Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 12

Samoan NFL player Juju Smith-Schuster takes us behind the scenes with him as he gets ready on a typical game day with his new team the Kansas City Chiefs.

He recently gave the gift of Christmas to more than 50 families at a special event on Monday.  Smith-Schuster and his foundation paid off almost $10,000 in layaways at a Kansas City-area Burlington store.

Read more on the story here 

The Pasifika Aotearoa Collective which was formed last year bringing together rugby league bodies from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, NZ Maori, Samoa, Toeklau and Tonga, have now joined forces with the One New Zealand Warriors in an historic partnership.

On Tuesday 13th December 2022 they officially signed an exclusive alliance aimed at providing a range of football and commercial benefits for both parties in a ceremony at Mt Smart Stadium. 

PAC representatives signed the deal in front of the One New Zealand Warriors NRL squad, trainers, coaching staff and management and were each presented with a Warriors NRL jersey by different players within the squad. 

They were then given a tour of the training facilities by Our New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George and watched the NRL squad train.  In his opening address he said it was immensely significant for both the club and the Pasifika Aotearoa Collective.  

“The impact Pasifika and Māori players continue to have on rugby league is phenomenal.…more

By Thomas Airey 

Miracle Fai’ilagi will never forget the date September 19th, the night a phone call changed his life.

“It was so unreal,” the 23-year-old Samoan loose forward from Vailele and Uafato said.

“The Moana Pasifika coach giving me a call, giving me the news that I made the team. I was just so out of words.”

Coach Aaron Mauger had attended the World Rugby Pacific Combine earlier that month, where he said Fai’ilagi was a clear standout.

Speaking from home in Vailele with the family he was nervous to leave behind, Fai’ilagi said signing his two-year contract with Moana was huge:

“Us local players, we hardly get those opportunities.

“This is a blessing for me, and also my family.”

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of uncle Joe Tekori, who retired in June after 37 caps for Manu Samoa and 15 years at the pinnacle of club rugby in France.

“He was one of the people that I looked up to, not only playing but I’ve seen him helping with our family financially,” Fai’ilagi said.…more

Highlights from Toa Samoa vs Australia Kangaroos historic grand final at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Final score was Samoa 10 - Australia 30 but despite the loss, the Toa Samoa team made impressive stats across the Rugby League World Cup tournament as per Daily Sports News: 

* Toa Samoa had the most young players of the tournament under 25 years of age.

* They had the most injuries/players ruled out of the tournament (8)

* They defeated both Tonga in the Quarter Finals and England in the Semi Finals and were thought of as the "Underdogs" going into both games

* The semi final against England was voted 'Best match of the tournament' by fans 

* They were the first Pacifc/Tier 2/6th new nation to appear in the Rugby League World Cup Final 

* They were the most watched team of the tournament (1.1 million views across all games).…more

By Samoan sports reporter Loveni Shane Enari

The dream is over. Long live the dream.

From Long Beach to Lalomanu, from Safua to San Francisco, from Manono to Mangere, the dream is over for thousands of Samoans all over the world but hey, what a trip it’s been.

The end result, 30-10, was insignificant, as we were left with a bitter sweet smile, grateful for the brief but intense, uniting sensation, but resigned to the fact that, 9 times out of 10, Goliath kicks David’s ass.

It just wasn’t to be but if ever the old favourite,

‘Ua fa’afetai, ua fa’afetai, ua malie mata e va’ai.

Ua tasi lava oe, ua tası lava oe,

I lo’u nei fa’amoemoe …’

… needed to be sung, it was last night in Manchester.

These players, thrown together just over a month ago, which hadn’t played together in three years, yes, three years, almost did it.

This, despite all the injuries suffered, despite the terrible opening to the tournament and despite the lack of resources versus the Goliath of rugby league.…more

By Thomas Law 

Every World Cup throws up unexpected plots and new heroes to lionise. After a 60-6 drubbing by hosts England in the opening match, very few people would have foreseen such accolades coming the way of Samoa, nor its centre partnership of Stephen Crichton and Tim Lafai. But having been humbled 60-6 by hosts England in the opening match of the tournament, Toa Samoa are on the precipice of glory.

The Samoan side that triumphed 27-26 last weekend bared no resemblance to that which lined up in Newcastle four weeks prior, and whilst pundits were left ruminating the adage of whether Samoa was particularly strong or England weaker than usual, Samoa can take inspiration from their upward trajectory. Their fans – from Apia to Auckland, Mangere to Manchester via California, Sydney and Queensland – will hope that this ever-improving side can make that final step to rugby league immortality.

In their way stand the formidable Australia, 11-times champions and overwhelming favourites.…more

By Samoan sports reporter Loveni Shane Enari

The Black Ferns and Toa Samoa winning last weekend were epic results for this sports mad loco.

Celebrations kicked off in Auckland and among Samoans all over the world.

Are the two events connected? In my mind there's no doubt they are. Here's why.

On the one hand there's the athletic beauty and intelligence of Ruahei Demant, Ruby Tui, Sarah Hirini, Sandra Cocksedge, Stacey Fluhler and Chelsea Bremner to name my favourite Black Ferns, and their inspiring brand of love that's sweeping New Zealand.

And let's be clear about it, it's not women's rugby passion that's selling, it's bigger than that. It's love, baby. It's obvious. It's clear on so many levels.

There's the team itself on the podium, belting out a Samoan song, Pese Fiafia, Happy Song, white girls clapping along in time and singing the lyrics as if brought up on it.

A sign of respect for a minority culture in New Zealand society, but maybe a  proportionately majority one in Kiwi rugby.…more

Coco Sports Talk with Penina and Ashley - covering all things sports from a Pasifika female lens!

#CocoSportsTalk looks at the many stories of Pasifika people involved in sports of all kinds, and the trials and tribulations of the talented athletes from all sectors of our community.

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This episode we're excited to have one of the Toa Samoa & Penrith Panthers enforcers in the forward pack, Spencer Leniu join us via Zoom from the United Kingdom. 

Spencer was part of the Penrith Panthers side who won the 2022 NRL Grand Final and was also in the team who played in the historic 2021 Rugby League World Cup semi final who toppled England on the 13th of November.…more

Enjoy the highlights from the Toa Samoa vs England, Rugby League World cup semi final which has been described as one of the best games of rugby league.

Watch Samoa's sensational siva tau, performed to England at Emirates Stadium.

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Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish, Captain Junior Paulo and Man of the Match Jarome Luai reflect on a fantastic win at the Emirates Stadium at the semi final post match press conference.

It was a different vibe in the morning of the 13th of November in Samoa!

It was the roosters turn to be awoken by the loud whooping laughter and cheers of the Samoan faithful. Cheers and tears of joy and pride seen and heard echoed all around to show appreciation and excitement for that O-WESOME history-making WIN!  Malo tauivi TOA!

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Credits: 

Shot & edited by Tihati Devoux 

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Check out more of the reactions from Samoa & Samoans around the world on social media below ...