Nesian Footy

While Sam is away in Japan, Tinirau and Will Hopoate dive straight into all things NRL as the finals kick off tonight. Toutai joins us for his last episode on Nesian Footy for the year to talk about the Pacific Nations Cup. Sala reflects on her NRLW season with the Tigers after ending on a high note.

Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa lived in Tonga until his late teens and everything he does is for his family and his country. We hear from the man who'd played 13 games of Rugby League before he debuted for the Warriors and he touches on providing for his family, why the Storm are such an incredible club and his dreams to play in Tonga in front of his family. It's finals time in the NRLW and Kiana...

It's the final round in the NRLW and Sala has her second win in a row, NRL finals get a bit more cut throat and Fiji has the chance to win another Pacific Nations Cup. It's a jam packed show as per usual on Friday and your #1 Pasifika preview is right here!

After having her second child, Samoan Australian Sally Fuesaina suffered serious mental health struggles and it was a return to the sport she’d played as a younger woman that helped her get better and eventually led to playing for the Brumbies and Wallaroos. We hear how Rugby Union and support from her family helped show Fuesaina a new path, plus what it’s like debuting for the Wallaroos at age 32...

Finals footy is here in the NRL and the Pacific Nations Cup so with the help of our Japanese onsen boar hunter Toutai Kefu, Sam & Tinirau give you everything you need to know. The Wests Tigers have won their first game of 2024 so Sala is away but in comes Cook Island Moana and NRLW player Kiana Takairangi to chat all things women's footy. Also you'll find out where Kiribati own a large parcel...

Having played for Australia in Rugby Sevens, Cassie Staples embraced the Fijian style when she code hopped to League and represented Fiji Bulikula during the 2023 Pacific Championships. We hear about the cultural and footy learnings from putting on the Fiji jersey and we find out why her team, the Sharks, have clicked in the NRLW in 2024. There's also big PNG Hunters news, it's Pacific Nations Cup...

Toutai Kefu succumbs to bad Japanese internet, Sala Togatuki is boarding a flight to Nth Qld, so who is going to save us?! Shellie Long, that's who. There's a ton of news to talk in the NRL, NRLW and Rugby Union worlds so it's lucky that in the absence of our usual experts, Sam & Tinirau have more than enough food on the table to serve up. Nesian Footy Fridays, you never know what's coming.

New Zealand-born, Samoan rugby union player Jeffery Toomaga-Allen has over 200 caps playing in England, Ireland, NZ and Australia and understands the power of community wherever you go. We chat to him about a recent trip to Tonga with the QLD Reds, making communities across the globe and representing your culture far from home. Results from the Pacific Nations Cup and The Rugby Championship over t...

We have details of The Pacific Championships that will follow the NRL season which will see games in PNG, Fiji, NZ and Australia and include a brand new promotion/relegation feature. We also hear from Sala Togatuki among a really tough NRLW season with some home truths. And Toutai Kefu is home alone in Japan with a typhoon warning so he's excited just to talk to real life people. There's plenty of...

"I'm home. This is it, this is me. I was meant to be here." This is how Toru Arakua felt when she represented her homeland of the Cook Islands in 2023 in the Pacific Championships. Having played for 4 NRLW clubs and represented NZ, Arakua is loving life at the Titans and the way they embrace Pasifika culture. Plus, we hear why captaining Cook Islands Moana last year was a challenge she's glad she...

The Pacific Nations Cup is finally here so we dial in Toutai Kefu from Japan to give us the final tips and analysis. We also get a mid season NRLW report from Sala Togatuki on the Tigers disappointing season and how close they feel to getting a win. Tinirau is also back on deck full time and Sam is slowly making a comeback in tipping.

Manly Mermaids coach Ben Tuipulotu and his daughter and captain Georgina will take on Sydney Uni in the Women's Premier Rugby Competition GF and there's big Tongan stakes with Ben's twin Sateki coaching the opposition. Sam Wykes and Tupou Sopoaga get the lowdown on family rivalries, the Pacific Island underdog power they're harnessing and Ben's Pasifika coaching aspirations. Shellie's in town to k...

