New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has named a 19-man squad for Saturday's one-off test against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium.
New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has named a 19-man squad for Saturday's one-off test against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium.
The starting line-up includes Manly's grand final-winning centre Steve Matai, who joined the 2008 Rugby League World Cup squad in Auckland yesterday.
Also named for his third test - and his first since 2006 - is Warriors utility Nathan Fien.
He'll start at hooker in a match that will be the final build-up game for the Kiwis before their World Cup opener against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26.
Fien's team-mate Lance Hohaia has the fullback's job again after running there for the All Golds last Sunday while there are four other Warriors in the run-on combination.
Jerome Ropati in the centres, Manu Vatuvei on the left wing, Sam Rapira in the front row and Simon Mannering in the second row.
Wests Tigers half Benji Marshall will play his first test outside Australia, teamed up in the halves with Wigan's Thomas Leuluai.
Marshall's previous three tests have all been against the Kangaroos at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne back rower Sika Manu is in line to make his test debut. He is one of six players named on the interchange bench.
Test Match
New Zealand Kiwis V Tonga
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.30pm, Saturday, October 18, 2008
Kiwis
1 Lance Hohaia, 2 Sam Perrett, 3 Steve Matai, 4 Jerome Ropati, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Thomas Leuluai, 8 Nathan Cayless (c), 9 Nathan Fien, 10 Sam Rapira, 11 Simon Mannering 12 Setaimata Sa, 13 Jeremy Smith Interchange: 14 Issac Luke, 15 Sika Manu,16 Greg East Wood, 17 Adam Blair, 18 David Fa'alogo, 19 Krisnan Inu Coach: Stephen Kearney
PNG Kumuls
TBA
