Newshub's 2023 Year in Review: Sporting Moment of the Year

The goal heard around the world (or at least New Zealand)...

 

Tom Bartlett - Hannah Wilkinson's goal for the Football Ferns in the World Cup Opener

The Football Ferns arrived at the World Cup with the chances of success rated by many as slim to none, but with the rarest of opportunities - a global tournament on home turf.

Eden Park was absolutely packed for the tournament's opening game, the atmosphere was electric (groan) and when the chance to score came to Wilkinson, she seized it and pandemonium ensued. All the feels.

Football's big show had finally arrived and the Football Ferns had timed their run to perfection, as they went on to beat Norway 1-0.

Wilkinson's feat ultimately came to little, as New Zealand failed to reach the knockout stages, but women's football came out of age in this country, thanks to that magic sporting moment.

 

Grant Chapman - Neil Wagner's Blackcaps heroics

Well, two moments really.

The fiery Blackcaps fast-bowler became the Forrest Gump of NZ cricket, with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, as he played key roles in two stupendous test victories against England and Sri Lanka.

With the English closing in on their target for victory at Wellington's Basin Reserve, Wagner proved their undoing, removing batting mainstays Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and then tailender James Anderson to end their chase just one run short.

Two weeks later, on his 37th birthday, he was at the wicket with a torn hamstring, bravely sprinting the bye that got the side home over Sri Lanka on the last ball of the match.

Wagner has been a relatively unsung hero of the Blackcaps' recent red-ball success and can always be relied on to give 110 percent - but perhaps for not much longer, as the sun sets on a golden generation.

 

Alex Powell - Campbell Johnstone comes out

While it may have happened off the field, it's hard to think of a more significant moment in Kiwi sport - if not Kiwi culture - than Johnstone coming out as the first gay All Black. 

For a long time, having had no openly gay All Blacks was a mark against New Zealand.  

The three-test prop is hardly the biggest name to have ever worn the black jersey, but his decision to no longer hide his sexuality was one New Zealand has needed for decades. 

"Sexuality shouldn't be a boundary," Johnstone told Newshub in January. "It should be a part of you and it shouldn't hold you back, and if you pursue your dreams and goals, you're going to achieve them." 

With 1213 men currently earning All Blacks caps, don't be surprised if Johnstone isn't the only one to come out in the near future.  

 

Harry Bartle - Hannah Wilkinson's World Cup strike  

When Football Ferns striker Hannah Wilkinson calmly slotted the ball past the outstretched arms of Aurora Mikalsen in the opening game of the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup, it forever changed the future of women's football in Aotearoa.   

Her 48th-minute strike, created by a beautifully executed team move, was not only the difference in the Ferns' historic 1-0 victory over Norway, it also inspired the entire nation to officially get behind their team and home World Cup.  

Had New Zealand fallen to the heavily favoured Norway in front of 42,000 fans inside Eden Park, New Zealand's interest in the competition would likely have quickly wavered. 

The goal set the tone for a recordbreaking World Cup and inspired the next generation of Kiwi footballers. 

 

Stephen Foote - Warriors v Sharks

The Warriors' resurgence was the best NZ sporting narrative of 2023 and no single moment better encapsulated their transformation than Shaun Johnson's gamewinner against the Sharks back in round five.

Trailing by 20 points in the blink of an eye, the Warriors - rather than reverting to vintage type and folding, as many of us probably expected - dug in and fought back to level the scores at 30-30.

With the game seemingly destined for goldenpoint, a penalty against the Sharks gave Johnson - who had almost singlehandedly engineered the Warriors comeback - an opportunity to provide more late-game heroics.

With the pouring rain only adding to the drama, Johnson slotted a 40m shot, leaving the Cronulla fans at Shark Park in a soggy state of confusion, baffled as to how they'd somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

This was the moment when the Warriors faithful realised this iteration of their beloved team - under the messiah Andrew Webster - was genuinely built different.

 

Natasha Payne - Hannah Wilkinson's World Cup goal

Despite the Football Ferns failing to get out of their pool at the tournament, it was still a moment that created history, set the county alight and gave many the chills.

It took place at Eden Park in front of 40,000 fans, and every single one will still remember the feeling, when they watched the moment take place.

A sporting moment should be one that people talk about in years to come and people will still talking about that goal in 10 years' time.

 

Grant Chapman - All Blacks' World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland

This was the day everyone had circled on their calendar for New Zealand's exit from the France tournament - at the hands of either Ireland or South Africa.

The Irish had made history with their first-ever series victory on NZ soil in 2022 and won five of their last eight meetings. The Springboks had handed the All Blacks their biggest-ever test defeat in the build-up to the World Cup.

Coach Ian Foster had suffered four years of torment, scarred by a myriad of unwanted historic 'firsts' along the way, and had been virtually abandonned by his own employers, who appointed his replacement before his term was even complete.

Instead of an early exit, Foster and his team made their critics eat their words against the world No.1, extending Irelands' poor World Cup record of never progressing past the quarter-finals.

Newshub Sport wishes you a Merry Christmas... see you in the New Year!

