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    NZ Rugby Journalists

    Sports Talk
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    • Duluth
      Duluth last edited by Duluth

      I'm curious who the fern considers the best (least worst??) rugby journalist in NZ

      There's plenty of comments around about how shit some of these writers are but do any of them deserve some praise? Anybody that provides decent analysis?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • KiwiMurph
        KiwiMurph last edited by KiwiMurph

        My favourite 3 are

        • Liam Napier (he's now moved to the Herald which means I can pretty much avoid Stuff from now on which is great)

        • Nigel Yalden (he's more radio than journalist but i'll include him)

        • Patrick McKendry

        All 3 I find tend to provide fairly balanced insight, good anaylsis without too much cheerleading whilst also having pretty good inside oil.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Bovidae
          Bovidae last edited by

          Yeah those three aren't too bad but I avoid the Herald now with their new website - it's terrible.

          I enjoy Paul Cully's articles because he is neutral. I also don't mind Marc Hinton either.

          The current generation of rugby journalists pale in comparison to those from previous years.

          Duluth Tim 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • Duluth
            Duluth @Bovidae last edited by Duluth

            @Bovidae said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

            I enjoy Paul Cully's articles because he is neutral

            He contributes to the click bait bullshit. Here's his wifes article with his son being used as a prop. Yuck.

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/little-kids/88687150/rugby-wont-get-my-boys-until-it-changes

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • Rapido
              Rapido last edited by

              Toby Robson is no longer a journo. Works for the Hurricanes now.

              Which is a shame.

              jegga 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Tim
                Tim @Bovidae last edited by

                @Bovidae Isn't Cully a Chiefs supporter?

                Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Bovidae
                  Bovidae @Tim last edited by

                  @Tim I thought he is an Aussie who lives in NZ.

                  Napier is a Canes supporter, and often it shows

                  @Duluth I'm not reading his wife's articles. 😉

                  Duluth 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Duluth
                    Duluth @Bovidae last edited by

                    @Bovidae said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                    @Duluth I'm not reading his wife's articles. 😉

                    Another sexist Chiefs supporter..

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 10
                    • P
                      ploughboy last edited by

                      steve hepburn from the odt. makes the rugby journalists from the press seem sane

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • rotated
                        rotated last edited by

                        Seti Afoa posts usually posts press conferences unadulterated on youtube for most tests and squad announcements - this earns him #1 rank. Even the AB's own youtube can't manage this for some reason, very good insights buried in answers to seemingly banal questions.

                        Yalden is really good, unfortunately his insight and analysis is spread among his FB, radio sport hits and his live commentary (which face it, we rarely listen to).

                        Napier is the best of the press.

                        Gifford - when he does delve back into rugby - is usually the only other one that seems worth reading.

                        TJ writes a weekly article/blog for Supersport in South Africa which is outstanding providing it isn't Crusader related.

                        Milk Billy Tell Siam F 4 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 5
                        • taniwharugby
                          taniwharugby last edited by

                          Not sure if he still does them, but Marshall did some great analytical pieces (in the Herald I think they were)

                          Sumo can write some great pieces too, although the better ones are probably more emotive rugby centric than analytical.

                          rotated 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Milk
                            Milk @rotated last edited by Milk

                            @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                            Seti Afoa posts usually posts press conferences unadulterated on youtube for most tests and squad announcements - this earns him #1 rank. Even the AB's own youtube can't manage this for some reason, very good insights buried in answers to seemingly banal questions.

                            I subscribe to him too. He also seems to get some pretty good interviews for his channel.

                            antipodean 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • rotated
                              rotated @taniwharugby last edited by

                              @taniwharugby said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                              Not sure if he still does them, but Marshall did some great analytical pieces (in the Herald I think they were)

                              Sumo can write some great pieces too, although the better ones are probably more emotive rugby centric than analytical.

                              Along those lines John Drake RIP was probably the best NZ Herald ex-player columnist.

                              Fox was OK too but a little dry/generic.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • antipodean
                                antipodean @Milk last edited by

                                @Milk said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                Seti Afoa posts usually posts press conferences unadulterated on youtube for most tests and squad announcements - this earns him #1 rank. Even the AB's own youtube can't manage this for some reason, very good insights buried in answers to seemingly banal questions.

                                I subscribe to him too.

                                +1 Once I found someone who put up the entire press conference I was very pleased. Makes a nice difference from the selective editing media and PR people engage in.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Billy Tell
                                  Billy Tell @rotated last edited by

                                  @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                  Yalden is really good, unfortunately his insight and analysis is spread among his FB, radio sport hits and his live commentary (which face it, we rarely listen to).

