Fresh Off The Field

We're back for 2026 keeping you across all the biggest sports stories in the Pacific and today we get you up to speed on the OFC Pro League which launches this weekend. Sam Wykes is joined by co-hosts Patricia Keamo and Gabrielle Apelu who also chat sports news in the world of rugby union, boxing, netball and more football. There's interviews with Wira Wama from PNG Hekari FC who will compete in t...

Grace Kouba has been representing PNG in touch footy for over a decade including winning medals at The Pacific Games and is excited to see touch footy gaining traction beyond the big smoke. Co-host Jamie Haro speaks to Kouba about the growth, her proudest moments and what's next. Talei Matairakula also joins us from Fiji to chat with Sam and Jamie about all the sport happening across the region in...

Japanese wrestling champion Yuta Abe is now Samoa's national wrestling coach and wants to grow the sport in the Pacific and win golds along the way. Co-host Gabrielle Apelu speak to Abe about the goals for 2026 and where the sport can get to. As well, Patricia Keamo joins Sam Wykes from Papua New Guinea and they run through all the latest sports news in the worlds of football, cricket, footy, weig...

Selina Seau is a champion para-athlete across many sports and she wants everyone in the Pacific to know that people living with a disability are not different, they are "just like everyone else". Fellow Fiji Paralympian Mere Rodan interviews Seau to hear how sport became her power and outlet and what the journey was like from being a child with a disability to representing her country at the Paral...

You might know Marie Hansen from the viral proposal that stole hearts around the world at the 2023 Netball World Cup, but her story goes far beyond that moment. Hansen has been part of Tonga Tala’s remarkable rise, helping the team climb from the bottom of the rankings into the world’s top 10 in just a few years. Fresh off Tonga Tala’s tour celebrating the 150th Constitution, she reflects on the t...

Atelini Umu is one of the few women consistently hitting bullseyes in darts as Fiji’s National Darts Champion, and she’s determined to see more women from all backgrounds join the sport. She sits down with journalist and commentator Lailanie Burnes after claiming her second national title. Sam Wykes relives the energy of the 2025 Pacific Championships with ABC Pacific’s Seni Iasona, while PNG spor...

Making history as Guam’s first-ever Olympic triathlete at the Paris 2024 Games, and the first Pacific Islander to compete in triathlon at the Olympics, Manami Iijima has paved the way for future generations. Despite taking up the sport later than most, she’s become a trailblazer for Pacific athletes, proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams.   Melissa Fayre and Jamie Haro hop back on the s...

Moana Liebregts has some big dreams - and she’s well on her way to achieving both: playing in the Olympics and becoming a doctor. The Tongan-Dutch basketballer is balancing medical school with international competition, leading Fiji to victory at the FIBA Women’s Melanesian Cup and winning gold at the Mini Games in Palau. On top of that, she’s coaching the junior girls’ basketball team and champio...

Tabatha Saville grew up in Suva but moved to Australia as a kid and fell in love with the game of cricket, which took her back home recently. Saville talks about representing her culture and getting the chance to see family in Fiji after a long time away, what she hopes Fiji cricket can do in the future and what it's like to play in the same team as your Mum. Sam Wykes is also joined by Kalo Manu-...

Leo Lebot is part of a young crew of Ni-Van swimmers who, despite the lack of high quality pools in the Pacific, want to put Vanuatu swimming on the map. Co-host Mel Fare chats to Lebot about his story, highlights so far competing around the world and more. Sam Wykes is also joined by Taina Basiyalo who brings news in cricket, rugby union, league as well as a chat around a new basketball program i...

Gloria Hong is one of the chief organisers for the FIBA Melanesian Cup basketball tournament in Honiara next week and we hear her story rising the ranks of sports leadership in the Pacific.  Hong tells us about the challenges of knowing or being related to everyone in basketball in her region, how important respect is in her field and how exciting it's going to be to have the tournament back where...

Evangeline Taylor-Pati is a two time strongest champion in the Pacific and believes that the sport is made for Samoans to excel. Chatting to Gabrielle Apelu, Taylor-Pati talks about how she got into lifting, why it helps in breaking down barriers and what her favourite elements of the competition are. Also, PNG journalist Lisa Puni brings an interview with basketball coach John Fred and his transi...

