The inaugural Pacific Championships proved a triumph for the Kiwis and the Kumuls, who emerged victorious in the Cup and Bowl finals, while the Kiwi Ferns recorded a memorable win over the Jillaroos in the final round of the women's tournament.
Emerging stars from Fiji and Samoa also enhanced their reputations as Pacific nations put on a spectacular show for fans in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
With the winners basking in their glory and players taking a well-earned rest at the end of a long year, NRL.com pays tribute to 10 stars whose stocks rose on the international stage.
Jamayne Isaako - Magic end to a magic season
The dashing Dolphin's 18-point haul in New Zealand's emphatic win over Australia in the Cup final put the exclamation mark on a magnificent 2023. Recalled to the Kiwi side after a four-year absence, Isaako also bagged two tries and seven goals in the demolition of Toa Samoa, finishing the tournament with 42 points across three Tests. The 27-year exuded confidence and flair on the back of a record-breaking NRL campaign under the guidance of the supercoach Wayne Bennett.
Isaako crosses for a double
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad - Brave and brilliant
Looks to have a mortgage on the Kiwis No.1 jersey after an extraordinary display in the Cup final where he ran for 277 metres and had six tackle breaks. Across the Kiwis' three matches, CNK had 61 runs for 539 metres and busted 15 tackles - the sort of numbers reserved for the game's elite fullbacks. Having played three games in the centres at the World Cup as Joey Manu stole the show in the No.1 jersey, Nicoll-Klokstad made the fullback spot his own during the Pacific Championships and tormented the Kangaroos' defence in the decider... and he did it all with a broken rib.
Emotional CNK claims player of the match in historic win
Edwin Ipape - The power and the passion
Having resurrected his career under Kumuls legend Adrian Lam at Leigh Leopards in the UK, the nuggety hooker capped a superb season with a standout display in the Bowl final. Playing in his ninth Test match, the 24-year-old scored the game's opening try with a trademark surge from close range and racked up 102 run metres and seven tackle breaks. "The Kumuls jumper means everything. It's the pinnacle of rugby league in PNG," Ipape said ahead of the decider against the Bati, and he was good to his word with a quality performance.
Ipape makes his mark
Jahream Bula - Sky's the limit
Talk about living up to the hype. The Wests Tigers whiz kid looked right at home on the big stage from the minute he strode onto Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby for his debut against Cook Islands, racking up 253 run metres and producing two line breaks. The same grace and poise that made him an instant hit in the NRL carried over to the Test arena as Bula then carved out 138 run metres and six tackle breaks in a win over the Kumuls in his second international. If the rugby league world hadn't been put on notice in his 18 games for the Tigers n his rookie NRL season, they well and truly had been now.
Jahream Bula played a match-winning role for Fiji Bati
Lachlan Lam - A timely reminder
On the back of a Super League season in which he set up 21 tries for Leigh Leopards and kicked the winning field goal in the Challenge Cup final, Lam controlled proceedings expertly to guide the Kumuls to glory. After laying on three tries in the first-up win over Cook Islands, the former Rooster was at his scheming best again in Sunday's victory over the Bati that had the local fans in raptures in Port Moresby. Two years after he last played in the NRL, the 25-year-old served notice that he's ready to g should an opportunity present itself to return Down Under.
Fiji Bati v PNG Kumuls - Pacific Bowl final, 2023
Mele Hufanga - How good can she be?
It’s scary to think about what Kiwi Ferns centre Mele Hufanga is capable of achieving in the women’s game. Having exploded onto the scene at last year’s World Cup, Hufanga’s development was on show in the Pacific Championships after capping off her first NRLW season with the Broncos. The 29-year-old has always possessed a unique ball-running ability, with the power of a front-rower and footwork of a fullback, but her confidence and game smarts have flourished in 2023. Breaking 32 tackles in three games, 17 of which were against the Jillaroos in Week 1, there’s no limits to where Hufanga could take her game in 2024 for the Broncos.
Hufanga has it all!
Abigail Roache - Making centre spot her own
After playing in the halves at the World Cup last year, Roache returned at centre for the Kiwis this year and the Knights speedster looks to have a bright future ahead in the Ferns backline. With Tyla Nathan-Wong and Ashleigh Quinlan handed opportunities at five-eighth, Roache was overlooked for the first Test against the Jillaroos but made up for lost time in Week 2 against Tonga, bagging a hat-trick and running 176 metres at right centre. Leaving rugby union to join the Knights in 2023, Roache grew in confidence throughout the regular season and will be primed to play a leading role in the club's quest for a three-peat of NRLW premierships.
Abigail Roache could not stop scoring
Lindsay Collins - Taking giant strides
After watching last year's World Cup final from the sideline, Collins wasn't about to let this opportunity slip. Coming off the bench in all three Tests, the rampaging Rooster averaged 80 run metres and 26 tackles a game. He also savoured a career highlight when he crossed twice in space of nine minutes in the victory over the Kiwis in Melbourne. The result didn't go the Kangaroos' way in the final but the 27-year-old could walk away with his head held high at the end of a superb season at club, state and Test level.
Collins grabs a double
Matt Timoko - Tackle breaking machine
It was an international campaign to remember for the Raiders centre, capped off by a second-half try in Saturday’s upset of the Kangaroos. Playing all three games on New Zealand’s left edge, the 23-year-old had 14 tackle breaks as he made every post a winner after narrowly missing out on the World Cup squad last year. Timoko’s performance on the international stage is sure to have put a smile on the face of Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, who will be looking for backline leaders to step up after Jarrod Croker's retirement and Jack Wighton's move to Souths. At just 23 and signed until the end of 2025, the powerfully built Timoko is set to be a key cog in the Green Machine going foward.
Timoko turns defence into attack
Sua Fa'alogo - Flashy and freakish
In what was a disappointing campaign, Sua Fa'alogo was a shining light for Ben Gardiner’s Toa Samoa squad. The 20-year-old Test debutant was all the rage after his incredible chip and chase 'no try against the Kangaroos and he backed that up with 154 run metres and six tackle breaks against New Zealand. Currently on a development contract for 2024 at the Storm, Fa'alogo is sure to keep the pressure on Nick Meaney and Ryan Papenhuyzen for the No.1 jersey in Craig Bellamy's top 17 - not bad for a kid who played his lone NRL game at the end of August before getting the call-up to represent his country.
