April 19, 2025 • 9 mins
The Chiefs are level with the Crusaders on 32 competition points but lead on points difference.
This is a significant departure following an underwhelming Super Rugby season in 2024.
Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge joined Piney to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Crusader CEO Colin Manbridge, Mansbridge has made some time for us.
Thanks for doing so, Colin. Happy Easter twenty twenty five
certainly having a lot better than twenty twenty four did
on the field. Actually, let's start in twenty twenty four
or the end of it. How much pressure were you
under as an organization after a poor twenty twenty four
by your own very high standards.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Probably not as much externally, Sorry, internally is what it
felt like. Externally you feel the pressure, but inside the
environment in terms of you know, coach relationship with staff,
management relationship with staff, how people were feeling about the place, motivation,
desire to get out and be better for all those things.
(00:56):
They were really strong through the season. Yeah, we had
a bumpy road, but they're really strong in our reviews.
Supported carrying on with the group, and we're really pleased
about the way responded and the things that we put
into from their review into the season. They tend to
landed reasonly well.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, absolutely right. The Crusaders fan base, probably more than
any other, fairly vocal when things aren't going, well, how
did you and do you block out what's unhelpful, but
also embrace the fact that people really care about this team.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
You just said it, they're piney, maybe we should get
you in atout that the sports psychologists mate, because that's
what you do. You reframe it and you go, why
are people so passionate and so committed? And one of
them they love the thing, so of course they're going
to aser you their opinions, and it's a privilege to
(01:50):
receive them. Now some you know that in any population
there is a minority of people who are not that pleasant.
There are unpleasant people, but generally speaking, people are passionate
and they feel a great thing of ownership, an investment
in the game and the club, and so naturally, you know,
(02:13):
it's a privilege to be able to get their feedback.
Sometimes a privilege comes a little bit of pain, but
it's a privilege. And then you just keep reframing it
like that and then enjoy the good times when they're there,
and see what you can pick out of the feedback
when things don't so good, and is there anything that's
(02:33):
helpful and can make you be better, and then just yeah,
treat it as.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
A privilege, fantastic approach to it, just before we move
on and look at this year, and in fact it's
probably relevant to this year or any sponsors and commercial partners.
Do they get a little restless when results aren't going
quite so well?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Surprisingly not, it's I think I think partners do want
to be connected with a good environment and a good
club and good people. You put those things to get
and you're probably going to get reasonable results. But it
was surprising how supportive our our group of partners were
(03:15):
all through last year. You know, I was keeping them
informed of some of the things we were trying to
do internally to support the team on the field, and
the amount of feedback that we got. And we've just
brought a Callerbar Capital Investments onto our front of Jersey
and you know, Chris from Calabar was one of those
(03:37):
people who look, mate, we've got your back, we know
what you're doing, we believe in where you're going and
we're with you. So I think it's a little bit
like staff and players and management. If you if you
believe in what you're doing and why you're trying to
do it, and they've got confidence in you that then
they will forget us probably the wrong word, but they'll
accept some up and downs because it's you know, this
(04:00):
is a brutal sport, as most sports, and you only
have to talk to a Rory McElroy, you know, and
what he'll be like if he goes out for the
next major and it's not quite as good as this one.
It'll be a short lived celebration and it'll be brutal.
But you've got to enjoy the months when they're up,
and I think our partners get that. They also get
(04:21):
out of the value out of the relationship with us
as well, so you reach and engagement is important to
them as well.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Of course, what's your evaluation, Colin, of where Super Rugby
is right now? Not necessarily with a Crusader's leans on this,
but but the Super Rugby Pacific competition as a whole.
What's your evaluation of how it's been in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
I think the good thing is chack Nessley, the CEO
and the commission board now has had more than twelve
months under their belt and so what you're seeing I
think this year is much better alignment of clubs of
the two or three national unions and you've got some
(05:03):
really strong leadership coming from the comp manifesting on field
in terms of better connection and alignment with the officials.
