COVID-19 had vastly impacted the local competition, wiping it out in 2020 and cutting it short last year.

Manu played at the Waratahs and won two Anderson medals with Maitland before joining the Wildfires in 2020.

"A lot of us aren't from here but this is our home now," said Manu, who is of Samoan heritage and has called Newcastle home for the past decade. "It is important to create connections here. Being able to share experiences and know that you are not alone ... you don't feel so far away from home."

Manu came up with the initiative of forming a Newcastle Pasifika team to play the Hunter Wildfires in a pre-season trial.

"I had a word with Marty Lisiua, the old chief, and sold him my idea," Manu said.

Planning was in the early stages in January when tragedy struck in Tonga. An undersea volcanic eruption caused a tsunami which devastated much of the island nation.

"I had a couple of the Tongan boys ring up and ask if there was anything we could do," Manu said.

On Saturday, Newcastle Pasifika will play the Hunter Wildfires in the Tonga Tsunami Relief Charity Challenge at St John Oval, Charlestown.

What was going to be an exhibition game has grown into a celebration of cultures and a fundraiser.

READ MORE: WILDFIRES TAKE POSITIVES FROM TAHS HIT-OUT

"We threw a few things together and sounded out some sponsors. The whole thing just blew up," Manu said. "We had 40 at training. The players just wanted to be involved.

"We reached out to Sione's Foundation, which is a registered charity. Sione Finefeuiaki has arranged aid relief and plans to fill two forty-foot containers with supplies which will be shipped to Tonga. There will be Samoan and other food stalls, auctions and raffles. Entry is a gold coin donation and an item of non-perishable food."

Newcastle Pasifika has drawn players with Samoan, Fijian, Tongan and Maori heritage.

Many of the Wildfires, which include Tonga internationals Leon Fukofuka, Nafi Tuitavake and Penikolo Latu, had expressed an interest in playing for Pasifika.

"We had a lot of island Wildfires boys at the start but it is important that they play for the Wildfires," Manu said. "It is chance for the local players to see what the level is like, see what the Wildfires are about."

Manu, 38, will come out of retirement to play and the squad also includes Jarome Wilson, Chris Ale, Rapine Mason, Keanu Kaa, Frank Roberts, Rapine Mason and Onewa Tai.

"It is not about us trying to be better than the Wildfires," Manu said. "We want to form a relationship with them and our community.

"We have made our training sessions open and a lot of kids have been coming along. The response has been great. We are not a club, we are a community."

The hit out will be the Wildfires second after a four-way trial with the NSW Waratahs, West Harbour and Western Sydney a fortnight ago.

The Wildfires colts will play West Harbour with the main game to kick-off at 3pm.

"Hopefully we can build it every year," Manu said.

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