Fresh Off The Field

For the first time since 2004, the Fiji men's netball team will play an international game when they head to Singapore for the 'Nations Cup' in December. Coach Jioweli Vakamoce and captain Kitione Waqavonovono talk to us about the acceptance of the sport in Fiji for men, the recognition they're getting and the legacy they hope to leave.

Sam Wykes is joined by Fijian Finau Vulivuli and Samoan Fia Laikong to cover the heap of sport happening across the Pacific including basketball, athletics, AFL, rugby 7s and more.

Despite Valerie Mai's family not wanting her to play AFL at first, Mai turned them around and has now represented the PNG Flames on an international level. Mai is also actively developing the game in her homeland, helped write a children's book on her cousin Hewago Oea and is about to play in the Pacific Cup in Australia for the Flames.

Sam Wykes is also joined by Fijian Lailanie Burns and Papua New Guinean Jamie Haro to chat about basketball, football, boxing and plenty more.

Varun Lal left his family in Fiji to pursue a career in engineering in Australia but it's powerlifting that's connected him to his new homeland. Lal is about to represent Australia in a sport that he's only been doing for one year, but has changed his life and made him feel like he has a community away from Fiji. His mean curry making skills have also helped him get to the USA for the powerlifting World Championships starting next week.

Plus, Sam Wykes is joined by Melissa Fare and Marian Kupu to chat all things sport in Vanuatu, Tonga and across the rest of the Pacific.

Samoan Australian basketballer Keli Leaupepe spent five years playing college basketball in the USA and is now in the NBL with the Sydney Kings. We chat about his basketball journey, learning more about his Samoan side, the first impressions he gives with his size and his big dreams for the future.

Sam Wykes steps up for his first episode and is joined by Indra Singh from Fiji and Teitirake Teanoa from Kiribati for lots of sports news across boxing, soccer, rugby league and more.

Bobby Macumber wraps up her time on Fresh Off The Field after an amazing 60 episodes talking sport in the Pacific. Bobby hands over the baton and welcomes in the new host Sam Wykes.

Patricia Keamo from PNG covers sports mismanagement and OFC beach soccer and Tongan Kalo Manu-Moli speaks about the Pacific Championships Rugby League and body building. Plus, there's a third pregnancy announcement on the show - what a way to go out!

Sean Cotter helped Samoa move through to the next stage of T20 Cricket World Cup qualification and talks about that amazing experience. Cotter tells us about his connection to his Samoan culture, being an overseas based player and what he hopes for the future of the sport in the tiny Pacific nation.

Bobby Macumber is also joined by Lailanie Burns from Fiji and Cynthia Seda from the Solomon Islands to chat about all the sport happening across the Pacific.

Tahnee Norris is royalty in women's rugby league and ahead of the Pacific Championships and PM's XIII games, she tells us why she jumped at the chance to coach the PNG Orchids. Norris talks about her first impressions from being in Papua New Guinea recently, her amazement at the country's obsession with the sport and what needs to happen for PNG to enter the NRL and NRLW. 

Bobby Macumber is also joined by Patricia Keamo for the latest from PNG and Priestley Habru for a Solomon Islands dose, plus everything else sporty across the region.

Papi Alaalatoa's Samoa team just went through the Oceania Netball Youth World Cup qualifiers without losing a match and will head to Gibraltar next year to try bring home some silverware. Alaalatoa speaks about her pride in wearing the blue dress, how they dealt with their limited preparation and why she was nervous to be captain.

Bobby Macumber is also joined by Finau Vulivuli from Fiji and Jamie Haro from Papua New Guinea to discuss all the sport taking place across the Pacific.

One has been playing for the Cook Islands for decades and the other is in the green jersey as a 16-year-old. Jordina Katu has turned her mind to coaching while her daughter Meiya Lemafa is a player on the rise and both attended the FIBA high performance camp on the Gold Coast alongside 12 other Pacific Island nations. We hear about their learnings in the camp, why Jordina didn't want to cry in front of Meiya and what their coaching and playing dreams are for the future.

Bobby Macumber is joined by Indra Singh from Fiji to discuss plenty of sports news there including the glory and controversy of Fiji rugby. And Lulu Laris from Bougainville is our other co-host with plenty of PNG news and interviews.

After making a big impression at her debut Paralympics, 19-year-old Fijian Irene Mar is keen to change people's preconceived ideas in her homeland about people living with a disability. Mar talks us through her historic para-taekwondo victory and Paralympics experience as well as the hurdles she had to overcome to get there.

Bobby Macumber is also joined by Patricia Keamo to keep us across all the latest Papua New Guinea news plus Tongan Kalo Manu-Moli chats local news and plenty from across the islands.