The Canta Goes Wild: Issue 8
All Black Damian McKenzie against Argentina earlier this year. Photo: gaspafotos/Photosport.
Alex Pledger hangs it up
After a stellar fourteen year career, kiwi big Alex Pledger has announced his retirement from basketball. The 7’0” fan favourite spent the entirety of his professional career close to home, splitting time between the Australian NBL and the New Zealand NBL, ultimately combining for a total of six championships between the two leagues.
In March of 2021, Pledger’s career was put on hold when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Finally cancer-free, Pledger returned to the Southland Sharks this NZNBL season for one last inspiring hoorah. With the kiwi season nearing conclusion, the Sharks organisation hosted a jersey retirement for Pledger, celebrating his contributions to Invercargill basketball and putting his #35 in the rafters.
Damian McKenzie earns #10 and shows out
Ahead of New Zealand’s debut at the 2023 Rugby Championship, coach Ian Foster announced that Damian McKenzie would suit up in #10 ahead of Richie Mo'unga, spurring much discussion. The fullback has been on a hot run as of recently with Tokyo Sungoliath and the Chiefs, the latter of which he has led to the top of the Super Rugby standings at 13-1. Foster seems confident in McKenzie’s current momentum, saying that “he's just playing really well… [we're] so impressed with the way that he's come back.”
The All Blacks’ first game of the championship against Argentina marked McKenzie’s first taste at this level since 2021. McKenzie proved to live up to his selection, with his speed proving to be troublesome for the opposition in a dominant 41-12 win over the Pumas. The playmaking standout is off to a strong start towards putting himself in consideration for the Rugby World Cup, which takes place this September in France.
The All Blacks also recently beat South Africa’s Springboks 35-20 to retain the Freedom Cup.
FIFA Women's World Cup will feature Tino Rangatiratanga
FIFA has approved a request for indigenous flags to be used at the upcoming Women’s World Cup, meaning that Tino Rangatiratanga, the Māori flag, will grace all 29 New Zealand matches. For the Australian hosted games, both the Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flags will also be on display. This change sprouts from a recommendation by the First Nations and Māori cultural advisory panel. On this development, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that “these significant flags express a spirit of mutual respect, national identity, and recognition of Indigenous cultures for our hosts.”
The tournament officially begins on July 20th, where Norway will face our Football Ferns at Eden Park.
Silver Ferns take on new look
The Silver Ferns will be donning an incredible new dress design at the Netball World Cup, created by Te Tairāwhiti tā moko artists Henare Brooking and Maia Gibbs. Recognising the storied history of the Silver Ferns, the duo wanted to reference the heritage and legacy of the team. This came to fruition in their final design that they named Manawarau. Gibbs explained that “Manawarau talks about a beating heartbeat, a singular beating heartbeat that acknowledges players that have come before, that have worn the dress before, that have gone on to do amazing things for NZ netball and bringing it forward to now.”
Five pātiki are placed on the spine of the dress, one for each World Cup the team has won. A red tāniko weaving pattern, Aramoana, also runs around the skirt, symbolising the players’ connection to whānau and culture. There is also a nod to Māui in the form of a lizard on the dress. Brooking notes this is a reference to Māui’s shapeshifting tales, further stating that “it’s about being able to adapt, problem solve and be elusive under pressure.”
Being the reigning champs, the Silver Ferns will be looking to defend their title at the upcoming Netball World Cup which tips off on July 28th in South Africa.
Maia Gibbs (left) and Henare Brooking (right), the artists behind the Silver Ferns dress. Standing outside Toi Ake Māori Art Gallery in Gisborne.
Photo: Gisborne Herald.
NRL players give media the silent treatment
Rugby League media shouldn’t expect to hear from NRL players during any games soon as they will be turning down their game-day media commitments amid collective bargaining agreement (CBA) discussions being drawn out. The CBA is eight months overdue and has been in negotiation for twenty months in total. The active agreement between the NRL and the Players Association will last until the 31st of October, meaning there is now a fast approaching deadline.
The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) are prepared to maintain this media boycott for what could be months until a draft CBA is finished and several conditions are met. Returning player benefits and support payments to pre-pandemic levels are of utmost importance to the RLPA in these discussions. The players are also pushing for ownership of their data such as medical records, say in deciding whether to increase the length of the season, and full autonomy when it comes to managing funds for former players with long-term injuries.
