The first week of the Pacific Championships has come and gone — but it made a splash.
Fiji ran riot early against the Cook Islands, who rallied back in the second half to lose 44-24 at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
Then on Sunday we were treated to a thrilling New Zealand win, with Stacey Jones’ side besting Samoa thanks to a late Dylan Brown try.
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What the weekend’s games proved is that the international game is back, not with a bang, but with an explosion of talent and rugby league quality.
Read below for all the biggest talking points from the first week of the Pacific Championships.
BROWN’S STATEMENT DISPLAY
No one can begrudge someone for accepting a $13 million pay packet, like the one handed to Dylan Brown.
With the richest deal in NRL history, with the gun playmaker gearing up to join the Knights in 2026, comes pressure and eyeballs, especially from Newcastle fans.
So did the 25-year-old deliver in the halves for New Zealand on Sunday?
Not only did he score the match-winning try, he was labelled the “best player on the field” in what was a star-studded clash that was filled by elite talent.
Brown wore the No.6 for the Kiwis, partnering veteran Kieran Foran in the halves but dominated the attacking proceedings — despite comments leading up to the clash.
“We have Kieran Foran here too, so he is the general,” Brown said to News Corp. “I reckon I’ll be playing that six role, which I’m happy to do, and I’ve always done it for the Kiwis.”
He ran the ball first, and put his teammates in strong positions second — tallying two try assists, with his crowning moment coming with minutes left on the clock.
Brown reeled in a Foran bomb and forced his way over the line to seal a victory for New Zealand and in doing so went about dispelling doubts regarding his ability to lead a team next year.
“We said he was probably the best player in the first half, his running game was at the fore. Kieran Foran did a good job to steer the Kiwis around,” former Kangaroos playmaker Greg Alexander said.
“Then Dylan Brown came up with a match winning play to seal the victory. It was all the Kiwis to start the game.
“Brown, in scoring that match-winner, he was probably the best player on the field.”
Former NSW Origin hooker Michael Ennis added: “He was, he was the best player”.
Brown is coming off a quiet campaign with the Eels, being dropped in order for Jason Ryles to blood young talent, looking towards 2026.
It remains to be seen whether Brown will wear the No.6 or No.7 next year, but paying a player that amount of money would suggest he will be the Knights’ chief half.
However, his halves partner shapes as Fletcher Sharpe, meaning he is a strong chance of filling the halfback role.
And if his performance on Sunday is anything to go by, he could help improve the wooden spooners next year.
Mele finds match winner for Kiwi Ferns! | 01:07
BULA’S MASTERCLASS SPARKS BIG DECISION
Has the Tigers’ stance on Jahream Bula changed after his blistering Pacific Championships display?
Ahead of Fiji’s clash with the Cook Islands, it emerged the gun fullback could be headed for the exit at the end of next season.
Bula has a mutual option in his contract for 2027, which would see his current $700,000 salary jump to $900,000 – but the merger club reportedly have reservations about taking up that option.
“If you asked me to make a bold prediction for 2026, I think Jahream Bula could depart the club,” the SMH’s Michael Chammas said on Triple M.
“I don’t think there’s an appetite from the Wests Tigers to activate his trigger at $800,000.
“I actually agree, I don’t think he’s worth that… His agent is seeking expressions from rival clubs, his agent being Isaac Moses,” Chammas continued.
“The way it works is if Jahream wants to stay at the Tigers, it’ll cost them $900,000 but if he’s not doing that well, he’s got a safety net and the Tigers can pick him up at $800,000.”
But if neither Bula or the Tigers trigger the option, according to Chammas, Bula will hit the open market and he did his value no harm after scoring seven-minute hattrick on Saturday.
He crossed four times in the first half and finished the game with 170 running metres, nine tackle busts, three offloads and two line breaks.
“How good has he been? That’s four tries for Jahream Bula… this afternoon, he has just done it all,” Cooper Cronk said of his performance.
So now, the question remains – who would do a better job in the No.1 for the Tigers?
Bula showcased his attacking threat and answered the shock news with a masterclass for his nation, which could force the Tigers to rethink their stance.
Otherwise, Bula could hit the open market and become a prime recruit for the Perth Bears, potentially being available for the 2027 season.
However, he could also trigger his option and be free to join the PNG Chiefs the following year, where he could be set to earn a mouth-watering pay packet.
CALAMITY for Charnze at the back for NZ | 00:50
MCLEAN’S STAR SHOWING
Casey McLean is only 19.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The New Zealand centre scored a quickfire double in the first half of his side’s win over Samoa and he proved why he’s one of the NRL’s scariest talents.
Think back to the 2024 Pacific Championships and McLean scored four tries in his Test debut, stamping his mark on the international scene.
Fast forward and the young gun played 23 games in the NRL this year, cemented his spot in a premiership contender’s backline and also went toe-to-toe with arguably the best centre in the game in Stephen Crichton.
While his first try saw McLean turn club teammate Izack Tago inside out, it was his second that caught the eye on Sunday.
He received the ball with a set defensive line in front of him, spotted a slender gap and charged forward, powering ahead of two elite players in Junior Paulo and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
That pairing were unable to stop the teenager from marching his way over the line and it looks a certainty McLean could deliver more moments like that one for years to come.
“Casey McLean, what a start to the game he had… just showed what a danger and what a season he has had,” Greg Alexander said.
McLean finished the contest with 123 running metres, 10 tackle breaks and three line breaks in a masterful performance.
Bula steals the show in Fiji win | 02:07
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LEGEND’S HIGH PRAISE FOR VERSATILE STAR
There weren’t too many players across the league who improved as much as Kurt Donoghoe did in 2025.
In his third year of NRL, the hard hitting Donoghoe made the Dolphins’ No. 13 his own in the absence of Max Plath.
The versatile 23-year-old was mostly used off the bench to begin the year and brought onto the field as either a hooker or another middle forward.
Donoghoe took control of the starting lock forward role in Round 14 and remained in that position for the rest of the season.
It was a role he relished as he ended the year as arguably one of the form 13s in the competition.
Not only was he a tackling machine, but he averaged over 90 running metres a game since taking over the starting lock forward role
He also formed a strong combination in the middle of the field with Dolphins halves Isiaya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima.
Once again, Donoghoe was picked for Fiji in this year’s Pacific Championships. He played five-eighth in the opener against the Cook Islands.
After having a hand in one of Jahream Bula’s four first half tries, Fox League’s Cooper Cronk gave Donoghoe a glowing endorsement.
“The ability for him to play through that 13, and I know there’s only one Isaah Yeo, but I tell you what, keep your eye on Kurt Donoghoe,” Cronk said.
“I think he will be a very good player in the No. 13 jersey for the Dolphins going forward.”
It remains to be seen who will play lock for the Dolphins when Max Plath is fully fit, but it appears Cronk believes it should be Donoghoe who is tasked with the role going forward.
Whoever ends up winning the job to start the 2026 season, Kristian Woolf has a nice problem on his hands with a couple of burgeoning players in Plath and Donoghoe who both offer so much versatility.