Pacific Championship rugby league: What you need to know about NZ Kiwis v Toa Samoa men's final

Pacific Championship Rugby League: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Men's Final

The two rivals last faced each other three weeks ago, with New Zealand narrowly securing the win. Toa Samoa challenged the Kiwis culturally at Go Media Stadium.

Match Details

Head-to-Head History

Toa Samoa has never beaten the NZ Kiwis in six previous encounters. Despite this, they have been close several times and arguably should have won their last match, missing key scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of a 24-18 loss at Go Media Stadium.

“In 2014, New Zealand needed a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to scrape past 14-12 at Whangārei, en route to claiming a Four Nations crown.”

There have been some significant wins for New Zealand, including a dominant 50-0 victory during the 2023 Pacific Championships. Wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo each scored two tries, with Isaako converting seven of nine.

Evolution of the Rivalry

Historically, Samoa has been seen as a warm-up opponent before facing major rugby league powers. However, the return of top players to their Pacific roots has intensified this rivalry, adding greater significance.

The Samoan team gained global recognition by reaching the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final stages. They lost 60-6 to England in pool play but then upset England 27-26 in the semifinals before falling 30-10 to Australia in the final.

Summary

This final reflects a growing rivalry shaped by tight contests and Samoa's rise as a major force in rugby league.

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RNZ RNZ — 2025-11-08

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