IT'S MIDDAY. SADDENED, BUT STILL MUCH-LOVED MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY ` THE QUEEN SPEAKS ABOUT HARRY AND MEGHAN'S REVEALING INTERVIEW. COULD THE MONARCHY BE AT RISK? AND DIG OUT YOUR RED SOCKS, RACE DAY IS FINALLY HERE. WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF THE 36TH AMERICA'S CUP GETTING UNDERWAY IN JUST A FEW HOURS' TIME. PLUS ` WHO'S NEXT IN LINE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE? THE GOVERNMENT WILL LAY OUT ITS ROADMAP FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT. WILL SOME SPORTS STARS BE ABLE TO JUMP THE QUEUE? CAPTIONS BY LILLIE BALFOUR AND JORDAN WAETFORD. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2021 THE PALACE HAS BROKEN ITS SILENCE OVER HARRY AND MEGHAN'S OPRAH INTERVIEW THAT'S RICOCHETED THROUGH THE ROYAL FAMILY AND THE BRITISH PUBLIC. THE QUEEN SAYS SHE'S SADDENED, AND WILL BE LOOKING INTO CLAIMS OF RACISM WITHIN THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR PRIVATELY. BUT THERE'S CRITICISM HER MAJESTY'S RESPONSE IS TOO SOFT COMPARED TO THE FIRM LANGUAGE USED IN A STATEMENT ISSUED OVER EARLIER ALLEGATIONS MEGHAN BULLIED PALACE STAFF DURING HER TIME AS A WORKING ROYAL. A CASUALTY IN THE FALLOUT ` TV HOST PIERS MORGAN. HE'S LEFT HIS POST AS GOOD MORNING BRITAIN ANCHOR AFTER 41,000 COMPLAINTS OVER COMMENTS HE MADE ABOUT THE DUCHESS. THE BBC'S NICHOLAS WITCHELL HAS TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS. FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE THIS EVENING, A STATEMENT ABOUT THE SUSSEXS' TV INTERVIEW FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. IT READS... IT AMOUNTED TO JUST 61 WORDS. THE PALACE MADE IT CLEAR IT WOULD NOT BE COMMENTING FURTHER. EARLIER, WHILE THE PALACE WAS PONDERING ITS RESPONSE TO THE SUSSEX INTERVIEW, THE DAILY BUSINESS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY CONTINUED PRETTY MUCH AS NORMAL. THE PRINCE OF WALES WAS AT A VACCINATION CENTRE IN NORTH WEST LONDON. ALL NORMAL, APART FROM THE INEVITABLE QUESTION. SIR, CAN I ASK ` WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE INTERVIEW? WHEREUPON THERE WAS A VERY SHARP EXIT. THE INTERVIEW HAS NOW BEEN SEEN AROUND THE WORLD. 11m TUNED IN IN BRITAIN TO HEAR MEGHAN'S CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL BUT IGNORED, AND HER ASSERTION OF A RACIAL SLUR BY A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY ABOUT HER THEN UNBORN BABY. SO WE HAVE IN TANDEM THE CONVERSATION OF HE WON'T BE GIVEN SECURITY. HE'S NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN A TITLE, AND ALSO CONCERNS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW DARK HIS SKIN MIGHT BE WHEN HE'S BORN. MEGHAN'S ESTRANGED FATHER, THOMAS MARKLE, WATCHED THE INTERVIEW ON US TELEVISION. WHAT DID HE MAKE OF HIS DAUGHTER'S CLAIMS? I DON'T THINK THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY ARE... ARE RACISTS. THE THING ABOUT WHAT COLOUR WILL THE BABY BE, OR HOW DARK WILL THE BABY BE? I'M GUESSING AND HOPING IT'S JUST A DUMB QUESTION FROM SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW? IT COULD JUST BE THAT SIMPLE. IT COULD BE SOMEBODY ASKED A STUPID QUESTION. SHOCKWAVES OF HARRY AND MEGHAN'S EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH... BUT AS THE INTERVIEW DOMINATES SO MUCH OF THE NEWS, PARTICULARLY IN AMERICA, THERE ARE INFLUENTIAL VOICES SPEAKING UP FOR MEGHAN. THE FACT SHE DID NOT GET MORE SUPPORT, THAT THE` THE REACTION WAS, YOU KNOW, 'LET'S JUST PAPER IT OVER 'AND PRETEND THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OR IT WILL GO AWAY. 'JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN.' WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS YOUNG WOMAN WAS NOT ABOUT TO KEEP HER HEAD DOWN, YOU KNOW? THIS IS 2021. THE STORY IS DOMINATING THE MEDIA HERE IN BRITAIN WITH SHARP CRITICISM FROM SOME WHO SAY THERE WAS A DOUBLE STANDARD IN THE WAY THE PRESS REPORTED MEGHAN. YOU HAVE TO DRAW CONCLUSIONS FROM THE WAY MEGHAN WAS SYSTEMATICALLY CRITICISED AND ATTACKED FOR THINGS WHICH OTHER WHITE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY COULD GET AWAY WITH. AND SO A SHARPLY DIVIDED DEBATE CONTINUES. WAS MEGHAN THE NAIVE AMERICAN WHO NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF BEING A BRITISH ROYAL, OR A HUGE POTENTIAL ASSET WHO WAS WASTED AND WRONGED BY AN INFLEXIBLE INSTITUTION? OPINION'S DEEPLY DIVIDED AFTER THE INTERVIEW, BUT IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THE A CRISIS HAS ROCKED THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. BBC'S MARK EASTON EXAMINES THE THREAT TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST INSTITUTIONS. EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, THE QUEEN ATTENDED THE COMMONWEALTH DAY SERVICE, HARRY AND MEGHAN'S LAST ROYAL ENGAGEMENT. IT'S ALWAYS INSPIRING TO BE REMINDED OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP OUR WORLDWIDE FAMILY, THE QUEEN SAID, SPEAKING AS HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH THAT DAY. SUCH A BLEND OF TRADITIONS SERVES TO MAKE US STRONGER, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. BUT AS THE ROYALS GATHERED IN THE ABBEY, THERE WERE HINTS OF TENSIONS AND TROUBLES TO COME. OVER THE COURSE OF 70 YEARS, THE QUEEN HAS GUIDED THE MONARCHY FROM EMPIRE TO BLACK LIVES MATTER. IN THE 21ST CENTURY, SHE REPRESENTS THE UNITING FIGUREHEAD FOR PEOPLE OF ALL CULTURES. ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM AT THE HEART OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, COULD REPRESENT AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT FOR THIS ANCIENT INSTITUTION. NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'LL SEE VERY, VERY YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG INFLUENCERS, YOUNG THINKERS ACTUALLY SAYING, WELL, WHAT IS THIS INSTITUTION? WHY DOES IT EXIST? YOU KNOW, THEY'RE QUESTIONING THINGS I'VE NOT SEEN THEM QUESTION BEFORE. AND THE THRONE PASSES TO KING EDWARD THE EIGHTH'S YOUNGER BROTHER AND HIS WIFE. TODAY'S CRISIS MANAGEMENT AT THE PALACE CONTAINS ECHOES OF THE ABDICATION CRISIS IN 1936, WHEN KING EDWARD THE EIGHTH GAVE UP THE THRONE TO MARRY WALLIS SIMPSON. LIKE MEGAN, SHE WAS AN AMERICAN DIVORCEE, AN OUTSIDER. THE DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA IN 1997 ALSO SAW THE ROYALS ACCUSED OF FAILING TO SUPPORT A YOUNG WOMAN WHO THEY'D INVITED INTO THEIR GILDED CAGE. NOW, THE ROYAL PR DEPARTMENT IS ONCE AGAIN FIRE FIGHTING ACCUSATIONS OF A BRAND OUT OF TOUCH WITH CONTEMPORARY ATTITUDES AND VALUES. IT REPRESENTS, NOT JUST A SYMBOL OF HISTORIC OPPRESSION, BUT AS WE SEE WITH HARRY AND MEGHAN, THE CONTINUED RESIDUE OF THE DISCRIMINATION AND THE RACISM THAT MADE BRITISH EMPIRE. A NEW YOUGOV POLL SUGGESTS A GENERATIONAL DIVIDE. FOUR TIMES AS MANY 18 TO 24 YEAR OLDS THOUGHT HARRY AND MEGHAN HAD BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY