Latest news with #NewZealandWarriors
The Spinoff
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘Rugby league, you undefeated beautiful thing!': Vossy strikes commentary gold again
His voice is synonymous with rugby league, and Vossy delivered yet another pearler on Sunday night. Here are some of the Aussie commentator's very best from over the years. When heartbreak turned to last-minute triumph for the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday evening courtesy of a runaway try from Leka Halasima, there was no better voice to be narrating the drama than that of Fox Sports rugby league commentator Andrew Voss. Vossy, as he is affectionately known, has become an iconic commentator for many league fans around the world. From providing commentary on the first Rugby League video game released in 2003 to calling numerous World Cup finals, here's a round-up of some of Andrew Voss' finest calls. 'And now, the awakening of the gods from the New Zealand Māori.' The New Zealand Māori team first played against the Indigenous Dreamtime team on 26 October, 2008 as the curtain raiser to the first match of the 2008 World Cup. As the Māori side begin their haka, Voss quietly primes the uninitiated viewers on what is taking place. For Māori and Indigenous Australians, the pregame challenge between the two sides has now become a highlight of the annual contest. 'He's kicked it as hard as he possibly could and the bloke tucking into a Krispy Kreme donut up in row 28 just copped it in the head.' It was round 11 of the 2014 NRL season and the Wests Tigers were losing 8-0 to the North Queensland Cowboys. With only two minutes left on the clock, Vossy placed a classic commentator's curse on Tigers winger Pat Richards, talking about him needing to pull out 'one of his special kicks' before Richards went on to kick it into the stands on the full. While the ball didn't hit a bloke tucking into a Krispy Kreme, it sure was a memorable Andrew Voss moment. 'Straight down the hey diddle diddle.' I might be just too young to remember but apparently saying 'straight down the hey diddle diddle' was once quite a common thing in rugby league commentary. Thankfully, it wasn't still this way when I was watching the footy as a youth, as 'diddle' had a completely different meaning for me. Anyway, Andrew Voss – the league nut that he is – was clearly fond of the saying, which was a pretty apt description of the superb play that resulted in a go-ahead try for the Rabbitohs in their 2019 round 25 match against the Sydney Roosters. Vossy has also used the saying in its more common context, which is for saying a kick has gone through the middle of the posts. 'He's a rugby league gazelle.' Sometimes, fiction becomes reality. This line was a famous Vossy quote from the very first Rugby League video game released in 2003. However, Voss found reason to quote himself in this 2020 contest between Manly and the Storm. Long-time fans were delighted. 'I'm struggling to find adequate superlatives to describe this performance.' While it's a quote from the Rugby League video game, this pearler of a line is synonymous with Andrew Voss. It captures the kind of language viewers have become so accustomed to Vossy using on the regular during his commentary. Most likely one of his most-quoted quotes. 'If it's a try, you can hire me a gorilla mask and I'll wear it for the rest of the match.' What I admire about Vossy is his willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve. While many commentators may be too timid to openly speak their minds on certain calls or plays, Voss is quick to let viewers know what he thinks. In fact, he was so confident that this potential try would be disallowed by the bunker in a 2014 round 4 match between Wests and the Warriors that he declared he would wear a gorilla mask if he was wrong. He wasn't. 'The fireworks that they all expected – well, they've erupted. The ball shooters, the roman candles, and whatever fireworks you can think of, they've erupted here.' Tensions were high in this 2006 international test between the Kiwis and Kangaroos. Steve Matai stopped a try in the corner and Kangaroos winger Matt King took a disliking to the shove from Matai – resulting in a brawl between the two sides. Vossy took the chance to liken the scrap to an explosion of very specific fireworks and the moment remains a great piece of NRL commentary to this day. 'And Mason gets the shoulder from Kidwell, who gives him the rounds of the kitchen after it.' In the same test as above, Kangaroos legend Willie Mason was shown on the live broadcast mouthing 'fuck off' at the Kiwis haka. He went on to claim that he was directing his insults towards Brent Webb, who is an Australian-born Torres Strait Islander. Regardless of the reason, Auckland-born Mason was on the receiving end of one of the greatest hits in rugby league history from David Kidwell, who proceeded to let Mason know what he thought of him after the fact – which Vossy described as giving him ' the rounds of the kitchen '. It is a moment burnt in the memory of many rugby league players of my generation. 'Three letters, four points – it's a try!' Another classic Vossy one-liner from the Rugby League video game. While the game was full of memorable phrases from Voss, this is one I still find myself quoting today. Other iconic quotes from Voss in the game include: 'He'll be counting his ribs after that one', 'they had the voodoo dolls out for that one, and it's worked!' and 'he's no stranger to stitches, but they may have to get the staple gun out for that one'. View post on TikTok 'Rugby league, you undefeated beautiful thing!' We all know how much Vossy loves footy. There are few commentators who remind us it is the 'greatest game of all' more than Andrew Voss. When star Warriors rookie Leka Halasima stunned Newcastle Knights fans at their own ground on Sunday night by recollecting a charged down field goal to trot over 40 metres and score a game-winning try in the dying seconds of the game, Voss's passion for rugby league was on full display. It was an iconic moment, with an iconic voice in commentary.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Kiwi legends at the heart of Warriors bold Queensland takeover bid
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George insists the club's move to forge an outreach into Brisbane is not a poaching raid of the Broncos' heartland, as he plots to engage with a host of Kiwi rugby league greats to help make the initiative a success. On Monday, a training academy and community program was announced in Logan, which would provide a hunting ground for new talent from a community that produced Cameron Smith, Josh Papalii and Corey Parker. And George confirmed his intention to reach out to former Warriors star Mark Tookey and Test hooker Issac Luke in a bid to take the pathways forward. Luke forged an illustrious NRL career, amassing 286 games and 43 Test caps, and has since coached at Marsden State High School, along with fellow Kiwi international Zeb Taia. Loading George described Tookey, born and bred in Logan, as 'a great part of our history', along with Luke. 'There's a lot of ex-Warriors that are in and around the area,' he added. 'You'll see us slowly start to build a program and a presence here, and really connect locally and work with the kids and families. 'Those guys will play a part in it for sure.' Australia's NRL clubs are littered with athletes who have been identified in New Zealand – dating back to Benji Marshall's move to Keebra Park, and continuing with Broncos enforcer Xavier Willison, Cowboys prop Griffin Neame and Titans fullback Keano Kini.
