Which bandwagon should you join?

Sport Review #278

Warriors

Pros - The team is *this close* to being really amazing, all miracle passes and wicked kicks built on a really appealing culture led by a cool coach. What a story and reward for those who’ve stuck with them if they could finally get their shit together and go really really deep. Plus it looks like loads of fun out there at Mt Smart.

Cons - Mike Hosking. I desperately desperately hope this isn’t one of those seasons where dreams are built up only to shatter in a million pieces. Again.

Crusaders

Pros - Guys on horses with swords, endless trophies, your high school chat will be welcomed and encouraged, a legacy of high achieving players and coaches.

Cons - Timing is not great, check back next year.

Phoenix

Pros - They’re just a game away from the finals, are going to sell out the Cake Tin and could actually win this thing. Their fans have done more than most any other NZ team to create a cool culture among the supporters and deserve a trophy.

Cons - Auckland FC is coming. Losses in big games are part of sport (Hey, I’m a Spurs fan, lol!) but this one would really hurt, you need to prepare yourself for potential heartache to get involved.

Bunnings Warehouse

Pros - You can get everything you need here! You can bring the dog! They have sausages!

Cons - You always, always come home with packs of batteries, garden gloves and multiboxes you don’t need. Plus it’s three visits a day minimum as you enter a vicious cycle of buying the wrong thing, realising when you get home, awkwardly return for a credit, buy the wrong thing again, rinse, repeat.

The Blues

Pros - It’s a throwback to the 90’s, with the cool jersies and being at the top of the table! Rugby is back in Auckland baby!

Cons - People around in the 80’s and 90’s will never forget the pain they inflicted on the nation - you can’t just let that shit go. Crusaders of the north - it just feels off supporting them.

Tik Tok

Pros - There is some funny stuff and interesting on there, which you can find the same stuff in other places to be fair, even if the algorithm is a little creepy.

Cons - It make time disappear and rots your brain. Our PM is on there running an election campaign to be Mr Relatable Guy that is also A Human, No Question or something.

Thanks for reading - Richard

This week's best NZ sport content

An interview with an All Black that was always a bit outside the All Black mould - this chat with Ali Williams has all the juicy rugby stories as well as some solid parenting thoughts! [Between Two Beers]

We’ve been having the Auckland stadium debate 100% about sport, when we should be talking about concerts too says Chris Shulz, and he is right [Boiler Room]

Suzanne McFadden uncovers the backstory of a kiwi swimmer who went to the 1924 Paris Olympics where disaster struck, not allowing her to perform at her best [Locker Room]

Rather than simply kick a man when he’s down, Andrew Voerman did the numbers on Rob Penny’s numbers versus other super rugby coaches, and spoiler alert, they’re not flash [Stuff]

Jesse Mulligan chats with Tom Abercrombie, a massive achiever and good guy [RNZ]

Video nasty

Dave Angel, Eco Warrior.

Long read

We lost Steve Albini this last week, producer of Surfer Rosa, Dry, In Utero and loads more - here’s a landmark interview where he reassess his notorious big mouth from when he was young [Guardian]

Recommendation 

High County is a solid Aussie detective procedural full of mysterious artists and crusty low lifes living in a little town in the mountians with a whole lot of murders start happening at once, it’s on Three Now.