At just 21 years old, Keano Kini has already faced one of the toughest tests of his career — and life.

Only eight months ago, the Gold Coast Titans fullback was told he was just millimetres away from permanent paralysis after suffering a serious neck injury. What could have been the end of his rugby league journey instead became a powerful turning point.

Now, the Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior is set to take the field for the New Zealand Kiwis in Sunday’s Pacific Championships Final against Toa Sāmoa at CommBank Stadium — a moment he describes as a blessing.

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“At the start of the year, I didn’t think I’d be here,” Kini said. “It’s been a challenging year, but it was meant to happen. I’ve learned so much about myself and my game — it’s made me more grateful. I had a baby, got married, and a lot of good things came out of a tough situation.”

Kini made a remarkable return to the NRL in Round 24, playing the final four games of the season for the Titans — enough to earn selection in Stacey Jones’ Kiwis squad.

The young fullback repaid that faith in last week’s victory over Tonga at Eden Park, crossing for a try, running 199 metres, and breaking three tackles in a standout performance that helped propel the Kiwis into the Final.

“It’s going to be a completely different game this weekend,” he said. “I didn’t get the chance to play against my other culture, Sāmoa, in the first match — so I’m really looking forward to this one. We want to bring that trophy back home to New Zealand.”

Sunday’s clash will also mark a changing of the guard for the Kiwis, with veteran halfback Kieran Foran playing his final game. For young players like Kini, Casey McLean, and Naufahu Whyte, it’s a chance to carry the torch into a new era for New Zealand Rugby League.

All three have chosen to represent Aotearoa despite eligibility for other nations — a decision Kini hopes will inspire the next generation.

“You see a lot of boys representing Tonga or Sāmoa, but it’s awesome to see young guys proud to wear the Kiwis jersey,” Kini said. “That’s what we need — more young talent coming through, representing our country with pride. I’m proud to be one of them.”

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Injuries have forced late changes to the New Zealand Kiwis’ lineup for today’s Pacific Championships clash against Tonga at Eden Park (6.05pm kickoff).

Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Sebastian Kris have both been ruled out after picking up leg injuries in training this week.

Kris was named to make his second Test appearance replacing the injured Ronaldo Mulitalo on the left wing while Asofa-Solomona was listed in jersey #18 when the team was selected on Tuesday.

Their withdrawals leave the Kiwis with the bare game day complement of 19 players.

With Kris out, centre Casey McLean – who has scored six tries in first two Tests – has been shifted to the left wing where he made his Test debut against Papua New Guinea in Sydney last year.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is moved from fullback into the centres and Keano Kini will start at fullback. Scott Sorensen has been confirmed as 18^th man with Zach Dockar-Clay 19^th man.

‍PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025

NEW ZEALAND v TONGA

EDEN PARK

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025

20  Keano Kini
2  Jamayne Isaako
3  Matthew Timoko
1  Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
4  Casey McLean
6  Dylan Brown
7  Kieran Foran
8  James Fisher-Harris (C)
9  Phoenix Crossland
10  Moses Leota
11  Briton Nikora
12  Isaiah Papali’i
13  Joseph Tapine
14  Te Maire Martin
15  Naufahu Whyte
16  Erin Clark
17  Xavier Willison
19  Scott Sorensen
21  Zach Dockar-Clay

Coach: Stacey Jones

Rookie Kiwi international Keano Kini is among the list of contenders for the coveted Golden Boot award.

The 20-year-old Aucklander has been a standout since making his Test debut against the Kangaroos in the Kiwis’ opening match of the Pacific Championships in Christchurch last month.

He marked his arrival on the world stage with a game-high 254 metres from 26 runs including five tackle breaks in New Zealand’s 10-22 loss to Australia.

Kini repeated the dose in the agonising 24-25 defeat by Tonga last Saturday when he again led all players with 240 from 25 carries with a line break, a line break assist, seven tackles – the equal best of the game – and his first Test try.

His performances came off the back of a season in which he was named the Gold Coast Titans’ player of the year.

Kini is the only current New Zealand international named in the list of 17 contenders.

Also included are former Kiwis Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Addin Fonua-Blake.

Samoa fullback Tuivasa-Sheck and Tonga captain Fonua-Blake have been outstanding for their teams on opposite sides of the globe over the last three weeks.

Building on his NRL form, departing prop Fonua-Blake has helped Tonga into the Pacific Championships final against Australia at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday while Tuivasa-Sheck was impressive in a beaten Samoa team in its two-Test series against England.

After making 134 metres from 17 runs and 19 tackles without a miss in Tonga’s 0-18 first-up loss to the Kangaroos, Fonua-Blake was exceptional in last Saturday’s 25-24 win over the Kiwis.

Rampant with the ball in hand, he scored a stunning first half try as he made 224 metres from 19 runs with seven tackles breaks backing it up with 20 tackles.

In Samoa’s 18-34 first Test loss to England, Tuivasa-Sheck made 205 metres from 22 runs with two tackle breaks and three off loads. In the 16-34 second Test defeat he finished with 193 metres from 26 carries with a line break, a line break assist, a try assist, five tackle breaks and five off loads.

Tuivasa-Sheck won the Golden Boot in 2019 while playing for the Kiwis.

A third ex-Kiwi included is Esan Marsters who was used at halfback and fullback by the Cook Islands Aitu in their matches against Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Players have been nominated from all six nations involved in the Pacific Championships – Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands – as well as England and Samoa, who last weekend completed their two Test series.

Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals, will choose the men’s IRL Golden Boot winner. There isn’t a former Kiwi on the panel.

Short lists for the men’s, women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced after the Pacific Championships quadruple header in Sydney on Sunday, November 10.

Nominations for the wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot will be announced after the second international between France and England on Saturday, November 23.

The winners of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.

2024 Golden Boot | Men’s nominees

Herbie Farnworth (England)

Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga)

Harry Grant (Australia)

Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea)

Zac Lomax (Australia)

Jarome Luai (Samoa)

Keano Kini (New Zealand)

Nene Macdonald (Papua New Guinea)

Esan Marsters (Cook Islands)

Taane Milne (Fiji)

Haumole Olakau’atu (Tonga)

Harry Smith (England)

Jason Taumalolo (Tonga)

Tom Trbojevic (Australia)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Samoa)

George Williams (England)

Isaah Yeo (Australia)