Nesian Footy

Bringing you the Pacific Islander stories on and off the Rugby League and Rugby Union field.

It’s the eve of Week Two of the Rugby League World Cup, and the big question is; who’s taking home the dub? With some teams proving they’re not to be written off just yet, it’s anyone’s guess how the next round will unfold.

Sam and Tinirau are in Papua New Guinea, getting up to all kinds of mischief! Tinirau sneaks into Samoa camp to catch up with skipper Junior Paulo and debutant Sua Fa'alogo, who, at the last Rugby League World Cup, was out celebrating at the parades. Never once imagining he’d be represe...

While Sam might be hurting physically, Tinirau is hurting emotionally after Cook Islands defeat against a tough Fiji Bati side. In spite of his homeland heartbreak, Tinirau can excitedly admit that the opening round to the Rugby League World Cup has been the best to date.

After Wallabies second loss to the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup, Sam might be happy the world is becoming more rugby league crazy. 

If last night’s game between Australia and New Zealand was anything to go by, we’d better strap in for the next few weeks of the Rugby League World Cup! Tinirau unpacks what he calls “one of the best opening games he’s seen at a RLWC in a very long time.”

Samoan, Solomon Islander and Cook Islander Dominique Peyroux joins us to take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on his time representing both the Cook Islands and Samoa at Rugby League World Cups throughout the 2010s.

Meanwhile, rugby union has its own share of a...

There was only so much time Sam had with his rugby union news before rugby league started up again, this time it's Rugby League World Cup and the fans have already gotten the party stared with Samoan and Tongan fans driving around Western Sydney with flags sailing down the streets to see their nation go again since 2022. Tinirau Arona jumps into some dangerous squads.

Bledisloe Cup has Wallabies supporter Sam sadly accepting that the cup wont come home for another year.

Cook Islands women surprised themselves over the weekend, up against a stacked Tongan women's...

If you thought the NRL season was over, think again — there’s still plenty happening in the world of footy!

Tinirau Arona gives his flowers to Daniel Tupou, who, after reaching his 300th game earlier this year, is now ready to hang up the boots as a four-time premiership winner. After giving so much to the game, Tupou leaves behind an impressive legacy as the Roosters’ second-most-capped player.

We’re back with some union news as the Bledisloe Cup returns this weekend. Despite doubts from Tinirau and Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani, Sam Wykes is backing the Wallabie...

The final weeks of footy have had it all, highs, lows, shocks, surprises, heartbreak, and even a new-found love for the game. And that’s exactly why we keep coming back to it every single year.

Tinirau takes Sam through a hectic night of not just footy, but the celebrations around it: from pre-game tributes honouring the greats who helped shape the game, to the post-game celebrations as fans ride every high and low alongside their teams.

PNG Junior Kumuls head coach Joey Grima hops back on Nesian Footy to chat about making history against a...

Knights or Roosters?

There’s plenty on the line for both sides, with each team bringing their own motivation into the Grand Final. Will the Roosters add another win to their history, or will Newcastle finally break a 25-year drought? Plenty of questions and not enough answers. That is, until Sunday night, when Sam and Tinirau are expecting a tight scoreline. 

Fiji Drua’s newly appointed scrum coach Campese Ma’afu jumps back on Nesian Footy, looking to change the way the world sees Fiji; beyond just the flair and towards the depth and strength within...

Tiana Penitani-Gray is one of the trailblazers and most recognisable faces of the NRLW. But her impact extends well beyond the footy field, with Tiana carving out a name for herself in the media. 

Never expecting a career in media, her willingness to say yes to new opportunities has seen her become the face of That Pacific Sports Show and a familiar voice on the footy sidelines. 

Now, she reflects on her journey from player to broadcaster, the importance of Pasifika representation in sport and media, and the responsibility of using her platform to ensure Pa...

We’re heading into the second-last week of the 2026 NRL season, and the waters are looking murky  with no clear winner in sight. Tinirau Arona unpacks a massive weekend of finals footy, looking at the vulnerabilities on display and which teams have what it takes to maintain the pressure and intensity for a full 80 minutes this weekend.

Tiana Penitani-Grey steps in for Sam Wykes to chat through the NRLW Preliminary Final. The competition’s two powerhouse teams have made their way back into the finals once again, but there’s plenty of excitement around the possibility of an upse...

Born and raised in South Auckland, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala came into life with a tough mentality. Mostly keeping to himself, trusting only a select few, and determined to improve his situation. 

