Nesian Footy

After battling post-Marshall Islands travel sickness, Sammy makes a triumphant return to the studio with Tinirau and he doesn't come back empty-handed. Shellie Long talks us through the atmosphere of the women's State of Origin decider that took place last week with a side of rugby union news.  The boys then chat with Donny Singe, discussing his achievements as a performance and capacity coach, hi...

State of Origin season is in full throttle and we discuss the agony and ecstasy of the 2nd game for the men and decider for the women, plus Toutai Kefu helps casts his eye over the impending International rugby test season and who to look out for.

After playing with the Hurricanes and Crusaders, Pepesana Patafilo has felt a stronger connection and confidence in his Samoan culture since arriving at Moana Pasifika. We hear about his parents journey as 12-year-olds leaving Samoa, the cultural lessons he's passing onto his children and how he reflects on Moana's best year in Super Rugby. Tupou is filling in for Sam again and runs through all th...

It's a bumper episode with a live cross to Sam Wykes in the Marshall Islands, we welcome Tuvalu to the Nesian Footy fold, preview the Super Rugby final with Toutai Kefu and Sala Togatuki takes us inside NSW Origin camp and the famous Townsville tan.

Evania Pelite was a gold medal winning Rugby Sevens player but when she dropped everything to join the Warriors for one season of NRLW, the level of cultural celebration in five weeks was more than she'd seen in years playing Union. Since then, Pelite has starred in Rugby League winning State of Origin with QLD, a World Cup with the Jillaroos and dominating the NRLW with the Titans. We hear about...

It's the pointy end of the Super Rugby season and Sam & Toutai dive into the key points that might decide both the semi finals while Tinirau and Sala chat about NRLW preseason and more. Plus Sam's back from Samoa with some anti-Tonga facts and there's rumours aplenty in both codes.

It's a rough time to be a NSW Blues supporter but Tinirau fronts up and ropes in Sera Naiqama while Sam is on another one of his business trips. We talk special family moments during State of Origin with Sala Togatuki and get Toutai Kefu's thoughts as Super Rugby finals begin. Sera also reflects on the Waratahs Super W win and her own Wallaroos disappointment that's turned into new goals.

Freshly turned 17-year-old Samoan superstar, Shalom Sauaso talks us through her rugby league and union achievements and which code she's leaning towards in her future. We hear about Sauaso's high school and footy juggling act, backyard training sessions with Dad and her brothers and how she deals with competing interest from Wallaroos and the Brisbane Broncos. Shalom has the footy world at her fee...

There's plenty on the plate with the Melbourne Rebels and a bunch of Pasifika players told they won't feature in Super Rugby in 2025 plus Men's and Women's State Of Origin is around the corner. As usual, Toutai Kefu and NSW Sky Blues player Sala Togatuki drop by to share their perspectives.

There's not much Josh Papali'i hasn't done in Rugby League and we learn that Origin games were the "toughest" of his career, why representing Toa Samoa hit different and which Raiders game he'll remember forever. Papali'i has some advice for young Pasifika athletes and tells us what it's like being coached by Ricky Stuart and Wayne Bennett. There's also the State of Origin squads to dissect and pl...

We get a hold of Sala Togatuki this week and she talks about her gratitude for getting back in the sky blue jersey and how the NSW team celebrated their big win! We also chat signings, sackings, simple recipes and Toutai shuts down a not so attractive coaching rumour.

Samoa and NZ rugby trailblazer Sir Michael Jones continues to change the game for Pasifika athletes and we hear his wisdom on representation, celebration and cultivation of the Pacific Island talent that dominate the code. Known as ‘Iceman’, Jones also tells us what his friends call him nowadays and what it was like being a role model for a young Jonah Lomu. There's also a croaky Tinirau fresh off...

Fresh off her win in game 1 of the women's State of Origin, Sala Togatuki let's us go to voicemail. Never mind though as Sefa Paulo is here to dive into the huge win for the sky blues, Sam & Toutai give credit to the Rebels and put the Drua on notice and there's a Samoan pineapple pie on the menu as well.

