New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has revealed that fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad carried out his player of the match performance during the Kiwis' 30-0 drubbing of the Kangaroos in the Pacific Cup final with a broken rib.
Speaking post-match, Maguire admitted that Nicoll-Klokstad suffered a broken rib during the Kiwis' 50-0 triumph over Toa Samoa two weeks ago.
"I didn't say it earlier but after the Samoa game, he had a broken rib. He probably wasn't meant to play," he said.
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"It just goes to show what players will do when they're playing for their country and playing for their brothers."
Nicoll-Klokstad finished the match with a game-high 23 runs for a staggering 277 metres run. He also tallied five tackle busts, a line-break, two line-break assists, four offloads and a try assist.
"It was a special performance," Maguire said.
"He wasn't quite when he first did it, after the Samoa game whether or not he'd keep going. He didn't want to leave."
The Warriors' No.1 had an underwhelming game against Australia in the group matches, triggering calls for the Kiwis to shift Joey Manu from the centres, back to fullback where he starred at last year's World Cup.
But Maguire stuck with with the same 17-man squad, a move which paid dividends.
"Last week he was challenged. He probably didn't play the game he would have liked. I think we all felt a little bit of that because we knew what sort of game they can play – obviously they found that and Charnze was one of the 17 that was able to get out and play their best game," Maguire said.
After receiving his award, Nicoll-Klokstad embraced Maguire before delivering an emotional acceptance speech.
The 28-year-old struggled to find the words as he reflected on "perseverance".
"To everyone, hopefully, I can be an example of never giving up, always pushing through and always giving your best," he said.
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