In this bulletin:
1. RUGBY LEAGUE — ‘Kids get stuck’: Iro’s vision for Cook Islands pathway to NRL
2. RUGBY — Fijiana step up preparations, eyes on Vuvale Bowl
3. BOXING — Tongan boxer Nailini Helu to return to ring against PNG’s Sheilla Yama in Auckland
4. RUGBY — Rugby Australia hopes to visit more villages during Vuvale programmes
5. RUGBY — Tavatavanawai joins Aussie duo in co-lead after Round Five of Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year Voting
6. RUGBY LEAGUE — Revealed: The PNG talent pool in sights of Chiefs
7. RUGBY LEAGUE — Aiton remains optimistic
8. RUGBY LEAGUE — PNG Hunters suffer second home defeat
9. ATHLETICS — Tongan athletes gain experience at revived Polynesian Track and Field Championships
10. BASKETBALL — Women in Basketball Program Shaping Mildred’s Leadership Journey
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: NRL PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
‘Kids get stuck’: Iro’s vision for Cook Islands pathway to NRL
SYDNEY, 18 MARCH 2026 (NRL)–Cronulla centre KL Iro has outlined plans to use the upcoming World Cup to establish development pathways for more Cook Islands youngsters to chase their NRL debut.
There has been a long tradition of players of Cook Islands heritage but Iro is among a small group of NRL players to have grown up in the tiny Pacific Island nation.
It’s a situation he’s desperate to change and this year’s World Cup looms as a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of emerging players.
“Everyone loves rugby league but it’s about the opportunities,” Iro told NRL.com. “Kids get stuck there. The kids I grew up with, all the talented ones, they just never left the country and never got their chance.
‘We’ve got to start building pathways and let the parents know they need to move the kids away at younger ages and make that sacrifice for them to fulfil their dreams.
“It’s slowly changing but I’m hoping we can get more junior pathways. When they watch us Cook Islands boys playing in the World Cup, that gives them hope and they have a dream to be there as well.”
Iro will represent his Cook Islands heritage when he takes to the field for Multicultural Round in Cronulla’s clash with the Dolphins.
The centre played a key role in the country’s successful bid to qualify for the World Cup and is set to line up alongside the likes of Valentine Holmes and Davvy Moale for the tournament.
Qualification has already had a positive effect, with the team attracting new sponsors and hoping to reinvest that money into the grassroots.
Talent and passion for the game are not in short supply in the Cook Islands, with NRL Immortal Andrew Johns attending the local competition’s grand final in 2024.
The Knights legend was stunned by the quality and the fervent support for the game and expressed his desire for a Witzer Pre-Season Challenge game to be played there in the future.
The biggest issue, however, is the lack of opportunities for talented youngsters to receive the elite training required to develop into an NRL player.
While he grew up in the Arorangi, Iro moved to New Zealand as a teenager for family reasons and was provided with the chance to chase his rugby league dream.
It’s a dream, he recognises, he likely would not have made reality if not for the decision to move away from his homeland.
“There was no way I would be here if I didn’t move,” Iro said. “I wanted to move earlier. I wanted to move when I was 12 and it would have been better if I came straight to Australia.
“New Zealand didn’t have the junior development back then, they didn’t have Harold Matthews, they just had under 20s and [NSW] Cup, so even I struggled with my development.
“I had a later start and I’m still developing my game now. That sweet age is around 10-12 when you need to move to develop and get better because there’s not much competition at home. There’s freakish players but they don’t get the chance to progress.”
Iro has worked hard to provide more opportunities back home since breaking into the Sharks NRL side and regularly returns to the Cook Islands to visit his friends and family.
A trip home over Christmas carried additional meaning, when the 26-year-old proposed to his partner.
While he enjoys returning home, Iro is also desperate to help youngsters travel to Australia to receive a taste of the NRL. The centre and his mother helped facilitate a visit by his junior club, the Arorangi Bears, to Cronulla last year, with the under 13 boys side playing Kurnell in a match before attending a Sharks game.