Having made the last three Super W finals with limited prep time and budget, Drua player Vani Arei is proof that Fiji punch above their weight in women's rugby. We hear about the challenges for her and the team, the growth in young girls playing rugby in Fiji and how proud she is as the first in her family to make it in the sport. Shellie is back to talk up women's State Of Origin this week, Tinir...

It's a mouth watering episode in more ways than one as Nesian Footy all star Sala Togatuki takes us inside the NSW State of Origin camp ahead of game 1 next week. Toutai Kefu gives us the rundown in the Super Rugby world after a massive game in Tonga and Tinirau has some serious questions about Sam's recipe of the week - the less Tinirau knows the bat-ter.

Living in a house of 13, Samoan NRLW Raiders player Monalisa Soliola tells her story going from a dodgy discus dream to State of Origin. It's a cracker chat about makeshift training tactics, what it's like being the eldest of 10 kids and how she started playing Rugby League to compete with her younger sister. We also hear about her recent experience and growth being part of the extended NSW State...

After Jason Demetriou was sacked from the Rabbitohs in the NRL, we ask Toutai Kefu about the doomed fate that is coaching and how they support each other and stick together. We also chat about the significance of Super Rugby visiting Tonga this week and get a sneak peek of the NSW State of Origin workings from Sala Togatuki.

Having only taken up rugby four years ago, 19-year-old Allana Sikimeti's decision to leave her family and move to Canberra has been a big success after a massive debut season in the Super W. With Wallaroo dreams on the horizon, we chat to Sikimeti about her inspirational father, her 'just do it' attitude and what it would mean to the whole Sikimeti family if she got to pull on the gold jersey. You...

The massive Super W Grand Final between the Fiji Drua Women and the Waratahs is this Sunday so Toutai Kefu gives us some insights into conditions in Brisbane and what the Drua's plan for success is. You'll also hear from Tinirau off the back of his ANZAC Day experience, Sala Togatuki tells us about the tough Origin trials and Sam pretends that a movie snack is a recipe.

From barefoot rugby in Rarotonga to representing the Cook Islands to making it in the NRL with the Cronulla Sharks, Kayal Iro is a star on the rise. We hear what it was like with an all time League legend as a dad, why he didn't play in footy boots until age 15 and what experience in the game made him cry. There's also massive Super W finals to unpack, some upsets in the NRL and Tuvalu features in...

There's a ton to discuss including the long awaited Flying Fijians head coach appointment, the Super W semi finals and the biggest trade in NZ Warriors history. Tupou Sopoaga fills in for Sam this week and brings with him 2 dozen sushi rolls while Tinirau Arona is stinging to hear from Sala after her Origin trial and Toutai on why Joey Manu would want to go to Japanese Rugby.

Papua New Guinea has big dreams to enter a team in the NRL and one of the greatest players from that nation, David Mead, discusses the challenges they may face and what they can do now to get ahead. Mead has lived the dream from the village to the big stage and knows more than most what the sport means to PNG, just how difficult it is to make it in the NRL but also how amazing it would be if it ha...

From Sam's failed pre-game meals to NSW Women's Origin camp heating up, Nesian Footy has it all this Friday. Tinirau and Sam discuss coach axings, Drua suspensions, Ikale Tahi appointments and get some help from our Friday regulars, Toutai Kefu and Sala Togatuki.

Tongan Australian legend and the first captain of Moana Pasifika, Sekope Kepu is all about Pasifika cultural celebration. Kepu explores his Tongan family's journey to NZ and Australia, his heartbreak missing out on representing the Ikale Tahi due to injury and how he strives to incorporate culture into high performance. We also hear Shellie Long's thoughts on the NRLW expansion, learn about why Ni...

Sam is back from his latest Fiji trip and with the field almost underwater for the two Drua games, he tell us about the Force having to change plans and how the local frogs rattled the WA team. We also hear Sala Togatuki's caution with the NRLW expansion, get the lowdown on the Pasifika Rugby Union hall of fame as well as the Manu Samoa coaching news from Toutai Kefu.