Retiring great Kieran Foran says he’s “over the moon” after bowing out with victory in the Pacific Championship final.
After 318 NRL games across the Sea Eagles, Eels, Warriors, Bulldogs and Titans, and 34 Tests with New Zealand, the veteran playmaker drew the curtain on his phenomenal rugby league career as the Kiwis beat Samoa 36-14.
“[I’m] over the moon. I can’t believe it. The boys — they just dug so deep. And I knew they would; we’ve had a really good campaign,” Foran told Nine’s Paul Gallen.
“I wanted to come in here and try and finish on a high. It’s been a really tough year obviously up there [at the Titans], but to come in here and play with this bunch of boys and do it for our country, it was just a cherry on top, mate.”
The Kiwis celebrate winning the Pacific Championship title. Getty
A crowd of 28,084 packed into CommBank Stadium for the decider and had the joint rocking, in another indication of just how much passion there is for rugby league in the Pacific.
Foran reiterated his belief that the Pacific Championships had the potential to one day exceed all else in rugby league, including State of Origin.
“The whole Pacific Championships has been phenomenal,” Foran said.
“I’ve said it through the week; I think it can become the pinnacle of our game. I honestly do.
“You can see the crowds that have turned up, the noise, it really is something else, the last two crowds and especially this one today, that was special.
“Credit to the NRL and the organisers for putting it on because the support for the Samoan and the Tongan teams and us Kiwi boys was really special.”