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new zealand reclaimed Rugby League Calm Championship in strong style, entered home with a win of 36-14 Samoa And on Sunday, veteran Kieran Foran’s 16-year international career ended on a high.
After trailing 14–6 at halftime, the Kiwis dominated the second half, scoring five unanswered tries to deny Samoa their first international trophy.
The huge pro-Samoa crowd at Parramatta in Sydney was sent home disappointed.
For most of recent years, New Zealand has been overshadowed by the rise of Pacific rivals Samoa and Tonga. But Sunday’s comeback, after impressive wins over both nations early in the tournament, was a strong statement ahead of the code’s World Cup next year.
After efforts by Samoa to support Brian To and Simi Sasagi, New Zealand took control with interchange forwards Naufahu White and Erin Clarke and man of the match Dylan Brown.
In the second half, tries from Isaiah Papalii, Casey McLean, Charnze Nicol-Klokstad and another Papalii sealed the victory against the tired Samoans.
“The boys dug so deep – I couldn’t be more proud,” Foran said. “Staying on a high with this group means everything.”
With an enthusiastic crowd in their corner, Samoa took an early lead when winger To’o acrobatically dived into the corner after being played in by former Penrith Panthers teammate Jerome Louis.
Samoa doubled their advantage when Sasagi intercepted Foran’s pass and headed 80 meters out to score under the post.
New Zealand responded with a proper try when White ran a clever line to beat Samoa’s goal line defense on Clarke’s pass. Talagi scored a penalty goal in the last action of the half to take a 14-6 lead at the break.
The half-time break helped New Zealand regroup as Foran and Brown combined to reduce the deficit to two points after Papalii was sent off, before Jamayne Isaako’s penalty goal brought New Zealand level.
Clarke then scored a fair try when he reached the whitewash from close range, before James Fisher-Harris created space for Brown to head over to winger Casey McLean to make it 24–14.
Late tries from Papalii and Charnze Nicol-Klokstad completed the second-half rout as Samoa fell clearly short in the final minutes of an exciting, fast-paced contest.
AP