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Live sport on SN this weekend‘Pretty surreal’: Tanner Stowers-Smith living the dream in his Kiwis debut campaign
Sport Nation • October 30th, 2026 11:35 am
Tanner Stowers-Smith on debut vs Cook Islands | Photo: Photosport
Tanner Stowers-Smith says his Kiwis debut was a special moment, even as the team quickly turns its attention to a must-win quarter-final against Fiji.
The young outside back scored a double on debut in a 82-16 win over the Cook Islands in Christchurch, with his home crowd singing his name as he ran onto the field. The reaction, he said, took him by surprise.
“It’s pretty surreal to be honest,” Stowers-Smith told Sport Nation.
“Doing that at home was obviously really special for my family and I.”
He said he was grateful for the support from the crowd and beyond.
“I’m just super grateful for that positive support from everyone,” he said.
“I’m really shocked at the amount of it and how sort of happy everyone was for me in that moment, whether they knew me or not.”
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Now the Kiwis face Fiji in a sudden-death clash, with Stowers-Smith expecting a strong challenge from a side that impressed against Australia.
“They’re a very quality side,” he said.
“They’ve got a really solid forward pack. They’ve got a really good No. 9, and some pretty strong backs as well.”
The message within the Kiwis camp is to stay true to their own game.
“Just focus on our game and what our strengths are,” Stowers-Smith said.
“Just being ourselves, not trying to do too much or be a different player.”
Stowers-Smith said being part of a squad packed with NRL talent had already been a valuable experience, giving him the chance to learn from players on and off the field.
“It’s amazing,” he said.
“I’m so grateful to be part of it, to learn and to just experience how they are as people and as players.”
Listen to the full interview below:
