Fresh Off The Field

PNG's gearing up for the ever-growing Sports Tok Sevens tournament, Vanuatu beach volleyball is going from strength to strength and Samoan-Australian boxer Jai Opetaia continues to prove he's one of the best boxers on the planet. Co-hosts Melissa Fare and Jamie Haro also unpack the troubling story surrounding Vanuatu's Women's Soccer team right now. A big edition of sporting news from across the Pacific.

Errol Qaqa is Fiji's lone hurdles athlete, but he's doing whatever it takes to inspire Fiji's next generation. Similarly, basketballer Jordan Lum Kon is doing what he can to pave the way for a fresh wave of Fijian hoopers. And there has been some big rugby news across the Pacific this week. Host Sam Wykes is joined by sports journalists Taina Basiyalo from Fiji and Harriet Tuara from the Cook Islands.

PNG's Women's National Team in football are hoping they can realise their FIFA Women's World Cup dream and claim Oceania's qualifying spot. We hear from their captain Ramona Padio. Plus, we cover the resurgence of cricket in the Solomon Islands, along with a number of other stories making waves around the Pacific.

Tonga is embracing its Commonwealth Games campaign with beach and waterfront clean-ups across the island. We also reflect on breaking glass ceilings in sport, following the early retirement of Destinee Aiava. And the newest inductees into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

Tongan media consultant and reporter Kalo Manu-Moli and former Fijiana representative turned media personality Lailanie Burnes join the show to spotlight the rising stars of Tonga’s U12 tennis team after the East Pacific Qualifier in American Samoa and draw attention to more emerging talent in Vanuatu, where U16 AFL is gaining momentum.

Vanuatu is swept up in chess hype, the Solomon Kings produced a huge upset in the OFC Pro League, the crazy similarity between F1 and badminton, plus PNG's inspirational milestone in basketball. 

PNG sports journalist Jamie Haro and Vanuatu cricketer and commentator Melissa Fare team up with Sam Wykes to bring you the latest from the OFC Pro League, the 2026 Victor Oceania Badminton Championships, and PNG women’s basketball making history. Plus, Jamie sits down with PNG Pepes netball head coach Lua Rikis to unpack her transition from player to coach and Mel talks through Vanuatu's chess growth with Jeremy Ellison of the Vanuatu Chess Federation.

Having represented Samoa at the Olympics and currently part of the IOC Young Leader program, Peniamina Percival is pushing judo to the front in Samoan sport and has even set up a dojo in Tiapapata. Co-host Gabrielle Apelu chats to Percival about his story, why judo aligns with Pasifika culture and why more women should take up the sport.

Sam Wykes is also joined by Fijian sports editor Talei Matairakula and the crew discuss the results but also the bigger picture of the OFC Pro League after a week in Port Moresby, the significance of the Commonwealth Games in the Pacific and news in rugby union, athletics, badminton and more.

We've got plenty on today with more OFC pro League news as the second round begins, a look at the upcoming Kaiviti Silktails season plus news in the world of tennis, netball, rugby union, badminton and even Pasifika stars competing in the NFL Superbowl. With the Winter Olympics starting next week too, Sam Wykes looks back at one of the most iconic moments for Tonga with an oiled up flag bearer who represented his nation in both Summer and Winter Olympics.

Sam is also joined by Solomon Islands breakfast radio host Cynthia Seda and Fiji journalist Taina Basiyalo to keep you across the biggest sports stories from the region.

Despite heavy rain in NZ, most of the OFC Pro League games went ahead to signal the start of this exciting new tournament for the region. Sam Wykes is joined by PNG journalist Jamie Haro and Vanuatu cricketer and commentator Melissa Fare to chat through the big moments in the Pro League as well as news in the worlds of athletics, footy, tennis and more.

There's also two interviews for cricket fans with the PNG Lewas captain Brenda Tau jumping on from Nepal in the middle of a T20 global qualifier as well as Vanuatu coach Chris Laffan to reflect on 2025 and share the hopes for this year.

We're back for 2026 keeping you across all the biggest sports stories in the Pacific and today we get you up to speed on the OFC Pro League which launches this weekend. Sam Wykes is joined by co-hosts Patricia Keamo and Gabrielle Apelu who also chat sports news in the world of rugby union, boxing, netball and more football.

There's interviews with Wira Wama from PNG Hekari FC who will compete in the OFC Pro League plus Samoa athletics coach Ah Chong Sam Chong.

Grace Kouba has been representing PNG in touch footy for over a decade including winning medals at The Pacific Games and is excited to see touch footy gaining traction beyond the big smoke. Co-host Jamie Haro speaks to Kouba about the growth, her proudest moments and what's next.

Talei Matairakula also joins us from Fiji to chat with Sam and Jamie about all the sport happening across the region including a big update on Bula FC in Fiji for the inaugural OFC Pro League in 2026.