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
The Kiwi legends at the heart of Warriors bold Queensland takeover bid
New Zealand Warriors chief executive Cameron George insists the club's move to forge an outreach into Brisbane is not a poaching raid of the Broncos' heartland, as he plots to engage with a host of Kiwi rugby league greats to help make the initiative a success. On Monday, a training academy and community program was announced in Logan, which would provide a hunting ground for new talent from a community that produced Cameron Smith, Josh Papalii and Corey Parker. And George confirmed his intention to reach out to former Warriors star Mark Tookey and Test hooker Issac Luke in a bid to take the pathways forward. Luke forged an illustrious NRL career, amassing 286 games and 43 Test caps, and has since coached at Marsden State High School, along with fellow Kiwi international Zeb Taia. Loading George described Tookey, born and bred in Logan, as 'a great part of our history', along with Luke. 'There's a lot of ex-Warriors that are in and around the area,' he added. 'You'll see us slowly start to build a program and a presence here, and really connect locally and work with the kids and families. 'Those guys will play a part in it for sure.' Australia's NRL clubs are littered with athletes who have been identified in New Zealand – dating back to Benji Marshall's move to Keebra Park, and continuing with Broncos enforcer Xavier Willison, Cowboys prop Griffin Neame and Titans fullback Keano Kini.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Warriors' new Queensland academy causes major blow to Broncos' talent nursery
It's the NRL's worst-kept secret. If you want to win a premiership, you'll need a few Queenslanders. For the New Zealand Warriors, who are chasing their first, the announcement of a new training academy in Logan is a leap in the right direction. The region is no stranger to producing generational talent, including the most capped player in NRL history, Cameron Smith. It was also home to the Broncos ' highest scorer and second most capped player, Corey Parker, and the Canberra Raiders ' games-record holder Josh Papali'i. Lote Tuqiri, Brad Meyers and Jaydn Su'A are other elite stars to have been produced by the Logan Brothers junior powerhouse club alone. Geographically, Logan is sandwiched inbetween the two major Queensland cities Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Where does that leave New Zealand? According to Warriors CEO Cameron George, right in the middle. The club will be basing permanent staff and an elite academy in Logan. 'Our elite academy for boys and girls in Logan will provide a direct pathway to the New Zealand Warriors NRL and NRLW teams,' he said. 'Through the community program we'll also be offering come-and-try days, school visits and talent identification. 'It's about providing opportunities to all young people so they can reach their potential.' The Warriors are looking to harness the region's seemingly endless bumper crop in this new partnership with the Logan City Council. The Broncos have been recruiting young players in the area since the club's inception but, with more teams being added to the Queensland roster, the Logan talent pool has seen an increased demand. The Gold Coast Titans have scouted their fair share of players north of the boarder, including David Fifita. Neither club has ever committed to a permanent academy or program in Logan, leaving it open to an all-out assimilation from the Warriors. The New Zealand team is announcing an academy that offers elite talent identification and training programs, which will extend to careers outside of rugby league. The Warriors will be provided with playing fields and office spaces as part of their partnership with the Logan City Council. Logan Mayor Jon Raven said the club is looking to harness the strong multicultural Queensland city. 'Logan is the leading rugby league nursery in the nation and has one of the largest populations of people of New Zealand and Pacific Island descent outside of Auckland,' he said. 'So many league legends have come from Logan and we're thrilled to welcome the Warriors to our city to nurture more NRL stars of the future. 'The Warriors are known for their strong community connections and supporting development opportunities for young people, which are values we love here in Logan – the youngest, most diverse and fastest growing city in Queensland.' This move is one of many innovative advances that are changing the rugby league landscape. With the game rapidly evolving outside of Australian shores, an international boom seems increasingly imminent.
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
NRLW Highlights: Knights v Warriors
Newcastle Knights host the New Zealand Warriors in Round 3 of the 2025 NRLW Premiership at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
