oval to join 19428 others in watching the West Tigers and Canberra launch themselves through eighty minutes of pulsating and thoroughly entertaining rugby league.
It may not have been error free football from either side, but, regardless, they both provided a plethora of line breaks, as well a steady supply of big hits.
It was end to end fare from both sides from the beginning, with neither being able to manoeuvre their way to a significant lead. Just as it looked like one side would gain an advantage, the last pass of a movement would go to ground. Not great for the coaches blood pressure, but, still, entertainment plus.
It was a titanic struggle and it wasn’t until the 75th minute that the Tigers were able to gain the ascendency and head off into the sunset with an 18-8 victory. In fact, until then, the only time they looked in control of the match was in the opening fifteen minutes.
It was not a particuly auspicious start for Canberra as they kicked the ball out on the full from the opening whistle. From the ensuing penalty, the Tigers pounced as they put winger Beau Ryan over in the right side corner. With a superb sideline conversion from Benji Marshall, the Tigers had made a splendid start in their mission to secure third spot on the NRL ladder.
Despite not being able to add to their tally over the next fifteen minutes, it looked like they were about to put Canberra to the sword as they totally dominated possession and field position. Having completed thirteen of their first fourteen sets, they were looking formidable. But Canberra hung in and slowly the momentum started to swing Canberra’s way.
Once Canberra did start to get some possession of their own, it didn’t take long for them to use it efficiently. For in the 23rd minute Joel Monaghan went over in their left corner as Canberra sent their attack down the Tigers right side defence. In what was a mighty effort from centre Jarrad Croker, he managed to get a pass away- despite the hostile intentions of three would be tacklers- to an auxiliary unit in the form of Joel Monaghan to score. With the conversion the scores were levelled up and it was game on.
But neither side could get on top of the other because of a constant stream of errors. The Tigers on numerous occasions were able to create space down their opposition’s right side causing significant lesions to the Canberra defence. Somehow, though, each time Canberra was able to plaster over the trouble spots and force the Tigers into a mistake on the last pass.
It wasn’t until the 62nd minute when the scoreboard was again troubled. With the stalemate that was struggling to be broken, it came as no surprise that the next scoring opportunity came from a penalty. And it was Canberra who benefitted with a valuable two points to go 8-6 ahead.
They looked like they were heading for an upset win too, as the Tigers couldn’t find a way through a determined Canberra outfit. Until the 75th minute, that is. Once again it was Beau Ryan, who with little room to move, put in a grubber kick and regathered to score in the right corner. Marshall once again had his kicking boots on to give his side a four point margin.
If Canberra had notions of snatching a last minute win, they were soon dispersed as Daniel Fitzhenry provided the coup de grace for his side as he wended his way from a scrum through a thin line of defence and forged forth with great haste on a sixty metre diagonal dash to touchdown under the crossbar and gain the Tigers a ten point win.
While this wasn’t the perfect display of football from either side, the Tigers have shown that they can win tight matches. In reality they struggled from the 20th through until the 70th minutes. And yet they still found a way to win.
Must be why they are third on the points table.

A house divided against itself cannot stand- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)