When he arrived in Australia as a young adult, it was a culture shock. From not knowing how cafes worked to sticking out like a sore thumb in the Northern Suburbs with baggy pants and no shirt on the beach, there was a lot he had to figure out. 

With a bit of freedom and stability, Nu'uausala began to explore a different side of life. Bu...

NRL Finals Week 2 is here, and the anticipation isn’t wearing off for Tinirau or Sam. With two more teams set to either say goodbye to their season or book their spot in the Preliminary Finals, the stakes are getting higher and waiting on the other side are opponents ready to fight for their place in the Grand Final.

Sam and Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani look ahead to the Pacific Nations Cup Grand Final, with Fiji set to go up against Japan.

Kiana Takairangi joins to chats key players for a big NRLW Finals Week 1.

...

The release of the Jonah Lomu documentary has given long-time rugby fans a chance to remember one of the greats of rugby union, while introducing a new generation of fans and aspiring athletes to the legacy he left behind.

But behind the rugby icon is a much deeper story of culture, family and personal life. While the film celebrates the beautiful game that made Lomu a household name, it also opens a space for healing and reflection for his family and those who knew him.

One of the few Tongan voices behind the scenes, Vea...

The boys are buzzing after seeing the advanced screening of the Jonah Lomu documentary last night and it’s pretty much all they can talk about.

That is, until Tinirau remembers what’s waiting for NRL fans this weekend… and geez, is he excited! For the first time in years, the opening week of the finals feels completely wide open, with the teams so evenly matched that predicting who will come out on top is anyone’s guess.

Sam and Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani are hoping the Flying Fijians can take flight as they face Canada in the P...

Brotherhood means something different when it costs you something; especially when it costs you a spot in a Grand Final.

Two players, both injured, supported each other through rehab, only to find themselves competing for the same spot in the Sharks’ 2016 Grand Final side. One of those players was Joseph Paulo. When his teammate got the nod, Joseph wasn’t bitter, he was proud that they had both been able to sit down, have that conversation and understand what it meant to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Reuniting with the Sharks for their 2016 prem...

Discussion within the Broncos camp has reignited conversations around the need for cultural mentors to support Pacific players, something Sam and Tinirau say has been a long-running discussion, particularly when you look at the huge gap between the number of Pasifika players and Pasifika coaching staff.

Over in Fiji, Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani talks about the importance of looking after the human within the player, as the Fijian Drua make history by bringing coaches through the Fiji Rugby coaching pathway into assistant coaching roles for the first time, marking a significant step towards greater Pacific representation in the...

Mina Funa raised two future rugby stars on her own, Jezaiah Funa, who recently made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels, and Leviticus Funa, who now plays rugby union in France. 

For the single mum of two, opportunities weren’t given,  they were earned. Often the only mum on the sidelines, she made sure her sons knew they had her support; even when life meant making sacrifices along the way. 

Now, as her sons begin to reap the rewards of their hard work, Mina wants other mums to know they can do it too. 

R...

Nemani Nadolo-Kuridrani joins us live from Tonga to tell the story of his mission to find Fijian Drua player Kavekini Boselawa, travelling down windy gravel roads through the Fijian bush to reach his family home - just as Kavekini was preparing to leave for a team in Romania. 🏉

Then, Round 29 of the NRL is here, and as the regular season winds down, the ladder is looking very different from what we’re used to. Tinirau and Sam unpack the Storm and Broncos clash, farewell Adam Reynolds as he heads into retirement, and look ahead to Payne Haas’ move to...

Media is becoming its own beast in sport, with plenty of people wanting to get involved. But we’re now starting to see players feed back into sports media after hanging up the rugby boots. Last time we had Samoan Cook Islands rugby international Lima Sopoaga on Nesian Footy, he was just getting started in media. Now, almost a year later, taking that leap of faith and pushing himself to get his content out there has completely changed his life. He joins us from South Africa, where he’s working with the All Blacks to create content during a pret...

The NRL loses two greats of the game this week, with Raiders 300-gamer Josh Papali'i announcing his retirement, while after 10 years with the Storm, Tui Kamikamica has announced his medical retirement following a stroke in March. Two Pacific icons that many of us grew up watching, and Sam and Tinirau share their heartbreak over the news.

Kiana Takirangi swoops in to save the day as Sala Togatuki prepares for her clash against the Knights. We also hear the latest from the Parramatta camp, with another promising Crichton heir making her way through the ranks.

Nemani...

The NRL loses two greats of the game this week, with Raiders 300-gamer Josh Papali'i announcing his retirement, while after 10 years with the Storm, Tui Kamikamica has announced his medical retirement following a stroke in March. Two Pacific icons that many of us grew up watching, and Sam and Tinirau share their heartbreak over the news.

