The Roar - A Southland sporting podcast

This week Southland businessman Reece McDonald joins The Roar. He is one of the driving forces behind the annual Westpac Rescue Helicopter fundraising cycle ride from Frankton to Invercargill which happens on Friday 10 May. We chat through his own personal experiences on the ride and using the service himself, while Nathan & Nick recall their own experiences with an event that is hoping to push through the million dollar mark in funds raised since the first ride in 2011. You can help get them there by supporting via their GiveALittle page here: https://givealittle.co.nz/event/chopperbikeride24 Before that Logan, Nathan & Nick discuss Southland Boys High Schools winning start in Japan, the Southland Sharks' roster moves, more building blocks for the Southern Steel & Woodlands turnaround in Southland club rugby. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

Two return guests to The Roar this week. Cormac Buchanan opened his FIM JuniorGP World Championship campaign with a podium finish in the opening round in Italy. We went to Venice to relive a hectic race and just what it meant for the young Southlanders to see the New Zealand flag flying during a podium ceremony(16'39). Meanwhile, half a world away, the Southland Boys High School 1st XV has departed, heading to Japan for the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament. Their Head Coach Jason Dermody talks us through the build up and the amazing experience ahead of his charges and their travelling party (33'00). Before that, Logan & Nick cover off a busy week of news including Steve Mitchell's resignation as CEO of Rugby Southland, the future of Rugby Park, an improved Steel showing, the Sharks' 0-6 start to the NBL and Tori Peeters' Olympic dream being realised. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

Former Southland Stag and Highlanders' hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate joins The Roar this week to talk through his rugby career and the new initiative he and his wife Kate have launched to provide sporting equipment to Southland families in need. To find out more, donate or nominate a worthy recipient, visit 'Have A Go Southland' here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558315371437 Before that, Locgan, Nathan & Nick discuss Logan's Voyager Media Award nomination, a tough Monday night for the Steel & Sharks, Southland Boys High's heroic win over King's College and the three Southlanders who are off to the Junior World Track Cycling Championsips in August. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

Two special guests this week. Our feature interview is with returning Southern Steel netball shooter Jen O'Connell. She thought the netball door was firmly shut before an injury replacement call-up has seen her return to the premier domestic netball competition this season. As we build up to the Steel's season opener we find out about THAT phone call from Coach Reinga & just how hard her team mate Jeante's head is. We also spend some time with new Southland Stags' signing Sean Withy and find out there was a strong message he wanted to send by returning south. Before all that, Logan, Nathan & Nick look at the latest Southland sporting headlines including the worst kept secret in Southland rugby, whether it's too early to write in the Galbraith Shield top four and a tough start to the Southland Sharks' NBL campaign. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

Rugby Southland's Academy Manager Scott Eade is fresh back from helping the Highlanders Under 20s at their recent tournament. We talk through how he and his programme have helped build an unprecedented amount of young development talent, what a new-found relationship with the Highlanders means for Southland's rugby future, recruiting and retaining good young talent in the modern rugby world and building a development pathway that works across the game in New Zealand. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads or X. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

This week, on the eve of the Southland Sharks' 2024 Sal's National Basketball League campaign, we chat with Sharks' veteran Andrew Wheeler. Wheels is the epitome of what it is to be a Shark and as a 2010 original he talks us through the evolution of the organisation and the NBL. Before then the boys talk thought the news every Southland sporting fan didn't want to hear - George Fisher will take no part in the Southern Steel campaign this year. Plus we talk through the end of the club cricket season and the start of the club rugby one. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads or X. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

We get ourselves set for the ILT Southland club cricket final this weekend with a chat with Appleby stalwart Jamie Clark who is closing in on an incredible milestone for the club, one that will probably get his back for another season. Before then, Logan, Nathan & Nick talk through the incredible scenes at the Southland Rugby League Final, the brilliant win by Fiji Bati, the Sharks' pre-season trip to Greymouth and Nathan's pennants golf debut. Give us a rate and a review if you're that way inclined and follow @theroarpodcastnz on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads or X. Got a Southland sporting story or just some general banter to share? Email us at theroarpodcastnz@gmail.com and come back here every Wednesday for more from The Roar

Logan, Nathan & Nick launch the Southland sporting podcast noone was asking for with Southland motorcycling talent Cormac Buchanan. We find out this super-talented 17 year old from Invercargill has his eyes fixed on MotoGP and won't just be satisfied by getting a start! It's a great yarn on the glamourous and not so glamourous side of life on the bike along with a run-through the latest on the upcoming Sharks, Steel and Stags' seasons.

