Blaize of glory: Talagi's rise from fan to final

Blaize Talagi was among the jubilant fans celebrating in Sydney during the 2022 World Cup final when Samoa made its historic run.

Now, he stands at Eastern Creek Raceway, looking out at the crowd as Samoa gears up for the Pacific Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday.

As each player from the Toa Samoa team is introduced, their ancestral village names are also revealed to the audience.

Though many players and fans hail from Australia or New Zealand, they all share a strong connection to their Pacific roots, evident in the flags and songs echoing throughout the event.