In this bulletin:
1. RUGBY LEAGUE — Fiji Bati ride first-half blast to topple Cook Islands 40-12
2. RUGBY LEAGUE — Four-try Fa’alogo leads Samoa’s 74-8 rout of France in Rugby League World Cup opener
3. RUGBY LEAGUE — Tonga crush England in World Cup game of death
4. RUGBY LEAGUE — Veteran Martin leads from front in final PNG campaign
5. RUGBY — ‘Decision next year’: Nawaqanitawase keeps options open
6. RUGBY LEAGUE — NZ Ferns survive Fiji scare as Wesele says team ‘not here to make up the numbers’
7. RUGBY LEAGUE — Judge sides with NRL over NZ Rugby on Chiefs name
8. RUGBY LEAGUE — Grassroots work leads Fiji to a historic World Cup spot
9. RUGBY — Suva Grammar School mourns loss of winning coach Osborne
10. FOOTBALL — Ba Football terminates head coach Kumar’s contract
11. FOOTBALL — Auckland ‘punish’ City to begin ALM title defence
12. ONOC — North Pacific NOCs Strengthen High-Performance Planning on the Road to Brisbane 2032
13. RUGBY — All Blacks complete Bledisloe Cup sweep with Sydney victory over Wallabies
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: NRL PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Fiji Bati ride first-half blast to topple Cook Islands 40-12
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (NRL)—A first-half blitz led by Brandon Wakeham and Apisau Koroisau on the back of a destructive forward pack has helped Fiji romp to a 40-12 win in their World Cup opener against Cook Islands.
Wakeham had three try assists, two line breaks and four tackle breaks to go alongside his astute kicking game and six goals off the tee, while Koroisau was at his instrumental best from dummy half.
The Bati were on song from the opening stages, scoring two tries in the opening 12 minutes as the starting middles dominated through the ruck and created second phase play to further stretch the Aitu defence.
Cook Islands settled into the game and demonstrated their resilience despite a mountain of possession for Fiji, but couldn’t take advantage of their attacking opportunities.
The Aitu simply couldn’t find a way through in the attacking zone and struggled to get boot to ball on last tackle under the pressure of the Bati defence.
A mid-half lull in scoring came to an end in the 28th minute with a first Test try to Jacob Saifiti, who was first to an aerial contest and leapt high to take the ball over Cook Island fullback Esom Ioka before reaching out to plant the ball under the posts.
Worse was to come for Cook Islands as Taane Milne burrowed over from dummy half five minutes from half-time, before Caleb Navale burst through off a Brandon Wakeham short ball and ran 40m on his passage to the corner.
The 28-0 lead for Fiji was a symbol of their dominance enjoying a 62% share of possession as Cook Islands counted their completed sets on two hands.
Fiji continued with the points in the second half as Kitione Kautoga added his name to the score sheet, before the Aitu had some joy when a show-and-go from Maui Winitana-Patelesio had the five-eighth crashing over under the posts.
It sparked energy into the Cook Islands and they went back-to-back when interchange hooker Rua Ngatikaura found Davvy Moale with a short ball, allowing him to crash over.
The Bati quickly ended any thought of a Cook Islands comeback when centre Solomone Saukuru flew through the line a second time off a Kurt Donoghoe short ball to put the result beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining.
Both Pool A sides have tough asks in the next round, as Fiji prepare to take on the Kangaroos and Cook Islands face New Zealand….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Four-try Fa’alogo leads Samoa’s 74-8 rout of France in Rugby League World Cup opener
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—A four-try haul from Sua Fa’alogo helped Samoa to a record-breaking 78-4 victory over France to open their World Cup account in style at CommBank Stadium on Friday.
The Storm speedster started on the bench but found himself into the action early after Deine Mariner succumbed to a hamstring injury.
In 70 minutes of game time Fa’alogo ran for 252 metres and broke four tackles to go with his four tries.
After disappointing results in their 2026 campaigns, star duo Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton also enjoyed a night out for Samoa, with Luai delivering four line breaks and two try assists and Crichton kicking 11 from 14 conversions.
Knights edge forwards Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua were massive in their Test debuts, with McEwen topping the tackle count for Samoa and Manuleleua racking up 223 run metres, 89 of which were post-contact.
After a physical start Samoa struck first in the third minute after some slick hands to the left and Mariner went over untouched in the corner.
