Johnathan Thurston Becomes One Of The Greats As Cowboys Win First NRL Grand Final
The North Queensland Cowboys have won the 2015 NRL Grand Final 17 to 16 in a thrilling showdown.
Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
In the first all-Queensland grand final in the NRL’s history, it was the Johnathan Thurston-driven Cowboys who defeated an aggressive and stubborn Brisbane Broncos.
Trailing the match 14-12 at half time, the Cowboys returned after the break to play-out an almost scoreless second half, but for the final minute.
Much of the attention before and after the match was on Cowboys’ captain Johnathan Thurston.
Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Thurston had officially won a grand final playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs, acting as a stand-in for injured Bulldog’s player Steve Price. Because of his few appearances in the Bulldog’s jersey, Thurston famously offered his premiership ring to Price - who refused to accept it.
As such, Thurston’s storied career, which has so far seen him be a part of a dominant Kangaroos squad and a record-setting Queensland State of Origin team, has always been pitched as one void of a grand final victory.…more
Joseph Parker vs. Kali Meehan
October 15, the brother Joseph Parker takes on Kali Meehan!
Who will take it out?
How will Joseph Parker cope against the reigning Super 8 champion Kali Meehan...
Plus the Buttabean rematch, welterweight wonder Jeff Horn and KO King Izu Ugonoh
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"What do you mean" Segway dance
Check out the skills of these talented dancers taking choreo to the next level....
Performing to 'What do you mean' by Justin Beiber on SEGWAYS! First we've seen, check it out!
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NZ Actor cast in Game of Thrones!
New Zealand actor Joe Naufahu confirmed as part of the cast in hit fantasy series Game of Thrones!
Best known for his roles on Go Girls and Spartacus: Vengeance, Tongan actor Naufahu will be joining the epic Emmy Award-Winning show for it's sixth season.
Deadline Hollywood reported Naufahu had been cast in a recurring role, and that further details are still under wraps.
Speculation is that he could be playing a part in the Dothraki plotline, the horse riding people in the popular television series.
Naufahu joins fellow kiwi Keisha Castle-Hughes who appeared last season as Obara Sand, and is expected to return next season.
Last year, Naufahu starred in the critically acclaimed feature film The Last Saint¸ the directorial debut of his brother, former Shortland Street actor Rene Naufahu.
Malie doko!!!
Erica excelling thanks to StarJam
Fourteen-year-old Erica Aii could dance before she could walk and "always had the beat".
Down Syndrome hasn't affected her quality of life but she's never been able to relate to others with the condition until now.
She attends dance classes at StarJam in Manurewa, a programme giving young people with disabilities the chance to experience performing through the common love of music.
"It's very normal and very challenging," says the young dancer, who's favourite dance is hip hop and Samoan.
Her mum Janene says Erica really looks forward to going to StarJam every week.
"We lived in France and Japan so couldn't really find anybody to relate to there," she says.
"I think because she's been mainstream her whole life it really didn't make a difference to her.…more
Samoa team banned from fast food
Samoan management have banned it's players from eating at the McDonald's and KFC restaurants near their hotel.
Even though their Tongan brothers were taken under the wing of their local Nando's, the Samoan team unfortunately will have to make do without the fast-food until after the tournament.
Flyhalf Tusi Pisi said: "All I can see are the fast food restaurants across the road (but) coach barred us from there."
Tonga on the other hand visited Nando's 10 days in a row, with some players going more than once a day - making the restaurant in Exeter their second home.
"The team, which has been based in Exeter, Devon, got ready for their second game of the tournament with several peri-peri binges" reported The Mirror.
This news follows reports of the Candian team eating the World Cup organisers out of house and home, when the team's kitchen staff had to scramble to get more food after consuming 22lbs of roast beef in 15mins.
This is Lima Sopoaga (lululemon)
A story about the extremities of being an athlete and the sport of rugby. Despite injury and disappointment, the love for the game will triumph every single time. This is Lima Sopoaga.
Mahalia Simpson - Drunk In Love, Wows Simon Cowell
Happy Tuvalu Language Week!
This week we celebrate Tuvalu Language Week in New Zealand.
Providing a week of celebrations through music, song, dance, food, crafts and language, there will be events happening right across the country.
For more info on what's on, check out the Ministry website or Facebook page.
You can also familiarise yourself with Tuvalu language and culture right here
And some key phrases of the Tuvaluan Language to get you started:
Tuvalu Language Week is promoted by Auckland Tuvalu Community Trust with support from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, community members and other organisations.
Last Saint star Beulah Koale gets Best Actor nod at first foreign outing
One of our favourite Kiwi films from last year The Last Saint, an independently financed New Zealand Feature film. The Last Saint, which spawned those famous words uttered by actor Calvin Tuteao “Ponsonby’s gone to the dogs” has started rolling out in international territories with its star, Beulah Koale, winning a Best Actor award at its first festival.
The Last Saint received its international premiere at the Harlem International Film Festival in New York where Koale’s performance in the gritty story of Auckland’s underworld received the Best Actor accolade
Last Saint director, Rene Naufahu said, ”Beulah is one of the most courageous young men I’ve ever met- and he uses this courage to maximum effect in his performance of Minka.…more