Our gun NRLW co-host Sala Togatuki returns to the show after a few weeks M.I.A. and with the Tigers 0/3 we ask what the mood is like in the group and how close they feel to a win. Before Toutai Kefu heads off to coach in Japan we hear his thoughts as a coach on managing players with European contracts and also a desire to play for Tonga, Samoa or Fiji. There's also some Tokelau facts, more family...

Growing up, Lehi Hopoate flew under the radar when it came to footy, but he's now become the most recent Hopoate to debut in the NRL. With Will Hopoate also hosting, we hear about the family dynamic at home, how they can always hear their Dad John in the crowd and why Lehi was always striving to beat his older sister Pani, now an NRLW Rooster. Sam takes a look at the first round of The Rugby Champ...

As NRL finals loom Tinirau gives the rundown on which teams he thinks can keep their season alive for a little bit longer. The boys chat to Toutai Kefu ahead of the The Rugby Championship on the weekend where we’ll see Australia up against a promising South Africa. And with Sala missing for another week, the boys are starting to get suspicious.

One of the most familiar faces in the Wallabies squad is Samoan superstar prop, Allan Alaalatoa. Debuting with the Brumbies in 2014, it wasn’t long before he found himself playing for the Wallabies before eventually becoming the 85th captain of Australia. Allan chats to the boys about his family ties to the game and the impact of culture on leadership and life. Sam and Sefa also chat about big gam...

Today's culture shock sees Sam unwittingly pick up a new Fijian nickname and the boys are questioning Sefa's professor credentials with his latest trivia question. As well as that we chat the upcoming rounds in the NRL and NRLW and go deep on Samoa and their prospects at the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup tournament in Union.

From playing on paddocks in the UK to playing in the Pacific for Tonga, Patrick Pellegrini quite literally took the scenic route to achieving one of his greatest goals - to play for his country. Patrick talks to his big older cousin Sam Wykes and co-host Tinirau about his journey and his favourite moments playing for the Ikale Tahi. Sefa Paulo jumps in for Tinirau to break down some recent NRL sig...

The NRLW has arrived and Sala Togatuki looks at the first game between the Knights and Roosters and the rest of the round, including her first match which she's mega fired up for. Fiji have got off to a flyer in the Men's Olympic Rugby Sevens and Toutai Kefu will dive into what the Ikale Tahi have done well this year and what needs work ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup.

Siliva Havili has seen big changes in his decade long career representing Mate Ma'a Tonga but no matter the challenges, the feeling of running out to the sea of red jerseys is unrivalled. From doing the Sipi Tau in front of shopping centres to try raise money for the Tonga overseas footy trips to historic World Cups, Havili reflects on his career so far and even spills the beans on his podiatry qu...

Tinirau is still smiling after Wednesday night's Origin decider so we go into the biggest moments, what's happened since and the Nesian stars that had their best series ever. Sam takes us to Tonga for 'Culture Shock' and for International rugby and our best mates Toutai Kefu and Sala Togatuki drop by to give us their expert thoughts.

Natasha Penitani connected with her Tongan culture on a whole new level when she played for the Mate Ma'a Tonga and convinced her sister Tiana that she should do the same. The next year, both Penitani sisters wore the red jersey and it was a career and even life highlight for Tash. Lining up for Wests Tigers this year and hoping to debut in the NRLW, we hear about the big moments that have shaped...

As usual on Friday there's a jam packed weekend ahead that Sam & Tinirau run through with the help of Sala Togatuki and Toutai Kefu. Sala has her only pre-season trial game and there's some extra spice as it's against a QLD Maroon heavy Broncos team plus Toutai talks rugby internationals and why the Pacific Island nations seem to struggle with being favourites.  Tinirau also tells us about a g...

Not many players get their first crack in the big time at age 27, but Cook Islander Reuben Porter just debuted with Wests Tigers after nearly giving up on his NRL dream several times. It's an inspiring story of resilience and determination and Porter has plenty of nuggets of wisdom from his unique footy story. There's a couple of golden point crackers in the NRL to talk about, some impressive show...

Sam's like a kid in a candy store with International rugby well and truly arriving this weekend. Fiji and Samoa are playing, Tonga are up next and Australia, NZ and plenty more are also stacked with Nesian Faces. Toutai Kefu will help pump up the rugby while Sala Togatuki comes through sharing her Origin reflections and along with Tinirau, they preview a big NRL weekend ahead. Plus, have you heard...