Talofa, Ma’lelei, Bula and Welcome to Season 05 Episode 72 of Breakfast Bites by TeivovoSports.com – a wrap of Pasifika people’s sports news on another cloudy, but bright Thursday morning 15 June 2023.

Coming to you with tons of hanisi from the 180th meridian, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In rugby league: “We can’t wait,” Matiu Walters, SIX60’s lead singer and guitarist said, after the NRL announced that New Zealand’s multi-platinum selling and biggest band will be playing the pre-game show for ORIGIN III at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Wednesday 12 July!

So all you SIX60 fans get out there - tickets are available from A$59 for adults and A$165 for families via NRL.com/tickets.

Meanwhile in Queensland, ORIGIN great Sam Thaiday remembers the accountant, Cameron Smith, “Everything was measured with Smithy. It's funny, I can remember more of Cam's speeches before a game than I do of Mal Meninga’s.

“Cam was the guy that a lot of the time throughout my career, he was the last word before we ran out onto the field. And it was kind of the way that he said things and the things that he said that really inspired you and wanted you to get out there.”

In rugby: Winners of the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua Awards night held in Nadi last night: The Coach’s Player of the Year: Tevita Ikanivere, Player’s Player of the Year: Isoa Nasilasila, Rookie of the Year: Iosefo Masi, Try of the Year: Ratu Meli Derenalagi and the Fan Player of the Year: Selestino Ravutaumada.

Only comment – wondering about the Fijiana Drua Awards Night.

In Football: Check out the eye-watering salaries the Top 5 players in La Liga earn: From Polish Striker, Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona on US$435,732-per-week through Jan Oblak at Atletico Madrid and Brazilian star Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid also equal fifth, to Luka Modric at Real Madrid on US$457,402-per-week, 3. David Alaba at Real Madrid on US$470,491-per-week, 2. Toni Kroos at Real Madrid on US$509,803-per-week, and top of the pile Frenkie De Jong at Barcelona banks a cool US$784,443-per-week.

In SportsBiz: FIFA is close to securing UK media rights deals with the BBC and ITV for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.

The agreements, according to Bloomberg, would see the broadcasters pay an estimated US$10Million to air the upcoming event, just 6% of the comparable figure paid for the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino previously called initial rights bids for the tournament — some as low as 1% of bids for the Men’s World Cup — “a slap in the face” given the ongoing growth in the women’s game.

Infantino initially threatened a broadcasting blackout of England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France.

Meanwhile in the US, FOX Sports has already sold 90% of its ad inventory for US coverage of the Women’s World Cup, with Ad sales up 50% on the 2019 tournament.

The US Women’s National Team, which won both the 2015 and 2019 FIFA World Cups will be looking for a three-peat starting 20 July.

In boxing: One day after Tim Tszyu promised to knock out Mexico’s top Super Welterweight, Carlos Ocampo within five rounds in their big bash this Sunday, the challenger has arrived Down Under and hit back from his Gold Coast camp, promising to “embarrass” Tim Tszyu in front of his thousands of fans.

What else can we say except, “Ola, ole hombre”!

For TeivovoSports.com I’m Culden Kamea – please hit the like and subscribe buttons below if you want to receive more Pasifika sports highlights on Breakfast Bites.

Mahalo, vina’a and tank you all too mass for all your love and support.

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