Fresh Off The Field

After their undefeated run and victory in the PacificAus netball series in Brisbane this week, Tifa Moana veteran Auteletoa Tanimo talks about the big dreams the Samoan team has for the future. We hear about their strength of connection, why head coach Natalie Mathews was so vital to their success and how great the crowd were.

Sam is also joined by Patricia Keamo from PNG who chats to their Olympic Committee president Emma Waiwai as well as Fiji's Lailanie Burnes who sat down with trailblazer taekwondo Olympian Venice Traill.

As always 'Fresh Off The Field' is covering more sports than you've got aunties with some huge netball results, athletics firing up, tennis, football, rugby and more. Plus Cynthia Seda from the Solomon Islands brings in a chat about surfing programs in the Pacific and Finau Vulivuli speaks to a fellow Fijian giving vital Oceania representation in world basketball.

Natalie Mathews' ultimate dream is to coach the Tifa Moana netball team and at the PacificAus Netball Series in Brisbane she'll achieve that goal. Mathews knows Samoa have a challenge ahead of them but she's ready to help them rise up the rankings.

Sam is also joined by PNG's Jamie Haro and Tonga's Kalo Manu-Moli to discuss sporting news from across the Pacific including football, rugby league, tennis, cricket, rugby union, swimming and more.

It's jam packed today with Sam Wykes joined by Melissa Fare who chats to fellow Ni-Van cricketer Rachel Andrew, plus Lailanie Burnes speaks to the head coach and president of Fiji weightlifting. 

There's also tennis in Samoa, new blood in the Fijian Pearls, football and the start of the Super Rugby Pacific competition just over a week away.

From representing Fiji as a 14-year-old to becoming a first-time mother at 19, Fijian basketballer Letava Kenny has made incredible sacrifices to pursue her dream. At 32, she secured her first professional contract - proving that determination knows no timeline.

Priestley Habru and Patricia Keamo join Sam Wykes to touch on all things sports across the Pacific and, of course, come ready to tell some new facts about themselves.

Papua New Guinea and Australian woman Zimmie Farquharson plays in the AFLW with the Western Bulldogs and is one of only a handful of Pacific Island women to have ever played in the competition. Her mother is from the Western Province in PNG and when Zimmie visited her village everything in life and footy was put in perspective. We hear about her success and struggles on the field and about her role as a multicultural ambassador for AFL in the Pacific. 

Also, Indra Singh and Melissa Fare from Fiji and Vanuatu join Sam Wykes to discuss all the latest sport happening around the Pacific including results from the Coral Coast Sevens, Oceania Chess Championships and the latest football signings.

After a few weeks off, Fresh Off The Field returns for a new year bringing you the latest sporting action across the Pacific. Host Sam Wykes is joined by PNG sports editor Patricia Keamo and all round media star, Fiji's Lailanie Burnes to catch up on everything you may have missed over the last month.

We'll hear from four time Ms Fiji bodybuilding champion Liz Maki, how and why Heraki Utd are dominating PNG football, the latest in Oceania athletics, a Coral Coast 7s preview and of course an update on our recent guest, Samoan Australian tennis star Destanee Aiava.

Samoan Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava gets messages from Pacific Island parents thanking her for being a role model for their kids and it's these special encounters that add extra motivation. We hear about Aiava's connection to culture, the mental health battles she's faced and why marrying your tennis hitting partner and best friend takes patience.

Cynthia Seda from the Solomons and Tongan Kalo Manu-Moli also hop on to discuss sports news from across the region and you'll hear from the PNG and Australian Prime Ministers regarding the massive news in the NRL for Papua New Guinea.

From an old tyre attached to a tree to representing PNG, Shannaz Apelis has had quite the inspiring netball journey. For someone who was dragged away from soccer by her Mum to try netball, Apelis has taken big leaps in recent years training and playing in Australia alongside experiences at the Pacific Games in Honiara too.

Hear her story as well as sports news from Melissa Fare and Lailanie Burnes who join Sam Wykes this week to run through all the sport happening across the Pacific Islands.

Jemina Otoa is on a mission to inspire others who wear the same shoes as her and it goes way beyond winning Pacific Games medals. After taking home silver in Honiara in 2023 she's dedicated to improving funding, coaching standards and the lives of people living with a disability in the Solomon Islands. Sam Wykes chats to Otoa about her story and she has also got an interview with fellow para-athlete Moffet Tolomae.

Sam is joined by Patricia Keamo from PNG and Solomon Islands journalist Priestley Habru to discuss all the sport happening across the Pacific region.

NB: Parts of this show were produced in collaboration with ABC’s International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) initiative, and is supported by the Women in News and Sport (WINS) program and implemented by ABC International Development.