New Zealand Kiwis team

[DIEHARD]

Seven players yet to make their Kiwi debuts have been included in a 19-man squad for the Centenary Test against the Kangaroos in Wellington on October 14.

Among them are Melbourne Storm interchange forwards Jeremy Smith and Jeff Lima, who were told of their inclusion immediately after tonight's NRL grand final win against Manly at Telstra Stadium.

The other new faces named are Cronulla winger Luke Covell, Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi, South Sydney halfback Jeremy Smith, St George Illawarra centre Chase Stanley and Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki.

Recalled to the squad after missing this year's Anzac Test through injury is Bradford centre Shontayne Hape - the only player chosen out of the English Super League - and Warriors back rower Louis Anderson plus centre Steve Matai, who played for the beaten Manly side in tonight's NRL grand final. Hape and Matai were involved in last year's Tri Nations campaign while Anderson made the most recent of his 13 appearances for the Kiwis in the 2006 Anzac Test.

The other nine players named were all in the 19-man squad used in Brisbane this year - Roy Asotasi, David Faiumu, Dene Halatau, Krisnan Inu, Simon Mannering, Frank Pritchard, Sam Rapira, Ben Roberts and Paul Whatuira (although Whatuira was omitted from the final playing side). Asotasi will again captain the side.

Kiwi coach Gary Kemble confirmed a pectoral injury ruled former New Zealand captain Nathan Cayless out of the Centenary Test and the tour to Britain and France to follow.

"That's disappointing for Nathan and for us but it's still exciting having seven new players in this Kiwi squad," said coach Gary Kemble.

"There are plenty of quality players in this group and 11 of them have had the benefit of playing in the NRL finals, six of them involved in the later stages of the play-offs. As well as that Shontayne had some finals football with Bradford.

"For the Kiwis, this is a continuation of a new era. With Ruben (Wiki), Stacey (Jones) and Nigel (Vagana) retiring from the international arena, we don't have as much test experience now.

"That means the tests we have coming up are vital as we build towards the World Cup in Australia next year. That's what makes it so exciting, the fact we're bringing together a new side."

Kemble and his assistants James Leuluai and Phil Prescott, all eyeing their coaching debuts with the Kiwis, will reveal their final combination for the Centenary Test after the squad goes into camp late this week. The players will assemble in Auckland on Friday to begin their preparation before travelling to Wellington on Tuesday week (October 9).

The Westpac Stadium test is the domestic centerpiece of the New Zealand Rugby League's celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the international game.

The original New Zealand team, which became known as the All Golds, played 49 games in Australia, Ceylon, England and Wales from August, 1907 to June 1908, including a one-off test against Wales - the first international in the game's history - followed by three against Northern Union (Great Britain) and three on the way home against Australia. The All Golds lost to Wales 8-9 but had 2-1 successes in the series against Northern Union and Australia.

The tour was masterminded by Albert Baskerville, regarded as the founding father of international rugby league.

Baskerville is buried at Karori Cemetery and his grave, along with the graves of five other original All Golds, will be visited by the Kiwis and members of the All Golds invitational team on Thursday week (October 11). The 2007 All Golds, coached by legendary Australian Wayne Bennett, will play the Northern Union in a match billed as the Centenary International in Warrington on October 20.

After the cemetery visit, the Kiwis, Kangaroos and All Golds will be special guests at a Parliamentary luncheon at the Beehive.

Another feature of the week will be a luncheon on the day of the Centenary Test when more big names will be inducted into New Zealand's Legends of League.

Also named tonight was an 18-man Junior Kiwis (under-19) squad for a one-off clash against the Junior Kangaroos in the curtain-raiser to the Centenary Test on October 14.

The squads are:

KIWIS

LOUIS ANDERSON
(Warriors)
Born: June 27, 1985
Height: 185cm
Weight: 100kg
Position: Second row
Junior Club: East Coast Bays (Auckland)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 13 (2004-06)
NRL Games: 67 (2004-07)

ROY ASOTASI (Captain)
(South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Born: January 6, 1982
Height: 184cm
Weight: 103kg
Position: Prop
Junior Club: Marist (Auckland)
Other NRL Clubs: Bulldogs (2002-06)
Tests: 17 (2004-07)
NRL Games: 109 (2002-07)

LUKE COVELL
(Cronulla Sharks)
Born: November 9, 1981
Height: 187cm
Weight: 98kg
Position: Wing
Junior Club: Murwillumbah Colts (NSW)
Other NRL Clubs: Wests Tigers (2003-04)
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 91 (2003-07)

DAVID FAIUMU
(North Queensland Cowboys)
Born: April 30, 1983
Height: 180cm
Weight: 90kg
Position: Hooker
Junior Club: Wainuiomata (Wellington)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 7 (2005-07)
NRL Games: 72 (2004-07)

DENE HALATAU
(Wests Tigers)
Born: January 27, 1983
Height: 178m
Weight: 90kg
Position: Hooker/loose forward
Junior Club: North Ryde (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 7 (2004-07)
NRL Games: 88 (2003-07)

SHONTAYNE HAPE
(Bradford Bulls)
Born: January 30, 1982
Height: 188cm
Weight: 104kg
Position: Centre/wing
Junior Club: Te Atatu (Auckland)
Other Clubs: Warriors (2000-02)
Tests: 11 (2004-06)
First-grade Games: 129 (2000-07)

KRISNAN INU
(Parramatta Eels)
Born: March 17, 1987
Height: 185cm
Weight: 98kg
Position: Fullback/centre/wing
Junior Club: Cabramatta (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 1 (2007)
NRL Games: 20 (2007)