There were some worrying signs for France early with five-eighth Cesar Rouge and winger Leo Darrelatour both leaving the field for head injury assessments and Samoa running in another two tries through Benaiah Ioelu and Test debutant Jermaine McEwen to lead 18-0 eight minutes into the match.
Mariner left the field with a hamstring injury in the 10th minute but it did not hinder the strike attack on the left edge with replacement winger Fa’alogo crossing in the corner and setting up Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the inside to give Samoa a 28-0 advantage.
France got on the board in the 25th minute when skipper Benjamin Garcia looked to the short side and a remarkable catch and put down from Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet delivered his side their opening tournament try.
The French wrestled their way back into the contest but couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities and Samoa went further ahead with Luai throwing a cut out pass for an unmarked Fa’alogo who crossed in the corner to take his side to the sheds with a 34-4 lead.
Samoa pick up where they left off after the break when Brian To’o laid a huge shot to force an error out of Arthur Mourgue and Crichton picked up the loose ball and raced his way over the line. Crichton converted his own try from the sideline to stretch the lead 40-4.
Samoa continued to dominate across the park and after France turned them away for several sets, Shawn Blore crashed over for the side’s eighth try off a simple catch and pass play.
Fa’alogo continued his superb night out, crossing the line twice in four minutes to notch four tries for the match and crack a 50-point lead for Samoa.
Luai’s footwork continued to haunt the French late in the match and some slick hands on the inside from Ioelu set up Chanel Harris-Tavita to crash over from close range.
On the back of some big metres of Francis Manuleleua, Fa’alogo looked to make it five for the night but the try was denied with the bunker ruling obstruction in the lead up.
Samoa run in three tries in the final eight minutes with Izack Tago and Francis Molo crossing before a bizarre try to finish the night with Crichton’s shot at penalty goal after the siren bouncing off the upright for the chasing Benaiah Ioelu to regather and score, taking the final scoreline to 78-4 – a record total and a record winning margin at a World Cup for Samoa.
Meanwhile, new-look halves pairing Tarryn Aiken and Jocelyn Kelleher led the Jillaroos to a 40-0 victory over Samoa to open the Women’s Rugby League World Cup on Friday night.
The 2026 NRLW premiership-winning halves duo looked right at home with Kelleher also picking up player of the match in her Test debut at CommBank Stadium.
Three-time Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton also added to her highlight reel, delivering three try assists and four line break assists while skipper Isabelle Kelly ran for 198 metres.
Despite being held scoreless, Samoa walked away with their heads held high after conceding just two tries in the second half despite finishing the night with just 40 per cent of possession and 627 fewer run metres.
Samoa came firing out of the gates but as early fatigue set in the Jillaroos were quick to capitalise when Aiken shifted to the left to create the overlap and TUpton delivered a cut-out pass for Jamie Chapman to open the scoring.
Australia continued to build pressure with Kelleher and Aiken combining on the right and this time it was Julia Robinson the beneficiary of an Aiken long ball to make it 12-0 after 18 minutes.
Australia’s right edge turned it on again with some slick hands finding edge forward Shaylee Bent some space out wide and she raced away for the Jillaroos’ third try.
Four minutes later Keeley Nizza darted out of dummy half and put on the footwork to run 30m to the try line. Kelleher converted for a 22-0 lead.
When Amber Hall was penalised for crowding in the ruck it was powerhouse lock Olivia Kernick who made her pay after finishing off some slick lead-up play by Kelleher. The debutant five-eighth converted to send her side to the sheds with a 28-0 lead.
Samoa wrestled their way back into the contest as both sides traded sets for the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Another error from Hall handed Australia the ball from close range and Kernick took the ball to the line before finding Keilee Joseph in support who crashed her way over the line.
Samoa came up with some impressive goal line defence late in the match with 18-year-old debutante Freedom Crichton Ropati making herself known after shooting off the line to lay some impressive shots.
But it was Australia who had the final say with Jess Sergis crashing over in the 67th minute to take the Jillaroos to a 40-0 lead.
The Jillaroos next up head to Perth to take on England while Samoa remain in Sydney to take on Wales…..PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Tonga crush England in World Cup game of death
PERTH, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—England’s hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals are already on life support after suffering a 30-12 loss to world No.5 Tonga in their blockbuster showdown in Perth.
With His Majesty King Tupou VI and crown prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala among the sellout 18,302 crowd at HBF Park on Saturday night, Tonga produced a defensive masterclass in the four-tries-to-two victory.
The result put Tonga in the box seat to reach the semis, with games against Lebanon and Samoa to round out their group stage.