The goal heard around the world (or at least New Zealand)...

 

Tom Bartlett - Hannah Wilkinson's goal for the Football Ferns in the World Cup Opener

The Football Ferns arrived at the World Cup with the chances of success rated by many as slim to none, but with the rarest of opportunities - a global tournament on home turf.

Eden Park was absolutely packed for the tournament's opening game, the atmosphere was electric (groan) and when the chance to score came to Wilkinson, she seized it and pandemonium ensued. All the feels.

Football's big show had finally arrived and the Football Ferns had timed their run to perfection, as they went on to beat Norway 1-0.

Wilkinson's feat ultimately came to little, as New Zealand failed to reach the knockout stages, but women's football came out of age in this country, thanks to that magic sporting moment.

 

Grant Chapman - Neil Wagner's Blackcaps heroics

Well, two moments really.

The fiery Blackcaps fast-bowler became the Forrest Gump of NZ cricket, with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, as he played key roles in two stupendous test victories against England and Sri Lanka.

With the English closing in on their target for victory at Wellington's Basin Reserve, Wagner proved their undoing, removing batting mainstays Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and then tailender James Anderson to end their chase just one run short.

Two weeks later, on his 37th birthday, he was at the wicket with a torn hamstring, bravely sprinting the bye that got the side home over Sri Lanka on the last ball of the match.

Wagner has been a relatively unsung hero of the Blackcaps' recent red-ball success and can always be relied on to give 110 percent - but perhaps for not much longer, as the sun sets on a golden generation.

 

Alex Powell - Campbell Johnstone comes out

While it may have happened off the field, it's hard to think of a more significant moment in Kiwi sport - if not Kiwi culture - than Johnstone coming out as the first gay All Black. 

For a long time, having had no openly gay All Blacks was a mark against New Zealand.  

The three-test prop is hardly the biggest name to have ever worn the black jersey, but his decision to no longer hide his sexuality was one New Zealand has needed for decades. 

"Sexuality shouldn't be a boundary," Johnstone told Newshub in January. "It should be a part of you and it shouldn't hold you back, and if you pursue your dreams and goals, you're going to achieve them." 

With 1213 men currently earning All Blacks caps, don't be surprised if Johnstone isn't the only one to come out in the near future.  

 

Harry Bartle - Hannah Wilkinson's World Cup strike  

When Football Ferns striker Hannah Wilkinson calmly slotted the ball past the outstretched arms of Aurora Mikalsen in the opening game of the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup, it forever changed the future of women's football in Aotearoa.   

Her 48th-minute strike, created by a beautifully executed team move, was not only the difference in the Ferns' historic 1-0 victory over Norway, it also inspired the entire nation to officially get behind their team and home World Cup.  

Had New Zealand fallen to the heavily favoured Norway in front of 42,000 fans inside Eden Park, New Zealand's interest in the competition would likely have quickly wavered. 

The goal set the tone for a recordbreaking World Cup and inspired the next generation of Kiwi footballers. 

 

Stephen Foote - Warriors v Sharks

The Warriors' resurgence was the best NZ sporting narrative of 2023 and no single moment better encapsulated their transformation than Shaun Johnson's gamewinner against the Sharks back in round five.

Trailing by 20 points in the blink of an eye, the Warriors - rather than reverting to vintage type and folding, as many of us probably expected - dug in and fought back to level the scores at 30-30.

With the game seemingly destined for goldenpoint, a penalty against the Sharks gave Johnson - who had almost singlehandedly engineered the Warriors comeback - an opportunity to provide more late-game heroics.

With the pouring rain only adding to the drama, Johnson slotted a 40m shot, leaving the Cronulla fans at Shark Park in a soggy state of confusion, baffled as to how they'd somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

This was the moment when the Warriors faithful realised this iteration of their beloved team - under the messiah Andrew Webster - was genuinely built different.

 

Natasha Payne - Hannah Wilkinson's World Cup goal

Despite the Football Ferns failing to get out of their pool at the tournament, it was still a moment that created history, set the county alight and gave many the chills.

It took place at Eden Park in front of 40,000 fans, and every single one will still remember the feeling, when they watched the moment take place.

A sporting moment should be one that people talk about in years to come and people will still talking about that goal in 10 years' time.

 

Grant Chapman - All Blacks' World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland

This was the day everyone had circled on their calendar for New Zealand's exit from the France tournament - at the hands of either Ireland or South Africa.

The Irish had made history with their first-ever series victory on NZ soil in 2022 and won five of their last eight meetings. The Springboks had handed the All Blacks their biggest-ever test defeat in the build-up to the World Cup.

Coach Ian Foster had suffered four years of torment, scarred by a myriad of unwanted historic 'firsts' along the way, and had been virtually abandonned by his own employers, who appointed his replacement before his term was even complete.

Instead of an early exit, Foster and his team made their critics eat their words against the world No.1, extending Irelands' poor World Cup record of never progressing past the quarter-finals.

Newshub Sport wishes you a Merry Christmas... see you in the New Year!

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