Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 39
NRL: Andrew Fifita leads the Tongan Sipi Tau against Australia
For the first time in history, Australia faced off against the Mate Ma'a Tonga & their Sipi Tau.
Andrew Fifita led the Tongan Sipi Tau for the first time. Captain Sika Manu said in the post match interview that off the back of Jason Taumalolo leading it against the Kiwis in the World Cup last year, that Andrew would be the right person to lead it against his old team.
NRL: Tonga vs Australia national anthems
Tears flowed freely down the faces of the Mate Ma'a Tonga team in an emotional moment as young Lotima Nicholas Pome'e aka General Fiyah performed the Tongan national anthem with 26,000+ Tongan fans.
The Australian side had braced themselves for a sea of red & passionate Tongan supporters but they weren't expecting the level of respect shown them by the crowd when the full stadium launched into the Australian national anthem and sang along with Graham Isa'ako.
Dane Gagai summed up the moment in his post match interview with Fox News “The most amazing moment for me was when the crowd started singing the Australian national anthem”
Man of the match James Tedesco said "It was unbelievable at the start of the game they were all singing the Australian national anthem as well - they just love rugby league and to come out here and support their Tongan nation ....…more
NRL: Mate Ma'a Tonga - The Revolution
Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa on Mate Ma'a Tonga and the politics of Pacific rugby and league!
The secret behind Samoa’s incredible weightlifting success
Terron Beckham (well known fitness & sports industry personality - he's also NFL star Odell Beckham Jrs cousin) travels to Samoa to see what it takes for Samoans to chase their weightlifting dreams and lift the small Pacific island to be among the best in the world.
Be sure to check out the full video which features interviews with Samoa's top weighlifters, Samoa's weightlifting federation coach as well as Terron checking out Samoa's gyms and observing their culture on the Olympic Channel here as part of the Olympic Channels 'Olympic Outposts' series.
NFL: JORDAN MAILATA - Journey From Australian Rugby League hopeful to Eagles Draft Pick
Meet Jordan Mailata, the 6-foot-8, 345-pound, former rugby league player from Sydney, Australia.
Today the young 21 year old Samoan has achieved the improbable and made the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles roster! It's an incredible feat considering he's only played his first American football game four weeks ago and the list of talented, experienced Eagles players cut on Saturday.
Jordan has left a successful career in Australia to try and achieve the impossible – making an NFL roster, with no knowledge or previous experience of playing the game of American football.
This video from NFL Undiscovered follows his journey from an Australian Rugby League hopeful to Eagles Draft Pick.
Basketball: Samoan Basketball Comp
40 Samoan teams from Australia, Samoa and New Zealand compete in the Auckland Samoan Basketball Competition!
RUGBY: Ratu Kadavulevu School make History at World Youth Rugby Champions
Ratu Kadavulevu Schools under 18 side have created history by becoming the first Fijian school to win the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Japan!
RKS defeated New Zealand's champion high school, Hastings Boys High School 35 - 5 in the final and beat out Framesby High School from South Africa in the quarter finals and Australia's St Augustine's College in the semis.
Awesome for development for the game in the Pacific!
Watch the 1st half of the game in the video above and the 2nd half in the video below
Photo credit: Facebook/Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament
World School Sevens
We were Keepin it Fresh down at the World School Sevens competition where teams from all over the world came to compete and see who would be crowned the World High School champions.
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Credits:
DIrector - Shimpal Lelisi
Editor - Shimpal & James Leonard
Camera Operator - Darryl Laumua
Sound Operator - Will Voigt
SAMOA CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2018
Basketball teams from Samoa, Australia and New Zealand came together for the 3 Day Samoa Cup Basketball Tournament in Auckland last week (3rd - 5th Jan 18). It's an annual tournament open to all Samoans to participate and for the first time since the tournament started 4 years ago, invitational teams representing the Cook Islands and Tonga (NZ based) participated.
Divisions included Under 16s, Under 19s and Open teams for both Men and Women held at Pulman Arena in South Auckland with the purpose of uniting Samoan players to compete against each other for spots in teams which will be selected in upcoming FIBA events and even to represent Samoa at the Commonwealth games should they qualify.
When the tournament first started 4 years ago there were only 7 teams competing, last year there were 20 and this year it more than doubled with over 40 teams entered boosted by overseas team entries - 5 teams came over from Samoa as well as teams from Samoa Basketball Australia - Victoria, NSW and Queensland.…more
UFC: THE HALFCAST PODCAST
UFC Fighters Tyson Pedro & Tai Tuivasa host their own podcast - the 'Halfcast Podcast' and have a special guest with them on their 3rd episode.
They talk to Mate Ma'a Tonga Prop Andrew Fifita about his decision to play for Tonga, his younger days growing up in West Sydney, gold teeth, KFC & that infamous disallowed try!
The boys had another interview with him again more recently where they discussed their fights, Andrews first couple games this season with Cronulla, annoying media harassment and his decision to stick with Tonga for the remainder of his playing career! Check it out in the video below .....
For more of the Halfcast Podcast interviews click here
* PG recommended - coarse language