The Detail: 2025 in sport

Photo: Supplied The country's biggest sports teams delivered everything from turmoil to triumph in 2025, with a mixed bag of results across rugby, league, netball and cricket, and off-field drama often dominating headlines. For a country that breathes sport as deeply as it breathes air, 2025 has offered both triumphant exhilaration and heartbreaking exasperation. The past year has reminded Kiwi fans that dominance is never guaranteed, and that rebuilding, resetting and resilience will be themes across many of the nation's sporting codes, namely rugby, league, netball, football and cricket. Sports commentator and journalist Rikki Swannell breaks down the highs and lows - on and off the field - for The Detail. "I would probably say inconsistent, that's the word that comes to mind," Swannell replied, after being asked to sum up the sporting year. "It's been a little bit inconsistent and perhaps, at times, a little unconvincing." Let's start with the All Blacks. The side endured another uneven year, showing moments of brilliance - think lock Fabian Holland (just named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year), halfback Cam Roigard and loose forward Ardie Savea - but they also struggled for consistency, as their rebuild continued under intense public scrutiny. "They lose [to England], there's no Grand Slam, and then you look at a year where they suffered a record defeat to South Africa at home and then they were beaten by Argentina for the first time ever away," Swannell says. "I would say inconsistent and the other word, though, too... is unconvincing. We are year two into Scott Robertson's reign as coach and it doesn't feel like they've progressed. "There's probably - and I know I have seen the word bandied around a little bit - stagnation. They haven't really gone forward. "Yes, injuries are a part of that as well, but it's hard to almost see where they are going at the moment and that's probably the concerning factor for any All Blacks fan. "Even some of those wins that they had weren't thoroughly convincing and it's hard to see exactly where they are heading." Is Robertson the right man for the top coaching job? "He's the man for the job, whether he's the right man for the job... I would be very surprised if he's not the retained All Black coach, though, until the next World Cup. It's just not the New Zealand way to do that, they will back him." Photo: www.photosport.nz Will Scott Barrett remain the All Blacks captain? "That might be Scott Robertson's biggest decision... the fact of the matter is, when Ardie Savea has worn that captain's armband, the All Blacks have been a better side." She says the All Blacks' upside is that a core of younger players have emerged as genuine long-term leaders. The challenge? Converting potential into consistency. If the All Blacks' troubles were on the field, the Silver Ferns' drama was almost entirely off it. The ongoing coaching saga - standing down Dame Noeline Taurua for more than 50 days, then re-instating her last month - became one of the year's biggest sporting stories, raising uncomfortable questions about leadership, communication and the direction of the netball programme. "Massively damaging," says Swannell, who has covered netball as a journalist or commentator for more than 20 years. "Every sport has their dramas, but this one for netball, on the back of what hasn't been a great year anyway. "There's been issues around their broadcast deal, uncertainty around their competition and clearly some not great morale going on at headquarters, with a high turnover of staff as well. "Then you add this on top of it and the handling of the situation, and it all adds up to a pretty grim year for Netball New Zealand, saved by their players." Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly The women in black enjoyed a 2-1 series win over England, thrashed South Africa 3-0, beat the Scottish Thistles twice and secured two wins over Australia, only to lose the Constellation Cup by one goal in series-decider time. When they take to the court again next year, will Dame Noeline Taurua be front and centre? "The path forward, to me, is really still very murky and there's still a lot that has to change for her to come back in." Another code courting off-field headlines and drama this year - cricket. NZ cricket chief executive Scott Weenink faces allegations of working to "actively undermine" a bid by a private consortium to establish a new T20 franchise competition. An open letter, signed by several former Black Caps test and one-day players, has also just been shared, detailing concerns around the proposed league. "I have a feeling we are probably going to end up talking about cricket off the field, just like we have with netball this season, and I think Netball New Zealand are going to be the happiest people going about it," Swannell says with a laugh. "Someone else taking the spotlight, hey, hold my beer. "It's not necessarily the sort of thing that...

The Detail: 2025 in sport

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