Plans are already advanced for two more tours this year, with a women’s team set to travel to Australia before a men’s team flies to Christchurch for the Cook Island’s World Cup clash with the Kiwis at the city’s state of the art new stadium.
‘My mum was huge with that, she ran all the fundraising to make it happen,” Iro said. “Instead of a kids team, they want to bring a women’s team over to play a local women’s team here.
“Then at the World Cup we have a game in Christchurch so they’re fundraising to get a men’s team there so they can play a men’s A-grade team in Christchurch.
“They’re trying to give everyone different opportunities and get them out of their local lifestyles. My mum’s been huge helping with that stuff, fundraising and getting it moving.” he said…PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Fijiana step up preparations, eyes on Vuvale Bowl
SUVA, 18 MARCH 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Fijiana 15s team have stepped up preparations as they set their sights on winning the prestigious Vuvale Bowl against Australia in Canberra.
With a talented squad comprising several new and upcoming players as well as experienced campaigners, interim head coach Mike Legge is determined to start their season on a high.
“We’re not going over there just to compete in the Vuvale Bowl. We actually want to win it. So, we’ve put a massive emphasis on that with our girls,” Legge explained.
“It is very important, especially the flow in from the World Cup last year and also as we build towards the next World Cup, the qualifiers and things like that. So yeah, it’s a very important game for us.”
Training has been intense over the past couple of weeks, and the team is looking forward to jetting out to Australia this weekend.
“This is our fifth week now. Fifth week we’ve had the group together. Our last week on island before we fly up to Canberra on Saturday,” Legge said.
“So, preparation’s been good. Been hard, we’ve put the girls through quite a bit of intense training just to get up to what the standard’s going to be when we reach Canberra. So nah, it’s been a good five weeks so far.”
Fijiana will take on the Wallaroos for the Vuvale Bowl on March 27 at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia….PACNEWS
TONGA – BOXING: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Tongan boxer Nailini Helu to return to ring against Papua New Guinea’s Sheilla Yama in Auckland
NUKU’ALOFA, 18 MARCH 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—Tongan-born boxer Nailini Helu is set to return to the ring next month, facing Papua New Guinea contender Sheilla Yama in a Pasifika showdown in Auckland, New Zealand.
The bout is scheduled for 26 March as the co-main event of the BX-9 fight card and will be broadcast live on pay-per-view through CSN. The match pits two experienced Pacific fighters against each other at a catchweight of 66.4 kilograms.
Helu, a two-time Pacific champion under the Professional Boxing Commission of New Zealand, faces several challenges ahead of the contest. The Tongan fighter typically competes between 72.5kg and 79.4kg but will drop to welterweight for this fight — the lowest weight of her professional career.
She says she is working with a dietitian to safely reach the target weight. Helu usually walks around at about 74kg, making the weight cut a significant adjustment.
Her opponent Yama, who normally fights at super lightweight around 65.6kg, will be moving up a division. The Papua New Guinea boxer is currently ranked 10th by the World Boxing Association and 19th by the World Boxing Council, making her one of the more highly ranked fighters Helu has faced.
Helu has not fought since August 2024, when she defeated Tinta Smith in a rematch to secure her second PBCNZ Pacific super middleweight title.
Training for the bout is being overseen by respected Tongan combat sports coach Lolo Heimuli, who has worked with leading fighters including David Tua, Mark Hunt and Israel Adesanya.
Another Tongan fighter, David Rounds, also known as Lolo Heimuli Jr, will make his semi-professional debut on the same card against amateur boxer Alfie Horton.
The main event will feature former world title challenger Andrei Mikhailovich against Jordan Towns….PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Rugby Australia hopes to visit more villages during Vuvale programmes
NACEVA, 18 MARCH 2026 (FBC SPORTS)—Rugby Australia President Christy Giteau says one of the best ways to celebrate the Vuvale Partnership with the Fijian Government is by connecting directly with local communities through village visits.
