New Zealand avoids relegation, wins 54-12 over Papua New Guinea, discovers future star in Casey McLean.
New Zealand have closed the curtain on a disappointing 2024 Pacific Cup campaign by avoiding relegation to the tournament's second-tier with a 54-12 victory over Papua New Guinea, while unearthing a future star in teenage debutant Casey McLean.
Having lost the chance to defend the title they won last season by falling to Tonga in Week 2, the Kiwis faced being replaced by the Kumuls in the Cup for 2025 if they were unable to muster a result at CommBank Stadium in the promotion-relegation clash.
And early on PNG made them work for everything, with just four points between the two...