For example, So you've got these amazing officials doing such
a good job on the paddock, and it's not perfect
because the fast you get them to run, the quickie
get them to work. You know, sometimes put that impacts
(05:26):
the ability for perfection, and so you know, it can
be a bit challenging. You know, on the one hand,
you want a fast, flowing, exciting, interesting game with the
results are close. On the other hand, you want it
to be one hundred percent accurate, and those things are
probably either end of a spectrum, and so having officials
run that line is quite challenging. And I've been really
(05:49):
really impressed with the way the officials have conducted themselves
and brought into the competition. And you're seeing that in
things like and how long is the game taking to run?
What are the running meters? You know, how many tries
are being scored, how much jeopardy the appears to be
in the competition. That's probably other factors involved in that. Yeah,
(06:11):
So I think it's in great shape in terms of
viewership and support. It's an excellent shape We still haven't
quite converted to bums on seats in every venue at
the moment, but even there are somewhat in a lot
of venues. I know, the Warrior Cup in particular, are
enjoying a bit of a stellar run in terms of
bums and seats, and we're doing better this year than
(06:32):
we did last year. And we've always tended to have
a reasonably full stadium. And then you've got to put
somewhere like the Blues at Eden Park. You know, there's
often a lot of comparisons to other venues, but a
crowd at Eden Park. If you lifted and shifted that
and plumped them into other venues around the country where
people celebrate attendance, you'd be going, well, that place is full.
(06:53):
So I think you just got to keep that context
in mind when you're looking at bums and seats as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Speaking of venues and bums on seats, new ones a
year or so from now, how much are you looking
forward to getting into your new stadium in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
It's interesting as you ask the question. The pretels on
the back of the neche that started to go up again.
It's piney. It's just like that mate. Right at the moment,
you know, I'm almost brought to tears just the excitement.
It's just unbelievable. I was talking to Caroline Harvey Cheer,
who's the CEO of Venues or Ta Tahi, just about
(07:29):
planning again this morning for another half hour, and I'll
get off that call and see if I had boots
and the turf was down, I'd be down there. I'm
that motivated, and I think that's the way the organization
feels about it. It's so exciting, and it's such an
amazing venue. You sit, you sit one side of that
venue and you look across to the other side, and
(07:49):
I reckon, you'll be able to see cracks and facial
features and people on the other side. And I reckon,
if you're sitting there, you know a couple of rows
back your feet that you're in the game. You're that
close to it. It's just a man, it's an amazing venue.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Now, well, I'm getting a Now I'm not even a cantamporary,
and I'm getting excited about getting down there for a
game next year.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
At some start.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Hey, one, just one final question about a specific player.
Ri Tim Warnger sounds like you'll be back mid next year,
which will be post Super Rugby. But do you feel
like you'll be in pole position to get his services
for Super Rugby in twenty twenty seven?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I think that this is his club. You know, if
you ask Richie, where is he most a home? Who
are the people he loves most? You think I'm doing
a cell job on him right now? Don't you know?
Who are the people? Who are the people he loves most?
Where is he care about the most? And who's he
played one hundred games for and all those things. You know,
(08:51):
you'd hope that this is too dung a whi way
in the place where he is as best and feels
most at home. Now in terms of do you take
that for granted? Note do you want do you want
to make sure that the guy you know, a guy
his quality and clasps it feels like they can come home. Absolutely,
So it's a bit like Lester, you know, back next year.
(09:16):
You know, Ryan Crotti came back to the place. You know,
we do like this to be a place where he hides,
a place where people feel at his home and they
want to come back to. And we'll do everything in
out power to make sure that happens.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Fantastic, hey Colin. Great to get the couch us to
catch up all the best for the back end of
twenty twenty five and into the playoffs as well. And yeah,
I can't wait to get down and see that new
stadium of yours next year.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I can't wait to have you down there, poney. And yeah,
thanks very much for the time, mate.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
No, thank you for yours, Colin, Colin Mansbridge, CEO, There
of the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk z B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Crusader CEO Colin Manbridge, Mansbridge has made some time for us.
