Pacific Championship Rugby League: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Final
The New Zealand Kiwis and Toa Samoa meet again in the men’s Pacific Championship final at Go Media Stadium, with kickoff at 6:05 PM on Sunday, November 9.
Head-to-Head History
Toa Samoa have never defeated the NZ Kiwis in six previous encounters. Despite this, their recent clashes have been close, including a narrow 24–18 loss just three weeks ago after missing two key scoring chances in the final minutes.
Back in 2014, New Zealand relied on a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to edge out Samoa 14–12 in Whangārei, setting up their Four Nations triumph later that year.
Recent Form and Results
The 2023 Pacific Championships saw a dominant New Zealand performance, with the Kiwis claiming a 50–0 win. Wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo each scored twice, while Isaako added seven successful conversions from nine attempts.
Changing Dynamics in the Rivalry
Traditionally, Samoa have been viewed as warm-up opponents before New Zealand’s higher-profile test matches. However, as more top players reconnect with their Pacific heritage, the competitive meaning of this fixture has grown significantly.
Samoa’s Rise on the World Stage
Samoa made their mark at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, where they initially lost 60–6 to England in pool play but later stunned them 27–26 in the semifinals before falling 30–10 to Australia in the final.
“The Samoans really announced themselves as bona fide contenders on the world stage,” the report noted.
Summary: Samoa’s rise and the Kiwis’ dominance set the stage for a fierce Pacific Championship final that showcases the evolving power balance in international rugby league.