                                  Napier is the best of the press.

                                  Gifford - when he does delve back into rugby - is usually the only other one that seems worth reading.

                                  A couple of blokes you probably haven't heard of, but who are seriously quality are Rattue & Reason.

                                  Being serious, Yalden, Robson, Napier are my favourites. Cully is also good, but he's not a Kiwi.

                                  I usually like Gifford, but he has been awful this series: a series of whinging articles, unsurprisingly picked up on by the international press (no Phil, the late charge on Barrett after the kick was not red-card worthy...).

                                  MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                  • Siam
                                    Siam @rotated last edited by Siam

                                    @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                    Seti Afoa posts usually posts press conferences unadulterated on youtube for most tests and squad announcements - this earns him #1 rank. Even the AB's own youtube can't manage this for some reason, very good insights buried in answers to seemingly banal questions.

                                    Yeah I strongly suggest watching the unadulterated press conferences as it'll save you hours of frustration reading those fluffed up reports in popular media. The tone of voice, the questions, the atmosphere are so much more informative and you don't have to read some hack's lurid interpretation of what these guys say

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                    • jegga
                                      jegga @Rapido last edited by

                                      @Rapido said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                      Toby Robson is no longer a journo. Works for the Hurricanes now.

                                      Which is a shame.

                                      It is a damn shame , it wasn't that long ago he hung up his boots either . His story about playing against Umaga when he was playing for the first time for Petone was bloody good.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • R
                                        Rugger Quizzes last edited by

                                        I was always a massive fan of Toby Robson.

                                        Must say though I've read a bit of what Gordon D'Arcy has written and I wish we had an ex player here who could write as well and as incisively as he can. Really breaks play down and pulls it apart.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Crucial
                                          Crucial last edited by

                                          There are two main problems with rugby writing in places like the Herald and Stuff.
                                          One is that the writers are expected as part of their day jobs to fill out the days content. Readers want to read things and they want to provide that but what happens is they seem to be expected to either fill the role (sometimes gleefully) of clickbaiter or just write basically nothing with the odd little new fact thrown in.
                                          Secondly they are rarely given scope to write at the length and depth that decent insight/analysis requires. The only times they are given that scope it is to write something 'investigative' like the head injury series of articles.
                                          What is starting to develop though (with a few false starts) are avenues for the same writers/journalists to have a crack at freelance content of a little more depth or of a different angle.
                                          I checkplaces like https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@sportsroom every few days and am usually surpirised to read quite good stuff from writers whose work I don't usually rate.
                                          Here is a good example by Steve Deane https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@rugby/2017/07/02/37013/benchmarking-sbws-act-of-thuggery
                                          and surprisingly another from Jim Kayes (even though he can be a dick) https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@rugby/2017/07/04/37325/captain-reads-biggest-test-is-upon-him
                                          I do think a lot of our rugby hacks are only hacking because that's their job requirement. Many have the capability to be much better given the right avenue.

                                          Billy Tell 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                          • ACT Crusader
                                            ACT Crusader last edited by

                                            Our very own... @His-Bobness @Smudge @Mullet Barnya

                                            Smudge 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                            • Billy Tell
                                              Billy Tell @Crucial last edited by

                                              @Crucial said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                              There are two main problems with rugby writing in places like the Herald and Stuff.
                                              One is that the writers are expected as part of their day jobs to fill out the days content. Readers want to read things and they want to provide that but what happens is they seem to be expected to either fill the role (sometimes gleefully) of clickbaiter or just write basically nothing with the odd little new fact thrown in.
                                              Secondly they are rarely given scope to write at the length and depth that decent insight/analysis requires. The only times they are given that scope it is to write something 'investigative' like the head injury series of articles.
                                              What is starting to develop though (with a few false starts) are avenues for the same writers/journalists to have a crack at freelance content of a little more depth or of a different angle.
                                              I checkplaces like https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@sportsroom every few days and am usually surpirised to read quite good stuff from writers whose work I don't usually rate.
                                              Here is a good example by Steve Deane https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@rugby/2017/07/02/37013/benchmarking-sbws-act-of-thuggery
                                              and surprisingly another from Jim Kayes (even though he can be a dick) https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@rugby/2017/07/04/37325/captain-reads-biggest-test-is-upon-him
                                              I do think a lot of our rugby hacks are only hacking because that's their job requirement. Many have the capability to be much better given the right avenue.

                                              The biggest problem with NZ journalists is they don't watch much NH rugby but consider themselves qualified to compare NZ players to their counterparts. It's ends up as cheerleading with no actual evidence base or analysis. Can't stand Wynne Gray he is among the worst.

