The Nigel Yalden Podcast

Nigel dives head long into a jam-packed mailbag featuring questions on the NBA (playoffs, free-agency and the draft) rugby (All Blacks, Super Rugby Pacific, Governance and Tours), T20 World Cup, football (EPL & A-League) and the NHL playoffs (0:38) You'll then hear from Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson ahead of this Saturday night's Super Rugby Pacific "Battle of the Bombays" (57:57) before ending with a short tribute to Bill Walton & some words of wisdom from the man himself (1:08:37)

HOST & PRODUCER: Nigel Yalden

GUEST: Shaun Stevenson

A short, sharp episode this week, beginning with Nigel touching on a range of topics with some "Quick Hits" (1:00) then chatting with assistant coach Steve Jackson about the reaction within the Black Ferns to thier first ever loss to Canada and what needs to happen against the Wallaroos this weekend (21:11) before finishing off with Chiefs prop Aidan Ross taking about his sides Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Hurricanes and Rossy's beloved Warriors beating the reigning NRL premiers at Magic Round (28:30)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guests: Steve Jackson & Aidan Ross

Nigel starts the pod talking about how he's impressed by the Blues, but especially when they go a man down (0:56) before a nice long chat with the "Voice of the Phoenix" football commentator, Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport host and all-round awesome human being, Jason Pine ahead of this Saturday's A-League Semi-Final 2nd leg between the Nix and Melbourne Victory in Wellington (11:05)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Jason Pine

It's all in the title ... rugby, rugby and more rugby. Nigel starts by looking at the Super Rugby Pacific season with ten rounds in the books (0:42) then delivers his first All Blacks Depth Chart of 2024 (26:41) before finishing with a conversation with Chiefs midfield back Quinn Tupaea (45:28)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Quinn Tupaea

Nigel dives into the mailbag to answer questions about Formula One, Wellington Phoenix, Hurricanes, Crusaders, concussions, the Black Caps, Golden Point, the Masters, NFL draft, NBL & AFL before finishing with the NBA Playoffs

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

PS - The Nigel Yalden Podcast is taking a week off for the school holidays in New Zealand; the podcast will return in the first week May ☕

Nigel starts the pod by paying tribute to Sam Whitelock, who's announcement he'll be retiring from rugby at the end of the French club season (0:31) He then shares some observations & opinions from the sporting long weekend (13:44) before being joined by Brad "B-Rad" Lewis to preview Wrestlemania 40 & UFC 300 (27:55)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Brad Lewis

You can also follow Nigel via https://www.facebook.com/nigelyaldensports/

Nigel begins the final podcast of the month by answering questions about SailGP, NBL, NPC, Super Rugby Pacific and F1 from the NYP Mailbag (0:36) before a bonus chat with NZ Under 20 rugby coach Jono Gibbes following SANZAARs annoucement of the Under 20 Rugby Championship (38:03)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Jono Gibbes

Mailbag Contributors: Isaac, Craig T, Craig O, David D, David L, Aidan & Lauren

Nigel reviews the opening month of Super Rugby Pacific, starting with the five New Zealand teams in geographical order (0:18) before chatting Moana Pasifika then Fijian Drua and finishing with the five Australian sides (25:25)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Nigel starts the podcast chatting about the Players Championship with NZ's top male golfer, world number 44 ranked Ryan Fox who's preparing for his second tilt at TPC Sawgrass (1:43) before finishing with a look into the final run home in the enthralling three-way battle for the English Premier League title between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City (12:18)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Ryan Fox

** SPECIAL THANKS TO JOHN DAY & BEN FRANCIS **

After a pre-emptive apology, Nigel is joined by cricket commentator Daniel McHardy to discuss the 1st test disappointment from the Blackcaps against Australia (1:00) then another SENZ commentator, league caller Sam Hewat, drops in to chat NRL with a keen focus on the Warriors (30:25) before we finish with this months dip into the mailbag (54;32)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guests: Daniel McHardy & Sam Hewat

