The Roar - A Southland sporting podcast

Southern Steel netball co-captain Kimiora Poi joins The Roar to look at her tough decision to trek south this season after a seven year stint with the Tactix, the secret to turning around the Steel's fortune over the second half of the season and how teams are managing the two-point shot, introduced to the League this season.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick look at the headlines from the last week of Southland sport including another Steel's loss, another Sharks win, Cormac Buchanan's top ten finish in the Moto3 GP in Spain and a fascinating three weeks ahead...

Bruce Ross' lifetime of service to the sport of cycling was recognised over King's Birthday weekend with the King's Service Medal. We take the chance to reflect of his time at the helm of the country's longest running and most prestigious cycle race, the Tour of Southland along with some great stories from the racing and the bike riders he has witnessed.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick look back at a great occassion (if not result) for the Southern Steel, a vital win for the Southland Sharks and the strong showing from Southland schools in the Southern...

Plenty to get into this week on The Roar with two guest visitors. We chat with Southern Steel coach Wendy Frew ahead of her side's Invercargill debut this weekend to talk through a heart-breaking loss to the Mystics in Dunedin and just how she has navigated an injury plagued start to the season.

Then, softball administrator Rex Capil talks us through his journey to being named Oceania President of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation, together with his election as one of two Continental representatives to the World body. Plus we look at his day job as Group...

This week's guest has gone from an upbringing on Stewart Island and at Southland Boys High School to being potentially the most influential man in New Zealand rugby. Rob Nichol has been the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Rugby Players Association since its inception and we trace his journey from his formative years in the south to today and find out where he is finding the time to resurrect the Godzone adventure race.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick look at the big Southland sporting stories of the week including the Sharks' win over the Nuggets, Rugby Southland...

This week we welcome World Rugby Sevens Referee and Citing Commissioner Manager Paddy O'Brien. We talk through his 13 year stint on the World Sevens Circuit, becoming one of the world's first professional rugby referees, some incredible stories from his time in the police during the 1981 Springbok Tour and his incredible community work with ILT and Hawthorndale Care Village.

Before that, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big sporting stories of the week including Corbin Strong coming within centimetres of a maiden Grand Tour stage victory in the Giro, Kate Heffernan adding to the Southern Steel's injury woes and...

After a few weeks' break The Roar is back with a reset episode. Logan, Nathan & Nick sit down to cover off a long list of Southland sporting stories including the start of the Steel netball season, the Sharks climb up the National Basketball League ladder, Highlanders, club rugby and more.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more...

Highlanders' Under-20 assistant coach Marty McKenzie joins The Roar to chat through their U20 Tournament campaign, stand-out performances from young Southlanders, Rugby Southland's player development pathway and his golfing battle with host Nathan Burdon.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick talk through the big Southland sporting stories of the week including Jacob Duffy's incredible rise to the top of the ICC T20 bowling rankings and Cormac Buchanan's top 10 placing at The Curcuit of the Americas.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
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The hype surrounding the appoint of Wendy Frew as Southern Steel coach went next level when her former Sting and Steel mid-court partner Liana Leota was announced as assistant coach.

Liana joins The Roar to talk about the very special reason she returned from the UK to join the Steel, how she and Wendy are instilling so much of the team's history in their pre-season preparations and on what has led to England's emergence as a true netball superpower over the last decade.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big Southland sporting stories of...

Rugby Southland Chief Executive Hua Tamariki joins The Roar to give us a very interesting State of the Union, the absolute blinder Stags HQ have pulled in earning a second consecutive Stag Day at Rugby Park in 2025 and the incredible work going on to develop the player depth and pathways in the south.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big Southland sporting stories of the past week.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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Southland Shark basketballer Josiah Allick joins The Roar to talk through the frightening lengths he is going to to find the best value groceries in the south, his first experience diving for paua and even a little bit of basketball, including how he is setting himself to be the hardest working player in the NBL.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big Southland sporting stories of the past week.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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Senior Content Lead for the New Zealand Olympic Team Laura Overton played a key role in bringing New Zealand's Olympic successes onto our social media and digital feeds with her incredible work alongside the athletes at last year's Paris Olympics.

While she was back in the south to document Ellyse Andrew's performances at the Track Cycling Nationals in Invercargill we chatted to her about how she ended up in the role and get a whole heap of great Olympic content from her (which makes sense).

