Pacific Championships 2024 | Kiwis v Kumuls | Match Highlights

The final game of the rugby league year and it's a high-searching kick-off from Osako and de Bellin has to bring it back for the Coombels. Inside the 20 they go, oh Mikkel Klugstad to the debutant and the pass is okay! What a moment! Casey McLean on debut! Johnson, here's the fullback, lead runner took a few outs and I think it'll be a penalty if it leads to a try and it's still alive here. Johnson with wizardry and the ball down in the corner from Osako, referee's going to award it here. Logie Lamb did a great job, double defending, he gave his centre enough time to go out there but it ended up just going in the hands of Jermaine Osako. Johnson left-hand side, Thompson, Leo Thompson gets down low, so do the PNG Coombels. They're just clarifying where the play of the ball should be, 10 out if he's held up but if he's short of the line he's got to play it right there and then, that's why he's creeping forward now. Based on the on-field decision and all available camera angles, he'll be supporting short of the line. Johnson, again a change of direction, another pirouette from Kinney, Ney with space, oh keeps it alive! Let's a go, now the siren sounds, Kinney with confidence, look at the pass! From McLean, he's away, supporting side, Mikkel Klugstad, that is brilliance, right on the bell. He got it right. Johnson, death little kick, oh PNG didn't see it coming and magic from Escher, Wobbler from Lamb, puts Osako and uses Kinney, there's trust in the full-back and they launch the counter, oh it opens up for him. Oh he's so good. He's going to score. Lamb, Kinney, setting sail, eyes up McDonald, weaving a passage, oh taken down, denying him one of the great tries. Oh I could see in the back of his mind he was saying, please tackle me. Can they hold on again, Mikkel Klugstad, inventive kick, McLean's got a hat-trick, it's a national debut. It was Johnson earlier in the half, this time it's Mikkel Klugstad with the perfect kick. We're going to have to earn it the Kiwis. Johnson, oh McLean magic, Johnson, what a pass around two pivots. As I was saying, they weren't giving up their try line. Leibert's kick, oh in behind McLean and finished in the corner by Derby. It's a shot perfect. Higurami takes his eye off the ball and just opens that corridor. It's a beautiful grabber in the hole. Fisher-Harris, crawling his way to the try line. Held up, Crosland, opens up space for Johnson to go out to the winger, Asako, that is spectacular and another genius try assist from the magic man. Johnson, oh try assist number five. What the beneficiary this time, Sean Johnson, don't go. It's a farewell to remember for Sean Johnson. Adding the extras after a fifth try assist. Oh sitting tuck and he moved it on, he says come on mate, my career's just about over. Hiku, flick pass brilliance, Asako supporting side, he'll score in the corner. What a try from New Zealand. Five try assists for SJ and New Zealand maintain their status in the Pacific Cup heading into 2025. Too good for the PNG Coomels, they win this one 54-12.