Thanks for doing so, Colin. Happy Easter twenty twenty five
certainly having a lot better than twenty twenty four did
on the field. Actually, let's start in twenty twenty four
or the end of it. How much pressure were you
under as an organization after a poor twenty twenty four
by your own very high standards.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Probably not as much externally, Sorry, internally is what it
felt like. Externally you feel the pressure, but inside the
environment in terms of you know, coach relationship with staff,
management relationship with staff, how people were feeling about the place, motivation,
desire to get out and be better for all those things.
(00:56):
They were really strong through the season. Yeah, we had
a bumpy road, but they're really strong in our reviews.
Supported carrying on with the group, and we're really pleased
about the way responded and the things that we put
into from their review into the season. They tend to
landed reasonly well.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah, absolutely right. The Crusaders fan base, probably more than
any other, fairly vocal when things aren't going, well, how
did you and do you block out what's unhelpful, but
also embrace the fact that people really care about this team.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
You just said it, they're piney, maybe we should get
you in atout that the sports psychologists mate, because that's
what you do. You reframe it and you go, why
are people so passionate and so committed? And one of
them they love the thing, so of course they're going
to aser you their opinions, and it's a privilege to
(01:50):
receive them. Now some you know that in any population
there is a minority of people who are not that pleasant.
There are unpleasant people, but generally speaking, people are passionate
and they feel a great thing of ownership, an investment
in the game and the club, and so naturally, you know,
(02:13):
it's a privilege to be able to get their feedback.
Sometimes a privilege comes a little bit of pain, but
it's a privilege. And then you just keep reframing it
like that and then enjoy the good times when they're there,
and see what you can pick out of the feedback
when things don't so good, and is there anything that's
(02:33):
helpful and can make you be better, and then just yeah,
treat it as.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
A privilege, fantastic approach to it, just before we move
on and look at this year, and in fact it's
probably relevant to this year or any sponsors and commercial partners.
Do they get a little restless when results aren't going
quite so well?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Surprisingly not, it's I think I think partners do want
to be connected with a good environment and a good
club and good people. You put those things to get
and you're probably going to get reasonable results. But it
was surprising how supportive our our group of partners were
(03:15):
all through last year. You know, I was keeping them
informed of some of the things we were trying to
do internally to support the team on the field, and
the amount of feedback that we got. And we've just
brought a Callerbar Capital Investments onto our front of Jersey
and you know, Chris from Calabar was one of those
(03:37):
people who look, mate, we've got your back, we know
what you're doing, we believe in where you're going and
we're with you. So I think it's a little bit
like staff and players and management. If you if you
believe in what you're doing and why you're trying to
do it, and they've got confidence in you that then
they will forget us probably the wrong word, but they'll
accept some up and downs because it's you know, this
(04:00):
is a brutal sport, as most sports, and you only
have to talk to a Rory McElroy, you know, and
what he'll be like if he goes out for the
next major and it's not quite as good as this one.
It'll be a short lived celebration and it'll be brutal.
But you've got to enjoy the months when they're up,
and I think our partners get that. They also get
(04:21):
out of the value out of the relationship with us
as well, so you reach and engagement is important to
them as well.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Of course, what's your evaluation, Colin, of where Super Rugby
is right now? Not necessarily with a Crusader's leans on this,
but but the Super Rugby Pacific competition as a whole.
What's your evaluation of how it's been in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
I think the good thing is chack Nessley, the CEO
and the commission board now has had more than twelve
months under their belt and so what you're seeing I
think this year is much better alignment of clubs of
the two or three national unions and you've got some
(05:03):
really strong leadership coming from the comp manifesting on field
in terms of better connection and alignment with the officials.
