Junior Kiwis have lots of NRL experience

[jenny]

Junior Kiwis have lots of NRL experience

October 11, 2007

St George Illawarra's Chase Stanley is one of several players with NRL experience lining up for the Junior Kiwis against their Australian counterparts on Sunday.

The 18-year-old is in the 19-man senior Kiwis squad preparing for the centenary Test against the Kangaroos but was on Thursday confirmed as a starter in the centres for the curtain raiser international against the Junior Kangaroos.

It follows his naming as five-eighth on Wednesday for the All Golds for their match against the Northern Division in Warrington on October 20, a match which will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tour to Britain by the original All Golds.

Stanley has been training with the Kiwis in Wellington this week but will now switch to the Junior Kiwis as they prepare to face opponents who have had two matches to help in their preparations.

The Junior Kangaroos beat the senior Fiji side 15-14 but lost 44-6 to a Tonga side on Wednesday which included Parramatta back rower Feleti Mateo.

"Chase is a hugely exciting prospect who has a big future in front of him," Kiwis coach Gary Kemble said.

"We want to blood him in these two games in the next week."

The nephew of former All Blacks centre Joe Stanley, Chase has played 18 NRL matches for the Dragons in his debut season this year.

South Sydney halfback Eddie Paea captains the Junior Kiwis and his Rabbitohs teammate Eddy Pettybourne is also included. They both made their NRL debuts this year.

The player with the most NRL experience is fullback Patrick Ah Van, who has appeared 27 times for the New Zealand Warriors.

Ah Van was in the Junior Kiwis last year as was Sydney Roosters winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall, another player with NRL experience.

Junior Kiwis: Patrick Ah Van (NZ Warriors), Kingi Akaloa (Gold Coast), Alex Glenn (Burleigh Bears), Chase Stanley (St George-Illawarra), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters), Liam Foran (Melbourne), Eddie Paea (South Sydney, captain), Sam McKendry (Penrith), Masada Iosefa (Penrith), James Tamou (Roosters), Eddy Pettybourne (South Sydney), Sonny Fai (NZ Warriors), Anthony Cherrington (Parramatta). Interchange: Sam Stewart (Newcastle), Joseph Paulo (Penrith), Eddie Purcell (NZ Warriors), Kevin Proctor (Parramatta), Scott Jones (NZ Warriors), AJ Taumata (Roosters) (two to be omitted)

? 2007 AAP

[hugebrianfan]

Good Luck to them all