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DIEHARD
29-10-07, 03:11 AM
New Zealand player profiles

LOUIS ANDERSON
Club: New Zealand Warriors (Warrington from 2008)
Position: hooker or loose forward
Tests: 13
Age: 22 Height: 6ft
Weight: 15st 10lb
Made his Test debut at hooker in the Kiwis' 16-16 draw with Australia in the opening match of the 2004 Tri-Nations Series but is equally at home in the back row. Left New Zealand Warriors at the end of this season to team up with older brother Vinnie at Warrington for 2008.

ROY ASOTASI (captain)
Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Position: prop
Tests: 18
Age: 25
Height: 6ft
Weight: 16st 3lb
The man chosen to succeed iconic captain Ruben Wiki, Asotasi has been a regular member of the Kiwi pack since making his debut in the opening game of the 2004 Tri-Nations Series and the strong-running forward went past a century of National Rugby League appearances this year.

GREG EASTWOOD
Club: Brisbane Broncos
Position: centre or loose forward
Tests: 1
Age: 20
Height: 6ft
Weight: 16st
A versatile player who moved to Queensland from Auckland five years ago. He won his first cap in this year's Anzac Test, which helped to make up for the disappointment of tearing a hamstring on the eve of what would have been his Test debut against Great Britain at St Helens in 2006.

DAVID FAIUMU
Club: North Queensland Cowboys
Position: hooker
Tests: 8
Age: 24
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 14st 2lb
Combative utility forward who burst onto the Test scene during the 2005 Tri-Nations in England but groin and shoulder injuries curtailed his involvement last year. Regained his place in the Anzac Test earlier this year and played for the All Golds against the Northern Union.

DENE HALATAU
Club: Wests Tigers
Position: hooker or loose forward
Tests: 8
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 14st 2lb
Valuable versatile player who can play anywhere from centre to loose forward and was a member of Wests Tigers' 2005 Grand Final-winning team. Made his Test debut against Great Britain at Hull in the 2004 Tri-Nations Series.

SHONTAYNE HAPE
Club: Bradford
Position: centre
Tests: 12
Age: 25
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 16st 5lb
Former Junior Kiwi who made his full Test debut against Great Britain in 2004. Made a surprise switch to loose forward in the Kiwis' 2005 Tri-Nations triumph but sure to line up at centre. A prolific tryscorer in Super League but missed most of this season with a knee injury.

LANCE HOHAIA
Club: New Zealand Warriors
Position: hooker or half-back
Tests: 7
Age: 24
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 13st 8lb
Won the last of his seven caps in the opening match of the 2005 Tri-Nations Series but has been on the fringe of selection for the last two years and earned a late call-up due to injuries. Valuable utility player who has the added benefit of being a goalkicker.

SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL
Club: Sydney Roosters
Position: winger or centre
Tests: 0
Age: 19
Height: 6ft 4in
Weight: 15st 1lb
Called into the squad following the withdrawal of Luke Covell through injury, just hours after playing on the wing for the Junior Kiwis in their 24-22 win over the Junior Kangaroos in Wellington, and drafted into the All Golds team to play the Northern Union. Brisbane-born utility player who made his first-grade debut for the Roosters this year.

EPALAHAME LAUAKI
Club: New Zealand Warriors
Position: second row
Tests: 0
Age: 23
Height: 6ft
Weight: 17st 5lb
Came through the ranks at Waitemata and Glenora and now in his third season with the Warriors. A gifted ball-runner, much like his brother, All Black Sione Lauaki, and helped plug the gap created by Iafeta Palea'aesina's move to Wigan in 2006.

THOMAS LEULUAI
Club: Wigan
Position: scrum-half
Tests: 8
Age: 22
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 13st 6lb
Son of new assistant coach James Leuluai, the Wigan scrum-half is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Stacey Jones, having understudied for him for the last four years. Came to Super League as a teenager from Auckland Warriors and gradually fulfilling his enormous potential.

JEFF LIMA
Club: Melbourne Storm
Position: prop
Tests: 1
Age: 25
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 16st 14lb
Came through the junior ranks with the Kiwis before drifting away and the former Balmain junior started the 2006 season in the French Championship before being recruited to bolster Melbourne's front row after a series of injuries left them short of experience. He then had a stormer as Melbourne thrashed Manly in the Grand Final and made his Test debut against Australia in the centenary match.

SIMON MANNERING
Club: New Zealand Warriors
Position: centre or back row forward
Tests: 7
Age: 21
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 15st 6lb
Represented both the Junior Kiwis and New Zealand A in 2004 and was still 18 when he made his Warriors debut against Brisbane in 2004. Forced centre Clinton Toopi out of the side last year but equally at home in the back row of the pack.