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big Southland sporting...

Southern Volts and Southland cricketer Ben Lockrose joins The Roar to preview the Volt's only trip to Invercargill's Queen's Park, takes us through his career to date and gives us an insight into life as a professional cricketer.  

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big Southland sporting stories of the past week.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come ba...

The Coast to Coast is one of the country's iconic adventure races. At 15 years of age, Southland sporting prodigy Benson Boys teamed with Finn Mitchell to win the Open Tandem category at the 2025 event.

We will repeat this bit ... he's 15! We chat to Benson about the event including an incredible story about the kayak leg, what a legend his team mate Finn is and just what is next for this incredible sporting talent.

(PS: you can catch our chat with Finn Mitchell in Ep 34 of The Roar earlier in this feed)

Before then, Logan...

Southland Stags' winger Michael Manson joins The Roar to chat through whether a Jamie Joseph pre-season has lived up to its reputation. Spoiler alert: IT HAS!

We preview the Highlanders' pre-season Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders at Rugby Park on Waitangi Day and look at the impact the Super rugby environment has had on Michael's development.

Before then Logan, Nathan & Nick cover off the big sporting stories of the week.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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From the NBA to the Southland Sharks in New Zealand's National Basketball League. It's not a traditional coaching pathway, but it's the path new Sharks Head Coach Jonathan Yim has taken as he takes the reins of the southern club in 2025.

We chat about just how his appointment has come to pass, share some incredible stories from his years in the NBA and his plans to turn around the fortunes of the proud Sharks franchise after a couple of down seasons.

Before then the guys talk through the big local sports stories of the week and...

WE ARE BACK! As non-commital as we were about our return dates, there was just too much great sport over the holiday break and when you get the chance to chat with the person who probably had the biggest impact on the national sporting scene you take it!

Cricketer Jacob Duffy starred for the Black Caps in their T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka so we chat with the man himself on being part of the historic test series victory in India last year, his Man of the Series performance against Sri Lanka and his passionate support...

We bring the curtain down on the first year of The Roar with an incredible conversation. Finn Mtichell was 25% of the FEAR Youth Adventure Racing Team that has just returned from trekking through Ecuadorain jungle and mountains to finish sixth in the World Adventure Racing Championships.

It is a truly remarkable story of just what the human body is capable of if you have the mental toughness and resilience. Try and get your head around these numbers - 650 kilometres, 20,000 metres of elevation, four hours sleep over four days. Yeah we can't either! Finn's interview starts at the 40'30...

It's a loaded edition for our penultimate edition of The Roar for 2024 with two guests who havce had massive years. James McLeay became only the fifth New Zealander to ever make a World Under 20 1500m final in Peru this year, whilst also fitting in time to make the national team for the World Secondary Schools Cross Country championships in Kenya and in his spare time earn Dux honours at Southland Boys High School.

Brendon Leitch has turned a massive 2024 into a ride in the Bathurst 12 Hour in February and his big plans for the year ahead.

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Adopted Southlander and champion lawn bowler Aiden Takarua confirms his reidency with an appearance on The Roar to talk through his incredible year highlighted by his recent final appearance at the World Bowls Champion of Champion Singles in Auckland.

Before then Logan, Nathan and Nick cover off the big stories of the Southland sporting week.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and...

18 year old Cormac Buchanan made history a few weeks ago as the first New Zealander contracted to compete in the FIM Moto3 World Championship. Next year he will race 22 rounds across 18 countries after securing a ride with Boe Motorsports team.

We find out how it came about, what he's expecting and how he will prepare for the biggest season of his young career.

Before then Logan and Nick look at the big sport stories of the week, including the Academy Southland end of year awards, adopted Southlander Aiden Takarua bowling his way into a World Final...

Going to two World Junior Track Cycling Championships is a great feat. Medalling at both is something again. To do it second time after one of the most horrific mountain bike accidents you will hear is unbelievable. That's Caitlin Kelly's story. We are so appreciative she shared it with us this week on The Roar.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick go over the last week's local sporting headlines including Nathan's stories from Tour of Southland week, Cormac Buchanan becoming the first New Zealander to secure a seat for the Moto3 World Championship for next year and the...

