Click here for match wrap
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Pacific Championship final between NZ Kiwis and Australia Kangaroos at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
Despite the undoubted recent rugby league emergence of Pacific nations, it was perhaps inevitable that this inaugural international competition - essentially replacing the old Four Nations format - would come down to another trans-Tasman battle.
Samoa shocked the sport by reaching last year's World Cup final, but were unable to recapture that form 12 months later.
New Zealand and Australia met seven days ago, with Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga choosing to rest star front-rowers Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Payne Haas to keep them fresh for this fixture.
By contrast, Kiwis coach Michael Maguire gambled by playing his frontliners, who were surely dinged up from that physical encounter. Just how well the likes of James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota have recovered may tell the story of how this contest goes.
Join us at 5pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Australia $1.22, NZ $4.15
'Sort of hated the Kangaroos': Kiwis rookie Neame relishes Pacific Championship grudge match
NZ Kiwis rookie Griffin Neame is licking his lips in anticipation of his first home test against Australia in the Pacific Championship final at Hamilton.
The rawboned West Coast prop has relished his elevation to the national team for the tri-series against the Kangaroos and Toa Samoa, making his international debut in the 50-0 win over the Pacific Islanders.
He was retained for the loss against the Aussies at Melbourne last week, but is buzzing for the return match at FMG Stadium on Saturday, as his family heads north to bay for blood and cheer him on.
"It's pretty special," he said. "Growing up, the test match you watch is NZ-Australia.
"I was in a household where you sort of hated the Kangaroos, so this is a pretty special test, my family is coming up for it and I'm really looking forward to it.
"I was a real fan of the Anzac Tests. Growing up, they were the big rival games and awesome games to watch.
"Hopefully, they bring it back - it was a bit of shame to see it go. They were my biggest memories of New Zealand v Australia."
Neame hails from a traditional hotbed of NZ rugby league, playing his junior footy with Suburbs Greymouth and Greymouth Boys High School, before signing a development contract with North Queensland Cowboys in 2021.
He made his NRL debut against Wests Tigers later that year and has now logged 43 games for the Cowboys.
Neame, 22, is proud of his West Coast roots, an area that has produced famous Kiwis like former NZ captain Tony Coll, and props Brent Stuart and Quentin Pongia.
"I've had a look into a bit of the history," he admitted. "There are a lot of old boys from the West Coast that were Kiwis and there are still a couple down there now, who I caught up with not too long ago.
"It's pretty sad to see football slowly dying off there. Hopefully, we can bring it back up and the way the Warriors are going, you can really feel rugby league [growing] in New Zealand.
"Hopefully, it just gets bigger and better."
Meanwhile, Neame is fully aware of his own influence on his childhood community, as someone who has made it onto the biggest stage.
"My parents are coming up, my grandparents are going to come up as well," he said. "I know it will be pretty special for them, but all my family in Greymouth will be glued to the screen, no matter what.
"I'll feel the support on the day."
