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Aaron Heremaia (L) celebrates with James Maloney - Source: Photosport -
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Kiwis rugby league coach Steve Kearney has named a trio of
newcomers in his 18-man squad to prepare for Friday's Anzac Test
against the Kangaroos at the new AAMI Park.
Brisbane Broncos utility Alex Glenn, New Zealand Warriors hooker
Aaron Heremaia and Newcastle back rower Zeb Taia were today named
among the core of last year's Four Nations squad for the one-off
international.
There are also international recalls for 2008 World Cup winners
Sika Manu - although the second rower is yet to play for the
Melbourne Storm this season - and in-form Warriors prop Sam
Rapira.
The duo missed last year's disappointing Four Nations campaign in
the UK due to injury.
The squad have a couple of notable late omissions in Penrith back
rower Frank Pritchard and Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi.
Pritchard suffered a groin strain in the pre-match warmups on the
Gold Coast last night while Moimoi is also listed as injured. He
might already have been in doubt after being placed on report for a
high tackle on the Bulldogs' Blake Green.
Heremaia, who has resurrected his career with the Warriors this
season after quitting the code to work as a chef two years ago, has
been selected as a back-up to first choice hooker Isaac Luke.
And although Glenn and Taia may not be household names the duo have
been in the Kiwis selection panel's thoughts since last year.
Auckland-born Glenn, 21, was brought in as cover for last year's
Anzac Test in Brisbane while Taia was in contention for the Four
Nations squad before being ruled out through injury.
"Zeb was a real chance for the Four Nations last year and Alex was
also in the mix," Kearney said.
"The big mover has been Aaron who has really impressed us with his
form for the Warriors this season."
St George Illawarra wing Jason Nightingale is in line to fill one
of Kearney's biggest gaps; the wing berth usually occupied by Manu
Vatuvei.
A member of the Four Nations squad, Nightingale saw off the
challenge of Shaun Kenny-Dowall while his Sydney Roosters teammate
Sam Perrett has the other flank sewn up.
The hamstrung Vatuvei is among a number of leading candidates
unavailable through injury, though Kearney would not dwell on the
loss of the giant wing, workaholic Warriors captain Simon
Mannering and fellow forwards Roy Asotasi, Jeremy Smith and Dene
Halatau.
"Our focus can only be on the players we have," he said.
"Injuries are very much a part of our game. Rather than worrying
about those, we're excited about the players we've been able to
bring together for what is a very important match for us in what is
a big year for the Kiwis."
Benji Marshall continues to captain the side and as expected he
pairs up with Manly's teenage five-eighth Kieran Foran in the
halves.
Steve Matai caused a minor scare this afternoon when he went down
with an ankle injury during Manly's 30-22 defeat of South Sydney
but fortunately the centre saw out the match.
He combines with fellow incumbent Junior Sa'u, meaning there was no
recall for the Warriors' Jerome Ropati.
The squad features 10 changes from the side that lost 10-38 at
Brisbane last year and eight from the Four Nations squad that
missed last year's final.
The world champion Kiwis drew their last Test with the Kangaroos
20-20 last October in London, but the one-off Anzac international
is traditionally Australia's domain.
Since the inaugural Anzac Test was held in 1997, the Kiwis have won
just one of the 10 contests - 22-16 at North Harbour Stadium, the
only time the match has been played in New Zealand.
Preparation to address that imbalance starts in Melbourne
tomorrow. One player will drop out later in the week while
Australia have named their 17-man starting side
.
Team:
Adam Blair, Kieran Foran, Alex Glenn, Bronson Harrison, Aaron
Heremaia, Lance Hohaia, Issac Luke, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall,
Steve Matai, Ben Matulino, Jason Nightingale, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,
Sam Perrett, Sam Rapira, Junior Sa'u, Zeb Taia, Jared
Waerea-Hargreaves.