In contrast, world No.3 England have been left on the brink of elimination – even if they win their remaining two games against France and PNG.
Under the confusing group stage system employed for the World Cup, only two teams from across pools B and C will progress to the last four.
If England finish on the same amount of wins as Tonga, then the Pacific Islanders will go through given they won Saturday’s head-to-head battle.
Should England and Samoa end up with the same number of wins, the tiebreaker will be which nation has the better points-for-and-against differential.
With Samoa opening their campaign with a 78-4 smashing of France, it leaves England needing to post massive wins in their remaining two games to stay alive.
That’s why Saturday’s clash between England and Tonga was dubbed the game of death – with the losers facing a mathematical tightrope to qualify past the pool stage.
“I just thought the longer the game went, the better we got,” Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said.
“We got more and more confident. And what I liked the most was the way we defended.
“We put ourselves under pressure a little bit there a couple of times, but our defence was outstanding.
“You could see how much the game meant to us, and we showed that in our effort, and that’s something that’s going to carry us through the tournament.”
There were plenty of big hits early, with England winger Zach Eckersley copping it big time after dropping a high ball and then being pummelled by a charging Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Stefano Utoikamanu opened the scoring in the 24th minute when he found a hole in England’s defence to stroll over untouched.
A pair of Isaiya Katoa penalty goals extended the margin to 10 points by halftime, with England left to rue a series of fumbles and near misses.
England started the second half full of steam, resulting in a team-lifting try to AJ Brimson in the 46th minute.
But in a game where hard work was king, it was a slice of fortune that ended up giving Tonga a vital edge with Haumole Olakau’atu scoring the first of his two tries after he soccered the ball into an opponent’s arm and then gathered the bouncing rebound.
And when Tuimoala Lolohea’s neat dribble found Tolutau Koula in the corner to make it 22-6 in the 58th minute it was as good as game over.
Katoa starred with the boot, nailing three of four conversion attempts to go with four penalty goals.
The win was a powerful statement from Tonga, whose only previous taste of international success against England came in 2019 when they beat Great Britain.
“It was a really good contest, and when it wasn’t a contest, that was probably more to do with us in the errors that we made,” England coach Brian McDermott said.
“They’re a big team, strong team, and they’ve got some tremendous players in there. And I thought we stuck toe-to-toe with them for nearly all the game,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Veteran Martin leads from front in final PNG campaign
PORT MORESBY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Playing his farewell World Cup campaign for Papua New Guinea, Rhyse Martin has helped steer the Kumuls to a gritty 42-18 win over Lebanon.
Martin scored a try and didn’t miss with the boot in seven conversions at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Martin’s personal tally of 14 points made him an obvious crowd favourite as he announced he will be retiring at the end of this World Cup to take up a role as football manager with new NRL team the PNG Chiefs.
His try with nine minutes left on the clock finished off the Cedars, who were fading in the Port Moresby humidity.
But Lebanon never stopped trying, with fullback Jacob Kiraz (207 metres) and winger Tony Frances (292 metres) constant threats in attack, while Wests Tigers stalwart Alex Twal led the defence with 48 tackles.
The Kumuls also unearthed a new star, Jarome Luai look-alike five-eighth Gairo Voro, who boasts flowing locks under his headgear along with his darting left- and right-stepping.
Fans can draw their own comparisons when the two halves face off in the Kumuls’ match against Samoa in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The Cedars, quarter-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, head to Sydney to face Tonga at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.
It was a double celebration for PNG on Saturday, with the Orchids earlier scoring a 58-4 win over France.
It look like it was going to be PNG’s afternoon when the Kumuls jumped out to an 18-0 lead after 30 minutes off tries from Voro, winger Robert Derby, and second-rower Nixon Putt.
Voro enjoyed two years with the PNG Hunters before moving to the London Broncos in Super League’s second division under coach Jason Demetriou, who is also the Kumuls’ coach.
The 23 year-old has a development contract with the PNG Chiefs, who join the NRL in 2028, where he will learn off Luai.
On Saturday the Cedars’ defence was stoic in the first half as they managed just 44 per cent possession.
Their rewards came in the shadow of halftime, scoring twice in four minutes.
Abbas Miski scored his 14th try for Lebanon in his 14th Test, then Wests Tigers back-rower Tony Sukkar, on debut for the Cedars, crossed after a 70-metre Francis intercept, with the home side leading 18-12 at halftime.