JEFF LIMA
(Melbourne Storm)
Born: July 4, 1982
Height: 182cm
Weight: 108kg
Position: Prop
Junior Club: Mangere East (Auckland)
Other NRL Clubs: Wests Tigers (2004-05)
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 28 (2004-07)


SIMON MANNERING
(Warriors)
Born: August 28, 1986
Height: 190cm
Weight: 98kg
Position: Centre/second row/loose forward
Junior Club: Wellington Orcas (Wellington)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 6 (2006-07)
NRL Games: 50 (2005-07)

STEVE MATAI
(Manly Sea Eagles)
Born: August 5, 1984
Height: 177cm
Weight: 94kg
Position: Centre
Junior Club: Ponsonby (Auckland)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 4 (2006)
NRL Games: 46 (2005-07)

FUIFUI MOIMOI
(Parramatta Eels)
Born: September 26, 1979
Height: 183cm
Weight: 108kg
Position: Prop
Junior Club: Mt Albert (Auckland)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 47 (2004-07)

FRANK PRITCHARD
(Penrith Panthers)
Born: November 3, 1983
Height: 187cm
Weight: 106kg
Position: Second row
Junior Club: Campbelltown City (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 10 (2005-07)
NRL Games: 84 (2003-07)

SAM RAPIRA
(Warriors)
Born: April 8, 1987
Height: 184cm
Weight: 106kg
Position: Prop
Junior Club: Hukanui (Waikato)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 1 (2007)
NRL Games: 36 (2006-07)

BEN ROBERTS
(Bulldogs)
Born: July 8, 1985
Height: 180cm
Weight: 90kg
Position: Standoff/halfback
Junior Club: Narellan Jets (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 2 (2006-07)
NRL Games: 27 (2006-07)

JEREMY SMITH
(Melbourne Storm)
Born: April 14, 1980
Height: 184cm
Weight: 100kg
Position: Second row
Junior Club: Runaway Bay (Queensland)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 40 (2004-07)

JEREMY SMITH
(South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Born: July 18, 1981
Height: 182cm
Weight: 90kg
Position: Halfback/standoff
Junior Club: Berala Bears (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Parramatta (2006)
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 35 (2006-07)

CHASE STANLEY
(St George Illawarra Dragons)
Born: May 31, 1989
Height: 182cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Centre
Junior Club: Hurstville United (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 18 (2007)

TANIELA TUIAKI
(Wests Tigers)
Born: May 2, 1982
Height: 183cm
Weight: 107kg
Position: Wing
Junior Club: North Curl Curl (Sydney)
Other NRL Clubs: Nil
Tests: 0
NRL Games: 36 (2006-07)

PAUL WHATUIRA
(Wests Tigers)
Born: July 31, 1981
Height: 183cm
Weight: 94kg
Position: Centre
Junior Club: Wainuiomata (Wellington)
Other NRL Clubs: Warriors (2000), Melbourne (2001), Penrith (2002-04)
Tests: 11 (2004-06)
NRL Games: 131 (2000-07)


JUNIOR KIWIS
Patrick Ah Van (Warriors)
Kingi Akaloa (Gold Coast)
Anthony Cherrington (Parramatta)
Sonny Fai (Warriors)
Liam Foran (Melbourne)
Alex Glenn (Brisbane)
Masada Iosefa (Penrith)
Scott Jones (Warriors)
Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters)
Sam McKendry (Penrith)
Eddie Paea (South Sydney) captain
Joseph Paulo (Penrith)
Eddy Pettybourne (South Sydney)
Kevin Proctor (Melbourne)
Eddie Purcell (Warriors)
Sam Stewart (Gold Coast)
James Tamou (Sydney Roosters)
A J Taumata (Sydney Roosters)

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE

[Coaster]

To be honest i am a little scared of both Lima and Smith making the Kiwis, they are just monsters, and playing some awesome football

[qld power]

im glad them blooding alout of young guys cant wait to see the likes of stanley and krisnan a few years down the track

[Kelvinator]

reading through that team there are 9 'KIWI' players who's junior club is in Australia. Selection criteria are a joke.

[Social Loafer]

Luke Covell is a Kiwi now....

[Capital_Shark]

Luke Covell is a Kiwi now....

His old man is a Kiwi. Apparently he played for some junior Kiwi squad some years back.

[Super Cronk]

SMH.com.au

South Sydney co-captain David Kidwell today will be named in a 23-man New Zealand squad for the upcoming tour of Great Britain and France. But for Steve Matai, it includes all of the 19 players chosen for next Sunday's Test against Australia in Wellington.

Kidwell was omitted from the squad to play the Kangaroos as he has played only 26 minutes since injuring his knee at Easter in a domestic accident and will use the October 20 All Golds match against a Northern Union selection to regain some game fitness.

Sydney fullback Sam Perrett, St George Illawarra five-eighth Rangi Chase and Wests forward Ben Te'o are expected to be other NRL players added to the Kiwis squad, which will also include Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai.

[DIEHARD]

Kiwis call up Kenny-Dowall

NEW Zealand has called Sydney Roosters rookie Shaun Kenny-Dowall into the squad for a four-Test rugby league tour of Britain and France.

The utility back, 19, was called up from the Junior Kiwis team last night after confirmation that three original selections had been ruled out of the tour.

Manly centre Steve Matai received a two-match ban after being ordered off for a high tackle on Mark Gasnier in the 58-0 centenary Test loss to Australia in Wellington.

Fullback Krisnan Inu and wing Luke Covell are also out of the tour after being injured in the Test.

Covell will be sidelined for six weeks after dislocating an elbow just minutes into his Test debut, while Inu is out for four to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Kenny-Dowall, who made his first-grade debut for the Roosters this year, was on the wing for the Junior Kiwis as the New Zealanders defeated the Junior Kangaroos 24-22 in Wellington yesterday.

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