While the signing of Rugby League star Israel Folau to the AFL's Greater Western Sydney expansion club made plenty of headlines this year, some of his family back in Tonga might also be set to create footy news in future.

Folau's 16 year old second cousins Peni Mahini and Simote Taunga are in the South Pacific squad currently competing at the national under 16s championships, and have caught the eye of talent scouts.

"Mahini's a great athlete and he's really competitive with the way he goes about it," the AFL's national community development manager Dean Warren said. "Simote is a little bit further away from a development point of view but has great athletic ability; his skills are just a little bit off the others at this point in time.

"They've only played less than 10 games but if they stick at it, Peni in particular with a bit of development and a really good program, has the athleticism and the raw ability to do it.

"Whether they take that opportunity is yet to be seen. The AFL needs to continue to provide them with the opportunities and the development pathway to realise that, and hopefully a number of AFL clubs have seen them play now."

For the full story story, read Folau's cousins begin AFL journey on afl.com.au.

There is so much happening in PNG football that at times it gets hard to cover it in full. As such here is a brief rundown of some of the things happening within the country. Really, it represents an amazing growth in the sport when so many of their finest players are already in Australia playing footy!

Some of the highlights include structured footy kicking off in a new province, junior growth in Port Moresby and Lae, and the AFL Academy.

Representatives of the Hawthorn footy club have recently been in NZ again. Hawthorn players spent three days in New Zealand, holding clinics at schools and meeting AFLNZ representatives.

To read about their whirlwind tour, see HANZ-UP! tour of New Zealand.

In a story of one who had the talent, but was lost to footy, Rhys Casley has recently been unveiled as the new captain of NZ’s National Softball team. Softball in NZ is a major summer sport and is very popular with a large percentage of the population.

Rhys was a football prodigy who came to Wellington football as a 15 year old. He was one of those kids that the plodders of the world like me love to hate (I mean envy). Multi-talented, he already was in the key position of Number 8 for his schoolboy rugby team, a provincial champion athlete and already in junior national softball teams. Even at that age he had a big frame and now at the at about 193 cms and about 90 kgs what a key position player he would have made!!!

AFLPNG continues to develop its off-field efforts with the appointment of Tristan Tancredi to assist in its public relation duties and marketing.

Tancredi was raised in Melbourne, Australia. Tancredi’s main focus is to assist in developing the AFL code in PNG through media involvement as well as marketing.

This involves promoting the AFL throughout the provinces that are involved with the AFL code such as Lae, Morobe Province, Kimbe, West New Britain Province and Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province.

This will increase community involvement and participation. Tasks that will assist in reaching these objectives include the redesigning of web content, increasing media awareness through newspapers, TV and interaction with local sporting communities.

Tancredi is a media and communication graduate from Melbourne University in Australia. He will be in PNG on a 12 month contract through AusAid funding program called Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD). For more see this article from the PNG's Post Courier newspaper.

AFL Game Development Manager David Matthews spoke to SEN radio Saturday about the possibility of NRL star Greg Inglis moving to Essendon in the AFL. He also touches on the strategies behind the signings of Folau, Hunt and the possibility of using Nic Natanui as an ambassador to promote the game in the Pacific region.

The audio can be heard here.

GWS today officially announced that they have signed Brisbane Broncos (and former Melbourne Storm) rugby league star Israel Folau. Folau is well known for his high leaping catches and has often been touted as a natural choice for a code switch to Australian Rules football.

Folau is known to be a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his parents are of Tongan descent. He was born in Australia. He recently visited Tonga and when asked if he wanted to play for Tonga he said yes. A relaxation of the International Cup rules (and if Kevin Sheedy and Dale Holmes allowed it to happen) could allow him to do that in Australian Rules at the 2011 International Cup where Tonga are expected to field a national team, bearing in mind that GWS will be in the VFL and do not make their AFL debut until 2012.

See also our poll on whether Folau or former teammate Karmichael Hunt will be a greater success in the AFL.

New Zealand born Gold Coast Football Club recruit Karmichael Hunt fully expects his transition to AFL to be tough and a lot of hard work but is ready for the challenge.

Hunt was raised in Australia but has very limited Australian Rules experience. He has played Rugby League and Rugby Union at an elite level, and spent his first day at the Club meeting the playing group and staff and undergoing testing in preparation for his first training session scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Queensland footy is all the stronger for their embracing of PNG footballers both at local and state level. One player leading the way is Donald Barry - in such good form there's even a suggestion he could be the first "home grown" Papua New Guinean to make the AFL. Another who we've watched closely since his excellent display in the 2008 International Cup grand final, Amua Pirika, turned in perhaps a career best match last week, prompting high praise from his coach.

Hawthorn’s Round 10 match will be dedicated to Kokoda to raise funds for The Kokoda Track Foundation, which supports the education and healthcare needs of children who live along The Track today.

The Hawks will wear a special commemorative match-day camouflage guernsey, which will be individually signed by each player and auctioned off after the game, the proceeds of which will go to The Kokoda Track Foundation

A great initiative, and we hope the Hawks can extend their future trips to Kokoda to include interaction with the footy youth of PNG who would appreciate contact with the AFL stars. The Hawks could also look at joining clubs such as Essendon, Richmond, Brisbane and the Gold Coast in taking on some PNG youths under the International scholarship scheme.