Some direct words from Demetriou appeared to hit the mark as the Kumuls scored twice early in the second half, firstly through halfback Finley Glare and then prop Epel Kapinias after a sublime Jack De Belin pass.
That pushed the score out to 30-12, forcing Lebanon to play catch-up footy once more.
A lengthy dart downfield from Newtown Jets five-eighth Khaled Rajab was against the run of play, but Miski was again in support for try No.15 as Lebanon closed to 30-18.
But Martin, playing his 22nd Test, accepted a short pass from his dummy-half Edwin Ipape, just two minutes before Ipape was at it again, putting in a grubber for half Bailey Biondi-Odo.
Ipape’s two late try assists put the result beyond doubt….PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
‘Decision next year’: Nawaqanitawase keeps options open
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Mark Nawaqanitawase is refusing to rule out turning his back on Australia for next year’s home Rugby World Cup as a three-nation tug-of-war for the cross-code super talent escalates.
While Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and coach Les Kiss have no doubts Nawaqanitawase will be wearing the gold jumper at the 2027 global showpiece, the player himself is keeping his options open.
The in-demand winger’s manager this week suggested Nawaqanitawase may choose to represent Fiji, to honour his father’s heritage, or Italy, who the dual international is also eligible for through his grandmother.
Still only 26, the prospect of Nawaqanitawase defecting from Australia had seemed improbable.
Under World Rugby laws, if he chose to switch allegiances, following 11 Test appearances for Australia in 2022-23 before enjoying a hugely successful two-year stint in the NRL, the dual international would not be allowed to wear the Wallabies jumper ever again.
Representing Fiji or Italy would appear a more appealing scenario in the twilight of his career, not his pomp.
But the newly-crowned NRL premiership winner took to social media on Friday to reveal he’d yet to make any decisions about his playing future beyond a looming two-year, $3 million stint in Japan under former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
“I just thought I would jump on here as there has been a lot of speculation on my future,” Nawaqanitawase posted on Instagram.
“My only focus right now is moving to Japan in a couple of weeks and connecting with my new team at Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
“I will weigh up my options and make a decision next year on my international future.
‘Love, Marky.”
After taking in the Kangaroos’ thrilling Rugby League World Cup win over New Zealand on Thursday night with Nawaqanitawase at Allianz Stadium, Wilson is confident the free agent will be playing for Australia next year.
“I don’t have to convince him,” Wilson said ahead of the Wallabies’ second Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks on Saturday.
“I played junior Wallabies with him, played Wallabies with him, saw him last night supporting the Kangaroos, so I think it’s pretty obvious who he wants to play for.”
Coach Kiss is also optimistic about the 2023 Olympic sevens star opting for a Wallabies return next year.
“I think there’s no doubt that he wants to be back in the game for us, that’s for sure,” Kiss said ahead of the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup return stoush with the All Blacks in Sydney.
“We’ll continue our conversations and go from there. I’m not going to speak on his behalf at all. But we know where he wants to play.”
The All Blacks rode a first-half try blitz to a 43-21 victory over the Wallabies at Stadium Australia on Saturday, extending their win streak over their trans-Tasman-Sea rivals to 13 matches. With the Bledisloe Cup already safely in the cupboard for a 24th year after last week’s 50-19 win in Auckland, New Zealand exploded out of the blocks and crushed all thoughts of an upset with six tries before the break.
Despite losing Jordie Barrett to a calf injury before kickoff and another centre in Quinn Tupaea early on with a concussion, the All Blacks overwhelmed the Wallabies with power, pace and precision in the opening 40 minutes. “I’m really proud of the boys, the way we came out on that in that first half,” said New Zealand captain Codie Taylor.
“It was a real challenge for us this week to make sure that we backed up a really good performance from last week, and I thought we were awesome in that first 40.” Australia showed some flashes of backline brilliance, particularly in the second half, but struggled to get hold of the ball for prolonged periods and were unable to match the accuracy or clinical finishing of the All Blacks.
In a whirlwind of offloads, winger Josh Moorby, fullback Beauden Barrett, flanker Peter Lakai and replacement back Rieko Ioane all crossed in the first 26 minutes to give the visitors a quick-fire 22-0 lead. Wallabies flyhalf Declan Meredith did well to get a pass away in the tackle just before the half-hour mark to send Jeremy Williams over for a try but the lock was sin-binned at the other end of the field two minutes later.
