Season 25/26 General Discussion

RR

Half a Pint

RR

ballane

Most important fixture is Pubs of Lockhead whens that.

December 21st meets the 'Last Home game before Xmas' criteria but that might be the closest to Xmas ever? Maybe the new Fever Elite will need to consider the Dec 14th game?

I believe it was on the 22nd of December back in the 2012/13 season so 21st December this year wouldn't be unprecedented 

There is an ALW match on Dec 20th, so that might attract a few out of towners to see two games.

So 2 day event? 12 Pubs of Longo / 12 Pubs of Lochhead? 

Yeah I am considering getting back to Welly for Christmas a bit early so I can take advantage of going to these 2 games!

bun1

1st Derby - 8 Nov Home
2nd Derby - 6 Dec Away
3rd Derby - 21 Feb Home

Mentally preparing myself for these.

Our first 9 fixtures are very favorable with only Auckland the team I think will be in the top 4. And 6 of them being at home. 

sturtburt

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-fixtures-released-for-the-upcoming-season/

Looks like final home game on April 19th vs WSW is down in Christchurch, venue not confirmed though. Perhaps trying to get in as a test event prior to Super Round?

How do you know its Christchurch? Would be cool if it is. The draw just says TBC.
This is also the same weekend as the Supercars in Christchurch

Gooner 4 Life

sturtburt

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-fixtures-released-for-the-upcoming-season/

Looks like final home game on April 19th vs WSW is down in Christchurch, venue not confirmed though. Perhaps trying to get in as a test event prior to Super Round?

How do you know its Christchurch? Would be cool if it is. The draw just says TBC.
This is also the same weekend as the Supercars in Christchurch

The graphic the club have put out says Christchurch on that fixture

The Nix have also signed a 3 year deal (2 years to go) to take a game annually to Christchurch.

There is no other ChCh game listed prior 18th April.

The TBC will be is Te Kaha going to ready by 18th April, for a game (yes 'test event') before the big Super Rugby Round there over the following ANZAC Day weekend? 
Or does it have to be played in Addington - less exciting, smaller crowd

With luck Te Kaha is ready in time. That 18th April game could be the first event ever held there.

If so the Nix may host three 20K+ crowds in the regular home season. Two derbies and ChCh game. Alot will depend how the team is playing. No pressure on Chiefy from the bean counters!

RR

Couple Aussie double headers to consider for away trips

Sun Jan 18 SYD v WEL
Fri Jan 23 NEW v WEL

&

Sun Apr 5 - MVC v WEL
Sun Apr 12 - MCY v WEL

For any cricket fans the Nix play the VUC December 29th at AAMI Park.

That will be Day 4 at the MCG, for what shapes as being a potentially exciting Ashes Series. Though with Bazball, a number of England's test don't make it to Day 4!

Still some things about CHCH to be confirmed no way will we be allowed to be the first game there. It needs to be finshed early so the Crusaders  get to play there before the 18th

Half a Pint

RR

ballane

Most important fixture is Pubs of Lockhead whens that.

December 21st meets the 'Last Home game before Xmas' criteria but that might be the closest to Xmas ever? Maybe the new Fever Elite will need to consider the Dec 14th game?

I believe it was on the 22nd of December back in the 2012/13 season so 21st December this year wouldn't be unprecedented 

THink the problem will be that it's a sunday game at 3pm. Hard to see many pubs being open after the game being that close to Christmas. Someone will need to ringing around. 

ballane

Still some things about CHCH to be confirmed no way will we be allowed to be the first game there. It needs to be finshed early so the Crusaders  get to play there before the 18th

Well no, it's a Sports Stadium for Christchurch or the upper South Island, not a rugby ground. Don't think the Crusaders have put one cent into building it.

Like all multi purpose stadiums owned by a Council or some sort of local Trust - they want as many tenants and events as possible to pay the bills. I think Christchurch City Council is the owner or major stakeholders, and there maybe as many football loving councillors as rugby fans.

2026 Super Rugby Pacfic draw has been made. Crusaders play the Fijian Drura in ChCh 3rd April, and then have away games the next 2 weeks (Brisbane & then Perth 18th April) before the centralised Super Round at Te Kaha 24th-26th April.

Could the Fijian Drura be the first 'test event'? Maybe. But all the comms til now have been a mid April stadium completion date

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/media-files/2026-super-rugby-pacific-match-schedule/

coochiee

ballane

Still some things about CHCH to be confirmed no way will we be allowed to be the first game there. It needs to be finshed early so the Crusaders  get to play there before the 18th

Well no, it's a Sports Stadium for Christchurch or the upper South Island, not a rugby ground. Don't think the Crusaders have put one cent into building it.

Like all multi purpose stadiums owned by a Council or some sort of local Trust - they want as many tenants and events as possible to pay the bills. I think Christchurch City Council is the owner or major stakeholders, and there maybe as many football loving councillors as rugby fans.

