‘Origin intensity’: Fierce rivals set to battle for Pacific bragging rights

Cameron MeeNRL ReporterWed 6 Aug 2025, 08:01 AM Star winger Sione Katoa has declared the Tonga-Samoa rivalry will reach a State of Origin intensity when the two nations face off at Suncorp Stadium in October.  The teams will clash on Sunday October 26 in the second week of the Pacific Championships. The Jillaroos will also […]

‘Our Origin’: Samoa-Tonga rivalry a lure for stars

Brad WalterNRL Senior ReporterMon 18 Aug 2025, 10:29 AM Toa Samoa coach Ben Gardiner believes the State of Origin-like rivalry with Tonga is a massive lure for big name stars like Payne Haas choosing to represent their Pacific heritage. Haas, the superstar Broncos and NSW Origin prop, has confirmed he will play for Samoa at […]

Papa v AFB: Cometh the hour, cometh the middle man

Martin LenehanNRL Lead JournalistTimestampFri 19 Sep 2025, 06:12 AM Of all the memorable battles Addin Fonua-Blake and Josh Papali’i have fought at NRL level over the years, it’s the international stage that produced perhaps their greatest ever showdown. In blue corner of Samoa was Papalii, while Fonua-Blake donned the red of Tonga, as the two […]