Giteau, along with Rugby Australia officials and Wallabies legends Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo, joined representatives from the Fijian Drua and the Fiji Rugby Union for their Vuvale Week programme in Beqa.
During their visit to Naceva Village, Giteau says the warm welcome from villagers—especially the children—reaffirmed the importance of their work in building connections through sport.
“It just reaffirms what we do, especially with the types of programs and initiatives we do, it gives these children and youth insights into the benefits of sports, and how it can become career pathways. Today’s program was very fulfilling.”
She said that it is vital for officials to witness firsthand the impact of these initiatives on local communities.
Giteau also noted that the enthusiasm shown by children and youth who took part in the program has strengthened their commitment to making village visits a regular feature of future Vuvale Week activities…PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Tavatavanawai joins Aussie duo in co-lead after Round Five of Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year Voting
OTAGO, 18 MARCH 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU)—Highlanders centre Timoci Tavatavanawai has rocketed to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year voting after Round Five.
He joins Australian duo Max Jorgensen and Ben Donaldson in a three-way tie after a stellar outing in defeat to the Crusaders.
The captains and head coaches of both teams nominate their top three players from the opposing team each week, allocating three votes, two votes, and one vote, respectively.
On top of this, the Player of the Year voting process has been bolstered for the upcoming season, with a panel of respected rugby media identities from across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji assembled to contribute votes on each game.
Player of the Year votes from each round will be announced on the competition website and social media channels each Tuesday, until the voting goes behind closed doors following Round 10….PACNEWS
PNG – RUGBY LEAGUE: NRL PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Revealed: The PNG talent pool in sights of Chiefs
PORT MORESBY, 18 MARCH 2026 (NRL)—The excitement around the PNG Chiefs making their NRL debut in 2028 is growing across Papua New Guinea, and so is the following.
With two years to go, discussions about recruitment and squad building are now in full swing.
Chiefs management have made it clear that while signing experienced players is important to strengthen the squad for their first season, they will not overlook the wealth of PNG talent already competing overseas.
Many Papua New Guinea internationals are currently contracted to clubs in the NRL, Super League, Betfred Championship and Queensland’s Hostplus Cup, offering the Chiefs a ready-made pool of players familiar with top level rugby league.
These players have the potential to provide leadership and skill on the field for the Chiefs when the team makes its historic NRL entry:
*Jack de Belin – Parramatta Eels
*Cooper Bai – Gold Coast Titans
*Alex Johnston – South Sydney Rabbitohs
* Robert Derby – North Queensland Cowboys
*Zac Laybutt – North Queensland Cowboys
*Xavier Coates – Melbourne Storm
The Super League also has a strong contingent of Papua New Guinea internationals who can play a key role in supporting the Chiefs’ plans:
*Jacob Alick-Wiencke – Leigh Leopards
*Rhyse Martin – Hull Kingston Rovers
*Edwin Ipape – Leigh Leopards
*Lachlan Lam – Leigh Leopards
*Liam Horne – Leigh Leopards
*Nene Macdonald – St. Helens
*Dan Russell – Bradford Bulls
London Broncos, coached by Jason Demetriou, are also home to several PNG internationals, while there are others playing in one of England’s toughest leagues:
*Gairo Voro – London Broncos
* Robert Mathias – London Broncos
*Alex Max – London Broncos
*Finley Glare – London Broncos
*Epel Kapinias – London Broncos
*Morea Morea – London Broncos
*Emmanuel Waine – Oldham RLF
Apart from top-tier competitions, Papua New Guinea internationals are also making their mark in the Queensland Hostplus Cup, a strong feeder system for NRL talent:
*Nixon Putt – Central Queensland Capras
*Judah Rimbu – Brisbane Tigers
*Dudley Dutoi – Townsville Blackhawks
*Zev John – Central Queensland Capras
*Valentine Richard – Central Queensland Capras
*Sylvester Namo – Brisbane Tigers
These players represent the future stars of PNG rugby league. Their inclusion in the Chiefs’ plans will ensure a balance of youth, skill, and local representation…..PACNEWS
PNG – RUGBY LEAGUE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Aiton remains optimistic
PORT MORESBY, 18 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–Despite their second consecutive loss of the season on Sunday, PNG Hunters head coach Paul Aiton pointed out that the team is still developing combinations, particularly among the new players in key positions such as the halves and the forward pack.