2026 Super Rugby Pacfic draw has been made. Crusaders play in ChCh 4th April, and then have away games the next 2 weeks (in Perth 18th April) before the centralised Super Round at Te Kaha 24th-26th April.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/media-files/2026-super-rugby-pacific-match-schedule/

Sorry in this your wrong no way will a Christchurch stadium want a Wellington team of any sport being the first team to play there unles they were playing a home team. Can only imagine the stink if that happened. Plus i didnt just post it because i had just thought of it. 

Well I think you are wrong, so we have something in common. 

The Nix's 3 year Christchurch agreement is with Venues Ōtautahi, the Christchurch City Council owned venues, event, and asset management company.

I think Forsyth Barr's opening event was  a pre-season game between the Nix and Roar on 20th August 2011, with an attendance of over 15,000. Then hosting RWC 2011 games not long after. If that was true, Otago rugby folk seemed to cope ago, in a city dominated even more than ChCh by the rugby code.

coochiee

Well I think you are wrong, so we have something in common. 

The Nix's 3 year Christchurch agreement is with Venues Ōtautahi, the Christchurch City Council owned venues, event, and asset management company.

LMAO tried to give you a hint i got it from the horses mouth so to speak.

ballane

coochiee

Well I think you are wrong, so we have something in common. 

The Nix's 3 year Christchurch agreement is with Venues Ōtautahi, the Christchurch City Council owned venues, event, and asset management company.

LMAO tried to give you a hint i got it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Ahhh. Via DD?  
Bugger that's a bit sad if true. Still if it's venue 'TBC' nothing can be set in stone as yet.

The good folk of Dunedin 2011, just more forward thinking than ChCh's rugby insular stadium power brokers of 2025?

Think you dont understand the rivalry between Christchurch and Wellington was very much a thing when i was younger. Having friends from CHCH it still seems to be a thing with some.
Think Auckland vs the rest of NZ and Sydney vs Melbourne.

Maybe. 

But if what you saying is true, ie no chance Nix can play that WSW game at Te Kaha and have to play it at Addington - I'd say it's more a case of the Crusaders have put big pressure on some within Christchurch City Council (CCC) that the first sport to play at the flash new ground must be rugby. More an anti football thing??

I see the ChCh mayor Phil Mauger is a motor racing fan. Maybe he doesn't want the Super Cars event to potentially be overshadowed by a big opening event at the new Te Kaha ground 18th April. Rather wait a week?

I just would like to watch us again, without me having to fly for it. 
I could not care less if that is the opening act at Te Kaha or not.

ballane

Think you dont understand the rivalry between Christchurch and Wellington was very much a thing when i was younger. Having friends from CHCH it still seems to be a thing with some.
Think Auckland vs the rest of NZ and Sydney vs Melbourne.

Canterbury vs Auckland is a far bigger rivalry than Welly. Can't see the locals caring too much about a Nix game there, especially not the local football fan populace.

YoungHeartHM

Six of our first nine games at home, and Perth, Brisbane + Central Coast in the opening three weeks before the first derby at home.

Pretty good draw tbh. But would perhaps like to see the derbies spread out over the course of the season. 

Maybe thats too much to ask? Having two before Christmas just feels, well it just feels a bit stupid in all honesty.

Win those f-rs and the crowds after Christmas might be a bit happier! Would set up the February game beautifully. Also Krusty is going to come, Krusty…

Monto

ballane

Think you dont understand the rivalry between Christchurch and Wellington was very much a thing when i was younger. Having friends from CHCH it still seems to be a thing with some.
Think Auckland vs the rest of NZ and Sydney vs Melbourne.

Canterbury vs Auckland is a far bigger rivalry than Welly. Can't see the locals caring too much about a Nix game there, especially not the local football fan populace.

Maybe know wasnt always the case.

ballane

Monto

ballane

Think you dont understand the rivalry between Christchurch and Wellington was very much a thing when i was younger. Having friends from CHCH it still seems to be a thing with some.
Think Auckland vs the rest of NZ and Sydney vs Melbourne.

Canterbury vs Auckland is a far bigger rivalry than Welly. Can't see the locals caring too much about a Nix game there, especially not the local football fan populace.

Maybe know wasnt always the case.

Certainly has been in domestic rugby.

Birthday Derby day for me, happy days! Hopefully we’ve clicked by then and can make a positive spectacle of it. Certainly a good draw overall.

Everybody v Auckland cos they don’t give a f- about anyone else. Canterbury v everyone cos they do and wanna beat you.

Only five weeks before they are off to Perth to kick off the new.
I assume they gave been playing local clubs as part of their buildup but cant see anything on Nix site.
Are there also preseason games planned against other AL clubs....

austin111

Only five weeks before they are off to Perth to kick off the new.
I assume they gave been playing local clubs as part of their buildup but cant see anything on Nix site.
Are there also preseason games planned against other AL clubs....

 They haven't been playing local clubs as yet, their first is v Olympic next Saturday.