For example, So you've got these amazing officials doing such
a good job on the paddock, and it's not perfect
because the fast you get them to run, the quickie
get them to work. You know, sometimes put that impacts
(05:26):
the ability for perfection, and so you know, it can
be a bit challenging. You know, on the one hand,
you want a fast, flowing, exciting, interesting game with the
results are close. On the other hand, you want it
to be one hundred percent accurate, and those things are
probably either end of a spectrum, and so having officials
run that line is quite challenging. And I've been really
(05:49):
really impressed with the way the officials have conducted themselves
and brought into the competition. And you're seeing that in
things like and how long is the game taking to run?
What are the running meters? You know, how many tries
are being scored, how much jeopardy the appears to be
in the competition. That's probably other factors involved in that. Yeah,
(06:11):
So I think it's in great shape in terms of
viewership and support. It's an excellent shape We still haven't
quite converted to bums on seats in every venue at
the moment, but even there are somewhat in a lot
of venues. I know, the Warrior Cup in particular, are
enjoying a bit of a stellar run in terms of
bums and seats, and we're doing better this year than
(06:32):
we did last year. And we've always tended to have
a reasonably full stadium. And then you've got to put
somewhere like the Blues at Eden Park. You know, there's
often a lot of comparisons to other venues, but a
crowd at Eden Park. If you lifted and shifted that
and plumped them into other venues around the country where
people celebrate attendance, you'd be going, well, that place is full.
(06:53):
So I think you just got to keep that context
in mind when you're looking at bums and seats as well. Well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Speaking of venues and bums on seats, new ones a
year or so from now, how much are you looking
forward to getting into your new stadium in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
It's interesting as you ask the question. The pretels on
the back of the neche that started to go up again.
It's piney. It's just like that mate. Right at the moment,
you know, I'm almost brought to tears just the excitement.
It's just unbelievable. I was talking to Caroline Harvey Cheer,
who's the CEO of Venues or Ta Tahi, just about
(07:29):
planning again this morning for another half hour, and I'll
get off that call and see if I had boots
and the turf was down, I'd be down there. I'm
that motivated, and I think that's the way the organization
feels about it. It's so exciting, and it's such an
amazing venue. You sit, you sit one side of that
venue and you look across to the other side, and
(07:49):
I reckon, you'll be able to see cracks and facial
features and people on the other side. And I reckon,
if you're sitting there, you know a couple of rows
back your feet that you're in the game. You're that
close to it. It's just a man, it's an amazing venue.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Now, well, I'm getting a Now I'm not even a cantamporary,
and I'm getting excited about getting down there for a
game next year.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
At some start.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Hey, one, just one final question about a specific player.
Ri Tim Warnger sounds like you'll be back mid next year,
which will be post Super Rugby. But do you feel
like you'll be in pole position to get his services
for Super Rugby in twenty twenty seven?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I think that this is his club. You know, if
you ask Richie, where is he most a home? Who
are the people he loves most? You think I'm doing
a cell job on him right now? Don't you know?
Who are the people? Who are the people he loves most?
Where is he care about the most? And who's he
played one hundred games for and all those things. You know,
(08:51):
you'd hope that this is too dung a whi way
in the place where he is as best and feels
most at home. Now in terms of do you take
that for granted? Note do you want do you want
to make sure that the guy you know, a guy
his quality and clasps it feels like they can come home. Absolutely,
So it's a bit like Lester, you know, back next year.
(09:16):
You know, Ryan Crotti came back to the place. You know,
we do like this to be a place where he hides,
a place where people feel at his home and they
want to come back to. And we'll do everything in
out power to make sure that happens.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Fantastic, hey Colin. Great to get the couch us to
catch up all the best for the back end of
twenty twenty five and into the playoffs as well. And yeah,
I can't wait to get down and see that new
stadium of yours next year.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I can't wait to have you down there, poney. And yeah,
thanks very much for the time, mate.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
No, thank you for yours, Colin, Colin Mansbridge, CEO, There
of the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk z B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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