Kiana Takirangi swoops in to save the day as Sala Togatuki prepares for her clash against the Knights. We also hear the latest from the Parramatta camp, with another promising Crichton heir making her way through the ranks.

Nemani...

Usually, we hear from rugby players who fall in love with the sport and want to play professionally for as long as they can. Former Samoan Tongan rugby player Tiaan Tauakipulu’s story is a little different. He and his family worked hard to give him the chance to pursue his dream, and it wasn’t long before he landed a spot playing playing Super Rugby. But between injuries and the mental demands of the game, Tauakipulu soon found himself burnt out. Faced with the choice of continuing down a path he and his family had invested so much in...

Bringing you the Pacific Islander stories on and off the PNG Chiefs have settled into their number six, adding Brian To’o to their roster, also known as 006. But who will be their 007? Tinirau Arona has a warning for clubs: lock down your best players before they hit free agency, because the Chiefs will be lurking.

The All Blacks and Sharks put culture first, both on and off the field. Sam Wykes chats about how the All Blacks have embraced a safe space for players to express themselves and showcase their culture a momentous shift from what wa...

From Olympic silver and Commonwealth gold to the NRLW, Shakira Baker-Fidow has experienced the evolution of women’s rugby firsthand. The former Black Fern joins us to reflect on her journey from growing up in the small Aotearoa New Zealand town of Greytown to representing her country on the world stage, proudly representing her Samoan and Māori heritage, and the sporting family that helped shape her career. Now with the Warriors, Shakira opens up about making the switch from rugby union to league, adjusting to a new code, and what the next chapter of her career could look lik...

Indigenous Round takes centre stage in Round 23 of the NRL, with Sam Wykes and Tinirau Arona reflecting on the Indigenous players who inspired them growing up. Tinirau also relives what it was like to line up against some of the game's greats and breaks down the Cowboys' bounce-back win, before asking whether this weekend's sold-out Panthers v Warriors clash could be a preview of the 2026 Grand Final.

Over in rugby union, there's finally plenty for Sam to sink his teeth into as South Africa prepare to take on Fiji. The team unpacks the different eligibility rules between...

For many Pacific Islanders living overseas, home is often found in the simplest of things. For former 2000s Tongan rugby league and Super League player Etu Uaisele, it was a spit-roasted pig that brought a taste of home. Using classic Tongan ingenuity, Uaisele recreated a style of cooking usually only seen back in the islands, building a makeshift spit from a wooden pallet and hand-turning the pig for more than three hours.

Today, he calls Wodonga, regional Victoria, home. Far from the bright lights of professional rugby league, Uaisele still proudly represents Tonga in his own way...

Round 22 of the NRL is underway, and it's one Cowboys fans will want to forget after the Roosters piled on more than 80 points for the first time since 1935. Tinirau Arona breaks down the historic result and what it means for both clubs moving forward.

Then, Manu Samoa forwards coach Pek Cowan reflects on his journey as a Cook Islander in the Samoan coaching set-up and challenges perceptions of what a professional rugby player looks like when preparing for the highest level.

Plus, major rugby union news is sending shock waves across the Pacific. As discussions...

Former NRL and Super League forward Tony Puletua was one of only a handful of Pasifika players competing professionally during his era. As one of just three Pasifika players in Penrith's 2003 premiership-winning side, Puletua became a trailblazer whose journey inspired families within his church community to pursue the same pathways for their children.

On Nesian Footy, Puletua reflects on his journey from local footy to more than 200 first-grade appearances with the Panthers, and the legacy he unknowingly left for the next generation. For Sam and Tinirau, seeing a Pasifika player like Puletua succeed made their own dreams...

History will be made this weekend as Fiji hosts the Super Rugby Women's grand final for the first time, with the Fijian Drua taking on the NSW Waratahs, and Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani reports that Fiji is buzzing with excitement.

Following the news that Adam Doueihi will sit out this weekend's match, Sam Wykes and Tinirau Arona reflect on their own experiences as players and coaches, sharing the silver lining of being asked to play in a different position.

With things a little quieter on the rugby union front, Sam and Tinirau welcome back original Nesian...

Joey Grima is the special man behind the PNG Hunters, PNG Kumuls, and now the PNG Chiefs pathways program, and he has a vision that long extends past his time at the NRL, developing methods to not only build success for PNG men and women wanting to succeed in league but build players for life outside of footy, as well as inspire coaching staff to continue building PNG pathways generations from now. From a lack of fields cutting into game time for teams to a need of important government documentation and administrative practices, if there's a will to get...