Newly named Highlanders winger Michael Manson joins The Roar to discuss his naming in Jamie Joseph's Highlanders squad for 2025, just how much he is looking forward to Joseph's infamous preseason trainings and just how fast he could run the 100 in these days.

Before then Logan and Nick review the big sporting stories from the past couple of weeks including Josh Burnett's near perfect week to make it two SBS Bank Tours or Southland in three years.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.<...

On the eve of the 2024 SBS Bank Tour of Southland, Josh Burnett joins the Roar to remember his drought-breaking win two years ago, his securing of a professional contract for Europe for next year and the chances of making it two Tour wins in three years.

Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

You can't fault the Stags' script-writer. Southland farewelled their season with a record-breaking day at Bekhuis Park on Saturday as the Stags put 59 points on North Harbour.

Coach and Rugby Southland's Director of Rugby Matt Saunders joins us to look back at the finale and reflect on the 2024 season in a warts and all straight-up conversation on the good the bad and most importantly what happens now.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick look at that incredible result, award the third annual Golden Antlers (our Stags' end of season awards), Guy Molloy's decision not to return to...

When Josh Bekhuis runs out onto Rugby Park (or Bekhuis Park as it has been renamed) this weekend he will become the most capped Southland Stag player in history.

144 appearances is a new mark that will likely never been beaten, made all the more remarkable by his five year stink playing in France and Japan and over 100 Super rugby games.

Josh joins us to give us insights to his remarkable career, his remarkable longevity and just what the record means to him.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick review another Stags performance which promised...

Another Olympic medal was in Southland this week. Women's track cyclistNicole Shields brought her silver medal from the Women's Team Pursuit in Paris back to the south and also took time to share her incredible story with The Roar.

Her 2022 was spent on a couch suffering from Long Covid. 2023 was spent learning to function as a person again. The incredible resilience and courage she showed to get to the start line in Paris blew our minds. 

Before then Logan, Nathan and Nick take a look at a tough week for the Stags, Josh Bekhuis' incredible longevity a...

All of us can lay claim to be Stags' fans, but none of us go to the level that this week's guest does and has every year since 1999. Since then, Lindsay Beer has hardly missed a Stags' game, no matter where or when they are playing in New Zealand.

We chat through his love for the Stags, just what makes this team special and get some great yarns from his 25 years supporting the men in maroon.

Before then Logan, Nathan & Nick talk through the Stags hearty effort against Canterbury, five Southlanders picked for national age group...

rom Southland to Japan to the Highlanders to one of the NRL's gtlamour rugby league clubs.

It's not a well-worn path but Simon Jones has done just that. The Sydney Roosters' Head of Performance joins the boys to talk through that path, the learning curve he has been on and just how you keep bodies together over a brutal NRL season.

Before then the boys bathe in the glory of the Southland Stags' comeback victory over Northland, look at a brilliant age group win and incredible international performances by Corbin Stong and James McLeay.

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Kane Thompson is back in the south for a third stint with the Southland Stags, this time in the coaching box. How did it happen? What's the appeal of the south that has brought him back? And what is it about the Stags' Class of '24 that seems different from recent years?

Before then, Logan and Nick look at the Stags' frustrating and unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge, Southland Boys High School's Southern Schools title along with a busy week for the Southern Steel as their 2025 squad quickly takes shape.

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Eight years ago she was watching the Black Ferns win silver in Rio. Today Alena Saili joins us as a double Olympic gold medal winner, the first Southlander to do so.

She talks us through her Paris experience, what it means for her to do it as a Southlander and gives us a window into her path back from an injury which threatened to railroad her Olympic dream.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick look at the perfect Southland Stags' script in Saturday's Stag Day win over Otago, Southland Boys High School's semifinal school victory, a...

Catch up on the best bits from our chat with newly named Southern Steel netball coach Wendy Frew. She talks about the appointment process, what the Steel will look like under her stewardship and what makes now the right time for her to take the coaching reins.

Catch the full interview along with Southland Stags' co-coach James Wilson in Episode 20 of The Roar earlier in our feed.

The Roar is a weekly Southland sporting podcast hosted by Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon & Nick Jeffrey available at https://southlandtribune.substack.com/podcast or whever you listen to podcasts.<...