Nigel starts by sharing some thoughts about the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific and some of the young NZ players who impressed (0:38) He's then joined by SENZ cricket commentator Daniel McHardy to discuss Neil Wagner's retirement & to preview the two test series between the Blackcaps and Australia (13:02) before finishing by chatting with former Wellington cricketer Josh Brodie about Ironman NZ and "Josh vs Asthma" fundraising for Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (42:40)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guests: Daniel McHardy & Josh Brodie

Nigel starts the podcast with a round of "Quick Hits", touching on the Super Bowl, the Silver Ferns coach, English Premier League, the NBA All Star Game, Long jump madness & the new Kiwis coach (0:40) then reviews the NZ teams named for week one of Super Rugby Pacific (17:22) before finishing with a chat with Highlanders assistant coach Dave Dillon (32:55)

Host & Producer: Nigel Yalden

Guest: Dave Dillon

For more content from the host visit https://www.facebook.com/nigelyaldensports/

Nigel starts this weeks show with some thoughts and observations about the Blackcaps (0:20) the Brodie Kostecki situation in Supercars (7:40) the non-event NBA Trade Deadline (10:30) before finishing with his SuperBowl LVIII preview - enjoy 😁

Its Mailbag time on the NYP with Nigel answering your questions about Golf, Sevens, Tennis, Football, NFL, the All Blacks 2024 test schedule, NRL, 6 Nations, Rugby Australia, Formula One and Cricket before finishing the pod by responding to some unnecessary slander about "The Princess Bride" - enjoy 🎙️☕

On a rare (possibly even a first) Friday night edition of podcast, Nigel starts with some thoughts on Joe Schmidt signing on as Wallabies coach (0:20) then plays some extended comments from Black Caps coach Gary Stead after naming his squad for the two test series with South Africa (8:11) before finishing with his thoughts on the Conference Championship games in the NFL playoffs (12:39) Enjoy your weekend and if like what you hear, we'd love you to subscribe 🎙️☕

Nigel opens the podcast with some random thoughts and observations from the last seven days of sport (0:21) before reviewing Wildcard Weekend then previewing the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs (12:04)

The fourth season kicks off with a bite size episode in which Nigel shares his hopes and desires for the sporting year ahead (0:24) before giving his predictions for the six games that make up Wildcard Weekend, the opening round of the NFL playoffs (4:37)

For the final time in 2023, Nigel starts with a wee bonus chat when he's joined by TVNZ sport reporter Guy Heveldt to talk Jon Rahm's move to the LIV Golf tour & another good year for New Zealand golf around the globe (0:30) before diving into the feature of the pod - the Year Ending NYP Mailbag (29:45) and finishing with a heads-up on what to expect from the podcast to start 2024 (59:42)

On the penultimate episode of the year, Nigel is joined by Combat Sport aficionado Brad "B-Rad" Lewis to look at Joseph Parker's upcoming bout (2:30) review the year in Mixed Maritial Arts (13:15) before talking WWE returns and future storylines (23:13) Also includes details on how you can get involved in the next weeks episode, the Year Ending NYP Mailbag ... enjoy 🥳

What level of playing talent and depth does All Blacks coach Scott Robertson have to work with from 2024 onwards? Nigel looks at the forward (0:16) and back (15:48) stocks available to Razor and company as well as identifying some young prospects and veteran back-up options

Nigel starts the pod by looking at the NZ Super Rugby Pacific squads before briefly touching on the Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua & Australian squads (0:26) He's then joined by Newshub's Alex Chapman to talk the Cricket World Cup (31:30) and concludes with a couple of questions sent to the NYP Mailbag (1:05:34)

Nigel answers a wide range of questions from the Mailbag with subjects including the Rugby World Cup, All Blacks, NBA, Tottenham, his sporting fandom, WWE and Provincial Rugby (including his beloved Heartland Championship aka The Peoples Rugby) before finishing with a cracking question on sport, technology and media.

