Fresh Off The Field

With a family full of boxers, it only seemed natural that this was the path she’d take too. Now, she’s Fiji’s golden star, becoming the first female boxer to represent her island nation on the world stage and taking home bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She’s now helping set the platform for aspiring boxers across the Pacific.

Climate change is making weather patterns harsher and more unpredictable, making it increasingly difficult for athletes across the islands to play the sports they love. So, is artificial grass the answer? With FIFA announcing a $2.5 million investment in Tonga’s first purpose-built artificial football pitch, Mel Fare and Sam Wykes unpack the pros and cons.

Jamie Haro highlights an exciting PNG Orchids and Kumuls squad ahead of the Rugby League World Cup, while Taina Basiyalo shares the story of the sole local Fiji Bulikula player to make the squad; despite not even knowing rugby league existed just three years ago.

And how good do you reckon Tongans are at chess? Pretty good, according to Kalo Manu-Moli.

Growing up, Mitch Cooper saw how much soccer could bring people together and put a smile on people’s faces; sparking his own ambition to play the sport. Now 32 and more seasoned, having proudly represented Vanuatu, he wants to give back the same joy and experience the sport has given him.

PM’s XIII is quickly approaching, and there are plenty of players to watch out for across both the men’s and women’s game. In Papua New Guinea, Welterweight John Ume gets ready to make his mark in New Zealand, while Patricia Keamo brings us all the latest sporting news from PNG. Tifa Moana’s success in reaching the World Cup qualifiers is proof that having the right support behind the right team can make all the difference, while Samoa’s women claim bronze in an unexpected sport... golf! Fia Liakong jumps right into it.

Do you have AI fatigue? With the PNG Chiefs finding themselves at the centre of copyright issues, Mel Fare and Sam Wykes get into originality, AI, and the safety and privacy of athletes.

Pasifika Run Club was almost something that came out of nowhere, sending Edwin Asotasi straight into the deep end. Fast forward, and he’s helping Islanders reshape the way they see long-distance running; moving away from the idea that running is a punishment for messing up at rugby training, or something reserved for a certain body type.

Now, Pasifika Run Club has created a space for Islanders across Sydney to run together, support one another and help shape a new narrative around the sport.

Tiana Penitani-Grey fills in for Sam Wykes this week, joining Melissa Fare to highlight the importance of safeguarding in Pacific sport as a Fiji NRL case continues to unfold.

Papua New Guinea is buzzing with sport, from boxing to touch footy, and Jamie Haro is across it all. Fijian weightlifter Taniela Rainibogi is chasing gold at the Oceania Championships, while the Fiji Kulas' MSG Cup campaign has been a tough one — Taina Basiyalo has the latest.

And Samoa is celebrating 40 years of rugby league, while Tifa Moana have secured their place at the 2027 Netball World Cup. Gabrielle Apelu joins us from Samoa to celebrate both milestones.

After a long and decorated career in netball, Kristiana Manu’a is getting ready to wind things down, but not before taking out the Oceania Qualifiers campaign at the very least.

Chatting to the Samoan skipper before she and her team headed off for the Oceania Qualifiers in  Tonga, she was hungry for a win; and the current score lines reflect just that. But behind the passion and hunger is a seasoned player who has experienced the highs and lows of being a professional athlete.

Now, she’s ready to pay that experience forward, looking at ways to inspire and pave the way for the next generation of Pasifika netballers.

Taina Basiyalo, Patricia Keamo and Kalo Manu-Moli jump on to chat more Oceania Qualifiers results coming from Fiji and Tonga, as well as some OFC action.

And Mel Fare and Sam Wykes unpack the other side of being an aspiring athlete. family, and the pros and cons of prioritising your loved ones above all else.

Fijian Pearl Matila Vocea has aspirations many could only dream of, balancing international netball and basketball, without feeling the need to choose between the two. She switches codes whenever her schedule allows, taking her all over the world while representing her small island nation. Now, alongside her own playing commitments, Vocea, is coaching younger grades and preparing for the Netball Oceania qualifiers in Tonga in just a few weeks’ time.

In the Big Story, we head to Vanuatu as the Central Coast Mariners visit for two international friendly matches as part of the OFC action. We also look at the NRL’s trial of a smaller-sized ball in the NRLW — and why it’s taken until now for the women’s game to be considered.