It's the most wonderful day of the year for Southland rugby fans, Stag Day and coach James Wilson gives his take on the day, its meaning and his development as a coach over his Stags' tenure.

Catch the full interview along with newly-named Southern Steel netball coach Wendy Frew in Episode 20 of The Roar earlier in our feed.

The Roar is a weekly Southland sporting podcast hosted by Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon & Nick Jeffrey available at https://southlandtribune.substack.com/podcast or whever you listen to podcasts.

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Two Southland players turned coaches join The Roar this week. Wendy Frew takes the reins as the newly named Southern Steel coach. We find out what the 2025 Steel will look like under Frew's tutelage and what made now the right time for her to put her name in the ring for a franchise she served so incredibly well over a 16-year playing career.

Then former Stag James Wilson gets us set for the greatest day on the Southland rugby calendar, Stag Day, previewing the Stag's NPC opener against Otago this weekend.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick...

The Paris Olympics are dominating the sporting headlines and there's noone better equipped to talk about what it takes to get maximum performance at the world's largest sporting event than Academy Southland's manager Jason McKenzie.

Not only has Jason been part of the NZ Olympic Team previously, but his Academy programme has provided the foundations for five Southland athletes to book their tickets to Paris - Alena Saili (who won her second gold after recording this), Tori Peeters, Corbin Strong, Tom Sexton & Nicole Shields.

Before then the fellas talk through their Olympic viewing, the Stags first...

Southern Steel netball coach Reinga Bloxham called time on her tenure with the team she has coached for the last 11 years, for an international opportunity with the Cardiff Dragons in the new UK Super League Netball 2.0.

She reflects on her time with Steel, why now was the time to move on and remembers one of the south's most incredible sporting stories, the Steel's "van crash" of 2017.

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick previews Southland's Olympians, Bloxham's emotional farewell game, the Stags' build-up to their first pre-season game against Otago and whether Southland needs to get serious...

As one season finishes another begins. The Stags launched their season this week, naming their squad for 2024 which includes a new captain. Sean Withy spoke with Logan about the role and his excitement at pulling on the Southland jersey.

Meanwhile the curtain has come down on an adventurous Southland Sharks' basketball season. Head Coach Guy Molloy also joins The Roar to review an adventurous year and how the team stuck together to salvage some pride over the back half of the year.

Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick chat through the big sporting stories of the past...

It is Galbraith Shield Final week. We preview the battle for Southland Club rugby supremacy with the two men who will lead their men into battle on Saturday, Pirates-Old Boys' Jakob Harrex and Star's Jordan Stewart.

It's the perfect primer for what should be a great finale to the club season with the defending champions lining up against the form side of the competition.

Before then Logan, Nathan & Nick review Lulu Sun's incredible run into the Wimbledon quarterfinals and the chances of a Te Anau visit at year's end, Jacob Duffy's NZ Cricket contract and the...

Southland Sharks big man Callum McRae joins The Roar this week, fresh from his triple double performance in the Sharks' road win in Nelson last weekend.

We chat through how the team has navigated a challenging season, what has made the difference over recent weeks and we get some exclusive news on what's next for him on the back of a stand out year.

Before that the boys review Nick's State of Origin experience, the Sharks' winning streak (yes, two games is a streak), preview the Galbraith Shield semifinals and Lulu Sun's incredible run into the...

From Otautau to the Kansas City Chiefs and two SuperBowl rings. It's not a well-worn path but that's the journey former Southland athletics star Atipa Mabonga has been on over the last few years.

Over the weekend she received her second ring at a glittering ceremony following the Chiefs dramatic overtime win in one of world sport's biggest occasions. We use that as the excuse to talk through her incredible story and get an idea what being part of the NFL's biggest stage is like and we do a deep dive into Taylor Swift, the Kelce brothers, Patrick...

We are back after our bye week. The Roar returns with another great yarn of a Southlander achieving great things on the world rugby stage. Winton lad Jason Price is Head of Athletic Performance for Toyota Verblitz in Japan.

How did he end up there? What does a Steve Hansen programme look like and how good is Pricey's Japanese?

Before then, Logan, Nathan and Nick chat through the award winners at last week's ILT Southland Sports Awards and discuss the announcement of a new Rugby Southland CEO and the non-announcement of a new Rugby Southland winger.<...