Latest news with #Tupou
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The snub fuelling First Nations and Pasifika team in battle with Lions
'We all had similar stories. We didn't come from the most wealthy backgrounds, and our parents did as much as they could to put each of us in a position where we could excel in our life ... so in that sense, we definitely connected a lot.' The odds are stacked against the First Nations and Pasifika side due to their limited preparation together and given the ruthless manner in which the Lions took apart the more vaunted AUNZ side. Meanwhile, star prop Taniela Tupou said he is 'at peace' if the Marvel Stadium clash is his last game in Australia. Tupou, who was released from the Wallabies camp to play for the First Nations and Pasifika team, has signed a two-year deal to play for Racing 92 in France at the end of his current contract. There is strong speculation Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt won't call on overseas-bound players for the Rugby Championship, and there would then be no certainty around Tupou's involvement in the Rugby World Cup in 2027. 'Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens,' Tupou said of his Test future. 'So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it.' The Lions, who named a strong team with Owen Farrell as captain, have spoken about going undefeated on their tour of Australia. But they've also called in five players just to play in this fixture, to protect Test stars. Asked if the First Nations and Pasifika players felt like they being underestimated, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa said: 'We know that, we know that very well, we know that they're not really focused on us, and that's okay. 'I guess we don't really want to talk about it too much, we just want to show them what we're made of and what we can do - what we've got essentially,' he said. Paenga-Amosa said the side would need more than a free-flowing Barbarians-style approach to beat the Lions. Gamble and his teammates watched the AUNZ team's 48-point defeat in Adelaide and are motivated to put in a superior performance to create a legacy for the First Nations and Pasifika squad that could follow them on the Lions next tour of Australia.
The Age
a day ago
- Sport
- The Age
The snub fuelling First Nations and Pasifika team in battle with Lions
'We all had similar stories. We didn't come from the most wealthy backgrounds, and our parents did as much as they could to put each of us in a position where we could excel in our life ... so in that sense, we definitely connected a lot.' The odds are stacked against the First Nations and Pasifika side due to their limited preparation together and given the ruthless manner in which the Lions took apart the more vaunted AUNZ side. Meanwhile, star prop Taniela Tupou said he is 'at peace' if the Marvel Stadium clash is his last game in Australia. Tupou, who was released from the Wallabies camp to play for the First Nations and Pasifika team, has signed a two-year deal to play for Racing 92 in France at the end of his current contract. There is strong speculation Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt won't call on overseas-bound players for the Rugby Championship, and there would then be no certainty around Tupou's involvement in the Rugby World Cup in 2027. 'Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens,' Tupou said of his Test future. 'So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it.' The Lions, who named a strong team with Owen Farrell as captain, have spoken about going undefeated on their tour of Australia. But they've also called in five players just to play in this fixture, to protect Test stars. Asked if the First Nations and Pasifika players felt like they being underestimated, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa said: 'We know that, we know that very well, we know that they're not really focused on us, and that's okay. 'I guess we don't really want to talk about it too much, we just want to show them what we're made of and what we can do - what we've got essentially,' he said. Paenga-Amosa said the side would need more than a free-flowing Barbarians-style approach to beat the Lions. Gamble and his teammates watched the AUNZ team's 48-point defeat in Adelaide and are motivated to put in a superior performance to create a legacy for the First Nations and Pasifika squad that could follow them on the Lions next tour of Australia.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Police make major breakthrough into deadly shooting of Australian man in Bali
Police have found two guns in their ongoing investigation into a deadly shooting in Bali last month where one Australian man was killed and another injured. Australian man Zivan Radmanovic, 32, was gunned down and killed by masked invaders inside a luxury Bali villa shortly after midnight on June 14, while his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas laid petrified under the bed sheets. Another Australian man, Sanar Ghanim, 34, was shot in the leg and beaten in the attack but managed to survive the ordeal. On Monday, officers fronted media as they placed one of the recovered pistols on display in an evidence bag. The gun was allegedly used as the murder weapon which was discovered in an irrigation stream, while the other was found within 50 metres of it, police said. Both weapons have undergone ballistic testing with the bullets and shell casings consistent with those used on the June 13 attack. Police also claim DNA had been found on a balaclava and pair of gloves which match one of the three Australian men currently in custody who are accused of being involved in the attack. Darcy Francesco Jenson, 27, Midolmore Pasa Tupou, 27, and Mevlut Coskun, 23, were arrested in relation to the fatal shooting and charged with premeditated murder. The maximum sentence for premediated murder is the death penalty. In late June the Australian trio, dubbed the Bali 3, were marched through the press pack donning handcuffs, black masks and orange t-shirts and refused to answer any questions put to them. Local police said they were still investigating if the shooting was a Melbourne underworld crime hit gone wrong and stated they were still searching for a possible fourth suspect involved in the attack. Authorities will allege that 27-year-old Jenson was the orchestrator of the plot, booking the villa where the shooting occurred and the rental getaway vehicles in addition to supplying the hammer that was used to break into the property. Police believe Jenson also waited outside the luxury lodge in a white Toyota Fortuner while Tupou and Coskun undertook the killing. Jenson was a Sydney plumber who went to St Patrick's College in Strathfield. He finished his trade and started his own plumbing business in 2020. Just three weeks before the shooting, Jenson was playing AFL in Sydney for the Parramatta Goannas. Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya who is leading the investigation told journalists at the time the execution style killing was 'well organised' and that the three attackers had 'planned the act" for a "long' time. Inspector General Adityajaya said Jenson had divulged crucial information to police including purchasing the sledgehammer that was used to break into the villa and hiring the rental motorcycles and cars. Authorities further allege Tupou purchased the firearm and disposed of one of the motorbikes, while Coskun aided in disposing the vehicle with both testing positive for gun residue after they were detained in Cambodia and Singapore respectively. The body of Mr Radmanovic has since been repatriated to Australia while Mr Ghanim and his family remain under police protection. The Bali 3 could face execution if they are charged and convicted under Article 340. An Australian embassy lawyer has been appointed to represent the trio.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Tongan Thor ready if it's au revoir to Australia
Taniela Tupou says he's "at peace" if the First Nations and Pasifika XV match against the British and Irish Lions is the last in Australia for the powerhouse prop. "Tongan Thor" was left out of the Wallabies squad for their opening Test loss against the tourists in Brisbane while his inclusion in the historic selection that will play at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night likely rules him out of the second Test at the MCG. Captained by Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale and coached by Test great Toutai Kefu, the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika side are looking to cause a boilover against the unbeaten Lions, who have already taken a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Test series. After a disappointing season with the NSW Waratahs, Tupou signed a two-year deal to play in France with the star-studded Racing 92 team putting in jeopardy any future Wallabies involvement beyond the Lions series. Tupou has slipped behind Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson in the tighthead stocks and while he will rejoin the Wallabies training squad ahead of remaining two Tests, Tuesday's match might be his last on home soil. "Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens," Tupou said of his Test future. "So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. "Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it." The 29-year-old, who was described as having potential to be the best tighthead in the world, was asked how he'd like to be remembered if his 58-Test career was over. "They'll remember me how they want to remember me," he said. Hooker Paenga-Amosa said he wanted to enjoy "one last ride" with his former Queensland teammate and good friend and said the playing group, representing First Nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Maori and Samoa, had got a boost by his inclusion. "There's a buzz around having him back, him and Filipo Daugunu back in the camp as well ... it really excited a lot of us, you know, knowing that we get these two heavy hitters." Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions twice, with the Western Force and the AUNZ outfit and acknowledged the mammoth task of taking down the tourists, who will be skippered by Owen Farrell. "What I've learned is just to have a crack mate, you know, just everybody come together and let's just give it the best that we can for 80 minutes," he said. "We know that they're not really focused on us, and that's OK ... we just want to show them what we're made of." Taniela Tupou says he's "at peace" if the First Nations and Pasifika XV match against the British and Irish Lions is the last in Australia for the powerhouse prop. "Tongan Thor" was left out of the Wallabies squad for their opening Test loss against the tourists in Brisbane while his inclusion in the historic selection that will play at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night likely rules him out of the second Test at the MCG. Captained by Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale and coached by Test great Toutai Kefu, the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika side are looking to cause a boilover against the unbeaten Lions, who have already taken a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Test series. After a disappointing season with the NSW Waratahs, Tupou signed a two-year deal to play in France with the star-studded Racing 92 team putting in jeopardy any future Wallabies involvement beyond the Lions series. Tupou has slipped behind Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson in the tighthead stocks and while he will rejoin the Wallabies training squad ahead of remaining two Tests, Tuesday's match might be his last on home soil. "Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens," Tupou said of his Test future. "So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. "Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it." The 29-year-old, who was described as having potential to be the best tighthead in the world, was asked how he'd like to be remembered if his 58-Test career was over. "They'll remember me how they want to remember me," he said. Hooker Paenga-Amosa said he wanted to enjoy "one last ride" with his former Queensland teammate and good friend and said the playing group, representing First Nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Maori and Samoa, had got a boost by his inclusion. "There's a buzz around having him back, him and Filipo Daugunu back in the camp as well ... it really excited a lot of us, you know, knowing that we get these two heavy hitters." Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions twice, with the Western Force and the AUNZ outfit and acknowledged the mammoth task of taking down the tourists, who will be skippered by Owen Farrell. "What I've learned is just to have a crack mate, you know, just everybody come together and let's just give it the best that we can for 80 minutes," he said. "We know that they're not really focused on us, and that's OK ... we just want to show them what we're made of." Taniela Tupou says he's "at peace" if the First Nations and Pasifika XV match against the British and Irish Lions is the last in Australia for the powerhouse prop. "Tongan Thor" was left out of the Wallabies squad for their opening Test loss against the tourists in Brisbane while his inclusion in the historic selection that will play at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night likely rules him out of the second Test at the MCG. Captained by Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale and coached by Test great Toutai Kefu, the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika side are looking to cause a boilover against the unbeaten Lions, who have already taken a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Test series. After a disappointing season with the NSW Waratahs, Tupou signed a two-year deal to play in France with the star-studded Racing 92 team putting in jeopardy any future Wallabies involvement beyond the Lions series. Tupou has slipped behind Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson in the tighthead stocks and while he will rejoin the Wallabies training squad ahead of remaining two Tests, Tuesday's match might be his last on home soil. "Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens," Tupou said of his Test future. "So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. "Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it." The 29-year-old, who was described as having potential to be the best tighthead in the world, was asked how he'd like to be remembered if his 58-Test career was over. "They'll remember me how they want to remember me," he said. Hooker Paenga-Amosa said he wanted to enjoy "one last ride" with his former Queensland teammate and good friend and said the playing group, representing First Nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Maori and Samoa, had got a boost by his inclusion. "There's a buzz around having him back, him and Filipo Daugunu back in the camp as well ... it really excited a lot of us, you know, knowing that we get these two heavy hitters." Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions twice, with the Western Force and the AUNZ outfit and acknowledged the mammoth task of taking down the tourists, who will be skippered by Owen Farrell. "What I've learned is just to have a crack mate, you know, just everybody come together and let's just give it the best that we can for 80 minutes," he said. "We know that they're not really focused on us, and that's OK ... we just want to show them what we're made of."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Tongan Thor ready if it's au revoir to Australia
Taniela Tupou says he's "at peace" if the First Nations and Pasifika XV match against the British and Irish Lions is the last in Australia for the powerhouse prop. "Tongan Thor" was left out of the Wallabies squad for their opening Test loss against the tourists in Brisbane while his inclusion in the historic selection that will play at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night likely rules him out of the second Test at the MCG. Captained by Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale and coached by Test great Toutai Kefu, the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika side are looking to cause a boilover against the unbeaten Lions, who have already taken a 1-0 lead over Australia in the Test series. After a disappointing season with the NSW Waratahs, Tupou signed a two-year deal to play in France with the star-studded Racing 92 team putting in jeopardy any future Wallabies involvement beyond the Lions series. Tupou has slipped behind Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Robertson in the tighthead stocks and while he will rejoin the Wallabies training squad ahead of remaining two Tests, Tuesday's match might be his last on home soil. "Look, I'm here having fun, enjoying it, whatever happens, happens," Tupou said of his Test future. "So if I'm back, I'm back and if not, I'm living life, I'm enjoying it. "Just play my footy tomorrow and then see what happens after that ... hopefully I will play again, if not, then I'm at peace with it." The 29-year-old, who was described as having potential to be the best tighthead in the world, was asked how he'd like to be remembered if his 58-Test career was over. "They'll remember me how they want to remember me," he said. Hooker Paenga-Amosa said he wanted to enjoy "one last ride" with his former Queensland teammate and good friend and said the playing group, representing First Nations, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Maori and Samoa, had got a boost by his inclusion. "There's a buzz around having him back, him and Filipo Daugunu back in the camp as well ... it really excited a lot of us, you know, knowing that we get these two heavy hitters." Paenga-Amosa has already faced the Lions twice, with the Western Force and the AUNZ outfit and acknowledged the mammoth task of taking down the tourists, who will be skippered by Owen Farrell. "What I've learned is just to have a crack mate, you know, just everybody come together and let's just give it the best that we can for 80 minutes," he said. "We know that they're not really focused on us, and that's OK ... we just want to show them what we're made of."
