NEW ZEALAND 36 SAMOA 14
TOM SMITH, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sunday

KIERAN FORAN’s final ever game of rugby league ended in victory as the Kiwis galloped away from Samoa to claim the Pacific Cup.

The sea of red-and-blue Samoan flags that packed the sold-out CommBank Stadium erupted when Simi Sasagi ran away with a long-range intercept to put Samoa up 12-0 on the half-hour.

But Foran’s halves partner Dylan Brown inspired New Zealand to a second-half rally, eventually cruising to a big win.

Bench forwards Naufahu Whyte and Erin Clark were enormous for the victors, as was two-try back-rower Isaiah Papali’i.

The 35-year-old Foran now hangs up his boots after 16 years and 34 Tests in the black-and-white jumper, as well as 318 NRL appearances for Manly, Parramatta, New Zealand, Canterbury and Gold Coast over a superb if injury-challenged career.

The Kiwis edged the Samoans 24-18 in their Pacific Cup opener last month, thanks to brilliant Brown’s late winner.

And this comeback preserved their perfect record against Samoa, who have never beaten the men in black in six attempts.

A first-half knee injury to winger Murray Taulagi didn’t help, nor did a controversial decision to deny Deine Mariner a try on the stroke of half-time, or late head-injury assessments to Mariner and Francis Molo.

Samoa booked their place in this final by thumping arch rivals Tonga 34-6 in a bizarre storm-disrupted clash in Brisbane a fortnight ago.

The only change to Ben Gardiner’s squad was the return of Jaydn Su’A from concussion, replacing the explosive Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder) in the back row.

New Zealand also made light work of the Tongans at Eden Park seven days ago, and Stacey Jones stuck with the same 17 that did the job.

Titans live-wire Keano Kini shuffled to fullback with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad going to centre and Casey McLean the wing.

CommBank Stadium roared when Jarome Luai sent his ex-Penrith team-mate Brian To’o into the left corner for the first try.

Briton Nikora, Brown and McLean all went within inches of hitting back for the Kiwis, before Sasagi gobbled an ambitious Foran pass to sprint 70 metres for an intercept try.

Clark eventually put Whyte through for New Zealand’s first points.

And the Kiwis were lucky to head to the sheds trailing by just eight, when the Bunker denied Mariner for a double movement and the Samoans had to settle for a penalty-goal, kicked by Blaize Talagi like both conversions, instead.

Papali’i kicked off the Kiwi comeback when he steamed onto a Brown offload, and Luai’s high tackle on Kini handed Jamayne Isaako two equalising points.

Clark carried three Samoan defenders over the whitewash to put New Zealand in front, then a probing Brown run set up McLean’s eighth try in four Tests.

With Samoa now hunting a reply, the desperate Kiwis denied Benaiah Ioelu and Izack Tago.

Instead, an escort penalty gave Isaako another goal and Papali’i completed his brace.

Then with two minutes left, Brown engineered another try to Nicoll-Klokstad and Isaako kicked his fifth conversion to round things off.

These two teams now shift their focus to next year’s World Cup on Australian soil. Samoa will be aiming to go one better than their defeat to Australia in the 2021 decider, while New Zealand will expect to return to the final for the first time since 2013 – and repeat their 2008 triumph.

GAMESTAR: New Zealand stand-off Dylan Brown finished a superb Pacific Championships campaign by setting up three tries.

GAMEBREAKER: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad linked up with Brown to put the finishing touches on the Kiwis’ second-half charge.

MATCHFACTS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans)
2 Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
3 Matthew Timoko (Canberra Raiders)
4 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand Warriors)
5 Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers)
6 Dylan Brown (Parramatta Eels)
7 Kieran Foran (Gold Coast Titans)
8 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand Warriors)
9 Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle Knights)
10 Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers)
11 Briton Nikora (Cronulla Sharks)
12 Isaiah Papali’i (Penrith Panthers)
13 Joseph Tapine (Canberra Raiders)
Subs (all used)
14 Te Maire Martin (New Zealand Warriors)
15 Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters)
16 Erin Clark (New Zealand Warriors)
17 Xavier Willison (Brisbane Broncos)

Tries: Whyte (33), Papali’i (49, 76), Clark (56), McLean (67), Nicoll-Klokstad (78)
Goals: Isaako 6/8

SAMOA
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand Warriors)
2 Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
3 Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers)
4 Deine Mariner (Brisbane Broncos)
5 Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)
6 Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers)
7 Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers)
8 Francis Molo (Dolphins)
15 Benaiah Ioelu (Sydney Roosters)
10 Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
11 Jaydn Su’A (St George Illawarra Dragons)
12 Simi Sasagi (Canberra Raiders)
13 Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
Subs (all used)
9 Jazz Tevaga (Manly Sea Eagles)
14 Chanel Harris-Tavita (New Zealand Warriors)
16 Terrell May (Wests Tigers)
17 Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders)

Tries: To’o (11), Sasagi (28)
Goals: Talagi 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 6-14; 12-14, 14-14, 20-14, 24-14, 26-14, 30-14, 36-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
New Zealand: Dylan Brown; Samoa: Payne Haas

Penalty count: 8-4
Half-time: 6-14
Referee: Ashley Klein
Attendance: 28,084