Just weeks after giving up Rugby Union to focus on Rugby League, Samoan Taytana Pati Ah-Cheung hopped on a flight to NZ to trial for Manusina. It wasn't long after that she was flying to the UK for the Rugby World Cup and we hear about this incredible story, what it was like at the huge event and just how proud her family was.Tinirau and Sam get stuck into the first four games of the Pacific Championships alongside Shellie Long plus there's a lot of love for the Tongan boys heading back to the motherland.
200 episodes in and the boys are still loving what they do. Tinirau’s rubbing his hands together with some of the best match-ups in rugby league history as the Pacific Championships kick off this week. Sammy shares his thoughts on the latest R360 news, and the boys give Sala a bit of stick about her pre-season training after a few weeks off, but send her off with love as she gears up with the Jillaroos.
Jethro Rinkama has had a whirlwind 12 months going from a youngster learning off the Fiji Bati to an NRL debut and playing finals for the Bulldogs and now about to represent Fiji in the Pacific Championships. We hear how he didn't get love in rugby union, what it's like playing and learning off his heroes like Viliame Kikau and Stephen Crichton and the pride his family has for him playing for the Fiji Bati.Sam & Tinirau chat through the festival of Rugby League in Papua New Guinea on the weekend as well as hearing from David Mead on the new PNG Chiefs name. Plus, Shellie Long drops by with a Pac Champs preview and the PM's XIII games on the weekend.
R360 is a new rebel Rugby Union competition creating big headlines and with its launch still up in the air and details a bit thin, we chat to Fijian legend Nemani Kuridrani about the venture. Kuridrani tells us about agents looking for players in Fiji, whether he would play or not in his heyday and why Pasifika players have heard the exclusion threat for national teams for decades.It's a huge weekend in PNG too so Sam & Tinirau go through the PM's XIII games and look at the Tonga and Cook Islands Pac Champs squads. Plus Sala Togatuki drops by to chat about her Jillaroos selection and talk up some standouts from the Fetu Samoa squad.
And just like that, the NRL and NRLW seasons wrap up with the Broncos taking home both premierships. Tinirau breaks down the highlights from the Storm vs Broncos grand final, while Shellie Long shares her favourite moments from the Broncos vs Roosters NRLW decider.But the footy action isn’t over yet as the Kangaroos and Jillaroos have announced their squads for the upcoming Ashes Test in England. Riding the lows of another Wallabies loss, Sam’s got big ideas (and big bucks) to lure some of the NRL’s best into the gold jersey.
The biggest weekend of the Rugby League year is this weekend and Brisbane can win two premierships to go with the QLD State of Origin victory - but will they? Tinirau and Sam run through the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals and if the Storm or Roosters can spoil Brisbane's party as well as celebrating the Nesian stars who dominated Dally M night.Nemani Kuridrani drops by to chat Samoa's woes, how Fiji would fare in The Rugby Championship and what his worth would be if R360 was around in his peak.
Cross code Pasifika superstar Mark Nawaqanitawase has plenty of big calls to make and we hear just how much family plays a role in his decision making process. With home World Cups in both Rugby Union and League and cultural ties to Fiji, Australia and Italy, Nawaqanitawase chats to Sam & Tinirau about the best bits of both codes, why his little brother thinks he might qualify for Tonga and how long it took him to spell his own last name as a kid.The boys also dive into the NRL prelims, discuss why so many Manu Samoa players left before their World Cup qualifier against Chile plus Shellie Long drops by to chat NRLW finals and the end of the Women's Rugby World Cup.NB: Mark Nawaqanitawase chat at 29:25
It's the penultimate weekend of the year in the NRL and NRLW and Tinirau and Sam dissect where each game might be won and which Nesian players hold the key.Nemani Kuridrani is by to cheers to the Fijian success in the PNC as well as toast the Ikale Tahi plus break down how Samoa can beat Chile in Chile to make the World Cup.
Representing Fetu Samoa was the highlight of Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala's footy career even though she wanted to hand back the captaincy every day for the first two weeks. Raised alongside 12 siblings, Nu'uausala chats about feeling like a whole other person in the Fetu Samoa jersey, playing while her Dad was sick before his passing and she gives some advice for young female footy players.Sam & T also go through the Fijian win in the Pacific Nations Cup plus Tonga's great result and Samoa's decider. Plus four teams drop out of the NRL and NRLW finals and the boys chat about where each game was won and lost and which Nesian players stood up.
Tinirau breaks down the two NRL elimination finals this weekend as we prepare to say goodbye to two clubs for the 2025 season. Sam has his fingers crossed for Samoa as they face Chile in a do-or-die clash for a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.Nemani Kuridrani shares his first impressions of the Drua’s latest signing, lock Jeniro Whakeham. And Sala Togatuki reflects on her season with the Tigers before sharing she’s ready to return for the Pacific Championships.
