Lindsay Tui made a rapid rise to the NRLW, with hard work and a competitive mindset driving her success. Sam and Tinirau saw it up close and personal in 2024 when she scored the final try against Tonga to cement Fetu Samoa's place at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. Tui joins Nesian Footy to reflect on growing up in a competitive family, representing Samoa, and what's driving her to earn another spot in the squad head of the 2026 Rugby World Cup.  

There's plenty to celebrate coming out of Round 19 in the NRL, with Daniel Tupou scoring a hat-trick in his 300th game and rugby league fans rallying to celebrate Jai Arrow's 31st birthday. 

NRLW player and Cook Islands representative Kiana Takairangi steps in for Shellie Long to share which teams and players have caught her eye in the NRLW.

Plus,  rugby union fans across the Pacific are feeling it after a tough weekend of losses, with heavy defeats in both the Pacific Championship and Pacific Cup. 

Chapters:

3:30 - Rugby League

15:00 - Rugby Union

25:30 - Kiana Takairangi

33.00 - Lindsay Tui

50:30 - Gimme 3

The Blues have wrapped up the Origin series, meaning primary attention can now return to the NRL, as some teams face crunch games in Round 19. The Wests Tigers' hopes of breaking their lengthy Finals drought is getting urgent, just as reports surface that star half Jarome Luai has been invited to explore his options for the 2027 season, before joining the PNG Chiefs in 2028.

Also on the show, we review the Broncos' NRLW win over the Sharks and preview the rest of Round 2 in the Women's competition.

And we've got a fresh slate of Test matches to look forward to in rugby, as the second round of the Nations Championship and Nations Cup take centre stage.

Playmaker Ben Volavola joins the Fijian Drua next season after a year with the Reds. The well-travelled Fijian has played 38 Tests and tested a broad range of rugby experiences. The 35-year-old is very well equipped to pass on invaluable wisdom to the rapidly develop Super Rugby Pacific franchise.

On rugby, it was the very first round of the Nation's Championship over the weekend and there were some epic Test matches. 

The first round of the NRLW season revealed some intriguing storylines, which we break down with Shellie Long, along with the last round of the Super Rugby Women's, which sets up semi-final match-ups in both Fiji and Perth.

We also review Round 18 in the NRL and take one last look towards this Wednesday's Origin decider in Brisbane.

The hotly anticipated Nations Championship kicks off this weekend, headlined by Fiji's huge contest against Wales in Cardiff. Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani helps preview the Fijian's big game.

The NRLW kicked off last night as Newcastle launched their season in style with a win over the Sharks, which we review with Sala Togatuki.

We preview Round 18 in the NRL, plus the final regular season round in the Super Rugby Women's.

Despite being medically retired at just 30, former Toa Samoa Test representative Josh Aloiai isn't slowing down. The ex-NRL forward leads by example, chasing fulfilling post-career passions and engaging community with meaningful endeavours that will continue to inspire. Aloiai has never been shy to stick up for his beliefs.

Also on today's show, we review Round 17 in the NRL, set the scene ahead of Test season in the rugby and preview the opening round of the NRLW season with Shellie Long.

Josh Aloiai leaves a lasting impact on almost everyone he meets, whether in footy or community, and the former NRL forward unapologetically stands by his beliefs. On the latest edition of Nesian Footy, Aloiai unpacks what makes his post-footballing life so fulfilling.

The Dolphins host the Warriors in one of the most hyped regular season matches of 2026 so far. The Phins last tasted defeat in their Round 8 clash with the Wahs, in what looms as an epic rematch to headline Round 17 in the NRL.

We unpack the big League talking points with our regular guest Sala Togatuki, plus check in with our rugby correspondent Nemani Nadolo Kuridrani, as some big appointments are being made in Fiji.

Tonga's most promising under-16s rugby league talent is currently touring down under, gaining valuable exposure to travel, elite pathways and what it takes to make it as a professional player. But those are just some of the benefits on offer for these impressionable young boys and girls, as we find out by touching base with NRL Tonga GM Tavake Tangupo and u16's Girls captain Atelaite Vakautakakala.

Also on Nesian Footy, we review Round 16 in the NRL which featured some nail-biting contests, the Hurricanes' truly dominant Finals run after they claimed the Super Rugby Pacific title, and the latest in both codes of Women's footy with Shellie Long.

Two star-studded Kiwi sides will contest the Super Rugby Pacific Final in Wellington this Saturday, with plenty of history and legacy on the line for both franchises. The Hurricanes earned hosting rights after their incredible campaign, while the Chiefs will be hoping it's fourth time lucky, having lost the competition's last three deciders.

It's been a huge week for Queensland, who not only squared the Origin series on Wednesday night in dominant fashion, but backed that up by claiming bout the Women's and Men's u19's showdowns between the rival states on Thursday night.

Sala Togatuki also joins the show to unpack the Roosters fierce clash with the Sharks as Round 16 in the NRL gets underway.

James Segeyaro played 155 NRL games, between 2011 and 2022, along with six Tests for the Kumuls. At stages during his career, the dummy half was an unstoppable force around the ruck. But, as the now-35-year-old reveals, the PNG star's journey to adulthood and the professional ranks was anything but normal, which forced him to confront heavy internal conflict and bitter resentment. That remains a work in progress.