It's Only Sport podcast | The Platform The Platform

On today's podcast, it's all about the first All Blacks squad naming of 2024 as It's Only Sport host Martin Devlin touches base with experts in New Zealand and across the world, to gauge their thoughts on coach Scott Robertson's 32-man group for tests against England and Fiji next month.

First off, Devlin delivers a sermon about squad naming day and how special an occasion it is for players - particularly those uncapped who are selected for the first time - as well as the fans.

Then, ex-All Blacks halfback and Sky Sport rugby commentator Justin Marshall shares his thoughts on the squad picked including newcomers and surprise omissions, while South African rugby commentator Andy Capostagno shares a foreign perspective on this ABs side.

As well as that, Mark 'Watto' Watson chats the Blues winning Super Rugby Pacific and the Warriors on the ATM podcast, and former All White Fred de Jong talks the European football Championships after a thrilling morning highlighted by Italy's 1-1 draw with Croatia.

PLUS Devlin and producer Lachlan Waugh talk the All Blacks squad, the Twenty20 cricket World Cup, and more on the Tight 5 and What Has More Chance Of Happening. All that and much more!

It's tiiiiime! Mark 'Watto' Watson and It's Only Sport host Martin Devlin are back for another edition of the ATM (Apologise to Me!) podcast, where they cover off a number of sporting topics and offer their unique points of view on each. On episode 89, Watto and Marty talk about the Blues' dominant 41-10 win over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final and the impact of coach Vern Cotter, the first All Blacks squad named for 2024, the Warriors' 66-6 thrashing at the hands of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL, and more.

Justin Marshall - former All Blacks halfback and current Sky Sport rugby commentator - joins Martin Devlin on It's Only Sport to recap the first All Blacks squad naming for 2024. Coach Scott Robertson unveiled his group of 32 on Monday evening, which featured five players yet to play test rugby and the return of veteran halfback TJ Perenara. Marshall and Devlin go through all the main talking points of the squad named including new caps, surprise omissions, Scott Barrett being chosen as the new captain, only three locks being selected, and more.

Episode 15 of the Rugby League Hour is here! Brought to you by MicroBio Solutions. Every Monday during the 2024 NRL season on The Platform, Martin Devlin - host of It's Only Sport - is joined by one of the best rugby league analysts going around in Tony Kemp, the ex-Warriors coach and Kiwis representative.

This week's podcast focuses heavily on the Warriors' horrendous 66-6 defeat at the hands of the Titans on the Gold Coast on Saturday - the club's equal-worst defeat ever (alongside their 70-10 loss to the Melbourne Storm on Anzac Day in 2022). After three impressive wins in a row and holding a 14-0 lead 18 minutes into last weeks' loss to the Storm, life has taken a turn for the worst in a matter of days for the club and its fan base. The Warriors sit 13th on the ladder with a six-win, one-draw, eight-loss record with nine games to play. Is the top eight now an unlikely achievement for coach Andrew Webster and his players?

Podcast schedule...

-Weekend roundup - Marty and Kempy recap the action from round 16 of the NRL season, which featured only five games due to the second State of Origin match taking place this Wednesday. As it stands, the Melbourne Storm remain on top of the table, two points ahead of the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla Sharks who are second and third.
-Up The Wahs - a segment that Marty and Kempy dedicate solely to chatting about the Warriors. All eyes are on that 60-point defeat at the hands of the Titans for the Warriors. Who/What is to blame? Will selection changes by coach Webster make a difference or are there bigger issues at the club?
-He's A Ledge - Marty and Kempy are joined on the show by a Queensland rugby league legend in Brent Tate. The now 42-year-old is a NRL premiership winner with the Brisbane Broncos back in 2006, and also wore the Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys strips during his 13-year professional career.
-Head-to-head - Marty and Kempy debate a number of NRL topics, including how do the Warriors return to winning ways, and whether or not it's acceptable for teammates to argue on-field in front of cameras.
-Effluex clean-up award - Kempy nominates a player, coach or team who did their job better than anyone else on the weekend, someone who rolled up their sleeves and turned gunk into gold.
-TK's top five - Kempy lists his five best teams in the NRL right now.

The Rugby League Hour is sponsored by MicroBio Solutions Limited, solving environmental issues using green technologies. Visit microbio.co.nz.

The Tight 5! Everyday on It's Only Sport, host Martin Devlin and producer Lachlan Waugh dissect and debate five separate sporting topics of relevance in New Zealand and around the world. On this episode, Marty and Lachie talk about the Blues winning the Super Rugby Pacific final over the Chiefs, potential bolters in the first All Blacks squad named for 2024, the Warriors' horrendous defeat at the hands of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL, recent results at the European football Championships in Germany, and more.

The Blues are Super Rugby Pacific champions after a dominant 41-10 victory over the Chiefs, in a wet and wild decider in Auckland over the weekend. The conditions suited the Blues' power game perfectly as their forwards muscled up and secured the franchise its first title in 21 years. For the Chiefs, it's the second successive year they've lost the decider to a fellow Kiwi franchise.

Independent rugby writer Jamie Wall and The Roar's Christy Doran join Martin Devlin on It's Only Sport to dissect and examine all the key talking points coming out of the game. Wall talks about the festivities post-match in the Blues' changing rooms and the game's ramifications on All Blacks selections. Doran on the other hand shares an Australian perspective on the contest, and takes a wider look at the 2024 Super Rugby season and how much of a success it was.