For Around the Islands, Jamie Haro gets excited for the Santos Cup, with the PNG National Women’s competition kicking off this weekend, alongside the National Touch Championships as PNG heads into its Independence celebrations. Fia Liakong catches us up on the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship currently underway in Samoa, as well as an exciting international boxing competition.

Vanuatu is putting the future of sport under the spotlight, with the launch of a new National Sports Policy aimed at creating clearer pathways from grassroots participation and community competitions through to the national and high-performance level. But is a new policy the answer, or would strengthening what already exists be more effective? Co-host Mel Fare takes a closer look.

Meanwhile, Australia is investing $15.6 million into the next generation of Pacific sporting talent. It’s a welcome boost, but what does success actually look like for these future athletes; and how should we measure whether that investment is making a difference? Sam Wykes unpacks it.

We also head to Andorra, where 19-year-old Tokelauan-Samoan Ezekiel Webb is chasing a basketball dream thousands of kilometres from home. Just three years after picking up the sport for the first time, he’s now playing professionally in the eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain.

Plus, we’re joined by Patricia Keamo, Taina Basiyalo and Gabrielle Apelu, bringing you the latest sporting news from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa.

17-year-old Māori diver Pomeroy-Farrell wins bronze at the World Junior Diving Championships in Croatia, trailblazing a new and untapped path in sport for Fiji.

A new rugby partnership, Kaumea’a Ofi, translating to “close friends” in Tongan, signals a strong and hopeful future for rugby.

And CrossFit makes its way onto Fresh Off The Field as Samoa celebrates the 11th annual Toa Games. There’s even some talk about how we could add a bit of Pacific juice to a CrossFit competition in the islands.

Kalo Manu-Moli chats with Sam’s longtime friend and footy rival, Eddie Aholeilei, about his time as an assistant coach with the Reds’ Super Rugby Women’s side.

Plus, Samoan netballer Kara Nawela chats with Fia Liakong about her dreams and aspirations for the future.

American Samoa has stunned the flag football world, ending America’s 14-year unbeaten streak -  and it’s a story our co-hosts are fighting to share first!

New Zealand and Australia continue to make waves on the world stage, with Māori swimmer Erica Fairweather cementing her place at the Pan Pacific Championships, while Indigenous Australian Lani Pallister makes history as the first swimmer to beat American great Katie Ledecky in the 800m.

Touch Football and Oztag are also gaining momentum across the Pacific, offering a growing pathway for people to play footy without the fear of injury.

Jamie Haro chats with Papa New Guinea Touch Footy veteran Eugene Eka, who reflects on OTS Tribes Footy Club’s dominant grand final win.

And in the Cook Islands, Harriet Tuara catches up with newly appointed Chef de Mission Michelle Paiti, who has big hopes for the nation’s athletes.

Fiji recently celebrated Safe Sport Day, highlighting the importance of creating safe and inclusive sporting environments for participants of all ages and levels. Mel Fare chats with Rugby PLUS and a Safeguarding Champion about why the day matters and the measures needed to protect athletes across all areas of sport.

Fia Liakong catches up with Tifa Moana representative Renee Savai’inaea, who has her sights set on making the World Cup Qualifiers one to remember.

And in the ring, Australian Cook Islander Teremoana Teremoana takes on American DeAndre Savage in a heavyweight bout, backing himself from start to finish to secure the win.

Sam Wykes and Fiji sports journalist Taina Basiyalo are in the chair this week, wrapping up the biggest sporting stories from across the Pacific. They recap stand-out performances from the Commonwealth Games, catch up with Fijian sprint star Helenia Young and Vanuatu's Chloe David, and look ahead to the 2026 Oceania Volleyball Championships in Guam. 

They also celebrate 15-year-old Papua New Guinean surfer, Luana Matthies, Australian Open Women's Longboard Championship title and Tuvalu's historic first-ever Commonwealth Games medal, won by boxer Tarona Taafaki.

Plus, Sam Wykes has a bonus interview with the NHL's first Polynesian ice hockey player, who shares his remarkable journey from the Pacific to the world's biggest ice hockey league.