Latest news with #ShaunJohnson
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Identifying for Big Visions From Early Players
AIX co-founder & General Partner Shaun Johnson says his firm is looking for early-stage founders who see opportunities to change the world. Johnson explains how M&A fits into that vision on 'Bloomberg Tech.' (Source: Bloomberg)
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks - everything you need to know
Warriors half Luke Metcalf was one that got away from Cronulla. Photo: LIAM SWIGGS Warriors v Sharks Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 7 June Sharks Stadium Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Cronulla Sharks lead the all-time head-to-head rivalry against NZ Warriors 29-21, and that advantage balloons out to 17-8 at home and 14-7 at Sharks Stadium. The teams have faced each other home and away over the past six seasons, with the Sharks holding a 7-5 edge over that period. The Warriors actually won the last meeting between the two at the Shire 30-28, with winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scoring three tries - including the winner in the final minute - in Shaun Johnson's farewell appearance at the end of last season. They trailed 22-4 at halftime, but piled on four consecutive tries in the second half to make up the deficit. The Warriors' biggest win over the Sharks came in 2023, when Watene-Zelezniak had a try double in a 44-12 victory at Go Media Stadium. Their biggest defeat came in 2020, when Johnson scored a try and kicked 7/8 from the tee for Cronulla in their 46-10 win. After seeing their five-game winning streak ended by Canberra Raiders, the Warriors bounced back with another nervous victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs last week. Leading 30-12 after 54 minutes, they took their foot off the throat and conceded back-to-back tries, as Souths drew within six points. Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored the second of his pair to put his team clear again, but a try to Latrell Mitchell ensured the final few minutes were tense - as always. They are now 9-3 to start the season, sitting third on the NRL table, with the Sharks (7-5) four points behind in fifth. Cronulla are coming off a bye in Round 13 and were strangely outplayed 42-16 by an Origin-depleted Sydney Roosters outfit the previous week. The Sharks were at full strength, while the Roosters had five players on state duty. Before that they rode a three-game winning streak, and their record this season includes success against playoff contenders Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles. The Warriors (82 percent) and Sharks (81) sit one and two in the competition for set completion, while Sharks half Nico Hynes has provided the most linebreak assists (16). Wayde Egan now leads the NRL in tackles and dummy half runs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Warriors hooker Wayde Egan leads the league in dummy half runs (73) and most tackles (538), with Sharks opposite Blayke Brailey his closest rival in both categories. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Jackson Ford, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 23 Taine Tuaupiki, 20 Sam Healey After having a fully fit squad to choose from last week - the first time since 2023 - coach Andrew Webster has had to juggle his line-up again , with co-captain Mitch Barnett ruled out for the season with a ruptured ACL in his right knee and centre Rocco Berry hampered by a hamstring twinge. Webster has addressed Berry's absence by shifting versatile second-rower Kurt Capewell into the midfield, but also has specialist centre Ali Leiataua on an extended bench. Teenage sensation Leka Halasima and tireless front-rower Jackson Ford have been moved into the starting pack. Sharks: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 KL Iro, 5 Mawene Hiroti, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nico Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Oregon Kaufusi, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Cam McInnes Interchange: 14 Daniel Atkinson, 15 Jesse Colquhoun, 16 Siosifa Talakai, 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele Reserves: 18 Billy Burns, 21 Jayden Berrell Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua Blake to face his old team for the first time, since his early release to return across the Tasman. Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is suspended, so Hamilton-born Sione Katoa makes his comeback from shoulder reconstruction, while NZ-born players Mawene Hiroti, Oregon Kaufusi, Briton Nikora and Braden Hamlin-Uele are also named. In return, Cronulla get to watch their 'one that got away' - Dally M-leading Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf . On a side note, the game will be officiated by Peter Gough, the referee who allowed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's knockon against the Dolphins three weeks ago. Brace yourself for a clash of the titans between Addin Fonua-Blake and the man who replaced him at the Warriors - now sole captain James Fisher-Harris. Fonua-Blake is having another Dally M-type season, as he leads the competition in post-contact metres (976) by more than 100 metres. Former Warrior Addin Fonua-Blake is having another great season for the Sharks. Photo: Photosport Statistically, Fisher-Harris' campaign has been set back by a month on the sidelines injured, but he will be challenged to match his rival in the long-term absence of tag-team partner Barnett. Centre Kayal Iro is descended from rugby league royalty, son of Kiwis great Kevin 'The Beast' Iro and nephew of Warriors stalwart Tony Iro. Born in England, while his dad played out the final years of his career at St Helens, Kayal is another who slipped through the Warriors net, playing a season with their U20s, and has gone on to form a formidable Sharks centre pairing with Jesse Ramien. Iro has scored a try in each of his last eight games. "Mitch would have helped stop that, but it didn't matter who's in front of Addin, he's a good player, so everyone's got to bring their best this week and it's a great challenge for the whole squad." Warriors coach Andrew Webster on Barnett's absence against Fonua-Blake "These are the challenges you look forward to going up against each week. They've got an alpha in every team and you've got to match their energy every week." Former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, now with the Sharks Sorry Warriors fans, this feels like an ambush waiting to happen.
