Pacific Championships: New Zealand’s men and Australia’s women triumph

World champions Australia were not involved in the men’s Pacific Championships because of their commitment to touring England.

And Samoa – beaten by the Kangaroos in the World Cup final at Old Trafford three years ago – were hopeful of a first international trophy when they led New Zealand 12-0 thanks to tries from Brian To’o and Simi Sasagi.

But the Kiwis responded through Naufahu Whyte to trail 14-6 at the break, and then produced five unanswered tries in the second half.

Interchange forwards Whyte and Erin Clark were key to the comeback, along with Foran and man of the match Dylan Brown.

Foran and stand-off Brown combined to send over Isaiah Papali’i for the first of his two tries shortly after half-time.

After a Jamayne Isaako penalty levelled the scores, New Zealand stepped up the pace and Clark, Casey McLean, Papali’i and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ran in tries against the tiring Samoans, to the delight of the retiring Foran.

“I wanted it so badly for New Zealand,” Foran said. “It has meant so much to me playing for my country.”

The half-back, who announced in July that he would finish his NRL career at the end of this season after three years with Gold Coast Titans, will now rejoin his first club Manly Sea Eagles as an assistant coach.