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:
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)
Whangarei Marist Brothers
#757
KIERAN FORAN
Gold Coast Titans
Ellerslie Eagles
#808
JAMAYNE ISAAKO
The Dolphins
Aranui Eagles
#836
KEANO KINI
Northcote Tigers
#828
SEBASTIAN KRIS
Canberra Raiders
Centenary Panthers
#827
MOSES LEOTA
Penrith Panthers
Mt. Albert Lions
#830
JEREMY MARSHALL-KING
All Saints Toongabie Tigers
#841
CASEY MCLEAN
Blacktown City Bears
#824
RONALDO MULITALO
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
#820
CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD
City Newton Dragons
#818
BRITON NIKORA
Arataki Whalers
#817
ISAIAH PAPALI’I
Richmond Rovers
#831
SCOTT SORENSEN
Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks
#800
JOSEPH TAPINE
Harbour City Eagles
#832
MATTHEW TIMOKO
#839
NAUFAHU WHYTE
Sydney Roosters
Bay Roskill Vikings
Debutant
XAVIER WILLISON
Brisbane Broncos
Whatawhata Wolves