Patrick McKendry
Reporter
Sports writer
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Patrick’s latest content
Ranked: The best (and worst) Blues coaches of all time
Pat McKendry ranks the 10 Blues coaches from the start of the competition in 1996.
Patrick McKendry: Joseph Parker's best performance in years
OPINION: The win underlines the threat he still poses to everyone in the division.
Patrick McKendry: Parker's KO quest is far from child's play
Parker needs to avoid being left out in the musical chairs of the heavyweight division.
McKendry: Parker's low-key buildup disguises exciting future
Opinion: Parker's fight has been described on Twitter as the re-match no one wanted.
Patrick McKendry: The two big problems facing Super Rugby Pacific
Opinion: There is little doubt that two things in particular will detract from the comp.
Patrick McKendry: A word of scepticism about World Rugby's new rules
Opinion: The hope is exciting for new rugby rules, but reality might be a big different.
Patrick McKendry: What we learned from Mo'unga's strange ABs performance
Opinion: All Blacks face what amounts to an unusual dichotomy in Paris on Sunday.
Big interview: Danny Morrison on trolls, flamboyant commentary and a career abroad
Morrison left NZ 15 years ago, and his commentary career has attracted a lot of attention.
Patrick McKendry: What two viral photos reveal about Jimmy Neesham
Opinion: Neesham's response to win a study in isolation and a whole lot more besides.
Patrick McKendry: The shocking brain-injury detail World Rugby don't seem to grasp
Opinion: Parents will soon be reluctant to let their sons and daughters play rugby.
Patrick McKendry: All Blacks' 'life changing' trip to Cardiff no sham
Opinion: If it sounds like ABs are waging phoney war, nothing could be further from truth.
Patrick McKendry: ABs v USA exposes rugby's greatest flaw
Opinion: This weekend's match is a test in the loosest sense of the word.
Patrick McKendry: Does Joseph Parker have what it takes to return to the top?
OPINION: The clock is ticking on Joseph Parker's career.
Patrick McKendry: The two big ABs questions that were answered in Boks loss
OPINION: The All Blacks had one shining light in their loss to the Springboks.
Patrick McKendry: The four All Blacks under big pressure
Opinion: All four were put under immense pressure against Boks and may lose spots.
'Unfit, unskilled, demoralised': Why big milestone ABs test is shaping as fizzer
Opinion: The world champion Springboks don't appear to be worthy of the title.
Comment: What Govt's netball ruling could mean for top Auckland rugby teams
Opinion: NZ Rugby may be quite happy with how things have turned out.
'Public Enemy No 1' to sporting fairy tale: The Quade Cooper redemption story
Patrick McKendry: Quade Cooper's heroics is something we can all appreciate - even Kiwis.
Exclusive: Top Auckland rugby teams' bold move to escape level 3
NZR has requested a business exemption for three Auckland teams to rejoin the NPC.
12 questions with All Black David Havili: 'I didn't know if I would play rugby again'
Havili on overcoming the odds, changing positions, and his most competitive teammates.
Sam Cane: The hardest part of captaining ABs - and why I turned to Richie McCaw
Big interview: All Blacks skipper on his 'frustrating' year and the team's new enforcer.
Patrick McKendry: All Blacks set to make wrong choice for new captain
Opinion: There is one key reason which should decide who is named All Blacks captain.
'He's been first class': Auckland coach reveals what RTS brings to rugby
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck would have started for Auckland had their NPC match gone ahead.
Patrick McKendry: What Covid complications mean for All Blacks
OPINION: Covid complications have put third Bledisloe Test in major doubt.
Schoolboy rugby team 'devastated' after sanction strips them of semi spot
The sanction left the group of young players as 'collateral damage' according to a parent.
'We got exposed': Dave Rennie explains where Wallabies went wrong
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has found a reason for his side's record Bledisloe Cup defeat.
Tasman run down Auckland to go top in NPC
Defending NPC champions Tasman timed their run to near perfection.
Big learning curve: RTS' rugby debut for Auckland delayed
Auckland coach says the former Warriors captain's learning curve is still significant.
McKendry: Gatland situation couldn't have played out much worse for Chiefs
Opinion: McMillan must now become Gatland's assistant for the next two years.
Q and A: 13 questions with All Black Rieko Ioane
Ioane on the Olympics, why he likes LeBron, and the growth spurt that changed everything.
12 points gone begging: Wallabies react after goalkicker's poor night
Dave Rennie has backed Noah Lolesio after Wallabies first-five missed five shots at goal.
Sevens heaven! 'I'm just so happy' - Black Ferns captain's tears for late Mum, gold medal
The Black Ferns sevens team are the Olympic champions.
Jumping for joy: Flying Kiwi makes history with trampoline bronze
Dylan Schmidt has won New Zealand's first Olympic medal in trampoline gymnastics.
Playing for gold! Black Ferns Sevens survive enormous extra-time scare
The Black Ferns Sevens have survived an enormous extra-time scare in their Olympic semi.
Patrick McKendry: The player who could be ABs' major weapon against Wallabies
OPINION: All Black known as 'concrete shoulders' is likely to be a starter for Ian Foster.
Rising boxer Pampellone looking for statement under spotlight
Rising boxing star Jerome Pampellone returns to the ring on Friday night.
Auckland club rugby: Eden claim first Gallaher Shield title
Eden have won their first Gallaher Shield title in their 99-year history.
Auckland club rugby: Gallaher Shield final promises the unexpected
Eden and Grammar TEC qualified via very different semifinal victories.
Title 'stolen': Former Wallabies star sparks Kiwi club rugby controversy
The return of the former Wallabies prop to NZ club rugby has taken a controversial twist.
