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New Zealand captain Phillips supports Payne's rise ahead of World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 1:41 AM

Last updated Jun 15, 2026

New Zealand captain Phillips supports Payne's rise ahead of World Cup

Summary

New Zealand captain Chris Wood praised the hype surrounding teammate Tim Payne, viewing it as beneficial for their squad. Payne, now a social media sensation, gained over 5.7 million followers following an initiative by influencer Valen Scarsini, who sought to promote lesser-known players. Wood stated this publicity may enhance interest in their team ahead of their World Cup opener against Iran on Tuesday. Coach Darren Bazeley remains indifferent to the media attention, emphasizing the team's focus on performance. This marks New Zealand's third World Cup appearance, where they aim for their first victory.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Chris Wood calls the attention around Tim Payne great for the team.
•Payne grew from 5,000 to over 5.7 million Instagram followers.
•New Zealand's World Cup opener is scheduled against Iran on June 17.
•This is New Zealand's third World Cup appearance, seeking their first win.
•Coach Darren Bazeley emphasizes focusing on performance over publicity.

Latest Updates

1:41 AMYahoo Sports — New Zealand captain: Hype surrounding Tim Payne's good for the team

What they're saying

"
New Zealand captain Chris Wood believes the the hype surrounding team-mate and now social media star Tim Payne can only be a good thing for the team. "I think it's great.
— Yahoo Sports

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