The deciding game of Rugby World Cup 2023 is nearly upon us and in this episode, Nigel takes a good hard look at the RWC Final betwteen the All Blacks and Springboks (0:51) shares some thoughts on rugby's new Global Calendar (37:19) chats Coach of the Year (43:54) and finishes with a wee tribute to All Blacks hooker Dane Coles (47:16) ... lets go!

Having safely returned to NZ following his time in France, Nigel runs the rule over the All Black's RWC semi-final win over Los Pumas (0:44) followed by some thoughts on the Springboks edging England in the second semi (29:53)

As he nears the end of his time at Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Nigel reviews the tournaments final round of pool play (0:28) names his Team of Pool Play (20:50) before finishing with some thoughts, observations and the odd statistic on the four RWC quarter-finals (26:28)

This episode starts with Nigel reviewing the penultimate round of pool play at the Rugby World Cup (0:34) Then he previews final round of RWC2023 pool play (16:24) before switching to the NBA to finish with the Damian Liilard trade and his admiration for Portland GM Joe Cronin (27:29)

With 24 games played & 24 more remaining, Nigel reports in from Toulouse, starting with a quick look at how his prediction pod stacks up against the tournament proper (0:47) before naming his standout forward and back for each nation (6:08) followed by his five favourite games at RWC2023 so far as well as his top three team and individual performances (28:58) then concluding with what he's looking forward to the most in the remaining games of pool play (34:35)

Nigel starts off by acknowledging, in his opinion, the most loyal fans in the NRL (0:21) then addresses the start - if you can call it that - to the NFL season by his beloved New York Jets (7:41) before finishing with a quick look back at the second week of action at Rugby World Cup 2023 (12:42) ... lets go!

Nigel bounces through the opening weekend of action at Rugby World Cup 2023; from the rollicking opener in Paris to the blazing finish in Bordeaux and all contests in between!

While seeming like a good idea at the time, Nigel freely acknowledges the utter folly of this episode, before chugging a coffee & getting on with the task of predicting all 48 games at the Rugby World Cup. He starts with Pool Play (1:51) pausing briefly to share a theory about how to utilise the World Rugby rankings at this point of the tournament (13:30) before making his quarter-finals, semi-finals, bronze medal match and Rugby World Cup final picks (16:57) then finishes by running through what his Rugby World Cup is going to look like - enjoy & thanks heaps.

He wasn't go but he relented & Nigel decided to run the rule over the All Blacks biggest test defeat in their storied history (0:31) before sharing some pre Rugby World Cup observations to finish (26:13)

On this episode, Sky Sport football commentator and Newstalk ZB Sports host Jason Pine reviews the Womens World Cup (0:15) and then answers the first question of a Mini Mailbag (22:28) which includes plenty of Rugby World Cup chat and some NFL banter - enjoy!

Nigel starts this episode with his thoughts on the rescinding of Owen Farrell's red card (0:49) then he's joined by Newshub Sports Journalist Alex Chapman talking Black Caps cricket, with some football, cycling and NFL thrown in for good measure (10:08) before finishing with listener submitted questions from the NYP Mailbag (45:00)

On this episode, Nigel runs the rule over the All Blacks final home test of the year (0:24) assesses the indiviual player efforts in Dunedin (29:23) and finishes with his reaction and thoughts about the 33-player squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 (44:24)

On this episode, Nigel starts with what he thinks the forwards vs backs split should be for the All Blacks 33-man Rugby World Cup squad (0:26) then he's joined by combat sport & wrestling aficionado Brad "B-Rad" Lewis to review UFC 291, get some thoughts on UFC 293, fantasy book UFC 300 and preview SummerSlam (7:15) before finishing with your questions from the Mailbag (40:05) ... lets go!

