Aaron Leha'uli, John Vake, Sione Sika & Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lemalie were part of the Tongan Wrestling team that competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The team made history as it was also the first time Tonga have ever had a wrestling team compete at the Commonwealth Games.

John Vake breaks down the history of wrestling in Tonga, famous Tongan wrestlers and more for us here - 

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Watch the full episode below 

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Edited by Sefa Taouma 

Camera & Sound Operators - Penina Momoiseā & Sefa Taouma 

Interviewers - Penina Momoiseā

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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

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Catch up on more of our Sports Talk eps here - 

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson became Ellen's "biggest guest" when he appeared on her show in 2003 during her first month on the air.

The actor made his last appearance in 2019, when he talked about his early morning wedding in Hawaii.

Meet Logoi Malaeulu Mariner and his family from Salelavalu, Savaii. The 69 year old has been farming for almost 50 years and is one of the oldest commercial farmers on the big island.

As a beneficiary of the World Bank Pacific funded SAFPROM Matching Grant Program, Logoi and his family have been able to improve productivity on the farm and increase production of their vegetable and root crops supply to the local market.

Watch the heartwarming story of Logoi Mariner to see how this humble farmer and grandfather is building a legacy of agricultural sustainability and financial literacy to secure a healthier and more prosperous future for his grandchildren.

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Video credit & Thank You to:  World Bank Pacific and the Samoa Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project

Ka’a - Samoan for little sh**, or a young person who enjoys going out.

Samoan, South Auckland based artist Pati showcases her new album in her new show KA’A. When asked what we should expect from this show, Pati promised to deliver “Good music, laughter, sadness, and a safe space to be a little sh**.”

And deliver she did. 

KA’A is a love letter to all young, brown women who face constant judgment by their own communities. To the girls who carry their peoples expectations like a second skin. The girls who love their village, but don’t feel loved in return. 

In her tear jerking showcase Pati displayed her range in this body of music and theatre combined. An actor, writer, show director, and musician, seriously what can’t she do? 

I don’t know what I was expecting going into the basement theatre last night, all I knew was to expect the unexpected.…more

Coco Sports Talk catches up with a couple of young men representing Niue at the Commonwealth Games - boxers Duken Williams & Deniro Pao-Clarke - at their fundraising event in Grey Lynn prior to them leaving for Birmingham.

We also check out their sparring session with legendary Tongan fight coach Lolo Heimuli who talks a bit on their preparation and what he's excited about leading up to the Games.

Since this interview, Duken Williams went on to win Bronze at the Commonwealth Games and make history as the first person to ever win a medal at the Commonwealth Games for Niue.

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Watch the full episode below 

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In memory of Eliza Truhobovich 13.02.88 - 15.07.22

She was a big part of the Hurtlocker gym, a close friend and huge supporter of Duken & Deniro.

The boys dedicate their Commonwealth Games bid to her memory.…more

Dwayne talks to guest host Kerry Washington about his eldest daughter Simone making her WWE debut, buying his Mum a house, his friendship with Kevin Hart, adopting a dog, playing Black Adam, and his business partner/the first woman to own a sports league - Dany Garcia, joins them to talk about rebooting the XFL.

As it came down to the business end of the Commonwealth Games this weekend, there were still medals up for grabs with 4 of our Pacific islands nations still in action on Sunday and they didn't disappoint with both Samoa and Vanuatu picking up the final medals for the Pacific Islands.

Samoa secured their 4th Silver by way of Heavyweight boxer Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali on Sunday evening in Birmingham. He took on home crowd favourite, 6ft 6 boxer Lewis Williams & put on as the commentators said 'a tremendous fight' but ultimately lost by Unanimous Decision.

At the medals ceremony, he shared the podium with fellow Pasifika fighter, Niuean Duken Williams who was awarded a Bronze. 

The Vanuatu Womens Beach Volleyball team took on the New Zealand Womens Beach Volleyball team in the Bronze medal match and what a match it was.

They went down in the first set 10-21 to NZ, clawed their way back in the 2nd set to win it 22-20 and then were dominant in the 3rd, winning comfortably 15-10, a fantastic effort from the Vanuatu pair.…more

23yr old, javelin thrower Donny Tuimaseve is ready to perform for Samoa at his second Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.  He has made the finals and will be Samoa's final athlete to compete.

Tuimaseve is self-taught in the art of javelin throwing, watching vision and tips on YouTube to refine his javelin craft over the years. In that time, he has thrown a national record for Samoa twice, with the most recent being a 69.05m throw at last month’s Pacific Mini Games in Northern Mariana Islands.

Born in Samoa, he had never seen javelin on the TV or even heard of the sport until one day at high school he came across the light spear equipment designed to be thrown as far as possible.

Read more about Donny's INCREDIBLE story here:  https://www.people2u.com.au/news/don-ing-the-red-and-blue-on-the-world-stage/

History was made this morning for one of our smallest island nations - Niue!  Heavyweight boxer Duken Williams made history for Niue when he beat his opponent - Cook Islander Michael Schuster - in the Quarter finals to be guaranteed a Bronze medal. 

It will be the first time Niue has ever won a Commonwealth Games medal.

He now faces Samoan Heavyweight contender Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali in the Semi-final.  Ato is also chasing Gold this time round after taking Silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

* Photo above:  Duken Williams after making history this morning for Niue in his Quarterfinal.   Photo Credit:  Express & Star 

Many of our Commonwealth Games teams wound up their campaign last night - so who is left to cheer on this weekend?  We've got the deets for you below.

NB:  All times given below are in NZT

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COOK ISLANDS 

The Cook Islands Triples Womens Lawn Bowls team have made the semi-final!  They take on England from 7.30pm 

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Fiji, Kiribati & Tuvalu's athletes have all finished competing in their respective events.…more