All Blacks number eight Wallace Sititi immediately made the extra man count with his team’s fifth try and Beauden Barrett added a sixth, his second, off an intercept to send New Zealand into the break with a 36-7 lead. Moorby faked out the defence for his second five-pointer within three minutes of the restart before the Wallabies finally finished off a backline move for fullback Tom Wright to go over.
Australia were looking stronger with their replacements on the pitch, and Meredith almost scored a try after a scything break up the middle, then saved a try at the other end. A clever line dropout from Wright did result in a third Australia try in the 66th minute for replacement back Filipo Daugunu that delighted the majority of the crowd of 73,399.
New Zealand were reduced to 14 men after Samisoni Taukei’aho went off injured, and went down to 13 when debutant Chay Fihaki was shown a yellow card but managed to hold out the Wallabies for the last few minutes. “I’m gutted,” said Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. “When you give a team like the All Blacks a head start it’s tough, and it’s not good enough for this group.
“We’ve got to be a lot better. It’s been a very disappointing series, and we’re going to have to regroup,” he said…PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
NZ Ferns survive Fiji scare as Wesele says team ‘not here to make up the numbers’
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Fiji Bulikula Coach Jone Wesele said his team was not at the World Cup to just “make up the numbers” after his Fiji team rattled the cage of the more highly-fancied New Zealand Ferns before going down 18-12 at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“It’s truly amazing to see how relentless they were coming up against the second nation in the world – that’s quite a statement,” Wesele said.
“They made their mark today. The girls brought it to their doorstep. We are not here to make up the numbers.”
Ferns coach Ricky Henry said the match was a wake-up call for a team dotted with experienced NRLW players like Georgia Hale, Mele Hufunga, Raecene McGregor and Apii Nicholls, who have all played 15 or more Tests for New Zealand.
“The good thing about it was that we found a way, but we’ve got some work to do,” Henry said.
A late try to winger Leianne Tufunga saved the Ferns – three-time winners of the World Cup – the embarrassment of losing to minnows Fiji Bulikula, who are making their Cup debut.
In fact the Bulikula took the halftime lead 12-10 and then held onto it for another 20 minutes until a Zahara Temara penalty drew scores level.
Fiji repelled the Ferns time and again on their own goal-line before showing a willingness to throw the ball around in attack.
But with three minutes left, McGregor’s perfectly placed corner kick allowed Tugunga to accelerate, make the catch and score in the right corner.
Earlier, the Ferns were out of the gate quickly with a cut-out pass in the second minute from Nicholls finding her winger Stacey Waaka unmarked.
The match became a grind before Fiji scored twice in six minutes – through Losana Lutu and Sienna Laing – to take a surprise 12-4 lead.
New Zealand replied in the shadows of halftime with Waaka bagging a double.
Fiji’s display will have the rest of the women’s nations sitting up and taking notice, especially the PNG Orchids, who will host the Bulikula in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The Ferns travel home to host France in Christchurch on Sunday…..PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Judge sides with NRL over NZ Rugby on Chiefs name
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—-New Zealand’s High Court has knocked back an application for an interim injunction on the PNG Chiefs NRL franchise using its name in the country.
The organisation claimed use of the Chiefs name, also the name of the long-standing Super Rugby Pacific outfit, would cause confusion and damage to the brand value.
But a judge at Friday’s two-hour Wellington hearing turned down the application after hearing an injunction could harm the NRL expansion outfit’s efforts to attract players ahead of a 2028 debut.
The dispute remains though, with the application for a final injunction still before the court and legal action in Australia a consideration.
ARLC executive chairman Peter V’landys last week labelled NZR’s action one of “mind-blowing hypocrisy””, using the example of the Auckland Blues’ arrival decades after the NSW Blues “had been the Blues”.
“Today’s decision is not a judgement on the strength of our case, and the matter will still be heard in full,” NZR boss Steve Lancaster said.
“As the trademark holder, our responsibility to protect the Chiefs brand hasn’t changed. We remain open to working with the ARLC on a solution.”
NZR’s lawyer Earl Gray argued on Friday that the PNG Chiefs’ use of ‘PNG Chiefs’ and ‘Chiefs’ interchangeably created confusion for fans of both codes and that, with no clear distinction between the two, it would strip the rugby Chiefs’ brand exclusivity.
He said NZR had trademark protections for the Chiefs in New Zealand that the NRL had not acknowledged.
ARLC laywer Clive Elliot argued that the request for an urgent injunction, about a year after NZR became aware of the PNG Chiefs name, was not appropriate.
