Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 21

Dual international Sonny Bill Williams about his mental health, faith and what drives him.

He addresses the 'play hard, party hard' culture of the time, and what made him make life changes.

Read more via ABC News here: https://ab.co/3aBtGhS

Congratulations to Heavyweight Boxer Hemi "The Heat" Ahio who won his fight against Mohammed Ali Bayat for the WBC Middle East Championship Heavyweight title.

Hemi who fights out of City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand remains undefeated with 18 wins (13 by KO) 

We caught up with the Tongan boxer from South Auckland in Dubai prior to fight night where he talks to us about how he got into boxing, what his training camp was like leading up to this fight, what motivates him and more.

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Peep the highlights from the 1st round of his fight here 

Check out the 2nd round of Hemi's fight below 

and receiving his belt here 

He survived a brutal childhood and fighting in the streets to become a K1 World Champion, andUFC title contender. Now he’s risking it all to fight for justice in the sport he loves.  Not just a sports story... this is a tale of human triumph.

“Hopefully my story can help people in some way, as I’ve been through a lot... and it’s never over till you give up.  I’m excited to share my story with the world, it’s been one hell of a crazy journey” - Mark Hunt

“Mark Hunt’s story, his background ... is really, really impressive and it adds a whole other perspective when he steps into the Octagon... it’s pretty hard core.” - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

“Mark Hunt is a special human being let alone fighter.…more

Brian To'o suprises his girlfriend Sala Moesha Chrichton-Ropati with the big question following his NRL premiership win.

NRL legend Cameron Smith talks to the couple after the Penrith Panthers win and their engagement.

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Meanwhile Western Sydney are still celebrating the Penrith Panthers win ... 

“Athletes are often perceived as being somewhat one-dimensional. But, I’m also a dad, a husband, an avid sports fan, a lover of food and music; as well as many other things. It’s the combination of these things that drives me to get the most out of every day.” - Tony Finau, PGA TOUR Champion

Do What You Love. More.

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At the end of April 2023, Tony Finau won the Mexico Open clinching his fourth win in his last 18 starts to jump five places to world No. 11 beating World #1 Jon Rahm.

Hours after clinching the Mexico Open title, the American was back out on the greens at the nearby Lakes Course, caddying for two of his sons during some night-time par three action.

This will come as no surprise to anyone who's watched Tony in the Netflix doco 'Full Swing'.

Catch Tony in Episode 6 of Netflix' PGA tour doco series 'Full Swing'  

Check out the trailer below - 

One review of the doco series & Tony Finau here - 

Samoan NFL player Jordan Mailata officially signed a massive four year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles as first reported by ESPN - the deal is worth US $64 million which could go up to US $80 million if he meets performance bonus clauses, with US $40.85 million guaranteed.

The deal also puts him near the top of the highest earning Australian athletes and News.com.au reported it as the richest contract ever earned by an Australian in the NFL.

In his first post game press conference this season he told reporters he felt extremely blessed to receive the contract extension "It gives me an opportunity to represent my family, my country and my people".

He also opened up on where some of his money would be going to "I’ve been wanting to buy my parents a house, I can finally do that”.…more

The inaugural rugby league Pasifika Youth Cup 2021 is set to kick off in October with a competition for both Pasifika boys and girls starting from U13s through to U18s.

It's an exciting opportunity for Pasifika and Maori youth to showcase their talent and also represent their respective island nations heritage in this one of a kind tournament.

In 2017, the Warriors added another layer to their development programme with the introduction of the Pasifika Youth Cup which was hosted in association with the New Zealand Maori Rugby League.

At that time the Pasifika Youth Cup featured U16 & U18 teams from NZ Maori, Samoa, Fiji NZ, Cook Islands and Auckland Niue Rugby League.

Fast forward to 2021, the Pasifika Youth Cup will now feature seven Pacific nations.  The Pasifika Youth Cup resurgence came about with conversations between Samoa Rugby League executive Muliaga Brown and Warriors coach Tony Iro who is a Cook Islander.

The team behind the seven nations teams - Aotearoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga talk here (in the video above) about the upcoming comp.…more

News report via RNZ  & video above via NZ Herald Youtube  - City Kickboxing fighters along with spokesperson Mike Angove and UFC champion Israel Adesanya want to see the law changed on the 'coward punch' after the death of team mate Fau Vake.

A man who admitted punching the head of a young MMA fighter who later died in hospital has been sentenced to six months' home detention, which the victim's friend likens to a Covid restriction, not justice.

Ofa He Mooni Folau, 29, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting with intent to injure. He attacked Liufau (Fau) Vake, 25, who later died in hospital of head injuries, and his brother Ika after a night drinking in central Auckland in May this year.

"That's not good enough for being part of an attack that took a man's life," Vake's friend Dan Hooker said outside court.

"Six months, stay at home? That's Covid restrictions," Hooker said, who's also an MMA fighter. "100 percent the laws have to change."

Three others pleaded not guilty over the attack, including one charged with manslaughter.…more

And then there was ONE! 

Solomon Islander Sharon Firisua was the last Pacific Islander representing their home island to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics today in the marathon.

Here's our final wrap up of results for Days 12 - 15 and you can peep the results of our athletes from Day 1-4 here  , Day 5-7 here  and Day 8-11 here.

Cook Islands  

Canoe sprinter Kohl Tamarua-Horton was the final competitor for Team Cook Islands on Wednesday 4th August (Day 12)  

He raced in the Mens 200m sprint and managed to make it through to the Quarter Finals but unfortunately capsized his boat and was unable to finish the race.  He was one of the youngest on the team so we're sure we'll see more of him in the future.

Guam 

On Thursday, Guam wrapped up its competition in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  All that’s left to do is wait for the Closing Ceremony, in which wrestler Rckaela Aquino will bear the Guam flag.…more

To go along with our guide to who, what, when and where our Pasifika athletes are competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games we'll be doing a round up of how they've all been doing in case you missed their event.  Peep the results of our athletes from Day 1-4 here  & Day 5-7 here 

American Samoa 

American Samoan sprinter Nathan Crumpton is more widely known for his Winter Olympics sport of Skeleton racing.  He only decided to try out for the Summer Olympics track and field 100m race when he was on a training break in American Samoa in 2019 and happened to turn on the TV when the Pacific Games were on.…more