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

Match Overview

The NZ Kiwis and Toa Samoa face off again after their recent close encounter three weeks ago, where New Zealand narrowly secured a 24-18 victory at Go Media Stadium.

Historical Context

Toa Samoa has yet to defeat the NZ Kiwis in six meetings.
In 2014, New Zealand scraped a 14-12 win with a late try from Shaun Kenny-Dowall at Whangārei en route to winning the Four Nations title.
Some past matches have seen large winning margins, including the 2023 Pacific Championships where the Kiwis won 50-0.

Key Performers and Moments

During the 2023 Championship, wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo each scored two tries, with Isaako converting seven out of nine tries.

Rivalry Significance

Historically, Samoa was seen as a warm-up opponent before major games against rugby league powers, but the migration of top players to their Pacific roots has elevated the rivalry's importance.

They made their mark globally by reaching the 2022 Rugby League World Cup final stages, narrowly defeating England 27-26 in the semifinals after a 60-6 pool loss, before falling 30-10 to Australia in the final.

“Samoa really announced themselves as bona fide contenders on the world stage.”

Match Details

Event: Pacific Championship (Men)
Teams: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa
Kickoff: 6.05pm, Sunday, 9 November

The upcoming final promises to be a hard-fought contest, with Samoa eager to claim their first victory over the Kiwis.

Author's Summary

The fierce Pacific Championship final showcases the growing rivalry between NZ Kiwis and Toa Samoa, with Samoa closing the gap but still chasing their maiden win.

RNZ — 2025-11-08