RR

Couple Aussie double headers to consider for away trips

Sun Jan 18 SYD v WEL
Fri Jan 23 NEW v WEL

&

Sun Apr 5 - MVC v WEL
Sun Apr 12 - MCY v WEL

Another one is

Sat Jan 17 - CBR v WEL (ALW)
Sun Jan 18 - SYD v WEL (ALM)

Sydney game is at 7pm so could do a roadie from Canberra that morning. Also I met a couple of Canberra-based Nix fans when I was over there who attend all the games, so there'll be at least a small local presence to join.

Not great timing for the u20 World Cup. The first team is gonna lose 6 players from in and around the first team for the last couple weeks of the pre-season. Chief might struggle to put a senior XI out for any games.

9 Nix players named, and I think only Gillion and Watson ain't part of the first team squad. Jayden Smith, Loke, LKH, Walker, GSR, LBS and Supyk the others.

But no one wants to hear Chiefy say pre season was affected by U20 WC etc etc etc. He's had plenty of notice that this disruption was coming.

Will still be plenty of Weenix youngsters left in NZ, that played that impressive 2nd half against Wrexham.


Adelaide have 4 players in the Aus U20s. VUC 3. SFC also 3.
Melb City will be missing Caputo & Bonetig.

Won 4-2 in a pre-season friendly against Mirimar Rangers today.

Any details on the Miramar game...who started, scored.?
According to Andrew Veorman this will be their first hit out against a local side. Is that correct?
So we havent played since losing to the Bergers? Isnt that a bit odd considering most of our new arrivals didnt or barely played in the Oz cup. We have four weekends before Perth and will lose 9 players to U20s for prob two of those.  So we have the whole squad together for two more weeks. Is this ideal preparation?

Huh, I thought the game against Olympic next weekend was supposed to be our first hit-out against a local side.

Anyway, yeah it would be good to know who started, scored our goals etc.

austin111

Any details on the Miramar game...who started, scored.?
According to Andrew Veorman this will be their first hit out against a local side. Is that correct?
So we havent played since losing to the Bergers? Isnt that a bit odd considering most of our new arrivals didnt or barely played in the Oz cup. We have four weekends before Perth and will lose 9 players to U20s for prob two of those.  So we have the whole squad together for two more weeks. Is this ideal preparation?

My friend played in the game and said Rufer scored but couldn't remember the others. Retre played RCB and was bad, Nagasawa played one of the wide 10's and was class, Eze didn't look good and the Chiefy was yelling at him the whole game. 

Ah well, there's always next season

wilbaker

austin111

Any details on the Miramar game...who started, scored.?
According to Andrew Veorman this will be their first hit out against a local side. Is that correct?
So we havent played since losing to the Bergers? Isnt that a bit odd considering most of our new arrivals didnt or barely played in the Oz cup. We have four weekends before Perth and will lose 9 players to U20s for prob two of those.  So we have the whole squad together for two more weeks. Is this ideal preparation?

My friend played in the game and said Rufer scored but couldn't remember the others. Retre played RCB and was bad, Nagasawa played one of the wide 10's and was class, Eze didn't look good and the Chiefy was yelling at him the whole game. 

Jeezus, there's a bit to unpack in that post... 😮‍💨

To be fair to Eze thats probably his first start for 6 months but he has being training here for 5 weeks??
Chiefy has a month to get him in shape. 
They took a big punt on this guy. It will be a very long season if he doesnt fire up
Hopefully hes got a football IQ and is not just a big fast guy with a strong left foot.

Woohoo Rufer for golden boot!

Wouldnt be the first time Nix fans have been quick to judge a player as no good only to have that  player win the fans over once settled and a few games under their belt.
So im happy to wait till the season proper is a few games in before being judgmental about a player or the team. 

ballane

Wouldnt be the first time Nix fans have been quick to judge a player as no good only to have that  player win the fans over once settled and a few games under their belt.
So im happy to wait till the season proper is a few games in before being judgmental about a player or the team. 

My questions revolve more around Retre being played as a CB, given he barely even played as a midfielder last season. 😅

YoungHeartHM

ballane

Wouldnt be the first time Nix fans have been quick to judge a player as no good only to have that  player win the fans over once settled and a few games under their belt.
So im happy to wait till the season proper is a few games in before being judgmental about a player or the team. 

My questions revolve more around Retre being played as a CB, given he barely even played as a midfielder last season. 😅

Admittedly Nunawading City wasn't a high level but Retre brought the ball out from the back & helped launch our attacks in the second half in that match. Maybe that is what the thinking is behind this. When Piper is back fit, maybe he can slot in and be that ball playing CB that Chief envisioned when he was sign last season.

YoungHeartHM

ballane

Wouldnt be the first time Nix fans have been quick to judge a player as no good only to have that  player win the fans over once settled and a few games under their belt.
So im happy to wait till the season proper is a few games in before being judgmental about a player or the team. 

My questions revolve more around Retre being played as a CB, given he barely even played as a midfielder last season. 😅

Maybe Manjrekar not ready plus Piper and Smith injured? Still leaves Hughes, Sheridan and LKH though