Joseph Parker, Crusaders, Shaun Johnson, Phoenix, Black Caps, Breakers Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The rugby season's underway, the Warriors are just around the corner and Joseph Parker is set to return to the ring. If you thought February was busy, March is going to ramp it up even further for sports content, here's what's coming up:
NRL
Warriors v Sharks
March 8
Go Media Stadium Mt Smart
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson takes on Kiwis teammate and Cronulla Sharks forward Briton Nikora. Photo: Photosport
It's a safe bet Mt Smart will be full for the first Warriors game of the season. It's a replay of a match that won the club a Halberg Award for Sporting Moment of the Year, but more importantly it's when the rubber really meets the road for Andrew Webster's side. There's no flying under the radar this year, the Warriors' preliminary final appearance in 2023 has seen them marked as a real premiership threat.
Other home games in March include a trip back to Christchurch to face the Raiders, then back at Mt Smart against the Knights.
Super Rugby Pacific
Blues v Crusaders
March 23
Eden Park
Photo: www.photosport.nz / John Davidson
Out of all the games next month in Super Rugby, this one stands as the most important. Not just because of the rivalry on the field between the two powerful teams, with the Blues keen to improve their recent poor record against the Crusaders. This is also a really big moment in optics for rugby, by that date the NRL would be well underway and the size of crowd that Eden Park can pull will be a big topic.
As well as that game, there are a bunch of other local derbies - notably the Crusaders and Hurricanes play on March 15 and the Chiefs and Highlanders on March 23.
Joseph Parker v Zhilei Zhang
March 9 (NZT)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Joseph Parker celebrates victory following the WBC International & WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight title fight Photo: Richard Pelham
The resurrection of Joe Parker's career was an early Christmas present late last year, when the heavyweight upset former world champion Deontay Wilder in a unanimous decision win. He returns to the Saudi desert to fight the imposing Chinese big man Zhang, who stands at 1.93m and has a has a 26-1-1 record. Most importantly, he knocked out Joe Joyce twice last year, Joyce being the last man to defeat Parker.
A win here for Parker will trigger an automatic rematch clause as Zhang is the WBO interim champion, once that's out of the way the path may finally be clear for a main event title fight. Anthony Joshua is fighting MMA star Francis Ngannou on the same card, which will be an intriguing watch as well.
Wellington Phoenix
Phoenix v Sydney FC
March 16, Eden Park
Kosta Barbarouses of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during in the A-League Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 'Nix are currently top of the A League table and will be wanting to stay there by the time April starts, with games against Adelaide, Melbourne City, Sydney and Brisbane over the next four weeks. The big one is on the 16th against Sydney FC at Eden Park, where they'll be hoping to pull their biggest crowd of the season.
Hopefully by the end of the month the momentum will be well behind the side as they attempt to win their first ever A-League title.
Test cricket
Black Caps v Australia
Second test
March 8, Hagley Oval
Pat Cummins and Tim Southee pose with the trophy ahead of the 2024 New Zealand Blackcaps v Australia Test Series at the Basin Reserve, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand summer closes with the biggest challenge the Black Caps can face, with the Aussies hungry for a series victory to put them back on track to defend their ICC World Test Championship. They still have to get through the first test at the Basin Reserve, but by the time the second test starts that's plenty of time to have adapted to New Zealand conditions.
If the Black Caps are going to pull off an upset, they are going to have to get their bats working. This series could be determined on a couple of key partnerships, so Kane Williamson's wicket will be vital.
NZ Breakers
Breakers v Illawarra Hawks
March 4, WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Parker Jackson-Cartwright of the Breakers drives to the basket Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Win or the season is over: that's the simple equation for the Breakers as their 2023-24 campaign comes down to this do-or-die match up with the Hawks. They pulled off a clutch 83-76 win over Sydney in the NBL's play-in qualifier, their hopes may rest on the fitness of Will McDowell-White and Zylan Cheatham.
A win will see them progress to a semi-final against Melbourne United on Thursday 7 March.
