The NRL is pulling more and more eyes.

Ten rounds into the season, nearly 1.59 million New Zealanders have watched matches on Sky Sport and free-to-air on Sky Open.

This is an increase of 14% compared to last year.

Former Warriors Coach Frank Endacott told Mike Hosking that the increase says something for the game as a spectator sport.

He said that if you look at the way it’s progressed over the last couple of decades, the speed of the games is unbelievable. 

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The NRL is pulling more and more eyes. 
Ten rounds into the season, nearly 1.59 million New Zealanders have watched matches on Sky Sport and free-to-air on Sky Open. 
This is an increase of 14% compared to last year. 
Former Warriors Coach Frank Endacott told Mike Hosking that the increase says something for the game as a spectator sport. 
He said that if you look at the way it’s progressed over the last couple of decades, the speed of the games is unbelievable.  
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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Frank Endacott: Former Warriors Coach on Sky seeing an increase in NRL watchers

All Waikato junior league rugby games have been cancelled after fights and abuse from adults on the sidelines. 

The Waikato Junior League Rugby Board said it would continue working with clubs to address the issues and ensure appropriate standards are upheld.

Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper joined Mike Hosking to chat about the issues, calling the behaviour 'disgraceful'. 

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All Waikato junior league rugby games have been cancelled after fights and abuse from adults on the sidelines.&nbsp;
The Waikato Junior League Rugby Board said it would continue working with clubs to address the issues and ensure appropriate standards are upheld.
Sport Waikato CEO Matthew Cooper joined Mike Hosking to chat about the issues, calling the behaviour 'disgraceful'.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Matthew Cooper: Sport Waikato CEO slams parents after sideline abuse leads to games cancelled

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/994553ea-9462-4bfa-bc6f-b45401482773/transcript

Is the Nicola Willis public service announcement to be admired or condemned? 

I think the former, on balance. 

They should have done it properly two years ago and they didn’t, hence they probably should not be back here now, unless this was their Machiavellian plan all along. 

Two public service haircuts a term. But assuming that wasn’t it, we go back to a lost opportunity that could be in the rear vision mirror by now. 

What they talked was a big game. What they delivered was a surgical whimper. 

Yes, it is always sad to lose jobs and restructure and cut. But few outside the Wellington bubble would argue with the fact that the growth engine of public service work was absurd and 65,000 is a city, not a workforce. 

To make it worse, they got the same headlines and noise and pushback over a couple of thousand cuts as they would have ten times that. 

So we are back for another crack, driven by necessity. 

That’s the bit to be admired. 

Laying lots of people off in election year is not really a vote-getter 

Mind you it's safe, I think, to say most of the public service aren't conservatives so the vote loss, you'd guess, will be minimal. 

It’s a horrible thing working in an environment where your future is part of the political wind. I faced it at TVNZ and Radio NZ. Whoever woke up on what side of the bed had some effect on what you were paid and whether you were hanging around for a while. 

It's no way to have a job. 

And in that sense, you can blame the Labour Government for stacking the place with well-paid work. And yet as you applied, if you thought about it, surely it couldn’t last, and it hasn’t. 

As the unions bleat, this is not about the public service and its value. They do a lot of good things and a lot of vital things. 

There are a lot of very capable, if not talented, people in the mix. But it’s the extra, the excess and the fat that needs the trimming. 

This is fiscally desperate to a degree – an operating allowance of $2.1 billion and savings from anywhere and everywhere. 

You can't accuse the Government of priming the pumps. The pumps don’t work because "the vandals took the handles", if you know your Bob Dylan. 

The point is slashing spending and killing jobs is not your traditional electioneering. That's to be admired.   