Just a couple of looks is all Nigel needed to collate his thoughts on the opening Bledisloe Cup test in Melbourne (0:21) the performances within an excellent collective ABs effort (18:55) and he finishes with some thoughts and suggestions for the beleaguered Wallabies (31:00)

On this episode, Nigel reacts to the Football Ferns outstanding victory over Norway to start their World Cup campaign (0:35) looks at the rebuilding of the Highlanders squad for 2024 (7:30) shares some thoughts on the trade requests of NBA superstars Damian Lillard and James Harden (15:22) before opening up the NYP mailbag to answer some of your questions (20:32)

Having watched, rewatched and rewatched again Saturday nights test between the All Blacks and Springboks, Nigel shares his thoughts on the game (0:24) the individual performances as part of the ABs collective effort (28:23) before finishing with some brief thoughts on the Boks (46:54)

Having the watched first All Blacks test of 2023 more than once (not saying how many times in case you think him obsessive) Nigel made a spur of the moment decision to pod about it now, rather than wait until next Monday as originally planned. After reviewing the game itself (0:46) Nigel looks at the indivdual performances by the starting fifteen (17:04) followed by a brief look at the efforts of the reserves (28:30)

Nigel is joined by radio host, TV commentator and one of the nicest humans walking the face of this here earth Jason Pine to talk about the Football Ferns, World Cup, NZ U20s, All Whites, Phoenix, EPL and Manchester City (0:40) before he dives into a great range of questions from the mailbag including Tall Ferns basketball, the NBL finals, T20 Cricket, Reece Walsh, the All Blacks, Nations League rugby, Spa-Francorchamps, the future of West Indian cricket, the Ashes and the current state of New Zealan athletics (31:57)

Nigel gives his thoughts as he breakdowns the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final between the Chiefs and Crusaders - First Half (0:35) Second Half (14:21) Final Thoughts (40:58) - and dotted through the pod you'll also hear some comments from Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan.

Its a stand alone Mailbag episode which begins with Nigel answering questions on Manchester City and the NZ National Basketball League (0:37) before talking plenty of rugby union including All Black selections (7:45) a special Highlanders fans section (23:00) and finishing with a Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final preview (30:45)

Nigel starts off talking rugby; reviewing both Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals - Crusaders vs Blues (1:07) and Chiefs vs Brumbies (10:20) - sharing some brief thoughts on this Saturday's Grand Final (22:27) and gives his apprasial on the All Blacks and ABs XV selections (24:48). He's then joined by SENZ Rugby League commentator Sam Hewat to talk the Warriors season so far, chances of an early RTS return and State of Origin 2 (40:45)

Nigel shares his observations and opinions on the first week of the Super Rugby playoffs, chatting Blues vs Waratahs (0:50) Chiefs vs Reds (8:21) Crusaders vs Drua (16:37) and Brumbies vs Hurricanes (21:03) before finishing with some quick thoughts on this weekends semi-finals (30:44)

Nigel starts by sharing his thoughts on netball's recently completed ANZ Premiership and the Silver Ferns squad for next months Netball World Cup (0:20) before he's joined by author, columnist and journalist Jamie Wall to chat Super Rugby Pacific (10:57) and he finishes off by anwering questions from the NYS Mailbag (40:13)

A weekend of sport watching has Nigel's mind full of thoughts and observations to share on round 14 of Super Rugby Pacific (0:23), Warriors vs Broncos vs Pitch invaders (11:35) Game six of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals (15:35) the ANZ Premiership elimination final (18:15) the conclusion of the English Premier League season (21:50) before ending with another nice weekend for NZ golf (26:00)

Rather than waiting three to five months to do another podcast, Nigel is back after just a fortnight and starts by sharing his hopes for being a more consistent podcaster (1:26) That's followed by Nigel talking NBA and NBL NZ hoops with Sky Sport basketball commentator and co-host of the The Rock's Morning Rumble Andrew Mulligan (5:41) before finishing with questions from the NYS mailbag about the NFL, NBA playoffs, Rafael Nadal, Indy Cars, State of Origin, the NRL, EPL and the All Blacks including concerns about the ABs propping stocks (35:09)