“You could probably see the difference when the starting pack was on compared to when the interchange players came on,” he said.
“There’s more experience and quality in that first group, but the other boys will improve as the season continues.”
Aiton also revealed that several players are expected to return later in the season, which could strengthen the squad further.
“We’ve got some more boys coming back during the middle of the season and that will help us,” he said. “At the latest, we’re looking at April. At the same time, April for Kumul internationals Elijah Roltinga and Kosso Bandi. I reckon late April for Kosso at the latest. So they’ll come in at a really good time and I’m hoping we’ll bag a few wins before they come back and then they’ll just add on.
Aiton remains optimistic about the Hunters’ progress and believes the team must focus on both their weaknesses and the positives from the match.
“We’ll definitely look at the things we need to improve, but we’ll also focus on the winning moments we had during the game,” he said.
Aiton also praise debutant Bruce Bawase who impress in his first outing at the Hostplus Cup level.
“I’m really happy for him,” he said. “He always gives his best when he’s playing and I thought he did that again today. He’s a young kid and I was really happy for him today. Again, he’ll get better.”…PACNEWS
PNG – RUGBY LEAGUE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
PNG Hunters suffer second home defeat
PORT MORESBY, 18 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) –The PNG Hunters suffered their second home defeat of the season after going down 20-28 to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls on Sunday at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Despite the disappointing result, Hunters head coach Paul Aiton believes there were still many positives to take from the match as the team continues to build combinations early in the season.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Aiton said discipline remained one of the key areas affecting the team’s performance.
“I think the penalties and six-again calls are definitely affecting us,” Aiton said. “We are a fit team, but sometimes it’s just one too many and it puts us under pressure.
“At times we weren’t patient enough with the ball in the first half, and then in the second half we just took our foot off the gas. It’s disappointing, especially playing in front of our home fans, but there were still some improvements in the team.”
While the defeat was tough for the players and supporters, Aiton said he noticed encouraging progress from several individuals compared to the opening rounds of the season.
However, the Hunters coach also acknowledged that early victories would be important to help the team later in the year.
“It would be good to get some early wins because we know we’ll need them at the back end of the season,” Aiton said.
“The boys are pretty down at the moment and I think we all are, especially after losing at home. But I know we’ll come back better next week.”….PACNEWS
TONGA – ATHLETICS: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Tongan athletes gain experience at revived Polynesian Track and Field Championships
AUCKLAND, 18 MARCH 2206 (TALANOAOTONGA)—Tongan athletes have taken part in the revived Polynesian Track and Field Championships in Auckland, an event aimed at strengthening athletics development across smaller Pacific nations.
The championships, held alongside the New Zealand Track and Field Championships at Trusts Arena in West Auckland, marked the first time the regional competition has been staged in more than a decade.
Athletes from Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti, American Samoa and French Polynesia competed, with travel support provided through New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and assistance from Athletics New Zealand.
The Tongan team, led by Tonga Athletics Association secretary general and team manager ‘Alifeleti Tu’ihalamaka, travelled with a squad of 24 athletes, more than the 10 total athletes funded under the regional programme.
Tuihalamaka said the team gained valuable lessons beyond the competition itself, including improved understanding of time management, sleep routines and sports nutrition.
He added that Tonga was exploring ways to introduce biometric monitoring to help coaches better assess athletes’ physical performance and improve international competitiveness.
