Mick On Monday: Aussies after Canterbury's biggest races
West Coast heads to Riccarton for his very special assignment on August 9, taking in the Koral Steeplechase a week earlier on his way through.
He looked on track
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14 hours ago
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NZ Warriors skipper Apii Nicholls grappling with NRLW captaincy conundrum
, Digital Sports Journalist As her NZ Warriors teammates acclimatise to the demands of NRLW, captain Apii Nicholls is locked into her own steep learning curve, trying to lead them through the minefield. The wāhine slipped to a 20-10 defeat to Gold Coast Titans last Saturday, with Nicholls lamenting that she couldn't find a way to inspire those around her in their time of need. "I think a few people talk about how I lead with my actions, but I felt in that game, I needed to lead with my voice," she reflected. "It was really challenging - there were moments when we felt the pressure and it was challenging for me to change that for our team." The Auckland club has re-entered the Aussie women's rugby league competition after a five-year absence, winning one of their first four games against opposition rosters stacked with experience. By contrast, less than half the Warriors 25-strong squad had played at this level before, and many are still adjusting to a switch from rugby union or sevens. Fullback Nicholls, 32, is the most seasoned league performer on show, with 23 NRLW games under her belt - only lock Laishon Albert-Jones (24) has more - along with 11 tests for the Kiwi Ferns. She is also the only foundation member of the women's programme - Warriors player No.2 in 2018 - to return for its rebirth. When new coach Ron Griffiths began considering his captaincy options, the choice was obvious, but Nicholls needed persuading. "Last year, when we signed her, my wife and I met her in Canberra, and I thought she could lead the team," he remembers. "She's the sort of player, the way she speaks, her humility, she leads by her actions… she could captain this team. "I didn't even mention leadership to her, but by the time I got back to Newcastle that night, I had a message saying she didn't want a leadership role with the club. "We've taken her right outside her comfort zone and she's going through growing pains." Nicholls has had to understand she is a work in progress. This is her first time as a skipper and, while that responsibility comes naturally to some, others have to work harder at it. "That's something I've been able to accept over these past few days and that's helped me move on from that last game," Nicholls conceded. "It's challenging and this week has been the most challenging for me, but I've been able to speak to a few people that have given me a lift that I can keep going. "I really wanted to turn things around, but we didn't in the end. Leaving that game, what mattered the most was staying connected as a team. "We reflect, we learn, we take ownership of our roles and keep building." Whether she realises it or not, Nicholls has made an impact on those around her. She exudes mana and, yes, she has provided a couple of highlight plays already this season, especially on defence. As Parramatta Eels counterpart Abbi Church broke from her own half and threatened to run the length of the park for a try, Nicholls' one-on-one tackle in midfield undoubtedly lifted the Warriors at a time when their first-ever win at Mt Smart still hung in the balance. Griffiths tells of another senior player becoming quite emotional, while discussing Nicholls' growth in such a short time. "That shows you she's well on her way to getting where she needs to be," he said. "Whatever Apii said on Sunday wouldn't have won or lost us that game. "She might have felt she needed to lead with her voice, and at certain times, she will need to say things to lift her players or get them on track, but I didn't feel that had a bearing on the outcome on Sunday. She still feels like she needs to put the team on her back at times - that's probably where she's at as a leader - but she doesn't need to. "She's always hard on herself and I get that, but when you watch good leaders, they self-reflect and think, 'Maybe I didn't get that right'. It can create some uncertainty at times, if you haven't had leadership roles before, so that's weighing on her mind." Self-awareness can be a burden, but as the campaign progresses and other players become more comfortable in their new surroundings, Nicholls will find the support she needs from her teammates. "I just want to make sure these girls have a good season, because it's their first time," she said. "As a leader, I want the best for each and every one of these players - that's the biggest focus for me. "I'm a huge believer that everything happens for a reason. We'll continue to build, we're always going to be learning and we can't always get things right, so we are where we are meant to be." Just like their captain.
NZ Herald
18 hours ago
- NZ Herald
New stars of jumps racing light up Riccarton as Nationals loom
Fannin got Jesko over the second last efficiently enough, then balanced him up and asked for a better jump at the last. He got it, pushed the turbo button and in three strides the 4250m race was over. Jesko showed the speed of a horse who was able to place in a 2200m flat race just eight days earlier and was simply too fast for Captains Run and West Coast. Those two were brave, but heart and stamina were no match for sheer leg speed on a day when Riccarton basked in sunshine rather than producing a winter bog. The question now for the army of punters in love with Jesko is how much harder the 5600m of next Saturday's Grand National Steeplechase will be? And whether Jesko's younger legs can still outsprint his rivals, especially if the weather changes and the track is deeper? Fannin, who trains Jesko with his wife Hazel, thinks the horse can handle the more daunting challenge, especially as Jesko can't be re-handicapped for Saturday's win. 'The way he got to the line today gives me confidence he can win again next week,' said Fannin. Jesko is now $1.50 with the TAB to win the National, pushing West Coast out to $4.20 as he attempts to win the race for the fourth straight year. Earlier in the programme, Dictation suggested he is the horse to beat in next Saturday's Grand National Hurdles when he bolted away with the Sydenham Hurdles. It was redemption for the Hastings jumper as he had led and was about to win the same race last year before dislodging his jockey at the last fence, allowing Berry The Cash to win. A week later Berry The Cash went on to win the Grand National for the second time with Dictation's co-trainer Paul Nelson opting to bypass the iconic race. That won't be the case this year. Dictation had already shown he has improved since last season when he won the Waikato Hurdles two starts ago and the ease of his victory yesterday will worry connections of his rivals next week. He was bold in front, relaxed after chancing two consecutive fences down the back straight and never really looked in danger of defeat. He and Berry The Cash now share $2.60 equal favouritism for the Grand National Hurdle. 'I think he will improve with that run too,' said Nelson. 'He missed a little bit of work after he banged a leg following that Te Rapa win [Waikato Hurdles] so this will bring him on.' Helping Dictation further is the fact he won't be re-handicapped for Saturday's race, which means he will still have a 7kg swing in the weights over Berry The Cash when they go an extra 1100m. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
McCarthy to ride champion
Trainer Mark Oulaghan has called on one of Australia's leading jumps jockeys to partner West Coast as the outstanding jumper heads south in pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive Grand National crown. West Coast has been partnered in each of his 11 steeplechase victories by Shaun Fannin, who will race against the son of Mettre En Jeu in Saturday's Koral Steeplechase (4250m) aboard his own horse, Jesko. With Fannin unavailable, Oulaghan has secured the services of Willie McCarthy, an Irish hoop based in Victoria. McCarthy is no stranger to high-pressure races, and winning them, having guided the likes of Stern Idol, Duke Of Bedford and Wil John to feature victories across the Tasman. — News Desk