A rising star in Papua New Guinea rugby league, Dudley Dotoi is hoping to continue his try scoring abilities for the Kumuls soon. After representing PNG in the PM’s XIII game and being the leading try scorer in the Qld Cup this year, Dotoi chats about his first visits back to the motherland, playing against the Hunters in Port Moresby and feeling like the enemy and why he nearly missed his chance at playing for PNG due to a broken phone.Sam & Tinirau also run through the blockbuster NRL finals, the Pacific Nations Cup win for Fiji and alongside Shellie Long, what the NRLW finals are looking like. Plus, T is on his spelling bee tip again and Sam ain’t happy.NB: Dudley Dotoi interview at 34 mins
We’re down to the business end of the NRL, with week one of finals leaving Tinirau on the fence about his picks. Sam finally delivers the news he and T have been waiting weeks for: Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is back on the Wallabies bench. Nemani Kuridrani puts on his analyst hat once again, this time impressed by Samoa’s efforts in the Pacific Nations Cup. Meanwhile, Sala Togatuki reflects on her time under Brett Kimmorley as he steps back from his role as the Tigers’ inaugural NRLW coach.
Having just represented his Mum’s Cook Island side in the Pasifika First Nations game, Jack Debreczeni has vowed to continue learning more about his Pacific Island culture. We hear about how he juggles his four different cultures, the first time he learned and performed the Ura dance and what his big life lesson from footy was around backing his way.Sam & Tinirau also take a look at the final round of the NRL, the NRLW top 6 calculations, Fiji beat a plucky Manu Samoa and Fijiana get some success in their last Rugby World Cup game.NB: Jack Debreczeni chat at 29:30
Sam settles back into the Friday saddle, but not without Tinirau pulling some tipping trickery. Nemani Kuridrani reflects on the importance of giving back to rugby at the grassroots, while sharing his take on last weekend’s Fiji vs Tonga clash at the Pacific Nations Cup. And Sala Togatuki feels the love after Essay Banu gave her a shoutout following Monday’s chat with the boys.
Essay Banu put together some footy highlights while in high school, uploaded them to Facebook and the next thing she knew she was getting calls and emails left, right and centre. Fast forward to now and Banu has represented the PNG Orchids at a World Cup as well as leading the Cowboys to their first NRLW finals this year. We hear her story growing up in Tully in Far Nth Qld, travelling back to her PNG village with the Orchids and who her favourite NRLW players are.Sam & Tinirau reunite on Nesian Footy Monday for the first time since July so there's stacks to dig into including the NRL top 8 taking shape, Fiji's win over Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup and Shellie Long is here too to chat more NRLW and the Women's World Cup.NB: Essay Banu chat at 33:30
With Sam away, Will Hopoate steps in to share his post-match thoughts with Tinirau on last night’s Round 26 Panthers vs Bulldogs clash, where all eyes were on Penrith’s bold call to rest 16 players. Meanwhile, with the Pacific Nations Cup underway, Nemani Kuridrani admits Ikale Tahi’s promising form has him a little worried about Fiji’s chances this weekend.
PNG Kumuls legend and Hunters head coach Paul Aiton is as excited as anyone for the PNG NRL team and thinks that changing the narrative around safety is key to its success. Aiton talks us through his own cultural growth and an overwhelming homecoming, getting $5 a day in the early days of Kumuls, his desire to give back to Papua New Guinea and why if his French parents in law can come and enjoy PNG, anyone can!Will Hopoate joins Tinirau Arona this week to chat through the pointy end of the NRL season, the Ikale Tahi victory over Manu Samoa and Shellie Long drops by with all the NRLW and Women's Rugby Union World Cup news.NB: Paul Aiton interview at 32 mins
As Sam heads off to PNG, Will Hopoate fends off Tinirau’s cheeky attempts to sneak in extra points in Knock Out Tipping. Will and Tinirau share the motions of playing in teams out of top 4 contention, and how to keep a winning mindset with the finals out of reach. Nemani Kuridrani gets the league boys ready for the Pacific Nations Cup, and we catch up with Sala Togatuki after the Tigers finally get their first win of the NRLW season.
John Hopoate has been a part of the evolution of Tongan rugby league from 'one bottle of water, noodles and corned beef' into world beaters. We hear from the most suspended man in NRL history about where it all began, giving back to his family and country, his hard-nosed coaching mentality and pride in his children and of course about those certain finger incidents that took the game to the world and qualifies him as a doctor.Sam Wykes and Will Hopoate also discuss why Payne Haas has chosen to play for Samoa and what a lot of the mainstream media are missing in the conversation. There's plenty of news in both codes plus Shellie Long is here for women's footy too.NB: Interview with John Hopoate from 31:30
Sam and Tinirau answer PNG’s call for help in naming their new NRL team. Sala Togatuki gears up for another weekend of NRLW, bringing a refreshed mindset amid a challenging season for the West Tigers, setting the stage for an exciting Sunday clash. Plus, the boys welcome their newest teammate, Nemani Kuridrani, who steps in to fill the big shoes left by Toutai Kefu’s departure.