Melbourne Storm's Suva-born speedster, Suliasi Vunivalu, and Parramatta's Nadi-born flyer, Maika Sivo, will mark each other in Saturday’s elimination final in Melbourne. Fijian wingers have made a significant contribution to the NRL through their blinding speed, but they also stage its best aerial show, either leaping for the high ball, or acrobatically avoiding the sideline when touching down.

Tongan internationals Addin Fonua-Blake and Tevita Tatola will clash in the middle of the field the previous evening when they represent Manly and South Sydney, respectively, in the other knock-out final. Polynesian forwards have made a different contribution to the code in attack, slicing through the defence with a rapier thrust, as well dulling it with the sledgehammer blow.

Maika Sivo soars for another spectacular try in the Eels' big win over Brisbane. Credit:AAP

Yet for decades, these sons of the south Pacific were under-rated, or over-looked. There is a St George connection which highlights the exponential growth of “Pacifica” players represented in the NRL and also in the Rugby World Cup, starting on Friday in Japan.

The first Fijian signed in the old Sydney competition was prop/second-row Apisai Toga late in 1967, when Paul Broughton, now a sprightly 88-year-old, was reserve grade coach. Seventeen years later, as coach of the Dragons, I graded forward John Fifita, the first Tongan to play in the NSWRL premiership.