MAIA JOSEPH | Black Ferns halfback on massive win against France

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (0:15)

We are talking Black Ferns footy with a second test up in Whangarei this weekend. The first one, holy hecka. Ferns on fire, Maia Joseph joins us on the line. Maia, good morning.

Maia Joseph (0:28)

Hi, how are you?

SPEAKER_2 (0:29)

Hi, we're good, mate. How are you going?

Maia Joseph (0:32)

Good, yeah, really good, thanks.

SPEAKER_2 (0:35)

Was there at least a smile or two after beating France 81 points to 12?

Maia Joseph (0:43)

Yeah, no, definitely. It was probably not the game we expected, but yeah, really happy with how our attack systems worked. Yeah, it was a fun game to play as well.

SPEAKER_2 (0:54)

Yeah, it looked like a lot of fun. What clicked, Maia? What are the fundamentals that you've been working on for some time now under WIT, and what clicked into place for you?

Maia Joseph (1:05)

We had changed lots of our systems, but I think there was just a few little tweaks we made after that England test, and the girls were able to, I guess, put it into action really fast. And I think that was the difference between the two games. Obviously, the opposition was a good one as well, but yeah, I guess the little tweaks we made after that England test, putting them into action really quickly, and yeah, like I said, it probably wasn't the French team we were expecting as well.

SPEAKER_4 (1:31)

Maia, I've really noticed your ability as a group to not only run, you catch pass, but you're triple threat. And when I say triple threat, your ability to attack with a kicking mindset and score off them as well. Can you talk to us about that side of the game? How much of an emphasis is on that part of the game and the rewards you're getting from it?

Maia Joseph (1:54)

Yes, we've been trying to grow our kicking game under the last three or four years. I think the Northern Hemisphere teams were quite a wee way ahead of us a couple of years ago. So I guess the likes of myself and Tara at nine, but also our tens and honestly all of the backs and midfielders as well. I think it's been a huge emphasis on coaches on being able to be a triple threat. And I guess in teams around without kicking game, I used to just kind of be running from everywhere.

So it's been really cool this year to I guess see that come out in the test.

SPEAKER_4 (2:25)

It helps when you got a player like Shira Tuleau-Tua on the outside four tries on the weekend. Can you just give us an understanding and tell us a bit about Shira and some of the work that she's been doing?

Maia Joseph (2:39)

Yeah, that was I guess so cool to watch the team, Matt, cause Shira is so quiet and she's, I guess, just come into this team this year as a really young 19 year old. But holy, she is so powerful and fast and it was so cool to see her really pack herself in the weekend and yeah, four tries and I think six line breaks or something was so impressive.

SPEAKER_2 (3:04)

Yeah, you've obviously got a great pack. Working behind Kaipour was magnificent again, I thought, Maia, and then you've got a midfield that just knows how to punch and has some really soft skills as well, especially duper C.

It must be a joy sometimes to understanding how all the constituent parts come together and being that glue in the middle.

Maia Joseph (3:24)

Yeah, 100 percent, I think. The backs got a lot of tries in the weekend, but the forwards were really doing the work up front. And when that happens, my job's so easy, I can kind of just get there and pass. And sometimes the ball's available too fast for me.

And then, yeah, like you said, midfielders have really, I guess, grown this year in their ability to be triple threats as well. Passing game, they're not just running it up the middle, but they can distribute it to the wingers, to Shira and Kick as well. So yeah, it's a real, makes my job really easy.

SPEAKER_4 (3:56)

Maia, I must applaud you, man. You girls are such a joy to watch, watching that game, the way that you play with a smile on your faces. Uncompromising as anything, and your ability to entertain. Can you give me your take, your understanding of, on the coaching group, in particular, Whitney Henson, what she has done for the group, but not only the group yourself.