FUIFUI MOIMOI
Club: Parramatta Eels
Position: prop
Tests: 1
Age: 28
Height: 6ft
Weight: 16st 9lb
Described by former Kiwi coach Daniel Anderson as "a crash, boom, bang forward of the highest order". Born in Tonga, he helped them qualify for the 2008 World Cup and was courted by Australia on residency grounds but in the end threw in his lot with the Kiwis and made his debut in the centenary Test against Australia.

SAM PERRETT
Club: Sydney City Roosters
Position: outside back
Tests: 0
Age: 22
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 14st 7lb
Aucklander who grew up watching the Warriors but played his early rugby with Queensland club Burleigh Bears before joining the Roosters three years ago. Versatile player who can fill any of the outside back positions and favourite to fill the hole created by the loss of full-back Krisnan Inu.

FRANK PRITCHARD
Club: Penrith Panthers
Position: second row
Tests: 11
Age: 23 (24 on November 3)
Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 16st 10lb
A one-club man, Pritchard joined the Panthers from Cambelltown City four years ago and has made 84 appearances in the NRL. Powerful forward who enjoys the physical combat. Born in Australia but made his Test debut in the Kiwis' 32-16 defeat by Australia in Brisbane two years ago.

SAM RAPIRA
Club: New Zealand Warriors
Position: prop
Tests: 2
Age: 20
Height: 6ft
Weight: 16st 10lb
Still only 20 and in his second season with the Warriors, Rapira has already made 36 NRL appearances and made his Test debut off the bench in the Anzac Test in Brisbane.

BEN ROBERTS
Club: Canterbury Bulldogs
Position: stand-off or scrum-half
Tests: 3
Age: 22
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 14st 3in
Equipped with good hands and amazing footwork, Roberts made his Test debut at stand-off in the 46-14 defeat by Great Britain at St Helens last year and played in both this year's games against the Kangaroos.

JEREMY SMITH
Club: Melbourne Storm
Position: second row
Tests: 1
Age: 27
Height: 6ft
Weight: 15st 10lb
Began his career in Melbourne but spent five seasons with Queensland club Runaway Bay until joining the Storm three years ago and his career reached new heights this season when he played a key role in their successful run to the Grand Final and ultimate triumph over Manly.

JEREMY SMITH
Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Position: stand-off or scrum-half
Tests: 1
Age: 26
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 14st 2lb
Talented half-back who missed out on the 2006 mid-season Test against Great Britain due to suspension but joined the Rabbitohs at the end of last season with an eye to joining Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell in the national team. Represented the Junior Kiwis in 1998, played for New Zealand Maori in the 2000 World Cup and made his debut against the Kangaroos earlier this month.

CHASE STANLEY
Club: St George Illawarra Steelers
Position: centre
Tests: 0
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 14st 3lb
The Sydney-born nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley, he was called into the Test squad after making just 18 appearances in the NRL and in the face of opposition from his club, who were concerned about their prized asset's rapid rise to fame. One of the rising stars of the game.

CLINTON TOOPI
Club: Leeds
Position: centre
Tests: 19
Age: 27
Height: 6ft
Weight: 15st 8lb
Was rated the best centre in the world in 2003 and recalled to the Test team following a spate of withdrawals. Made 39 consecutive appearances for Leeds after joining them from New Zealand Warriors 18 months ago and played for the All Golds against the Northern Union.

TANIELA TUIAKI
Club: Wests Tigers
Position: winger
Tests: 1
Age: 25
Height: 6ft
Weight: 16st 12lb
Chosen as a winger but the 16st 12lb Tuiaki with the TNT nickname has played prop and is in the Lesley Vainikolo mould. Has scored 12 tries in 36 appearances for the Tigers and made his Test debut in the centenary match against Australia in Wellington.

TAME TUPOU
Club: Bradford
Position: winger
Tests: 3
Age: 25
Height: 6ft 5in
Weight: 16st 10lb
Blockbusting winger who was called into the squad as a late addition on his 25th birthday. Made his debut in the 2006 Anzac Test in Brisbane and scored 10 tries in 12 appearances for Bradford after joining them from Brisbane as a replacement for Lesley Vainikolo.

PAUL WHATUIRA
Club: Wests Tigers (Huddersfield from 2008)
Position: centre
Tests: 12
Age: 26
Height: 6ft
Weight: 14st 11lb
Classy centre who made 131 appearances for New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne Storm, Penrith and Wests Tigers before agreeing to join Huddersfield on a three-year contract from next season.

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