                                              Salacious Crumb 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                              • Smudge
                                                Smudge @ACT Crusader last edited by

                                                @ACT-Crusader said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                Our very own... @His-Bobness @Smudge @Mullet Barnya

                                                I haven't written regular stories on rugby for a decade. But thanks for thinking of me. And also, I wasn't very good (not looking for pity - I was just a soft-hearted journo with limited analysis when it came to rugby).

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                • MN5
                                                  MN5 @Billy Tell last edited by

                                                  @Billy-Tell said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                  @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                  Yalden is really good, unfortunately his insight and analysis is spread among his FB, radio sport hits and his live commentary (which face it, we rarely listen to).

                                                  Napier is the best of the press.

                                                  Gifford - when he does delve back into rugby - is usually the only other one that seems worth reading.

                                                  A couple of blokes you probably haven't heard of, but who are seriously quality are Rattue & Reason.

                                                  Being serious, Yalden, Robson, Napier are my favourites. Cully is also good, but he's not a Kiwi.

                                                  I usually like Gifford, but he has been awful this series: a series of whinging articles, unsurprisingly picked up on by the international press (no Phil, the late charge on Barrett after the kick was not red-card worthy...).

                                                  Rattue and Reason. Bona fide geniuses the pair of them. Really surprised @taniwharugby didn't bring them up earlier. Brilliant fair analysis and not the least bit controversial or click baity which is rare in this day and age.

                                                  antipodean 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                  • antipodean
                                                    antipodean @MN5 last edited by

                                                    @MN5 The more subtle, the better sarcasm is.

                                                    taniwharugby MN5 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                                    • taniwharugby
                                                      taniwharugby @antipodean last edited by taniwharugby

                                                      @antipodean the problem with @MN5 's dad (Twattue) and his Uncle (Treason) is not so much they seem so bitter and twisted just cos, its they they often dont appear that they even watch the sports they are commenting on, or even like the sport.

                                                      SO often Twattue spouts his BS, and the opposite appears true...which is kinda whats happened to the Lions, cos I am pretty sure he wrote them off after test #1 (and half the games prior)

                                                      I expect both were the last kid picked in all the teams and both were in love with girls who wouldnt even look at them and went out with one of the 1st 15.

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • MN5
                                                        MN5 @antipodean last edited by

                                                        @antipodean said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                        @MN5 The more subtle, the better sarcasm is.

                                                        I was being serious

                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • Salacious Crumb
                                                          Salacious Crumb @Billy Tell last edited by Salacious Crumb

                                                          @Billy-Tell said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                          Can't stand Wynne Gray he is among the worst.

                                                          I could be mistaken but I think there was a time Gray used to care. Now it's countdown to pension-time and he's farting in a bag and mailing it in. There's no excuse for how weak and pathetic his slop has become. Rattue is a calculated wind-up clown, but at least he tries. Gregor Paul gets a pass simply because he's not as lousy as the other pair.

                                                          Smudge 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                          • Smudge
                                                            Smudge @Salacious Crumb last edited by

                                                            @Salacious-Crumb said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                            @Billy-Tell said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                            Can't stand Wynne Gray he is among the worst.

                                                            I could be mistaken but I think there was a time Gray used to care. Now it's countdown to pension-time and he's farting in a bag and mailing it in.

                                                            That's because he is actually (e-)mailing it in. He finished up full-time with the Herald last year. So the weekly/twice-weekly column is probably done between gardening stints and multiple cup of tea.

                                                            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11675484

                                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                            • F
                                                              Frye @rotated last edited by

                                                              @rotated said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                              Seti Afoa posts usually posts press conferences unadulterated on youtube for most tests and squad announcements - this earns him #1 rank. Even the AB's own youtube can't manage this for some reason, very good insights buried in answers to seemingly banal questions.

                                                              It's great but he needs to put a mic on the table. The sound is barely audible.

                                                              Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                              • Bovidae
                                                                Bovidae @Frye last edited by

                                                                @Frye Yes. In one of the press conferences you see him at the front and it looks like he uses a camera/phone on a tripod. The audio is very hit and miss.

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                • Damo
                                                                  Damo last edited by

                                                                  Here's an article from Stuff about the NZ teams dominance over the Aussies. So far so good. However there are a number of references to the "4 try bonus point" that the Aussie teams have managed to achieve. The 'journalists' don't appear to know that these 4 try bonus points don't exist anymore.

