Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett has rolled out the red carpet for the 17th edition of rugby league's World Cup starting tonight in Sydney. 

The 10-team men's tournament begins with defending champions Australia hosting New Zealand in Group A. 

Barnett told Mike Hosking the emergence of Samoa and Tonga as genuine contenders has been a coup for the international game. 

He says based on what they're seeing on paper, those two teams are incredible, as are the Kiwis, so he's very optimistic. 

He says it's going to be the best and most competitive World Cup he's ever seen. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett has rolled out the red carpet for the 17th edition of rugby league's World Cup starting tonight in Sydney.&nbsp;
The 10-team men's tournament begins with defending champions Australia hosting New Zealand in Group A.&nbsp;
Barnett told Mike Hosking the emergence of Samoa and Tonga as genuine contenders has been a coup for the international game.&nbsp;
He says based on what they're seeing on paper, those two teams are incredible, as are the Kiwis, so he's very optimistic.&nbsp;
He says it's going to be the best and most competitive World Cup he's ever seen.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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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

Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis Captain ahead of the Rugby League World Cup kicking off

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f1dab55c-dff9-495a-ad21-b4e30145a3fe/transcript

We're still losing people to Australia, but not as badly as we were.  

Stats out yesterday tell the story.  

If I could pick a country right now, I would go with New Zealand and by some margin. I haven't always said that.  

Of course, most people go because they are going to go. If you want reasons to stay or go, and justify it to yourself, you can always find them.  

The same way, overall, the number of people moving to or from Australia will always be in their favour because they're a bigger country. They have more options. That's not about quality, it's about size. 

At the margins though, the point is it's slowing because the tide has turned. If you accept most western nations are right now in a quagmire of sorts, we, little old New Zealand, are doing quite well thank you.  

We are safe and isolated, we are robust and resilient, we are increasingly in favour by expats looking to return.  

As part of the overall migration numbers released yesterday, we still don’t have enough people. Our net gain is meagre, bordering on worrying.  

As too many countries, including Australia, scrap over migration numbers and being flooded with new arrivals we, in a way, have the opposite problem.  

A country needs to grow to offset the lack of births. A lot of countries, including ours, face the same issue. 

The trick is getting the right people and the right numbers. We seem to have settled on a pretty solid skills formula for visas, but the numbers are not where they need to be. Our net gain at the moment is 20,000, at the peak it was 130,000. If 130,000 was too much, 20,000 ain't enough. 

Employers still can't get talent, and the unemployment rate and talent are two different things.  

But this country is growing: 2.6 %. Look up the IMF forecasts out this week and see who else is growing at that rate or more – there aren't many and those who are, are either massive, i.e. India, or chip related, i.e. Taiwan. Australia certainly isn't. 

When you line up inflation, work, tax, debt, angst, immigration, and housing, Australia is not a patch on us. The cycle has turned, the numbers have turned, we are right where we want to be: on the up. 

We're still losing people to Australia, but not as badly as we were. &nbsp;
Stats out yesterday tell the story. &nbsp;
If I could pick a country right now, I would go with New Zealand and by some margin. I haven't always said that. &nbsp;
Of course, most people go because they are going to go. If you want reasons to stay or go, and justify it to yourself, you can always find them. &nbsp;
The same way, overall, the number of people moving to or from Australia will always be in their favour because they're a bigger country. They have more options. That's not about quality, it's about size.&nbsp;
At the margins though, the point is it's slowing because the tide has turned. If you accept most western nations are right now in a quagmire of sorts, we, little old New Zealand, are doing quite well thank you. &nbsp;
We are safe and isolated, we are robust and resilient, we are increasingly in favour by expats looking to return. &nbsp;
As part of the overall migration numbers released yesterday, we still don’t have enough people. Our net gain is meagre, bordering on worrying. &nbsp;
As too many countries, including Australia, scrap over migration numbers and being flooded with new arrivals we, in a way, have the opposite problem. &nbsp;
A country needs to grow to offset the lack of births. A lot of countries, including ours, face the same issue.&nbsp;
The trick is getting the right people and the right numbers. We seem to have settled on a pretty solid skills formula for visas, but the numbers are not where they need to be. Our net gain at the moment is 20,000, at the peak it was 130,000. If 130,000 was too much, 20,000 ain't enough.&nbsp;
Employers still can't get talent, and the unemployment rate and talent are two different things. &nbsp;
But this country is growing: 2.6 %. Look up the IMF forecasts out this week and see who else is growing at that rate or more – there aren't many and those who are, are either massive, i.e. India, or chip related, i.e. Taiwan. Australia certainly isn't.&nbsp;
When you line up inflation, work, tax, debt, angst, immigration, and housing, Australia is not a patch on us. The cycle has turned, the numbers have turned, we are right where we want to be: on the up.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: NZ vs Australia – there's an easy winner

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/794eec4b-fbe4-40f1-99ab-b4e3016346a4/transcript

Greg Johnson is headed back to New Zealand after the release of his new album, ready to take his music around the country. 

With 'Some Night, Somewhere' now out in the world, he's celebrating his 60th birthday in style with a career spanning tour that takes him right up the country. 

Johnson's tour takes him to a unique series of venues, ranging from intimate music venues like Nelson's Room Twenty5 to places like the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland.  

"It's one of those rare moments left in life now where people can actually sit and enjoy an experience together," Johnson told Mike Hosking.  

"So it's a range, you know, big, bigger theatres for the bigger cities. I'm not a huge theatre fan as much as I am clubs, but you can't always do clubs."  

"It's an experience." 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Greg Johnson is headed back to New Zealand after the release of his new album, ready to take his music around the country.&nbsp;
With 'Some Night, Somewhere' now out in the world, he's celebrating his 60th birthday in style with a career spanning tour that takes him right up the country.&nbsp;
Johnson's tour takes him to a unique series of venues, ranging from intimate music venues like Nelson's Room Twenty5 to places like the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland. &nbsp;
"It's one of those rare moments left in life now where people can actually sit and enjoy an experience together," Johnson told Mike Hosking. &nbsp;
"So it's a range, you know, big, bigger theatres for the bigger cities. I'm not a huge theatre fan as much as I am clubs, but you can't always do clubs." &nbsp;
"It's an experience."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Greg Johnson: Kiwi musician on his new album 'Some Nights, Somewhere' and his 60 tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5ec46522-0aac-4a52-ab02-b4e301593ece/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 15th of October, we've put all the "best bits" of the leader's debate into a package for you, plus we have good news re: police recruitment. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins discusses the debate, how his candidates are going in the Māori electorates, and the Greens and Te Pāti Māori's meeting with the Mongrel Mob. 

Kiwi musician Greg Johnson sings us a song ahead of his NZ tour. 

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 15th of October, we've put all the "best bits" of the leader's debate into a package for you, plus we have good news re: <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/jill-rogers-deputy-police-commissioner-on-surge-in-police-recruitment-in-2026/">police recruitment.</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/chris-hipkins-labour-leader-unpacks-the-leaders-debate-education-green-and-te-p%C4%81ti-m%C4%81ori-mps-meeting-with-gang-members/">Labour leader Chris Hipkins</a> discusses the debate, how his candidates are going in the Māori electorates, and the Greens and Te Pāti Māori's meeting with the Mongrel Mob.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/greg-johnson-kiwi-musician-on-his-new-album-some-nights-somewhere-and-his-60-tour/">Kiwi musician Greg Johnson</a> sings us a song ahead of his NZ tour.&nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 15 October 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ede06a09-3ca9-478b-a9ec-b4e3014cec22/transcript

Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis Captain ahead of the Rugby League World Cup kicking off

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