It's Only Sport podcast | The Platform The Platform

On today's podcast, It's Only Sport host Martin Devlin continues the post-mortem into the Black Caps' horrendous defeat to Afghanistan to open their Twenty20 cricket World Cup campaign, virtually making their clash with the West Indies on Thursday morning (New Zealand time) a must-win to qualify for the Super 8 phase of the tournament. Devlin delivers a sermon firstly, admitting he wouldn't mind seeing the New Zealand men's cricketers lose to the Windies, believing they've let down their fans and the jersey with poor preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Then, Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox previews the upcoming US Open, Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee discusses the decision to schedule the 'Canes-Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific semifinal on Saturday afternoon, Mark 'Watto' Watson takes aim at the Black Caps, and Matt Gunn is VERY positive about his Canterbury Bulldogs who sit inside the NRL's top eight after a come-from-behind win over the Parramatta Eels.

Plus, Devlin and producer Lachlan Waugh talk all sorts of sport including the Black Caps at the T20 World Cup, the Bulldogs beating the Eels on Monday night, and Super Rugby semifinals on the Tight 5 and What Has More Chance Of Happening. All that and much more!

It's tiiiiime! Mark 'Watto' Watson and Martin Devlin deliver episode 87 of the ATM (Apologise to Me!) podcast, where they get together and fiercely debate a number of sporting topics relevant in New Zealand and around the world. On this episode, Watto and Marty talk about the Black Caps' horrendous showing in their opening match at the Twenty20 cricket World Cup and who's to blame, the Super Rugby semifinals coming up this weekend, and more.

New Zealander Ryan Fox joins Martin Devlin on It's Only Sport ahead of the third men's golf major of the year - the US Open at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Fox comes off a brilliant performance at the Canadian Open, where he finished in a tie for seventh at 10 under par, but was in the lead by as many as four strokes at one stage during the third round. He's finished 38th tied and 75th in the first two majors of 2024 (The Masters and the PGA Championship). Fox talks to Devlin about his form of late, the Pinehurst course and the challenges it presents, how hot it's expected to get during the tournament, and more.

It's time for episode 13 of the Rugby League Hour, hosted by Martin Devlin and Tony Kemp and brought to you by MicroBio Solutions. Every Monday during the 2024 NRL season on The Platform, Devlin - host of It's Only Sport - is joined by one of the best rugby league analysts going around in Kemp, the ex-Warriors coach and Kiwis representative.

To kick off proceedings, Marty and Kempy recap action from round 14 of the 2024 NRL season. The weekend began with the Dragons crushing the Wests Tigers 56-14, and included the Warriors scoring a massive away win over the North Queensland Cowboys 42-12, the South Sydney Rabbitohs making it two in a row by pelting the Titans on the Gold Coast 46-12, and the Cronulla Sharks returning to winning ways with a 22-12 road victory over the Brisbane Broncos. As it stands, the Melbourne Storm are top of the table with the Sharks, Penrith Panthers and Dolphins making up the top four. The Canberra Raiders may not have played but they still jumped up to fifth on the ladder, with the Sydney Roosters, Broncos and Dragons rounding out the top eight.

Then, it's Up The Wahs - a segment that Marty and Kempy dedicate solely to chatting about the Warriors. The Auckland-based club enjoyed one of their best wins of the Andrew Webster era, dismantling the Cowboys 42-12 and moving to within one point of the top eight. That makes it three wins in a row for the Warriors, who well and back on track for a top eight finish - all going to plan - after sitting as low as 14th on the ladder earlier in the year. Marty and Kempy discuss whether that was the club's best win of 2024, Te Maire Martin's outstanding performance at halfback and whether or not coach Webster may select Martin instead of Shaun Johnson for this weekend's Storm clash, and more.

Next, it's He's A Ledge, and this week it's one of New Zealand's greatest ever players - Stacey Jones. The Little General currently serves as Warriors assistant coach and Kiwis head coach, having made his name as a classy playmaker between 1994 and 2009, playing 306 first-grade games including 251 in a Warriors jumper. He talks to Marty and Kempy about his side's win on the road on the weekend and the uptick in performances of late, how much better they can get, looming selection headaches, and more.

After that, Marty and Kempy go head-to-head debating a selection of rugby league topics, including whether the Wests Tigers are the worst NRL side of this century, and if the Storm and Panthers are still the two best teams in the competition. Kempy hands out the Effluex clean-up award for the 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. And to finish things off, Kempy lists his five best teams in the NRL right now on TK's Top 5.

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 discuss and debate five separate sporting topics making noise in New Zealand and around the world. On this occasion, Marty and Lachie talk about the Black Caps' embarrassing loss to Afghanistan at the Twenty20 cricket World Cup, the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals, the Warriors thumping the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, and more.

Justin Marshall - ex-All Blacks halfback and rugby commentator for Sky Sport - joins Martin Devlin on It's Only Sport as he does every Monday, recapping the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals that saw all home sides win. The Chiefs, Hurricanes, Blues and Brumbies booked their tickets to the final four, making it three straight years the semifinals have featured the Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs. Marshall and Devlin discuss the strength of the competition (or lack thereof) after four quarters that were heavily one-sided, whether or not the Chiefs have turned a corner, if the Brumbies have what it takes to upend the Blues in the semis, and more.