The championships were preceded by a three-day development camp featuring coaching sessions, mentoring and workshops on athlete preparation.
Olympic gold medallist and World Athletics Council member Dame Valerie Adams, who has Tongan heritage, helped lead the programme.
“It’s about building capacity and giving opportunity to compete, especially for our smaller nations,” she said, adding that exposure to elite competition can help Pacific athletes realise their potential.
The event also highlighted the realities faced by athletes from smaller island states. Some competitors described training with limited facilities at home, including using improvised equipment and public spaces.
For Tonga and other Pacific nations, organisers say the championships represent an important step in strengthening regional sporting networks and preparing athletes for future international events, including the Olympic Games….PACNEWS
PAC – BASKETBALL: FIBA PACNEWS: Wed 18 Mar 2026
Women in Basketball Programme Shaping Mildred’s Leadership Journey
GOLD COAST, 18 MARCH 2026 (FIBA)— Mildred Izono’s journey from Ponangisu Village in Vanuatu to the courts of Sunbury, Australia, is the latest example of how FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategy is transforming pathways for women in the Oceania region.
Through the Women LEAD Basketball Programme, delivered with the support of PacificAus Sports, Mildred was awarded a regional scholarship to complete a two‑week internship with the Sunbury Basketball Association, in Victoria Australia, gaining hands‑on experience that she says has “widened my vision on how I look at things and being a leader as a woman in the Pacific”.
For Mildred, who has spent over half of her life involved in basketball, the internship was a chance to immerse herself in a structured junior development environment and see first hand how strong grassroots systems are built.
“I was on the court seeing what the coaches were doing, what skills they were teaching to the juniors, how the program is being laid out,” she said. “This was something that I loved, I really enjoyed it.”
Her time in Sunbury also included supporting an under‑18 team in Bendigo, an experience that became a personal highlight.
“Helping to assist with the coaching up until when they got into the grand final and they won, that was a big achievement for me,” she said. “It has built my confidence to the level that I am feeling more confident now because out there was like thousands of kids.”
The Women LEAD Basketball Programme is designed precisely for moments like this. As part of FIBA’s global Women in Basketball strategy, the initiative equips emerging female leaders with the skills, networks and confidence to strengthen their home federations.
Supported by PacificAus Sports, the programme brings women from across Oceania together for leadership training, mentorship and practical placements that accelerate their development as coaches, administrators and community leaders.
For Mildred, the impact has been profound. She speaks openly about the barriers Pacific women face in leadership and how opportunities like this help shift those dynamics. “Internships like this are a big step up for women in the Pacific,” she said. “It gives me confidence. It gives me knowledge. It widens my vision.
“If the men can do it, I’m a woman, I can do it as well.”
Her focus now is on sustainability, building systems that will last long after her internship. She plans to work with the Vanuatu Basketball Federation to establish a junior development pathway and upskill local coaches.
“Basketball cannot grow without coaches,” she said. “We need to start with our juniors upwards. I want to grow more coaches so they can develop players wherever they are.”
Mildred’s leadership journey is also deeply personal.
She credits the Women LEAD Basketball training for helping her overcome self‑doubt, especially around education. “It has helped me to come up to where I am now,” she said.
“I now have the courage; I have the confidence.”
She also draws strength from her faith and her family. “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God,” she said.
For Vanuatu Basketball Federation, her success represents something bigger. “This is not just for me. This is for my country,” she said. “Whatever I am learning here I will be taking back to Vanuatu to help grow basketball.”
As the current Vanuatu Basketball Federation National Women’s Coach, Mildred’s next steps are clear, ambitious and grounded in community. She wants to build a network of coaches, strengthen junior pathways, and create a sustainable foundation for the next generation. And with her trademark positivity and determination, she’s already becoming the kind of leader the Women LEAD Basketball Program was designed to empower….PACNEWS