STAGS WIN! We review the Stags' first (and only) win the the 2023 season. How good? And if that wasn't enought, it's the pod you've been waiting for it. Welcome to the 2nd Annual Golden Antlers as we announce our Rookie, Big Mover, Forward and Back of the Year, together with a split decision for the prestigious Golden Antler, the supreme award of the season. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

What a rollercoaster! The Stags threw out the coaching rule book in their Storm Week clash with Bay of Plenty, clearing their bench and rolling all eight Stagstitutes on in the first half of their 25-23 loss at Rugby Park. With Nathan Burdon resting due to three games in eight days (or the mental toll the final five minutes of the game took on the man), hosts Logan Savory and Nick Jeffrey discuss the tactic that has the provincial rugby world talking. Plus we look at two great rugby-orientated tales that have been told on the Southland Tribune this past week. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Stags' five eighth and cult hero Marty Banks steps into The Roaring Pen to come clean on just what he has been playing through the last two seasons, his admiration for the passion of Stags' fans and just how much that support means for the team. This is sixty minutes of quality chat about footy and life and a lot of lessons learnt. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Southland Stags winger, fresh from becoming only the third Southlander to score a hat-trick of tries in an NPC fixture enters The Roaring Pen to discuss the three tries, his rugby story and why the move that led to his first try on Saturday was named "Cheeseburger." (SPOLIER: He doesn't know) Hosts Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey reflect on another one that got away from the Stags and discuss how we should celebrate SBHS' national 1st XV title. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Southland Boys High School's 1st XV created history on Sunday, winning the New Zealand National Secondary School title for the first time in its history in captivating fashion. Head Coach Jason Dermody enters the Roaring Pen to unpack a special group and its incredible achievement that has put their school on the national map. Hosts Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey reflect on their victory before reviewing a tough day at the office for the Stags on Sunday against Auckland. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Stags loose forward Blair Ryall joins us to talk through how ended up in Southland, his progress from last season and the noise Stags fans made on Stag Day. Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey unpack another one that got away in Dunedin last weekend before turning their attention to the Stags' mounting injury concerns. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Rugby Southland's Director of Rugby Matt Saunders joins us to talk through the first three weeks of the season, balancing short terms win with a long term strategy and previews the most important date on the Southland rugby calendar, Stag Day. Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey unpack the effort against Wellington before turning their attention to an under-pressure Otago side ahead of Saturday's clash in Dunedin. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

We look back at the Stags' NPC 15-all draw with Northland Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey offer their thoughts on the clash before putting it in the rear-view mirror to talk about the Ranfurty Shield challenge on Saturday. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

We look back at the Stags' NPC season-opener against Waikato with one of Sunday's debutants, hooker Jack Taylor. Logan Savory, Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey offer their thoughts on the 29-21 loss to the Mooloo before chatting to Taylor about the effort, a crucial Week 2 clash with Northland and on his recent experiences with the NZ U20s and Highlanders. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

They said we wouln't be back! We said we wouldn't be back! But here we are. The Roaring Pen Podcast returns with anything and everything relating to the Southland Stags ahead of the 2023 NPC season. Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey are joined by key off-season recruit Logan Savory of the Southland Tribune to dig through the Stags' Class of '23, the schedule and the chance of finding a win or three in there for the Staggies. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Stags' content and Southland sporting stories visit https://southlandtribune.substack.com/ and follow The Southland Tribune on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

Nathan Burdon and Nick Jeffrey are joined by Stuff's Logan Savory to put a lid on the Stags' 2022 season including the inaugural Golden Antlers, our end of season awards featuring Most Promising Stag, Surprise Package, What Might Have Been, Player of the Year and the Player of the Year Not Named Josh Bekhuis. To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Southland sporting stories visit southlandsport.com and follow Southland Sport on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp

That's not the way the Stags planned or deserved their season to end. After a campaign full of heart and grit, Saturday proved one week too many as Southland's 2022 Bunning NPC campaign ended with a good old fashioned thumping at the hands of North Harbour. Nathan Burdon & Nick Jeffrey review the performance and chat with Head Coach Dale MacLeod (9'11) and inspirational Josh Bekhuis (21'20). To contact the Roaring Pen podcast email us at roaringpenpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theroaringpen. While we are here, for plenty of great Southland sporting stories visit southlandsport.com and follow Southland Sport on Facebook and Instagram #AntlersUp