Improvements required: Why Barrett should head back to the bench
OPINION: Mo'unga's reputation will have been enhanced by not being involved in Fiji win.
Auckland club rugby: Eden stun Ponsonby in Gallaher Shield
Eden or Grammar Tec will be this year's Gallaher Shield champions.
Auckland club rugby: Formidable rivals prepare to clash for Gallaher Shield
Eden expects a big turnout when they seek a historic win over Ponsonby.
Patrick McKendry: The new All Blacks star who's forging a unique path
Opinion: There's undeniable anticipation that Ethan could go on to be something special.
Auckland club rugby: University give Manukau Rovers little to celebrate
University needed to score as many points as possible to stay in the hunt for the playoffs
University out to spoil Manukau Rovers' party
Rovers' final game of the season will be the centrepiece of weekend festivities.
Patrick McKendry: All Blacks in no-win situation against Tonga
Opinion: Without wishing to be cruel, Tonga haven't a chance of victory and they know it.
Top Auckland rugby club fined $15k for breaching rules
Remuera club found guilty of paying under-21 player, breaking competition rules.
Exclusive: Leading Auckland rugby club in poaching row
Top Auckland rugby club clouded in controversy after allegedly breaking payment rules.
Auckland club rugby: Emotional day for Waitakere legend but Manukau too strong
It was an occasion to celebrate as Malu Fuimaono played his 200th game.
Waitakere City seek redemption against Manukau
For one man in particular Waitakere City's clash with Manukau will be extra special.
Patrick McKendry: The exciting new All Black who really will make a difference
Opinion: Young AB is built like a fridge and a genuine ball player, writes McKendry.
Auckland club rugby: Ponsonby meet familiar foe in bid for back-to-back titles
After needing extra time to separate them last year, Ponsonby and Manurewa meet again.
Patrick McKendry: All pressure on Blues in final of embarrassing competition
Opinion: Comp will be remembered as an afterthought, and embarrassingly lopsided.
Auckland club rugby: University call on retired No10 as they eye top four
University are eager to cement their place in the top four with three matches remaining.
A tribute to Jerome Kaino: The modern ABs great with 'cement in his shoulders'
OPINION: Former All Black Jerome Kaino will retire as a champion in more ways than one.
Auckland club rugby: Ponsonby pull away late to beat Papatoetoe
Ponsonby kept their championship goals very much on track.
Huge blow: Hurricanes likely to miss final after brutal defeat
The Brumbies' upset victory didn't come without controversy.
Crusaders win again, but could miss final after bizarre finish
The Crusaders' place in the Super Rugby Transtasman final is now very much in doubt.
Papatoetoe to mark 75th jubilee with stern test
The club is undergoing a renaissance this year after struggling through 2019 and 2020.
Patrick McKendry: What Aussie rugby can learn from Black Caps
Opinion: It's time for our Transtasman cousins to be like the Black Caps.
'He's going to be world champion': Kiwi boxer on verge of breakout
'Not many people can get into the zone when people are trying to punch their head in'
Auckland club rugby: Ponsonby claim Sir Fred Allen trophy
Ponsonby are the new Sir Fred Allen trophy holders.
Grammar Tec and Ponsonby gear up for crucial clash
Grammar Tec take on Ponsonby in one of the biggest fixtures in Auckland club rugby.
Patrick McKendry: How Richie Mo'unga got so good, so quickly
Opinion: The origins of Richie Mo'unga's success cannot be underestimated.
Patrick McKendry: Why NZ Rugby needs Razor now more than ever
Opinion: NZR need public relations wins right now and they also need free spirits.
Patrick McKendry: Auckland numbers mask biggest issue in rugby
Opinion: Junior clubs are booming in and around Auckland but there are issues upstream.
Huge boost for Auckland Rugby amid 'crisis'
Auckland Rugby saw a healthy rise in club team numbers - but challenges remain.
Patrick McKendry: The Crusaders' unsung hero of the Super Rugby final
Patrick McKendry picks the five players who stood out the most in Saturday's final.
Under pressure: Inside the hardest job in rugby
A behind the scenes look at what's involved with Sky's match day directors.
Patrick McKendry: The biggest challenge facing cashed-up NZ Rugby
OPINION: How will NZR spend its windfall if and when the Silver Lake deal is signed off?
Why Joseph Parker didn't knock out stunned Chisora in controversial fight
Kiwi heavyweight's brutal assessment of 'lazy' performance against loudmouth Brit.
Patrick McKendry: Why Chisora made 'strange' offer to Joseph Parker
Chisora's offer appears a strange contradiction from the man who called Parker a chicken.
Super Rugby power rankings: Clueless Blues' biggest mystery
Power rankings: The best and worst of Aotearoa's Super Rugby efforts this weekend.
Patrick McKendry: Razor set for biggest test of career with crippled Crusaders
Opinion: Robertson is about to enter the most pressure-filled fortnight of his career.
Super Rugby power rankings: What's going wrong at the Crusaders?
Patrick McKendry ranks the country's biggest movers after the latest round of Super Rugby.
Patrick McKendry: Beauden Barrett 'riddle' easy for ABs to solve
OPINION: Sir JK was right, but probably overstepped the mark.
Super Rugby power rankings: Canes' horror run as another contender emerges
Patrick McKendry: Maybe Highlanders need another party to put them on track for the Blues?
Patrick McKendry: The All Blacks riddle that may have just been solved
Opinion: Savea's answer on live TV suggests he'll no longer 'make room' for anyone in ABs.
Super Rugby power rankings: 'Scenting blood' - unpacking Crusaders' big fall
For the Highlanders it was about teamwork. For the Crusaders a lesson in humility.