Rugby league heroes inspire new generations of Pasifika readers

Author and former South Auckland schoolteacher David Riley is shifting the traditional spotlight on rugby union to shine it on what he believes is the true pulse of Pasifika youth: the fast-paced, heart-thumping world of rugby league.

Through his new Rugby League All Stars book series, Riley is championing international icons like Brian To’o, Jason Taumalolo, and Isaiya Katoa, alongside celebrated powerhouses Mate Ma’a Tonga and Toa Samoa.

His mission is straightforward yet urgent: to hook reluctant young Pasifika readers by reflecting their heroes, their heritage, and their passion directly back at them.

Speaking on PMN 531’s Pacific Days, Riley reflects on why the 13-man code had been pushed to the sidelines of children's literature for so long.

“Rugby league is our family game, but it's always been like the little brother sport in New Zealand, and sort of looked down on as well.

“Whenever I would make a rugby league book, hardly any schools would buy it. If I made a book about an All Black, they’d buy it. But a rugby league one, they're not really interested.”

Through his new Rugby League All Stars book series, David Riley is championing international icons like Brian To’o, Jason Taumalolo, and Isaiya Katoa, alongside celebrated powerhouses Mate Ma’a Tonga and Toa Samoa. Photo/Supplied

Everything shifted during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, when Jason Taumalolo chose to represent his Tongan roots, and Riley says it unleashed a tidal wave of Pacific pride that reshaped the sport forever.

“I started to see that Pacific children, because I was teaching in Ōtara, were no longer looking up to the All Blacks.

“After that World Cup in 2017, they were now looking at MMT and Toa Samoa. That was the time that changed, and it was Jason Taumalolo who did that.”

Seeing that cultural awakening, Riley, widely known as the Reading Warrior, understood books had to follow the community’s heartbeat.

Teaming up with South Auckland illustrator Chad Robertson, a former student of his from Tangaroa College, Riley began profiling the game’s biggest crowd-pleasers.

“If you're not someone who’s grown up with reading, no matter what culture you are, you need something to hook you in.

David Riley with students of St Francis Catholic School who are holding a copy of one of his books. Photo/Supplied.

“You need something that you're familiar with and you know and you love.”

The impact has extended far beyond the classroom.

Riley shares the story of a Samoan father of twin boys who disliked reading. Riley sent him a copy of Brian To'o: Lights It Up! and the boys insisted their dad read it to them.

“Then he sent me a photo of him on his couch with his two sons next to him, and they're reading the book together.

“Can you think of a better way to end the day than just reading a book together? A time to just settle down, be still, connect together, that's free, no devices, and we just end our day like that.”

Riley says libraries are already reporting surges in demand, with boys rushing the doors before morning school bells to check out the titles before their peers, adding that excitement is the first step in a lifelong journey.

Watch David Riley's full interview below.

“The vision is to make it a weekly routine where mum and dad will take their children to the library once a week, get some children’s books out for free, and have a time for reading every day, only 20 minutes a day.

“That will be life-changing for those children.”

Copies of the books can be found at Reading Warrior.

David Riley has written over 90 books focusing on Māori and Pasifika youth literacy, cultural heritage, sports and retold legends.