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Match Preview

Kiwis v Samoa: No changes for NZ; Talau, Marzhew, Luki all start

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The Kiwis launch their Pacific Championships campaign on home soil in Auckland with a clash against a Samoa side eager to hit back after a 26-point loss to the Kangaroos.

Eden Park is sure to be buzzing with the passionate Samoan fans out in force and the battle up front in the opening 15 minutes will be worth the price of admission alone.

New Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris and his Panthers teammate Moses Leota go head to head with Junior Paulo, Stefano Utoikamanu and Terrell May, who added plenty of punch off the bench in the tournament opener.

Samoa will take plenty of confidence from the fact they went further than the Kiwis at last year's World Cup and they continue to grow in confidence on the international stage.

Young fullback Sua Fa'alogo was devastating against the Kangaroos and he is sure to provide plenty of highlight reel moments again in just his second Test match.

The last time these two proud nations met was at the 2017 World Cup with the Kiwis victorious 38-8 at Mt Smart Stadium.

Team News

Kiwis: Panthers enforcer James Fisher-Harris takes over as Kiwis captain and will lead a powerful forward pack that includes Moses Leota, Briton Nikora and Joseph Tapine. Warriors star Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad gets the nod at fullback with Joey Manu to line up in the centres along with Matt Timoko on Test debut. Hooker Fa'amanu Brown and bench forwards Leo Thompson and Griffin Neame will also make their Kiwi debuts. Storm playmaker Jahrome Hughes and Eels livewire Dylan Brown will call the shots in the halves with an unchanged lineup confirmed.

Toa Samoa: A number of late changes with Tommy Talau and Greg Marzhew to start in place of Marion Seve and Brian To'o. Gordon Chan Kum Tong retains his spot at hooker with Justin Matamua dropping back to the reserves. Helium Luki starts in the back row for Connelly Lemuelu with Royce Hunt and Ronald Volkman joining the bench alongside Terrell May.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Kiwis is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
    Fullback for Toa Samoa is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
  • Winger for Kiwis is number 2 Ronaldo Mulitalo
    Winger for Toa Samoa is number 2 Murray Taulagi
  • Centre for Kiwis is number 3 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Toa Samoa is number 4 Marion Seve
  • Centre for Kiwis is number 4 Joseph Manu
    Centre for Toa Samoa is number 21 Tommy Talau
  • Winger for Kiwis is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
    Winger for Toa Samoa is number 20 Greg Marzhew
  • Five-Eighth for Kiwis is number 6 Dylan Brown
    Five-Eighth for Toa Samoa is number 6 Stephen Crichton
  • Halfback for Kiwis is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
    Halfback for Toa Samoa is number 7 Daejarn Asi

Forwards

  • Prop for Kiwis is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
    Prop for Toa Samoa is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu 
  • Hooker for Kiwis is number 14 Kieran Foran
    Hooker for Toa Samoa is number 9 Gordon Chan Kum Tong 
  • Prop for Kiwis is number 10 Moses Leota
    Prop for Toa Samoa is number 10 Junior Paulo
  • 2nd Row for Kiwis is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
    2nd Row for Toa Samoa is number 11 Luciano Leilua
  • 2nd Row for Kiwis is number 12 Briton Nikora
    2nd Row for Toa Samoa is number 16 Heilum Luki
  • Lock for Kiwis is number 13 Joseph Tapine
    Lock for Toa Samoa is number 14 Spencer Leniu

Interchange

  • Interchange for Kiwis is number 9 Fa'amanu Brown
    Interchange for Toa Samoa is number 13 Keenan Palasia
  • Interchange for Kiwis is number 15 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
    Interchange for Toa Samoa is number 15 Terrell May
  • Interchange for Kiwis is number 16 Griffin Neame
    Interchange for Toa Samoa is number 18 Royce Hunt
  • Interchange for Kiwis is number 17 Leo Thompson
    Interchange for Toa Samoa is number 19 Ronald Volkman

Reserves

  • Replacement for Kiwis is number 18 Naufahu Whyte
    Replacement for Toa Samoa is number 17 Justin Matamua

Match Officials

  • Referee: Gerard Sutton
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated:

Stat Attack 

  • Samoa fullback Sua Fa'alogo's stunning Test debut against Australia featured 176 run metres, a line break and 11 tackle breaks.
  • The Kiwis have a 4-0 record in Tests against Samoa with a combined scoreline of 144-50 across the four games.
  • Kiwi winger Jamayne Isaako topped the NRL try-scoring and point-scoring list with the Dolphins in 2023 - the first player since Mal Meninga with Canberra in 1990 to do the double.
  • Hugh McGahan holds the record for most tries in a Test match for New Zealand with six against PNG at Carlaw Park in Auckland in 1983.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.