Key Players and Debutants in Kiwis’ Pacific Championship Squad
With Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King, Phoenix Crossland and Kodi Nikorima all unavailable or injured for the inaugural Pacific Championships, Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has cast his net below NRL regulars to fill his hooking quota.
Ironically, the Kiwis’ first test will be against Toa Samoa, the same team Maguire’s hookers Danny Levi and Fa’amanu Brown represented last year at the Rugby League World Cup.
Levi, played just 4 NRL games in 2023 and 10 games for the Canberra Raiders NSW feeder side Mounties, hasn’t made a Kiwis side since the failed 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
Importantly for the Kiwis’ chances, 2022 Golden Boot winner Joey Manu and half-back Jahrome Hughes have been named despite suffering calf injuries for the Storm and Roosters late in the NRL season. Penriths James Fisher-Harris and Mses Leota have also been included.
Experienced Kiwis Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Joey Tapine, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali’i, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo all return for another campaign.
Fa’amunu Brown,a utility can cover lock, hooker and the halves, underwent a mid-season switch from the Bulldogs to Newcastle and also spent much of the season in NSW Cup.
He is one of seven players in the 21-man squad in line to make their Kiwis debuts across the tests against Toa Samoa at Eden Park on October 21 and Australia in Melbourne on October 28 plus a potential final in Hamilton on November 4.
One of them, North Queensland Cowboys middle forward Griffin Neame, a non-playing member of the New Zealand squad for last year’s mid-season test against Mate Ma’a Tonga, will likely become the NZ West Coast’s first Kiwis representative since newly promoted Warriors assistant coach Slade Griffin played his one and only test against England in Denver, USA, back in 2018.
The other five players who could potentially debut are Titans rookie outside back Keano Kini, Māori All Stars props Leo Thompson and Wiremu Greig, plus Canberra centre Matthew Timoko and Roosters middle forward Naufahu Whyte.
Fullback Nicoll-Klokstad, who has previously played centre for the Kiwis, is the only Warriors representative to make the playing squad.
Warriors record-breaking try-scorer Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has not been selected as he faces the prospect of off-season surgery and a possible switch to Mate Ma’a Tonga.
Other unavailable players include Shaun Johnston, his Warriors teammates Marata Niukore and Te Maire Martin, plus Grand Final players Scott Sorensen (Panthers) and Jordan Riki (Broncos).
Kiwis squad: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Dylan Brown (Eels), Fa’amanu Brown (Knights), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Kieran Foran (Titans), Wiremu Greig (Eels), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Keano Kini (Titans), Moses Leota (Panthers), Danny Levi (Raiders), Joseph Manu (Roosters), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Griffin Neame (Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Briton Nikora (Sharks), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Joseph Tapine (Raiders), Leo Thompson (Knights), Matthew Timoko (Raiders), Naufahu Whyte (Roosters).
Samoa squad:Jesse Arthars (Brisbane Broncos), Daejarn Asi (Parramatta Eels), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), Stephen Crichton (Penrith Panthers), Sualauvi Faalogo (Melbourne Storm), Royce Hunt (Cronulla Sharks), Luciana Leilua (North Queensland Cowboys), Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers), Heilum Luki (North Queensland Cowboys), Grey Marzhew (Newcastle Knights), Justin Matamua (Wests Tigers), Terrell May (Sydney Roosters), Karl Oloapu (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Keenan Palasia (Brisbane Broncos), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Izack Tago (Penrith Panthers), Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys), Young Tonumaipea (Melbourne Storm), Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers), Stefano Utoikamanu (Wests Tigers).
The Kiwis will open their Pacific Championships campaign on October 21 when they face Samoa at Eden Park before travelling to Melbourne the following week to take on the Kangaroos at AAMI Park on October 28.
Samoa will play the Kangaroos in the first game on 14th October in Townsville.
The final is scheduled for November 4 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
Week One – October 14-15
Australia v Samoa (men) and Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
PNG v Cook Islands (men) and Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
Week Two – October 21-22
New Zealand v Samoa (men) and New Zealand v Tonga (women) at Eden Park, Auckland
Fiji v Cook Islands (men) and PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
Week Three – October 28-29
Australia v New Zealand (men and women) at AAMI Park, Melbourne PNG v Fiji (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
Week Four – November 4-5
The Final of the men’s Pacific Cup tournament on November 4 in Hamilton, New Zealand
The Final of the men’s Pacific Bowl tournament on November 5 at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
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