Pacific Championship Rugby League: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Men's Final
The two teams faced off three weeks ago, with the New Zealand Kiwis narrowly securing the win. The upcoming match takes place at Go Media Stadium, where Samoa presents a significant cultural challenge to the Kiwis.
Match Details
- Fixture: NZ Kiwis vs Toa Samoa
- Kickoff: 6:05pm Sunday, 9 November
Historic Rivalry
Toa Samoa has yet to defeat the NZ Kiwis in six previous encounters. Despite this, they have been close on a few occasions, particularly in their last game three weeks ago when missed scoring opportunities in the final minutes contributed to 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."
The rivalry has featured some one-sided matches. For instance, in the 2023 Pacific Championships, the Kiwis delivered a dominant 50-0 victory, with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo each scoring two tries, and Isaako successfully converting seven out of nine tries.
Significance of the Rivalry
Traditionally, Samoa was viewed mainly as a stepping stone opponent before facing top rugby league nations. However, the growing number of elite players embracing their Pacific heritage has elevated the rivalry's competitiveness and prestige.
The Toa Samoa team gained international recognition as serious contenders during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. They lost heavily to England in pool play (60-6) but then upset 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."
Author’s summary: The NZ Kiwis and Toa Samoa share a close, evolving rivalry marked by intense matches, with Samoa emerging as a strong contender in recent international rugby league competitions.