He said an injunction now would cloud the franchise’s reputation ahead of a recruitment blitz once free agency opens in November….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY LEAGUE: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Grassroots work leads Fiji to a historic World Cup spot
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Pathway programs in Fiji have helped transform their national women’s rugby league side, and now they are on the precipice of making history.
The Fiji Bulikula will play their first Women’s Rugby League World Cup game when they take on New Zealand in Newcastle on Sunday.
It’s been a long time coming for the side that looked to make the global showpiece event in 2021 only to be denied by the Rugby League International Federation when it announced Brazil and France would compete instead.
In 2024, the Pacific nation had a golden opportunity to secure their World Cup berth, but Samoa scored two tries in the last 15 minutes of their Pacific Championship clash to dent their dreams.
Regardless, the team were given one last shot, an intercontinental competition in Canada, which they won.
Despite missing out on the tournament in 2021, Fijian grassroots programs have continued to grow, and it’s paid off as a number of their World Cup representatives were brought through the local system.
Fullback Cassie Staples says the addition of the local athletes, which include her Cronulla teammates Leilani Ahsam and Nani Vakacavu, has helped the Bulikula stamp their authority on international women’s rugby league.
“I met Nani back in 2024 … I met Leilani last year at our World Cup qualifier over in Canada, and both were incredible finds and obviously have a lot to give to the game of rugby league,” Staples said.
“They’re quite talented, and that’s the benefit and the upside of exposing NRLW coaches to programs and Pacific nations.
“It’s really important to have access to resources, programs and all that type of stuff to grow the game back home.”
Cronulla’s NRLW coach Tony Herman, who is also Fiji’s assistant mentor, says a former Bulikula coach Joe Dakuitoga has helped grow the programme.
“Dakuitoga works really hard in that space, getting rugby league into schools, getting them to travel to play,” Herman told AAP.
“A lot of the girls get picked up in the mountains … and then the competitions that they have over there now for women’s rugby league.
“To build the programs and pathways back in Fiji and give those girls something to aspire to … is awesome.”
The grassroots game is expected to grow even further as the Australian government is spending $250 million(US$174 million) to progress the sport in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and PNG as part of a broader $600 million cash splash to establish the PNG Chiefs…..PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Suva Grammar School mourns loss of winning coach Osborne
SUVA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Tributes have flowed from the Suva Grammar School community and families as they mourn the loss of their winning coach, Epeli Osborne, who passed away last Saturday.
Osborne made history at the school as a member of the team that won the Deans Trophy in 2001 before coaching Grammar to victory in August, ending a 21-year wait after defeating Lelean Memorial School 36-21.
Suva Grammar School Old Scholars Association president Stanley Simpson described Osborne as a kind, caring and committed old scholar who devoted his time and energy to guiding and nurturing young people, particularly young Grammarians.
“He leaves us with an enduring legacy. We are devastated by this loss and are with his family as we deal with the shock and sorrow of his untimely passing,” Simpson said in his Facebook tribute.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for our Suva Grammar School family, particularly our U18 boys, who have shared an incredible journey with Coach Peli (Osborne).
“Peli (Osborne) was more than a coach. He was a mentor, a motivator, and a loyal servant of Suva Grammar School. His dedication and his unwavering commitment to the Grammar jersey will forever remain part of our school’s history.
“We mourn the loss of a dedicated coach, a faithful Grammar Lion, and a valued member of our Grammar family. While our hearts are heavy with grief, we remain grateful for the legacy he leaves behind and the lives he has touched through his service to our school.”
Former players describe him as a coach who combined high standards with genuine care for his students. Beyond trophies and results, they credit him with teaching lessons in commitment, resilience and self-belief that extended far beyond the rugby field.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in due course…..PACNEWS
FIJI – FOOTBALL: FIJI SUN PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Ba Football terminates head coach Kumar’s contract
BA, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —The Ba Football Association has terminated head coach Ravinesh Kumar’s contract with immediate effect, the association announced in a Facebook statement.
The association said its executive committee had made the decision and thanked Kumar for his commitment, hard work and contribution during his tenure.
Under Kumar, Ba won the Fiji FACT, the Inter-District Championship (IDC), the Battle of the Giants (BOG) and the Extra Premier League (EPL) titles.
“We acknowledge his efforts throughout the season and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” the statement read.
Ba Football said it remained focused on building on the team’s success this season, including its historic achievement of winning four consecutive titles.
The association also acknowledged the dedication of its players, officials, supporters and other stakeholders who had contributed to its success.