Is the Nicola Willis public service announcement to be admired or condemned?&nbsp;
I think the former, on balance.&nbsp;
They should have done it properly two years ago and they didn’t, hence they probably should not be back here now, unless this was their Machiavellian plan all along.&nbsp;
Two public service haircuts a term. But assuming that wasn’t it, we go back to a lost opportunity that could be in the rear vision mirror by now.&nbsp;
What they talked was a big game. What they delivered was a surgical whimper.&nbsp;
Yes, it is always sad to lose jobs and restructure and cut. But few outside the Wellington bubble would argue with the fact that the growth engine of public service work was absurd and 65,000 is a city, not a workforce.&nbsp;
To make it worse, they got the same headlines and noise and pushback over a couple of thousand cuts as they would have ten times that.&nbsp;
So we are back for another crack, driven by necessity.&nbsp;
That’s the bit to be admired.&nbsp;
Laying lots of people off in election year is not really a vote-getter&nbsp;
Mind you it's safe, I think, to say most of the public service aren't conservatives so the vote loss, you'd guess, will be minimal.&nbsp;
It’s a horrible thing working in an environment where your future is part of the political wind. I faced it at TVNZ and Radio NZ. Whoever woke up on what side of the bed had some effect on what you were paid and whether you were hanging around for a while.&nbsp;
It's no way to have a job.&nbsp;
And in that sense, you can blame the Labour Government for stacking the place with well-paid work. And yet as you applied, if you thought about it, surely it couldn’t last, and it hasn’t.&nbsp;
As the unions bleat, this is not about the public service and its value. They do a lot of good things and a lot of vital things.&nbsp;
There are a lot of very capable, if not talented, people in the mix. But it’s the extra, the excess and the fat that needs the trimming.&nbsp;
This is fiscally desperate to a degree – an operating allowance of $2.1 billion and savings from anywhere and everywhere.&nbsp;
You can't accuse the Government of priming the pumps. The pumps don’t work because "the vandals took the handles", if you know your Bob Dylan.&nbsp;
The point is slashing spending and killing jobs is not your traditional electioneering. That's to be admired. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: The public service cut is to be admired

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/52d5ff3a-4bd3-4024-af2c-b4520163a495/transcript

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

 

Tourism: 7/10 

This has been a good vibe week. TRENZ had them coming from everywhere, the sentiment is good, and the numbers are excellent. 

 

Kiwifruit: 9/10 

This story is starting to outshine dairy. Not in numbers, but in terms of growth. At almost $6 billion and booming, this is mana from vines. Add it to dairy and we are laughing. 

 

Chris Hipkins: 2/10 

This has been, far and away, his worst week of the year. Mystery policy detail and the arrogance to say we aren't interested in detail anyway. He is National's election year dream come true. 

 

Trump: 4/10 

We still don’t have a deal, but we do have a slush fund. He looks increasingly tawdry. But he's just as influential – just ask Thomas Massie. 

 

Newstalk ZB: 8/10 

Guess who’s popular? Ratings day yesterday was party day – the audience is up, and on some shows, up a lot. We thank you and appreciate you, as always, from the bottom of our hearts. 

 

LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW 

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Tourism: 7/10&nbsp;
This has been a good vibe week. TRENZ had them coming from everywhere, the sentiment is good, and the numbers are excellent.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Kiwifruit: 9/10&nbsp;
This story is starting to outshine dairy. Not in numbers, but in terms of growth. At almost $6 billion and booming, this is mana from vines. Add it to dairy and we are laughing.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Chris Hipkins: 2/10&nbsp;
This has been, far and away, his worst week of the year. Mystery policy detail and the arrogance to say we aren't interested in detail anyway. He is National's election year dream come true.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Trump: 4/10&nbsp;
We still don’t have a deal, but we do have a slush fund. He looks increasingly tawdry. But he's just as influential – just ask Thomas Massie.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB: 8/10&nbsp;
Guess who’s popular? Ratings day yesterday was party day – the audience is up, and on some shows, up a lot. We thank you and appreciate you, as always, from the bottom of our hearts.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW&nbsp;

Mark the Week: This has been Chris Hipkins' worst week of the year

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c1065b26-deac-47bb-ac65-b4510181fbbd/transcript

Frank Endacott: Former Warriors Coach on Sky seeing an increase in NRL watchers

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