Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 27

"When I was younger I looked up to Joe Rocs, the fast Fijian winger who scored all the tries with the big dive ... something I tried to do at school, yeah I ended up winding myself" 

Hear from Hoskins Sotutu, as he delves into his idols, his father Waisake and his motivation for his outstanding 2020 season.

Over 500 Pacific Island ballers got together to play in the inaugural 1st Nations Polynesian Basketball Youth Tournament.

The tournament covered both Boys & Girls teams ranging from U13s through to U21s games with with 52 teams from all Pasifika communities - Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue and more.

Check out some of the highlights in the video above.

The biggest boxing event to be held in Sydney for more than a decade was confirmed today after leading promoters No Limit Boxing announced Bankwest Stadium as the venue for an historic Double Header on December 16, 2020.

Alongside Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu who will be fighting Kiwi boxer Bowyn Morgan, the 'Super Samoan' Mark Hunt makes his return to the ring against former NRL star Paul Gallen in what will be the first co-main event to be held in Australia and the first Sydney stadium fight since Mundine vs Green in 2006. 

Paul Gallen and Mark Hunt is a rare match-up set to attract the interest of all sports fans, excited to see two big men with big mouths finally go toe-to-toe after a previously scheduled contest for April was cancelled due to COVID-19.…more

This year the Dally M Awards were held at a virtual ceremony broadcast by Fox Sports last night and Pasifika, Maori & Indigenous players dominated the awards with 9 out of 13 players receiving Team of the Year Positional Awards.

Pasifika, Maori & Indigenous players also dominated in other awards of the night as follows - 

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TACKLE OF THE YEAR - JOSH PAPALI'I 

Samoan 

Raiders big man Josh Papalii wins Youi Tackle of the Year honours for his incredible effort to run down Titans half Jamal Fogarty in round 15 at Cbus Super Stadium.

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TRY OF THE YEAR - KOTONI STAGGS 

Tongan / Indigenous (Wiradjuri) 

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs wins the Drinkwise Try of the Year award for his stunning individual effort against the Dragons in round 15 when he bamboozled Euan Aitken and stepped Matt Dufty to score a pearler.

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Presented by Hugo Boss | Samoan Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hasn't played a snap in the NFL yet, but there's no question he's a special talent.

His move from amateur college athlete to professional NFL player meant that Tua started making some serious money. From a $80K 2020 Escalade for his mom to a $10K Rolex watch for his dad, find out everything he spent his first million dollars on.

Meet All Blacks debutants Hoskins Sotutu, Caleb Clarke and Tupou Va'ai ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup Test for 2020.

Hoskins Sotutu (Fijian) son of former son of Blues and Fijian rugby player Waisake Sotutu

Caleb Clarke (Samoan) son of former Blues and All Blacks centre Eroni Clarke 

Tupou Va'ai (Tongan) is a former Wesley College prefect and is the first player born in the 2000s to be named an All Black.

Jorge Masvidal meets up with Mark Hunt, Tyson Pedro and his father to chow down on some authentic Samoan food in Sydney, Australia.

* PG recommended - coarse language 

Unbeaten MMA fighter Carlos Ulberg is heading to fight island with a good chance of becoming a UFC fighter by the time he returns home.

The Samoan/Maori fighter along with team mate Blood Diamond, is in the reserve fighters category for UFC 253 but even if a fight does't eventuate there, they may pick up a fight on the island at the next show.  Carlos has been destined to go to the very top of his profession and may well have already been there if not for an injury last year.

He talks to Combat TV NZ here about this opportunity heading up with the boys on the UFC253 fight card.

In 2018, Tua Tagovailoa and his family returned home to Hawaii for the first time since moving to Alabama the year before.

Take a behind-the-scenes look, as the Tagovailoas reunited with family and friends for a celebration-filled week.

Check out the full five-part series, TUA | Homecoming here - you'll be transported to Tua's hometown of Ewa Beach and meet the people who helped raise him.

Para athlete Ben Tuimaseve has a dream of ‘cracking it’ in Tokyo next year.

When Paralympics New Zealand asked Ben why he is taking on this challenge and pursuing his Paralympic dream he said: “I just have to do it, I have to jump and as a Pacific Islander represent my people because no one I know has had a chance to do something like this. What’s the worst that is going to happen? I’d be healthier and just fall into a solid foundation of love. I have to be able to say I gave this an honest crack.”

Ben is grateful for the incredible family network that he has – his village aka the choir. Although the entire family are 100% behind his Paralympic dream, he highlights Jayde Tuimaseve (Sister), Marama Takai (Cousin), Christian Tukutama (Cousin). He draws on his love of music to describe his support network: “They are the background vocalists of the band, my support to staying in key when trying to crack Tokyo.”