The New Zealand Kiwis defeated Toa Samoa 36–14 in the Pacific Championship final on Sunday at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, finishing their campaign unbeaten and lifting the title in style.
Samoa started strong, with early tries from Brian To’o and Simi Sasagi, giving them a 14–6 lead by halftime. But the Kiwis bounced back powerfully in the second half, scoring 30 unanswered points.
Key tries came from second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Erin Clark, both former Samoa players. Their scores just ten minutes apart helped swing the match in New Zealand’s favour. The Kiwis were guided well by halves Dylan Brown and Kieran Foran, whose clever passing and smart plays kept the attack going.
Fullback Keano Kini stood out with his brave performance, taking some heavy hits but never backing down. Jamayne Isaako added a late penalty goal, helping secure the win and letting Foran enjoy the last minutes of his career, as he plans to retire at the end of the season.
Dylan Brown played a major role throughout the game, setting up the final tries, including a sharp move that allowed Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to score. By the end, the Kiwis had kept possession far better than Samoa, completing ten more sets and controlling the match completely.
