Mana Group meets to shape 2025, welcomes Sia Soliola

The Rugby League Players Association’s Mana Group kicked off its 2025 agenda with a strategic meeting last week, while welcoming Sia Soliola to the Group as an Independent Advisor.

The Mana Group covered key areas for opportunities for Māori and Pasifika players in 2025:

How to improve stakeholder engagement.

How to improve community engagement.

How to evolve Mana Group engagement with the industry.

Proposed changes to the end-of-year internationals and the schedule.

“The first year of The Mana Group was a huge step for the game in giving Māori and Pasifika players a real and proper voice on what affects us and what’s important to us,” said Shellie Long, Mana Group member and Papua New Guinea representative player.

“As a Group we are happy with what we have achieved so far, but we know there is always so much more we can advocate on for our players, communities and nations. The role the RLPA has played in giving us a voice has been incredible.”

A key goal for The Mana Group for 2025 will be advocating for wellbeing managers to be employed or seconded for All Stars and Pacific Championship teams.

Shellie Long playing for Papua New Guinea

Acknowledging The Mana Group success

The Mana Group also celebrated and discussed their achievements in 2024, which was the Group’s first year of operation. These achievements included:

being engaged in high level conversations around competition events and matters that directly involve Māori and Pasifika players

ongoing engagement in critical media discussions affecting Māori and Pasifika players

consultation on internationals, including the Pacific Championships and All Stars

consultation on the NRL’s proposed schedule change to All Stars for 2024, led by The Mana Group

the Mana Group and RLPA Player Operations Managers cooperating in camp during the Pacific Championships to elevate high performance standards.

“Establishing The Mana Group was a huge step for the RLPA and rugby league,” said Nita Maynard, a Māori woman and RLPA Player Operations Manager.

“To hear directly from Māori and Pasifika players in a trusted environment has been an important and significant step. The formation of The Mana Group last year was a game-changer, ensuring Māori and Pasifika players are heard at the highest levels of the game.”

Sia was most recently a Player Operations Manager for the RLPA before moving into a role outside the rugby league industry.

The Mana Group

Zahara Temara
Simaima Taufa
Siliva Havili
Shellie Long
Junior Paulo
James Fisher-Harris
Sia Soliola (Independent Advisor)
Feleti Mateo (Independent Advisor)
David Mead (Independent Advisor)

About The Mana Group

The Mana Group was established in 2024 to empower Pasifika and Māori players by giving them the opportunity to utilise their voices, provide feedback, and engage with stakeholders on matters directly affecting them and their communities.

The Mana Group was established to:

Provide consistent growth in the number of players of Pasifika and Māori heritage represented across the NRL and NRLW.

Promote Pasifika and Māori players into leadership roles and give them the ability to be a voice and act on behalf of the playing group through the establishment of a designated leadership structure.

Have an environment where players and stakeholders will have the opportunity to talk with and discuss any matters involving Pasifika and Māori players.