                                                                  https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/94776931/kiwis-25-aussies-0-winless-hopeless-australians-suffer-seasonlong-rugby-drought

                                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                  • Stargazer
                                                                    Stargazer last edited by

                                                                    Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards

                                                                    Sports News Reporting (Print and online)
                                                                    Liam Napier (NZME/NZ Herald)

                                                                    Sports Broadcasting (Radio)
                                                                    Peter Montgomery (NZME/Newstalk ZB/Radio Sport)

                                                                    Sports Reporting (Television)
                                                                    Michelle Pickles (TV3 Newshub)

                                                                    Multi-media Sports Reporting
                                                                    Martin Tasker and Peter Lester (Freelance)

                                                                    Sports Feature (Television)
                                                                    Matt Beale (Sky Sport)

                                                                    Sports Feature Writing
                                                                    Mark Reason (Fairfax)

                                                                    Sports Column/Opinion (All media)
                                                                    Dylan Cleaver (NZME/NZ Herald)

                                                                    Best Community sport/Recreational/Adventure reporting
                                                                    Dylan Cleaver (NZME/NZ Herald)

                                                                    New Zealand Herald DJ Cameron Young Journalist Award
                                                                    Ruth Dacey (Rotorua Daily Post)

                                                                    Best Provincial/Community Journalist
                                                                    Logan Savory (Southland Times)

                                                                    Sports Photography (Portfolio)
                                                                    John Cowpland (Alphapix)

                                                                    Community Sports/Recreational/Adventure Photography (Portfolio)
                                                                    Chris Symes (Media Images)

                                                                    NZSJA Award for Best Single Story
                                                                    Abby Wilson (TVNZ)

                                                                    NZSJA Award for Best Single Photograph
                                                                    Robyn Edie (Southland Times)

                                                                    Sir John Wells Sport New Zealand Journalism Scholarships
                                                                    Alex Chapman (NZME/Radio Sport) and Kirstie Stanway (Newshub)

                                                                    Sport NZ Lifetime Achievement Award
                                                                    Bryan Waddle (NZME/Radio Sport/Newstalk ZB)

                                                                    Sports Journalist of the Year
                                                                    Liam Napier (NZME/NZ Herald)

                                                                    Garry Frew Memorial Trophy
                                                                    Lindsay Kerr

                                                                    nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11950729

                                                                    taniwharugby 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                    • taniwharugby
                                                                      taniwharugby @Stargazer last edited by

                                                                      @stargazer loses all credibility with Mark Treason in there, or is this the one where they nominate themselves?

                                                                      Stargazer Smudge 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                      • Stargazer
                                                                        Stargazer @taniwharugby last edited by

                                                                        @taniwharugby Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, although I can agree with Liam Napier taking out the main prize.

                                                                        Milk 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                        • antipodean
                                                                          antipodean last edited by

                                                                          Clearly a shallow pond.

                                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                          • Milk
                                                                            Milk @Stargazer last edited by

                                                                            @stargazer said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                                            @taniwharugby Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, although I can agree with Liam Napier taking out the main prize.

                                                                            Yeah, he's been pumping out content this year.

                                                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                            • Smudge
                                                                              Smudge @taniwharugby last edited by Smudge

                                                                              @taniwharugby said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                                              @stargazer loses all credibility with Mark Treason in there, or is this the one where they nominate themselves?

                                                                              You also have to pay to enter, which puts off a lot of cheapskate journos (like myself) back in the day.

                                                                              Bittersweet win for Logan Savory who loses his job next week thanks to Fairfax cuts.

                                                                              taniwharugby Nepia 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                              • taniwharugby
                                                                                taniwharugby @Smudge last edited by taniwharugby

                                                                                @smudge you could start a givealittle page for the entry fee, we'll all chip in..but only if you go for whatever award Treason nominated himself for and tell us how we can make you win it!

                                                                                Yeah the old restructuring sucks! 😠

                                                                                Smudge 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                                • No Quarter
                                                                                  No Quarter last edited by

                                                                                  That's a lot of awards, looks like just about every Sports Journalist in NZ got one.

                                                                                  V 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                                  • Smudge
                                                                                    Smudge @taniwharugby last edited by

                                                                                    @taniwharugby said in NZ Rugby Journalists:

                                                                                    @smudge you could start a givealittle page for the entry fee, we'll all chip in..but only if you go for whatever award Treason nominated himself for and tell us how we can make you win it!

                                                                                    Yeah the old restructuring sucks! 😠

                                                                                    My contribution to journalism these days is a fortnightly column in an obscure publication. Probably read by up to and including 25 people.

                                                                                    Let's do it!

                                                                                    Hooroo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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