With a premiership ring and Dally M Prop of the Year gong already on his CV, powerhouse Kiwi Naufahu Whyte is daring to dream of adding a World Cup title to his haul.

And the 24-year-old, who racked up 208 run metres off the bench against Fiji on Saturday, has even joked about retiring if New Zealand can claim another World Cup to go with their 2008 success.

“Lifting that final trophy would just be the cherry on top for me," Whyte told NRL.com.

“I've joked around about it [retirement], being like, 'Oh, yeah, I think that's me after this and just retire at 24 but nah... international you know, it's the best of the best and there's no easy games.

“There’s no easy way out, coming with next two games and we honestly just got to get back to the drawing board, work on the things that we know we can improve on and just go after it."

When it comes to 'going after it', few have done it better in 2026, with Whyte dominating through the middle in the Roosters' grand final win over Newcastle and backing that up on the world stage in recent weeks.

And he gives plenty of the credit for his blistering form to his fellow Kiwi big men, who have laid a foundation for Casey McLean, Keano Kini and Dane Gagai to run wild.

“I still pinch myself to this day, being in the same room alongside these guys," he said.

“There are a lot of boys that I looked up to coming throughout the grades and it just buzzes me out that I get to play alongside them.

“You know even though I’m a premiership winner, Dally M prop, all that kind of stuff, I always think like, 'nah, I'm not as good as I think I am'.

“I've only had a good couple of years these guys [James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine, Moses Leota] have been having those kinds of years for many years now and consistently too.

“I ask them what it takes to be a top-tier prop and the things that I can work on to make my game better.

“There’s no better props and middle forwards to learn from, than the boys that's in this room.”

Whyte and his Kiwi teammates now turn their attention to a showdown with the powerhouse Tonga pack in Newcastle.

“You know at the end of the day our job as forwards, as middles, as props, we lay the platform, so it allows the edges and outside backs to do their thing," he said.

“We know that as middles if we can dominate and own that middle then we can win the game.

“It’s my job and it’s not really anything too difficult or hard. It's just own the middle, run hard, tackle hard."

As seen on nrl.com

‍

The New Zealand Kiwis have crowned their Pacific Championships campaign with a 36–14 victory over Toa Samoa at CommBank Stadium, delivering the perfect send-off for veteran playmaker Kieran Foran in his final Test match.

Trailing 14–6 at halftime, the Kiwis stormed home with 30 unanswered points in a dominant second half. Foran was instrumental in the comeback, combining brilliantly with Dylan Brown, who produced a standout performance featuring three try assists, 10 tackle breaks and 181 running metres.

Isaiah Papali’i crossed for two tries, while Casey McLean, Erin Clark, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also found the line. Clark’s powerful run early in the second half shifted momentum, before Papali’i’s second try in the 76th minute sealed the result.

Fullback Keano Kini continued his breakout tournament with 125 metres, six tackle breaks and four offloads, while Naufahu Whyte made a huge impact off the bench with 194 metres and seven tackle breaks.

The win secures New Zealand’s second Pacific Cup title in three seasons and confirms their status as a leading contender ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Head coach Stacey Jones praised his side’s resilience and composure under pressure, noting the leadership of Foran and the team’s ability to respond after a tough first half.

It was a night of pride and celebration for New Zealand Rugby League, closing out the Pacific Championships with silverware and a fitting farewell for one of the Kiwis’ most respected players.

‍