Rachel Andrew got a hat-trick and 85 runs in the same game, a history making feat that helped lead her Vanuatu team to the final of the recent T20 Cricket World Cup qualifiers in Fiji. Chatting to teammate and Fresh Off The Field co-host Melissa Fare, Andrew talks through the disappointment of the final loss, her pride in the team coming together from all parts of the Pacific and what her aspirati...

John Wagambie is PNG Kumul #14 and also coached the team and he reflects on how different the game is today in terms of respect and co-existence. Wagambie chats to co-host Jamie Haro about the early days of his career, challenges balancing education, work and footy, his Kumuls journey and why these days he sees less harmony in PNG rugby league compared to his era. Also joining Sam Wykes is Finau V...

Fresh off beating Wales in their final game at the Women's Rugby World Cup, Fijiana player Bitila Tawake tells us how the hate they received only motivated them more. Lailanie Burnes chats to Tawake about the tournament, how she went cheering on the sidelines after being suspended and why the Wales win has spurred her on for more. As well, Declan Byrne is joined by Patricia Keamo with news in the...

Growing up with rugby league aspirations, a horrific injury led to Dorna Longbut shifting her goals and she's since become a multi-sport powerhouse of Papua New Guinea sport. Sam Wykes chats to Longbut about how faith and family helped her get back to sport, her amazing achievements since her recovery and just how many sports she's been successful in. Sam is joined by Cynthia Seda from the Solomon...

Fresh Off the Field is once again out on location coming to you live from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea as the country gears up to celebrate 50 years of independence. It's an all PNG lineup joining Sam Wykes with Nesia Daily's Michael Chow and sports journalists Patricia Keamo and Jamie Haro on board to chat about all things sport in PNG and across the Pacific. We'll also hear from plenty invol...

The Pacific Nations Cup kicks off this weekend and Ikale Tahi assistant coach Alando Soakai joins the show to chat about how connecting with the villages helps the Tongan team on the field. Sam Wykes is joined by Kalo Manu-Moli who will educate us on Tongan sport, lingo and food during Tongan language week as well as Finau Vulivuli who brings in sports news in football, rugby and also shines a lig...

Roy Krishna is considered by most to be the greatest Fijian footballer ever and he still makes it a priority to go to schools and local tournaments when he's back in Fiji, especially in his village of Siberia in Labasa. Co-host Lailanie Burnes chats to Krishna about his journey from the rice paddies to professional football, his career highlights and his dreams to inspire the next generation. Sam...

Isila Apkup is the new face of Papua New Guinea sprinting and off the back of more medals in Palau at the Pacific Mini Games, she talks through her journey to the top. Regular co-host Jamie Haro chats to Apkup about the challenges of studying and competing in USA, the honour of running for PNG and what lessons she has for the next generation. Sam Wykes is also joined by Tongan reporter Marian Kupu...

Liam Talivaa believes God has brought him to boxing and he is rising the ranks fast after only taking up the sport during Covid. We hear about how he proudly represents his Samoan culture in his fighting, why he has put 'God's Son' on his shorts and what big goals he has for the future. As well, Lailanie Burnes brings us plenty of Fijian sporting action and Cynthia Seda is in to chat Solomon Islan...

Sydney Francisco lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the Pacific Mini Games in Palau, an honour that isn't lost on her. Francisco chats about coming back after a big break from athletics post the Paris Olympics, her proud family moments and the synergy of lighting the cauldron with her Mum there watching. Kalo Manu-Moli also drops by with plenty of local Tongan sports news including some R...

We're still basking in the glow of Palau and the Pacific Mini Games so today you'll hear from trailblazers in Vanuatu sport, PNG basketballers proudly playing for their family, the public reception as teams return and more. Alongside her usual cricket stories, Melissa Fare brings in some rugby news to impress Sam who in turns makes her cry with an interview from Mel's brother. Jamie Haro is here t...

Powerful stories, impactful performances and world class sporting action - the Pacific Mini Games in Palau didn't disappoint and we'll wrap it all up today on the show. You'll hear from medallists like a Guam softballer, Solomon Islands runner and highlights from across the Pacific. And because Fiji's Lailanie Burnes and PNG's Patricia Keamo are on board, you'll hear about their countries favourit...

Fresh Off The Field ditches the office and goes live from Palau for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games! Joining Sam Wykes on the ground are Papua New Guinean sports journalist Jamie Haro and the newest member of the team, Fijian multimedia sports journalist Taina Basiyalo, bringing you the latest stories and results straight from the games. It’s an athlete’s paradise in Palau, as Sam Wykes chases around...