It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards and continuing to move forward with a shared focus on the future of Ba Football.
Further updates on the appointment of a new head coach would be communicated in due course.
The association thanked its supporters, sponsors and stakeholders for their continued trust and support….PACNEWS
AUST – FOOTBALL: AAP PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
Auckland ‘punish’ City to begin ALM title defence
AUCKLAND, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—A brace on debut from Lachlan Bayliss has helped Auckland FC get their A-League Men title defence off to a winning start, as they defeated Melbourne City 3-1.
Returning home to celebrate their first-ever title win with 20,635 fans, it was Bayliss, one of Auckland’s new signings, who introduced himself in style on Saturday afternoon.
Tapped to start by Pedro Moreira, who replaced Steve Corica as coach after the latter’s move to J1 League side Yokohama F Marinos, Bayliss first struck with a highlight-reel blast in the 35th minute.
Telling Sky Sport post game that he was told to “Make a name for yourself,” by Moreira, he then netted again in the 53rd, restoring the hosts’ lead after Quinn Macnicol’s equaliser.
Lachlan Brook removed all doubt with an 85th-minute dagger, keeping Auckland unbeaten in round one across their three-year history.
‘I relish the challenge to have to perform and contribute,” Bayliss added.
“I’m glad I was able to show that on the first day.”
The result continued a horror run in Auckland for City, who have now lost their four trips to Mt Smart Stadium by a combined score of 10-2.
They’ll lick their wounds ahead of a Melbourne derby against the Victory next week, while Auckland will travel to face the Wanderers in western Sydney.
“We knew that if we made errors, they were going to punish us,” City attacker Andrew Nabbout said.
“They’re a good side; they’re champions for a reason.”
A back-and-forth contest begging for a moment of inspiration, Bayliss pounced on an errant pass from Besian Kutleshi and drove a first-time bomb from 35 yards out to bring it to life half an hour in.
The better side to then, it gave City the impetus to produce a moment of class themselves, as a 42nd-minute square ball from Kavian Rahmani teed up MacNicol to fire into the bottom corner for 1-1.
The contest was largely defined by muscle before the goals, with a late challenge from Jake Brimmer on MacNicol sparking an all-in shoving contest that saw Sam Cosgrove and Aziz Behich booked.
But a quick transition soon after halftime put Auckland back ahead, as City’s headed clearance of a Hiroki Sakai cross sat up perfectly for Bayliss.
Brook then cut inside and curled in a shot from atop the box to ensure the result late on….PACNEWS
PAC – ONOC: ONOC MEDIA PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
North Pacific NOCs Strengthen High-Performance Planning on the Road to Brisbane 2032
KOROR,19 OCTOBER 2026 (ONOC MEDIA)— National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from across the North Pacific and wider Oceania region came together in Palau this week for the 2nd North Pacific High-Performance Workshop, strengthening collaboration, national planning, and regional partnerships to support athlete development and Games preparation towards Brisbane 2032.
Held from 12–16 October 2026, the workshop was hosted by the Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) through the PacificAus Sports Programme, with the support of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The workshop brought together NOC leaders, sport development practitioners, technical experts and regional partners to advance the North Pacific High-Performance Framework and identify practical opportunities for coordinated investment and athlete support.
From Regional Ambition to Practical Action
Opening the workshop on Monday, 12 October, Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) President Baklai Temengil-Chilton emphasised the importance of translating regional ambitions into clear priorities, measurable actions, and collective accountability.
“Our strength is in our partnerships, but our progress depends on the decisions we make together.”
President Temengil-Chilton situated the workshop within ONOC’s ongoing Reset Programme, guided by its commitment to becoming Fit for Purpose and Fit for Future and delivering the priorities of the ONOC 2025–2028 Strategic Plan.
She highlighted the need for ONOC and its members to be deliberate about where the organisation leads, where it facilitates partnerships, and where it should step back to enable others to deliver.
Recognising the different resources, capabilities and sporting priorities across Oceania, she encouraged NOCs to focus their investments on areas that can deliver the greatest impact for athletes and national sport systems.
Building the Pathway to Brisbane 2032
A central focus of the workshop was strengthening national high-performance strategies and aligning athlete preparation with upcoming regional and international Games.
Discussions covered the Pacific Games in Tahiti in 2027, the Micronesian Games in Nauru in 2028, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the longer-term pathway towards Brisbane 2032.
The programme also addressed athlete benchmarking, Olympic qualification pathways, priority sports, coaching and workforce development, funding opportunities, and shared regional high-performance services.
