Kieran Foran, a retiring legend of the sport, expressed that he is “overjoyed” after concluding his illustrious career with a win in the Pacific Championship final.
Having played 318 NRL matches for teams including the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors, Bulldogs, and Titans, along with 34 Tests for New Zealand, the seasoned playmaker officially closed the chapter on his remarkable rugby league journey with the Kiwis’ 36-14 victory over Samoa.
“I’m absolutely over the moon. I can hardly believe it. The boys really dug deep. I knew they would; we’ve had a fantastic campaign,” Foran shared with Nine’s Paul Gallen.
“I aimed to come in here and finish on a high note. It’s been a challenging year, especially at the Titans, but to come in and play alongside this group of boys and represent our country has just been the icing on the cake, mate.”
The Kiwis celebrate securing the Pacific Championship title. Getty
Some 28,084 fans filled CommBank Stadium for the final, creating an electrifying atmosphere, which further demonstrates the immense passion for rugby league in the Pacific region.
Foran believes that the Pacific Championships have the potential to one day rival everything else in rugby league, including the State of Origin series.
“The Pacific Championships have been absolutely fantastic,” Foran remarked.
“As I’ve mentioned throughout the week, I genuinely believe it could become the pinnacle of our sport. The turnout, the atmosphere — it’s something extraordinary, especially with the crowds we’ve seen recently, particularly today; it was remarkable.”
“Kudos to the NRL and the event organisers for putting this together; the support shown for the Samoan and Tongan teams, as well as us Kiwi boys, was truly special.”
Compiled by SportArena.au.
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