RNZ News
31-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs - everything you need to know
The Warriors and Rabbitohs meet for the 42nd time, with Souths holding the edge. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Warriors v Rabbitohs Kickoff 4pm, Sunday, 1 June Accor Stadium, Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Sport In 41 previous meetings, South Sydney have won 21 and the Warriors 20, so a win for the visitors would even up the head-to-head ledger. The record is 11-11 in Souths home fixtures and 4-3 to the Warriors at Accor Stadium. Halfback Shaun Johnson scored 18 points, including a try double, in a 34-4 Warriors landslide in Sydney last season, but the Rabbitohs won the previous eight meetings by an average of almost 20 points, scoring 37 a game. In 2006, the Warriors achieved their biggest-ever NRL win over Souths - a 66-0 romp that saw Lance Hohaia score a hattrick of tries, with Jerome Ropati and Brent Webb grabbing try doubles, and Tony Martin achieving a personal haul of 22 points. Here's a fun fact - the Warriors are 16-31 against teams guided by supercoach Wayne Bennett, who was at the helm of Brisbane Broncos for their 1995 NRL debut. After five straight wins carried them to 8-2 and second on the NRL table, the Warriors finally dropped a close one last week, letting an early 8-0 lead slip against Canberra Raiders . Over those five victories, they were outscored 60-33 in the second half and again conceded the final 40 minutes 8-2 against the 'Green Machine', so that's an area they need to address. The Warriors still lead the competition in set completion with 82 percent, but the Rabbitohs are just behind them on 81 percent. Second-rower Kurt Capewell leads the league by some margin in missed tackles (63), while hooker Wayde Egan has the most dummy-half runs (68). Wayde Egan leads the NRL in dummy-half runs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Souths have a 6-5 record, sitting sixth on the table, and won their last two outings against Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers, before last week's bye. Previously, they dropped four in a row. That result over the Broncos is their only success against teams currently in playoff positions - they are 1-4 against the top eight. They lead the league in missed tackles (422) and kicking metres (7767). The Rabbitohs have been ravaged by injury, losing captain Cameron Murray to an achilles tear in the pre-season, while veterans Cody Walker and Jack Wighton are still a week away from returning from calf niggles. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Rocco Berry, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Leka Halasima, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Jackson Ford Reserves: 18 Jacob Laban, 21 Tanah Boyd For the first time this season - or last - coach Andrew Webster has a full contingent of players to choose from. That will ultimately depend on whether co-captain Mitch Barnett is passed fit, backing up from State of Origin on Wednesday, but the return of James Fisher-Harris from suspension and Rocco Berry from injury has caused some big selection calls, with Berry replacing Ali Leiataua at centre and Fisher-Harris supplanting Bunty Afoa in the front row. Capewell's shift from the midfield sees young gun Leka Halasima slip back to the interchange for now. Rabbitohs: 1 Lattrell Mitchell, 2 Alex Johnston, 3 Isaiah Tass, 4 Campbell Graham, 5 Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 6 Jayden Sullivan, 7 Jamie Humphreys, 8 Jai Arrow, 9 Siliva Havili, 10 Keaon Koloamatangi, 11 Euan Aitken, 12 Tallis Duncan, 13 Lachlan Hubner Interchange: 14 Jye Gray, 15 Sean Keppie, 16 Davvy Moale, 17 Tevita Tatola Reserves: 18 Liam Le Blanc, 19 Fletcher Myers Just one change from Bennett after the bye week, with Sean Keppie included on the interchange for Liam Le Blanc. They'll keep a close eye on Latrell Mitchell and his recovery from the Origin opener. Souths have former Warriors Siliva Havili and Euan Aitken in a starting line-up. Former Warrior Euan Aitken is in the Souths line-up to face his old club. Photo: NRL Photos Love him or hate him, Latrell Mitchell is integral to the Rabbitohs' hopes of returning to the NRL Grand Final. He's played at centre, five-eighth and fullback this season, and has not only made the No.1 jersey his own, but also the captaincy. Notwithstanding his off-field and judicial problems, he's exactly the type of player Bennett gets the best out of. Kawakawa kid Bayleigh Bentley-Hape was not among Souths' contracted players in March, when he made his NRL debut on the wing against St George Illawarra Dragons. The former national touch rep had to wait another five weeks for his second game, when he scored his first try against Melbourne Storm, and has been in the line-up since. This will be his sixth appearance for the Rabbitohs. Warriors coach Andrew Webster: "They've been so consistent at not beating themselves. Wayne Bennett's teams don't beat themselves - high on completions, work hard and play the full 80." The Warriors haven't really overwhelmed anyone this season, but they're poised to find another level to their game, after stumbling last week. Could be a long night for the Rabbitohs. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase STUNS rugby league greats with try of the year contender
Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase lit up Allianz Stadium on Friday night with a moment of magic that has rugby league greats calling it the try of the year - and possibly the try of the decade. With just over 10 minutes left on the clock and the Roosters trailing the Bulldogs 18-14, the former Wallaby stunned fans and commentators alike with a miraculous solo effort that defied logic, balance and belief. Pinned against the sideline by Matt Burton, Nawaqanitawase launched a one-footed chip ahead while hopping along the line, somehow staying in play. He then accelerated, swerved around two defenders, and grounded the ball just millimetres inside the dead ball line. Fox League's Dan Ginnane exclaimed, 'Did he stay in the whole way?' while Greg Alexander was left speechless. 'Oh he can't. Oh my god. How did he do that? That is a miraculous try,' Alexander said. 'That finish is up there with one of the best individual finishes I have ever seen,' former New Zealand star Shaun Johnson said. 'It's actually more special each time you watch it.' Nawaqanitawase's effort gave the Roosters the lead in a pulsating match that delivered drama right to the final siren. 'I was obviously lucky with the bounce,' Nawaqanitawase said after the match. 'Lucky to get the try, but disappointed with the loss.' Earlier, he had also sparked the Roosters' opening try, collecting a loose ball from a Kikau knock-on before flicking it behind to Robert Toia. Toia fended off Marcelo Montoya and dove over to score, though the try was later overturned by the Bunker. That didn't slow the visitors' momentum, with Lindsay Collins crashing over to give the Roosters a 14-0 lead. Billy Slater commented: 'The way they've started this game, they are definitely on their way into the eight.' But the Bulldogs weren't done. Coach Cameron Ciraldo urged his players to 'forget the scoreboard' at half time - and they listened. Viliame Kikau powered through to score, followed by a Toby Sexton try off an Egan Butcher error. Connor Tracey earned a penalty off Victor Radley, and Bronson Xerri capitalised on a Nawaqanitawase knock-on to score. Then came Burton's moment. A grubber on the last, a chase through a scattered defence, and a match-winner that sealed the Bulldogs' 24-20 comeback win. Despite the result, Nawaqanitawase's try remained the highlight. Mat Thompson called it 'the try of the decade.' Andrew Johns simply said, 'No way. That was freakish.' Billy Slater added: 'What a play.' Fans flooded social media, stunned by what they had seen. 'Best try since Brett Mullins,' one wrote. 'Unreal. A dude that size with that much skill and awareness,' said another. Even Kikau paid tribute: 'Man, that try he scored there, I couldn't believe it. He's a freak of a player.' But Roosters coach Trent Robinson was measured, praising the brilliance but pointing out the five errors Nawaqanitawase made, including three dropped bombs. 'He is a really good catcher… but those hurt tonight,' Robinson said. 'I can understand Mark is hurting in there.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Metcalf sinks Dragons to put Warriors in NRL top two
The Warriors are off to their best start to a season in more than 20 years, going second on the ladder after Luke Metcalf kicked them to a 15-14 NRL win over St George Illawarra. After the Warriors let a 14-0 early, they looked set to be the fourth team to fall victim to a comeback in two days on Saturday night in Wollongong. But while the Dragons got the score back level with 28 minutes left, Metcalf proved the difference as the 26-year-old's breakthrough season continued. With 10 minutes to play, the half seemingly caught the Dragons unaware when he nailed a field goal from 25 metres out with no kick pressure to put the Warriors up. Valentine Holmes then had a shot to level it for the Dragons with five minutes to go from 30 metres out, but struck it poorly to the right of the posts. Holmes then had a chance to take another shot from long range, but instead ran the ball and grubber-kicked ahead but failed to regather. The Warriors' win came despite the Dragons scoring more tries, with Metcalf's kicking off the tee also proving the difference. Considered among the contenders for the wooden spoon before the season started, the Warriors are now clear in second spot ahead of Canberra. It marks the first time they have been in the NRL's top two in round 10 or later since 2002, while their 7-2 start is also the equal best in the club's history. And Metcalf has been behind much of that, leading the Warriors into life without retired halfback Shaun Johnson. The No.7 got the Warriors' first try on Saturday, dummying his way through Luciano Leilua and Lyhkan King-Togia to score after impressive lead up play from Erin Clark. After the Dragons bombed a try from a Clint Gutherson break on the previous set, the Warriors made them pay when Taine Tauapiki scored off a Metcalf kick. The half also had a role in the Warriors' next, when his cross-field kick was inch perfect and Taine Tuaupiki capitalised in the corner. Watch all the highlights as the Dragons take on the Warriors in Round 10!#NRLDragonsWarriors — NRL (@NRL) May 10, 2025 And while the Dragons mounted a comeback, it was the Warriors' game management under Metcalf that ultimately won out in the end. For the Dragons, it is a case of the same old story after three wins from their opening nine games. They did well to get back into the contest with a hot start to the second half, and looked like they had all the momentum when Corey Allan levelled the scores. But this is the third game this year the Dragons haven't got it right at the death, despite axing Lachlan Ilias and bringing in Lyhkan King-Togia at No.7 a fortnight ago. It also marked the second time this year they have lost a game after failing to put pressure on a field goal kicker, after their round-two loss to South Sydney.
