During the mid-season 1988 Great Britain Lions tour, Freeman played from the bench for New Zealand in the sole Test match in Christchurch, scoring two tries that helped the Kiwis to a victory that booked their place in the final of the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup.

During the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, Freeman captained New Zealand from halfback in both Test matches, being named man-of-the-match in the first and scoring a try in the[7] second.

At the end of the 1992 NSWRL season, Freeman was awarded the Dally M Medal as the competition's player of the year for his performance as Eastern Suburbs' halfback.

At the end of that year, he travelled with the Kiwis to the UK for the 1995 World Cup, playing his 45th and final international at hooker against Papua New Guinea.

Freeman retired from playing at the end of this season, with the Eels' captaincy being transferred to fellow Kiwi Jarrod McCracken.

On 31 December 1996, Freeman was included in the 1997 New Year Honours, being appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby league.

At the close of the 2000 World Cup, in which New Zealand lost the tournament final to Australia, Freeman was selected to replace Frank Endacott as Kiwis coach.

Freeman was also coach for the 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France, although it was to be his last in charge of the national team.