BY THE ROYAL FAMILY COMPARED WITH THE OVER 65. IT SUGGESTS A LOOMING CHALLENGE FOR THE MONARCHY. WHILE HARRY AND MEGHAN PRAISE THE QUEEN IN THEIR INTERVIEW, PRINCE CHARLES WAS PORTRAYED AS UNSUPPORTIVE AND DISTANT. REPAIRING THE REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE WILL REQUIRE A RESPONSE THAT REACHES ACROSS, NOT JUST ETHNICITIES, BUT GENERATIONS. RACE DAY IS FINALLY HERE. THE 36TH AMERICA'S CUP IS JUST HOURS FROM GETTING UNDERWAY IN AUCKLAND. FANS WILL BE GLUED TO THEIR SCREENS AS TEAM NEW ZEALAND BEGIN THEIR DEFENCE AGAINST ITALY'S LUNA ROSSA. EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN IS OUTSIDE TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S BASE ON THE AUCKLAND VIADUCT. KIA ORA, EMILY. COVID ALERT LEVELS MAKE KEEPING THE MASS CODES AWAY BUT THE ENERGY HERE IS ALL THE SAME.IT IS USUALLY AROUND THIS TIME THAT WE SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PEPPERED ACROSS THE WATERFRONT DOWN AT THE AMERICA'S CUP VILLAGE BUT OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF LEVEL TWO RESTRICTIONS THIS WILL BE CLOSED.IF YOU WANT TO FEEL THE VILLAGE AND THE ATMOSPHERE, COME DOWN TO THE BAR. THERE ARE 100 PERSON LIMITS. FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WILL BE HAVING A SMALL GATHERING ON THE FORECOURT AS THEY BRING OUT THE BOAT. TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE UNDER LEVEL TWO CONDITIONS, BUT WE HAVE OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE WILL HAVE A RETURN TO LEVEL ONE IN TIME FOR RACING ON SATURDAY. IT IS A BIT CLOUDY AND WARM BUT AT IF YOUR HEART IS RACING JUSTICE BUSES MIND, YOU WILL BE FINE. ANTICIPATION IS IN THE AIR. THANKS, EMILY. NEW ZEALANDERS ARE SET TO FIND OUT THEIR PLACE IN THE QUEUE TO RECEIVE A COVID-19 JAB. THE GOVERNMENT WILL LAY OUT ITS ROAD MAP FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT TODAY, AND SAY WHETHER OR NOT SOME SPORTS STARS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JUMP THE QUEUE. THE BLACK CAPS ARE DUE TO TRAVEL TO INDIA AND ENGLAND AT THE END OF THE MONTH, AND HAVE BEEN LOBBYING TO GET A JAB BEFORE DEPARTING. AN ADDITIONAL 8.5m DOSES OF THE PFIZER-BIONTECH VACCINE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY THE GOVERNMENT ` ENOUGH TO COVER EVERYONE IN NEW ZEALAND. AUSTRALIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT AGAIN TO THE ONE-WAY TRAVEL CORRIDOR AFTER PREVIOUSLY PAUSING IT OVER AUCKLAND'S COVID-19 CLUSTER. IT MEANS QUARANTINE-FREE FLIGHTS INTO AUSTRALIA CAN CONTINUE FROM FRIDAY THIS WEEK. BUT SOME STATES ARE YET TO UPDATE THEIR ADVICE ON PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM NEW ZEALAND. TRAVELLERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MAKING PLANS. BACK HERE, NATIONAL'S PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN A TWO-WAY TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE. AUSTRALIA IS ABLE TO OPEN THEIR BORDERS TO NEW ZEALANDERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THEM WHEN THERE'S ANY COVID CASES OVER HERE. WE COULD DO THE SAME. WE WERE PROMISED THE SMARTEST BORDER IN THE WORLD FROM GRANT ROBERTSON. AT THE MOMENT, WE'VE GOT THE MOST BORDER, IT FEELS LIKE IN MANY WAYS. NOT SMART. JUDITH COLLINS SAYS THOSE FLYING FROM AUSTRALIA TO OUR SHORES SHOULD PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE PRE=DEPARTURE COVID TEST WITHIN 72 HOURS OF TRAVEL. A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER SAYS THE MIQ VOUCHER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REMODELLED AS ISSUES WITH THE BOOKING SITE CONTINUE. THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT, WHICH RUNS MIQ, SAYS THERE'S BEEN 'UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND' ON THE SITE, AND USERS ARE REPORTING CRASHES. PROGRAMMER ANDREW CONNELL SAYS THE WEBSITE IS FLAWED. THEY COULD AT LEAST HAVE SOME KIND OF QUEUE SYSTEM, WHERE YOU WOULD JUST SIGN UP FOR A DATE, OR A SERIES OF DATES, AND YOU WOULD JUST GET IN THE QUEUE AND FIRST IN FIRST SERVED, WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT THERE ALL DAY REFRESHING, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING. MIQ SLOTS UP UNTIL MAY ARE FULLY BOOKED. MBIE SAYS IT'LL BE RELEASING DATES FOR JUNE AND JULY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. OTAGO RESIDENTS WHO'VE BEEN AFFECTED BY LEAD CONTAMINATION IN THEIR WATER SUPPLY WILL FINALLY GET ANSWERS TODAY. IN EARLY FEBRUARY, RESIDENTS IN THREE EAST OTAGO TOWNS WERE TOLD TO STOP DRINKING THEIR TAP WATER AFTER LEAD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SUPPLY, DESPITE ITS PRESENCE BEING SIGNALLED MONTHS EARLIER. LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING, AND WERE SET TO PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS AT A PUBLIC MEETING LAST FRIDAY. THE EVENT WAS RESCHEDULED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, AND WILL BE HELD AT THE EAST OTAGO EVENTS CENTRE AT 7 O'CLOCK TONIGHT. THE HEALTH MINISTER IS DEFENDING PROGRESS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR AFTER CRITICISM WORK HAS BEEN STAGNANT FOLLOWING AN INQUIRY MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. 40 RECOMMENDATIONS TO OVERHAUL HOW MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION IS TREATED IN AOTEAROA WERE MADE ` 38 OF WHICH THE GOVERNMENT LARGELY ACCEPTED. BUT NATIONAL'S QUESTIONED ANDREW LITTLE DURING THE MINISTRY'S ANNUAL REVIEW THIS MORNING, CONCERNED THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR NEW SERVICES. MANY OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT SINGLE WEEK, OR SINGLE MONTH OR SINGLE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMMES, THEY'RE CARRIED OUT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. DO YOU HAVE A PUBLISHED PLAN FOR THE 38 RECOMMENDATIONS? WELL, YOU'VE GOT THE 38 RECOMMENDATIONS- DO YOU HAVE A PUBLISHED PLAN? YOU'VE GOT PROGRAMMES IN PLACE FOR MOST OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, ALREADY. THAT IS THE PLAN. HE SAYS WORK IS UNDERWAY TO UPGRADE AND DEVELOP NEW MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS OLD ROCK? AND WHY A WHOLE VILLAGE WENT OUT TO TRY AND FIND IT. STAY WITH US, WE WILL BE TALKING ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES LATER IN SPORT. PLUS ` FROM LEAGUE TO RUGBY AND BACK TO LEAGUE, SONNY BILL WILLIAMS WELCOME BACK. A ROCK AS OLD AS OUR SOLAR SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISCOVERED FROM A METEOR THAT HURTLED ACROSS THE SKIES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND LAST WEEK. DESCRIBED AS A 'FIREBALL', SCIENTISTS WORKED OUT WHERE THE METEOR WOULD COME DOWN AND ALERTED RESIDENTS TO HELP FIND IT. HERE'S THE BBC'S VICTORIA GILL. FROM NUNEATON TO SOWERBY BRIDGE TO SOMERSET ` THE NIGHT SKY WAS SET ALIGHT BY A FIREBALL THAT STREAKED ACROSS THE DARKNESS JUST OVER A WEEK AGO. AND WHILE THAT LIGHT SHOW WAS ACCIDENTALLY CAPTURED ON SECURITY FOOTAGE, AN ARRAY OF SPECIAL CAMERAS FROM THE UK FIREBALL ALLIANCE MANAGED TO PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE IN THE COUNTRY THE DEBRIS WAS LIKELY TO HAVE LANDED. THIS CHARRED PATCH OF TARMAC ON A GLOUCESTERSHIRE DRIVEWAY WAS THE FINAL CLUE. NOTHING LIKE THIS ROCK HAS EVER BEEN FOUND IN THE UK BEFORE. AFTER TRAVELLING FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS THROUGH SPACE, IT'S NOW IN THE EXPERT CARE OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN LONDON. SO, THIS IS 4.6b YEARS OLD, SO IT IS OLDER THAN ANY ROCK WE HAVE ON THE EARTH. SO IT TAKES US` IT'S LIKE A TIME CAPSULE. IT TAKES US ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. IT CONTAINS ALL THE BUILDING BLOCKS, SO POTENTIALLY, THIS METEORITE CONTAINS THINGS LIKE SIMPLE ORGANICS AND AMINO ACIDS THAT CAN TELL US ABOUT HOW LIFE GOT STARTED ON OUR EARTH. IT ALSO PROBABLY CONTAINS WATER-BEARING MINERALS. WE CAN LEARN ABOUT WHY WE HAVE THE OCEANS ON THE EARTH, AND WHY WE MAY HAVE HAD OCEANS ON OTHER PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. AND LIFT OFF... WHILE THIS DISCOVERY WEIGHS IN AT ALMOST HALF A KILO, NASA AND THE JAPANESE SPACE AGENCY BOTH PREVIOUSLY SENT PROBES TO ASTEROIDS AT HUGE COST TO RETURN JUST A FEW GRAMS OF PRISTINE SPACE ROCK. SOME 65,000 METEORITES HAVE FALLEN TO EARTH AND BEEN COLLECTED AROUND THE WORLD, BUT ONLY 1200 HAD EYEWITNESSES TO THEIR FALL. AND OF THESE, ONLY 51 ARE RARE CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES LIKE THIS ONE. TO SPORT NOW ` AND TEAM NEW ZEALAND IS JUST HOURS AWAY FROM BEGINNING THEIR AMERICA'S CUP DEFENCE AGAINST LUNA ROSSA. LET'S GO BACK TO EMILY VAN VELTHOOVEN WHO'S STANDING BY AT THE VIADUCT. KIA ORA, EMILY. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM TEAM NEW ZEALAND TODAY? YOU WILL SEE BEHIND ME THEY HAVE JUST BEEN WOKEN UP. SHE HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT OF THE SHED. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHAT ABOUT ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES THIS AFTERNOON. OF COURSE TEAM IN RITZ NEW ZEALAND HAS NOT RACED AGAINST ANOTHER BOAT SINCE CHRISTMAS CUP IN LATE DECEMBER LAST YEAR. THEY HAPPENED PRACTISING AGAINST THE SIMULATOR AND THE CHASE BOAT/ WE WILL SEE IF THERE HAS PAID OFF. TODAY WILL BE ON COURSE TO A. * COURSE SEE. E USUALLY LUNA ROSSA DOES BETTER IN THIS TYPE OF WIND. IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF SALES EACH TEAM USE. TEAM NZ HAS SPECIAL COVERAGE AND YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE RACING FREE TO HEAR, AND OF COURSE 6 O'CLOCK WILL HAVE ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WORLD RUGBY HAS MADE THE UNSURPRISING DECISION TO CONFIRM THE POSTPONEMENT OF THIS YEAR'S WORLD CUP IN NEW ZEALAND. OFFICIALS RATIFIED THE MOVE IN AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OVERNIGHT, CITING UNCERTAINTIES CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WORLD RUGBY ALSO ANNOUNCED A FUNDING PACKAGE OF JUST UNDER $4m TO HELP AFFECTED UNIONS. THE EVENT WILL NOW BE HELD HERE NEXT YEAR, ALONG WITH THE WOMEN'S CRICKET WORLD CUP. SONNY BILL WILLIAMS HAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM ALL FORMS OF RUGBY, BUT HIS SPORTING CAREER IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE. WILLIAMS NOW WANTS TO FOCUS ON BEING A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL BOXER. HERE'S CHANNEL NINE'S DANNY WEIDLER. THIS IS OUR FIRST LOOK AT SONNY'S NEW HOUSE OF PAIN IN SOUTHERN SYDNEY, WHERE A CHAMPION FOOTBALLER HOPES TO BECOME A CHAMPION BOXER. YOU BUILT YOUR OWN BOXING GYM. YEAH, SO, I SPOKE TO MY MANAGER. I SAID, BRO, I THINK I'M KEEN TO GET IN THE RING, YOU KNOW, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I'M 35, SO, OBVIOUSLY, SPOKE TO THE WIFE FIRST AND SHE HAD BLANK EYES, BUT, LIKE USUAL, SHE SUPPORTED ME. SBW HAS DABBLED IN BOXING. HE WANTS TO TEST HIMSELF AS A FULL-TIME FIGHTER. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW I'D GO, DANNY, IN SIX MONTHS, INSTEAD OF SIX WEEKS. WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SONNY BILL SINCE THE ROOSTERS WERE ROLLED BY THE RAIDERS LAST YEAR. HE DIDN'T OFFICIALLY RETIRE FROM LEAGUE, UNTIL NOW. I WAS HUMBLE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OLD KNEE, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T MEET THE DEMANDS, ALTHOUGH THE MIND WANTED TO, COULDN'T MEET THE DEMANDS OF WEEK-IN WEEK-OUT FOOTY. HE'S NOT TOTALLY LOST TO THE NRL. SONNY BILL IS TAKING STEPS TOWARDS COACHING, STARTING AT THE ROOSTERS LAST WEEK. I BACK MY SPORTING KNOWLEDGE AND SPORTING ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CHIME IN WHEN NECESSARY, OR IF, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID TO HIM, I SAID, BRO, IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN HELP WITH AT ALL, I'M KEEN AS, I JUST WANT TO STEP ON ANYONE'S TOES. SO IT'S NICE JUST TO GO DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, FROM TIME TO TIME AND GET A FEEL FOR IT AND SEE THE BOYS TRAINING HARD. AND CHAIRMAN NICK POLITIS WANTS HIM TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO TEEN PRODIGY, JOSEPH SUAALII. ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO JOSEPH? DON'T LOSE YOURSELF, YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN PLACE NOW IN THE NRL. THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I CAME THROUGH. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR HIM, HE'S GOT A REALLY LEVEL HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS. HE'S VERY MATURE FOR HIS AGE AND HE'S PHYSICALLY A BEAST. NATHAN BROWN HAS NAMED THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE STARTING LINE-UP FOR HIS FIRST NRL GAME IN CHARGE OF THE WARRIORS. THE NEW ZEALAND SIDE'S ALSO GETTING AN UNEXPECTED INJURY BOOST BEFORE SATURDAY'S CLASH WITH THE GOLD COAST TITANS. HOOKER WAYDE EGAN AND BACK-ROWER ELIESA KATOA BOTH RETURNING TO FULL FITNESS IN TIME FOR THE SEASON OPENER. THE NEW NRL SEASON GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW WHEN THE RABBITOHS TAKE ON DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, THE MELBOURNE STORM. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR AFTERNOON WEATHER. WELCOME BACK. HERE'S HOW THE WEATHER'S SHAPING UP AT YOUR PLACE. (LOYAL BY DAVE DOBBYN PLAYS) THANKS FOR JOINING US. TE KARERE IS HERE NEXT, THEN THE 1 NEWS TEAM WILL BE BACK AT 1 PM WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S VACCINE ANNOUNCEMENT. AND DON'T FORGET, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CATCH ALL THE ACTION FROM TEAM NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENCE OF THE AMERICA'S CUP, RIGHT HERE ON TVNZ 1 FROM 3PM. KIA PAI TE RA. HAVE A GREAT DAY CAPTIONS BY LILLIE BALFOUR AND JORDAN WAETFORD. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.