$13m man delivers Kiwis masterclass
Dylan Brown offered his halves partner Kieran Foran the perfect farewell, guiding New Zealand to a thrilling 36–14 comeback victory over Samoa in the Pacific Championships final. His performance also strengthened his Golden Boot credentials.
Samoa opened the scoring with two early tries in front of a loud crowd at CommBank Stadium. However, Brown, supported by New Zealand’s powerful bench players, helped reverse the momentum as the Kiwis surged home with dominance.
“Brown feeds on tired defenders and ran them ragged with 169 metres, three assists, nine tackle busts and five offloads.”
His all-around display completely changed the rhythm of the match. By the second half, New Zealand controlled 67 percent of possession, leaving Samoa exhausted and unable to respond in their final match of 2025.
Brown’s creativity was on full display when he broke through the line to set up former teammate Isaiah Papali’i and later extended the lead by linking up with try-scorer Casey McLean.
Fans of the Newcastle Knights are already eager to see what Brown will deliver in 2026 as he joins the club on a landmark deal worth $13 million.
Author’s Summary
Dylan Brown’s brilliance and leadership fueled a stunning Kiwi comeback over Samoa, capping Foran’s farewell and proving his claim to rugby league’s top individual honor.