Through dedicated planning and peer-review sessions, participating NOCs worked on refining their national strategies, identifying investment priorities, and exploring practical solutions to common development challenges.
ONOC also contributed to discussions on its current high-performance planning and the Fukuoka Prefecture partnership, including opportunities for North Pacific athletes and coaches to access development support.
Strengthening Partnerships and Accountability
The workshop provided an opportunity to further connect the work of NOCs with the Australian Olympic Committee, PacificAus Sports, IOC Olympic Solidarity, regional sport federations and other development partners.
Key areas of work included the North Pacific High-Performance Framework, a shared high-performance calendar for 2026–2028, national strategy development and opportunities for coordinated funding and service delivery.
The workshop programme also established a follow-up approach incorporating a 30-day check-in, a three-month progress review and a six-month milestone assessment to maintain momentum and accountability.
President Temengil-Chilton reinforced that the success of ONOC’s Reset and the region’s high-performance ambitions would ultimately be measured by delivery rather than planning alone.
“Our responsibility is not simply to arrive in Brisbane in 2032. It is to arrive better prepared because of the decisions we made, the work we delivered and the lessons we learned along the way.”
She also encouraged members to look beyond existing approaches, including opening a regional dialogue on the future of youth sport and the potential role of an Oceania-level Youth Olympic Games model.
One Oceania Team
As the region prepares for successive Games opportunities, the workshop reinforced the importance of collaboration between NOCs, national federations, coaches, governments and development partners.
For ONOC, the priority remains strengthening member NOC capabilities, improving athlete preparation and building sustainable high-performance systems that respond to the diverse needs and realities of Oceania.
As President Temengil-Chilton reminded participants in her opening address:
“When we leave Palau, I want each of us to leave with more than ideas. Let us leave ready to make decisions, clear about our responsibilities and committed to being accountable for our actions,” she said……PACNEWS
AUST – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS SPORT: Mon 19 Oct 2026
All Blacks complete Bledisloe Cup sweep with Sydney victory over Wallabies
SYDNEY, 19 OCTOBER 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU)—The All Blacks have completed the clean sweep of the Bledisloe Cup, defeating the Wallabies 43-21 in Sydney.
36 first half points were the deciding factor as the Kiwis ran away with the contest in a clinical opening 40 minutes.
Like the first game, the Wallabies created chances early, with Max Jorgensen and Fraser McReight both making half breaks.
But the Kiwis were there to answer anything thrown at them and punished Australian mistakes to run away with it in the first half.
It started with Josh Moorby, backing up Codie Taylor’s second break of the afternoon to finish nicely.
The Aussies won the kick off and turned to their five metre maul, only for the ball to fall loose.
Minutes later, the Kiwis bounced back, with Player of the Match Peter Lakai breaking clear and Beauden Barrett scoring.
Lakai then scored one of his own, with Rieko Ioane following up to give the All Blacks a 22-0 lead in nearly as many minutes.
Jeremy Williams got the Wallabies on the board after snatching up an offload from Declan Meredith, one of the hosts’ best.
However, Williams would sit for ten three minutes later after a cynical foul, giving Wallace Sititi space to strike.
A Barrett intercept for the playmaker’s second cemented a dominant first half and a 36-7 lead heading up the sheds.
This was only extended to start the second half with Moorby’s second after cruising over the line.
Tom Wright stemmed the flow of points after capitalising on a great burst from Jorgensen.
The Wallabies tried to launch an improbable comeback, stopped on several occasions,
Meredith almost went the length of the field after backing up great hands from the forwards, with Cam Roigard somehow stopping the ball from being planted down with his boot.
The Aussies thought Roigard had kicked the ball out of his hands, but the TMO cleared the foul-play referral.
Jorgensen’s double chip-and-chase was classy, but the All Blacks cleaned it up as they marched back down the field.
The Wallabies eventually found a way over after running the length of the field, Wright and Meredith combining to find a backing-up Filipo Daugunu.
The All Blacks finished the game with 14 after running out of subs and Chay Fihaki’s yellow card.
It energised the hosts, but the All Blacks had sealed the win in the first half.
All Blacks 43 (Tries: Moorby 2, B. Barrett 2, Lakai, Ioane, Sititi; Cons: McKenzie 4/7) def Wallabies 21 (Tries: Williams, Wright, Daugunu; Cons: Lonergan 2/2, Meredith 1/1)….PACNEWS
