7 October 2025 

New Zealand Kiwis Head Coach Stacey Jones has named a seasoned 21-man squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships campaign against Samoa and Tonga starting this month.  

The squad is bolstered by a strong core of players from the 2023 Pacific Championship-winning side who were unavailable in 2024 due to injury: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Dylan Brown (Eels), Kieran Foran (Titans), Moses Leota (Panthers), and Sharks duo Ronaldo Mulitalo and Briton Nikora.  

Thirty one-Test Kiwi Kieran Foran, who recently announced his retirement following the Gold Coast Titans’ 2025 campaign, will wear the black and white jersey one final time. The veteran playmaker returns to international duty after receiving the call-up from Jones. 

Fresh from an NRL premiership victory with the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday, utility forward Xavier Willison joins the squad for the first time. 

Following impressive debut international campaigns in 2024, several rising stars return to the fold: middle forward Erin Clark (Warriors), hooker and utility Phoenix Crossland (Knights), fullback Keano Kini (Titans), centre Casey McLean (Panthers), and middle forward Naufahu Whyte (Roosters). 

Clark, McLean, and Whyte come off standout NRL seasons that earned them Dally M Team of the Year nominations, with Clark taking out the Lock of the Year award. 

Also retaining their places from the last Pacific Championships are Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), the 2025 NRL top points scorer, alongside Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers), Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), and Matthew Timoko (Raiders). 

2022 World Cup representatives Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King and Raiders centre Sebastian Kris also return to strengthen the squad. 

James Fisher-Harris will once again captain the team, joined in the squad by Warriors teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 

The Kiwis begin their campaign against Toa Samoa at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on October 19, having last faced off in 2023.  

After a bye week in Round 2, the New Zealanders will reconvene back in Auckland to face Tonga at Eden Park on November 2. 

The Pacific Championships finals will be played at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on November 8.  

 

Unavailable for selection: 

  • Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm) – injury 
  • Kodi Nikorima (The Dolphins) – injury 

 

2025 PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS NEW ZEALAND KIWIS   

NO.

PLAYER

NRL TEAM

JUNIOR CLUB

#804

NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA

Melbourne Storm

Upper Hutt Tigers

#826

DYLAN BROWN

Parramatta Eels

Hikurangi Stags

#842

ERIN CLARK

New Zealand Warriors

Manurewa Marlins

#838

PHOENIX CROSSLAND

Newcastle Knights

Erina Eagles

#801

JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c)

New Zealand Warriors

Whangarei Marist Brothers

#757

KIERAN FORAN

Gold Coast Titans

Ellerslie Eagles

#808

JAMAYNE ISAAKO

The Dolphins

Aranui Eagles

#836

KEANO KINI

Gold Coast Titans

Northcote Tigers

#828

SEBASTIAN KRIS

Canberra Raiders

Centenary Panthers

#827

MOSES LEOTA

Penrith Panthers

Mt. Albert Lions

#830

JEREMY MARSHALL-KING

The Dolphins

All Saints Toongabie Tigers

#841

CASEY MCLEAN

Penrith Panthers

Blacktown City Bears

#824

RONALDO MULITALO

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Ellerslie Eagles

#820

CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD

New Zealand Warriors

City Newton Dragons

#818

BRITON NIKORA

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Arataki Whalers

#817

ISAIAH PAPALI’I

Penrith Panthers

Richmond Rovers

#831

SCOTT SORENSEN

Penrith Panthers

Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks

#800

JOSEPH TAPINE

Canberra Raiders

Harbour City Eagles

#832

MATTHEW TIMOKO

Canberra Raiders

Ellerslie Eagles

#839

NAUFAHU WHYTE

Sydney Roosters

Bay Roskill Vikings

Debutant

XAVIER WILLISON

Brisbane Broncos

Whatawhata Wolves