The Hawke's Bay United Courier
Squad17 Aug 2026
44 days out for Tim Waine after a fracture
A bone, which is the one injury with a calendar attached. Hawke's Bay United will name a return date and, unusually for this business, will probably be right about it.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
An offer of $62.0K for Tim Kirwan
Hawke's Bay United have gone to WaiBOP United with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Hawke's Bay United
Matt Barbarouses was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
Hawke's Bay United rebuffed over James Rufer
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Waitakere United have kept their man, and Hawke's Bay United go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
The dugout17 Aug 2026
Connor McGrath gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market17 Aug 2026
Eyes on Chris Bell again
The phone has started ringing about Chris Bell again, and this time the name on the line is Auckland City. Hawke's Bay United are listening politely and promising nothing.
Squad17 Aug 2026
A row about effort at Hawke's Bay United
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Jai Just was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Owen Sutton signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Owen Sutton and Hawke's Bay United agree another 3 years.
Market17 Aug 2026
Bill Waine runs his contract down
7 months remain and no agreement is close. Every week without a signature costs Hawke's Bay United money.
In brief
- Market The shop window has Marco Nelson in it
- The dugout Owen Sutton knocks on the manager's door
- The dugout The manager comes out for Bill Waine