Jarome Luai's signing with the Parramatta Eels has dominated rugby league headlines this week, leaving many wondering what conversations took place behind closed doors. Amid the speculation, Luai stated in his post-match press conference that he's at "peace" with his decision. Tinirau Arona unpack the news surrounding it all.

Wests Tigers NRLW captain Sala Togatuki returns to Nesian Footy after back-to-back wins to start the season. It's a feeling she admits she's not used to, but one she's keen to enjoy, as the Tigers chase a third straight victory during Harvey Norman Women in League Round this w...

Lindsay Tui made a rapid rise to the NRLW, with hard work and a competitive mindset driving her success. Sam and Tinirau saw it up close and personal in 2024 when she scored the final try against Tonga to cement Fetu Samoa's place at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. Tui joins Nesian Footy to reflect on growing up in a competitive family, representing Samoa, and what's driving her to earn another spot in the squad head of the 2026 Rugby World Cup.  

There's plenty to celebrate coming out of Round 19 in the NRL, with Daniel Tupou scoring a hat-trick i...

The Blues have wrapped up the Origin series, meaning primary attention can now return to the NRL, as some teams face crunch games in Round 19. The Wests Tigers' hopes of breaking their lengthy Finals drought is getting urgent, just as reports surface that star half Jarome Luai has been invited to explore his options for the 2027 season, before joining the PNG Chiefs in 2028.

Also on the show, we review the Broncos' NRLW win over the Sharks and preview the rest of Round 2 in the Women's competition.

And we've got a fresh slate of Test matches...

Playmaker Ben Volavola joins the Fijian Drua next season after a year with the Reds. The well-travelled Fijian has played 38 Tests and tested a broad range of rugby experiences. The 35-year-old is very well equipped to pass on invaluable wisdom to the rapidly develop Super Rugby Pacific franchise.

On rugby, it was the very first round of the Nation's Championship over the weekend and there were some epic Test matches. 

The first round of the NRLW season revealed some intriguing storylines, which we break down with Shellie Long, along with the last round of the S...

The hotly anticipated Nations Championship kicks off this weekend, headlined by Fiji's huge contest against Wales in Cardiff. Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani helps preview the Fijian's big game.

The NRLW kicked off last night as Newcastle launched their season in style with a win over the Sharks, which we review with Sala Togatuki.

We preview Round 18 in the NRL, plus the final regular season round in the Super Rugby Women's.

Despite being medically retired at just 30, former Toa Samoa Test representative Josh Aloiai isn't slowing down. The ex-NRL forward leads by example, chasing fulfilling post-career passions and engaging community with meaningful endeavours that will continue to inspire. Aloiai has never been shy to stick up for his beliefs.

Also on today's show, we review Round 17 in the NRL, set the scene ahead of Test season in the rugby and preview the opening round of the NRLW season with Shellie Long.

Josh Aloiai leaves a lasting impact on almost everyone he meets, whether in footy or community, and the former NRL forward unapologetically stands by his beliefs. On the latest edition of Nesian Footy, Aloiai unpacks what makes his post-footballing life so fulfilling.

The Dolphins host the Warriors in one of the most hyped regular season matches of 2026 so far. The Phins last tasted defeat in their Round 8 clash with the Wahs, in what looms as an epic rematch to headline Round 17 in the NRL.

We unpack the big League talking points with our regular guest Sala Togatuki, plus check in with our rugby correspondent Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani, as some big appointments are being made in Fiji.

Tonga's most promising under-16s rugby league talent is currently touring down under, gaining valuable exposure to travel, elite pathways and what it takes to make it as a professional player. But those are just some of the benefits on offer for these impressionable young boys and girls, as we find out by touching base with NRL Tonga GM Tavake Tangupo and u16's Girls captain Atelaite Vakautakakala.

Also on Nesian Footy, we review Round 16 in the NRL which featured some nail-biting contests, the Hurricanes' truly dominant Finals run after they claimed the Super Rugby Pacific title...

Two star-studded Kiwi sides will contest the Super Rugby Pacific Final in Wellington this Saturday, with plenty of history and legacy on the line for both franchises. The Hurricanes earned hosting rights after their incredible campaign, while the Chiefs will be hoping it's fourth time lucky, having lost the competition's last three deciders.

It's been a huge week for Queensland, who not only squared the Origin series on Wednesday night in dominant fashion, but backed that up by claiming bout the Women's and Men's u19's showdowns between the rival states on Thursday night.

Sala...