Kasiano named in NZ rugby league Test team

[TITAN PETE]

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AAP Tue, Oct 02, 2012 - 8:01 AM

New Zealand have won the tug-of-war with Queensland for the services of Sam Kasiano after the Canterbury Bulldogs prop was named in the Kiwis Test squad to face Australia next month.

The uncapped Kasiano, who had been courted by Queensland coach Mal Meninga, was included in the 19-strong squad named by Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney and selectors for the match against the Kangaroos in Townsville on October 13.

The NRL's prop of the year joins Manly's Dean Whare in the squad for the first time.

Big names to miss selection include Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei, Wests Tigers forward Adam Blair and Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

NRL champions Melbourne Storm contribute prop Jesse Bromwich and second-rower Kevin Proctor, with Proctor, who toured with the Kiwis to the United Kingdom last year but didn't take the field, the third player in the squad yet to make his international debut.

The Bulldogs, beaten 14-4 by the Storm in Sunday's NRL final, also have forwards Greg Eastwood and Frank Pritchard and outside backs Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett in the squad.

Eastwood, Inu, Perrett, Proctor and Warriors' backrower Elijah Taylor are recalled and Manly's Kieran Foran is included after missing the Anzac Test with an injury.

Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall will captain the side.

Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dragons winger Jason Nightingale and Warriors fullback Kevin Locke were not considered for selection because of injury.

Kiwis: Gerard Beale (Brisbane Broncos), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Josh Hoffman (Brisbane Broncos), Krisnan Inu (Canterbury Bulldogs), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Sam Kasiano (Canterbury Bulldogs), Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering (Warriors) Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Sam McKendry (Penrith Panthers), Sam Perrett (Canterbury Bulldogs), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm), Jeremy Smith (Cronulla Sharks), Elijah Taylor (Warriors), Dean Whare (Manly Sea Eagles).

[TITAN PETE]

Will Kasiano come down with an injury & after Meninga has another chat with him

[DIEHARD]

Thank god for that! Thank god for the Kiwis, Queensland, State of Origin and International Footy.

So happy to hear that Kasiano is a Kiwi, Ive been *****ing about it for a while, so now I can be happy.