THE POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME - CLASS OF 2024
Last month, The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced its inductees for the Class of 2024 - Reno Mahe, Domata Peko and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
The inductees were selected from over 100 nominees by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame selection committee including Jack Thompson (chairman), Kevin Mawae, NFL network reporter Steve Wyche and more. All living Polynesian Football Hall of Fame inductees also cast a vote.
"These men represent the very best of our Polynesian people and we look forward to celebrating this recognition with their families in January" said co-founder Seiuli Jesse Sapolu.
-
Class of 2024 Inductees -
RENO MAHE
Tongan
* Brigham Young University (Running Back & Wide Reciever)
* NFL Philadelphia Eagles from 2003 - 2007 (Running Back, Kickoff Returner / Punt Returner)
* NFL All Pro Kick Returner in 2005
* Founding Board Member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
* NFLPA Philadelphia Eagles Player Representative 2007 & 2008
Reno joined Seiuli Jesse Sapolu, Kevin Kaplan, Ma'a Tanuvasa and Galu Tagovailoa in mid 2023 for a Goodwill Mission down to Samoa, American Samoa and New Zealand where they donated Microsoft Surface Pro computers and ran football camps with youth in each of the countries.
Check out more on the Goodwill mission in the video below -
-
DOMATO PEKO
Samoan
* Michigan State University (Defensive Line)
* NFL Cincinnati Bengals from 2006 - 2016, Denver Broncos from 2017-2018, Baltimore Ravens in 2019 and Arizona Cardinals in 2020 - 15 seasons total.
* 194 NFL games started (16 or more games in 13 of his 15 years in the NFL)
Domata has coached high school football and in early 2023 was named a Defensive Line Coach in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl teaching some of the top draft-eligible players from colleges across the country.
He has also teamed up with Coach Andy Flores with The Line Academy LA, Elite football training and consultant for NFL Combine/Pro Day training, off season training. More on this in the video below -
-
DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON
Samoan
* University of Miami National Championship Team in 1991
* CFL Calgary Stampeders in 1995
* Purchased the XFL in 2020
Check out some of The Rocks University of Miami highlighs in the video below.
-
Seiuli Jesse Sapolu was in Auckland recently for the NZRU Pasifika Strategy launch and the Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame launch where he talked about the Polynesian Hall of Fame and the Class of 2023 inductees, we asked him how special it was for him to have The Rock as one of the inductees in this class.
"I know why people are excited - it's because of him being probably one of the top action stars in America and in the world but for me it's honouring his work by contributing to American football.
He played it in college, he played it in high school, he never played in the NFL but now he owns a football league that gives opportunities not only to South Pacific island kids but mainstream kids in America so he's contributed to the game and he represents us because of his heritage of being a Samoan." - Seiuli Jesse Sapolu
The class of 2024 will be honoured during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend on the 19th & 20th January.
The enshrinement weekend events include the Polynesian Bowl which is an all-star game played in Honolulu featuring the nation's top ranked high school seniors, many of whom have gone on to play in the NFL; the enshirement ceremony which is held at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and the celebration dinner which will be held at the Sheraton Waikiki.
The public can purchase tickets to the events here