- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
New Zealand have named five debutants in the team to take on the Kangaroos in their first match of the Pacific Championships.
But Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has pulled a selection surprise by naming an unchanged 17-man side from the 18-0 win over Tonga last weekend with Ben Hunt again the 18th player.
The Australians usually rotate their squad around during the preliminary games but Meninga has resisted the urge to give uncapped squad members Lindsay Smith and Bradman Best a run.
It will be a new-look halves for the Kiwis, as Shaun Johnson comes out of retirement to play halfback with Jahrome Hughes injured, alongside Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who shifts to No.6 in the absence of Dylan Brown (knee).
While fullback Keano Kini, winger Will Warbrick, hooker Phoenix Crossland and bench players Naufahu Whyte and Jordan Riki will all have their first national cap, while James Fisher-Harris captains the side.
Centre Peta Hiku plays his first Test since 2022 and Kodi Nikorima comes onto the bench for his first national game since 2019 and Erin Clark is the 18th man.
Knights prop Leo Thompson is serving a one-match ban for a Careless High Tackle during the NRL finals but will be available for selection against Tonga.
New Zealand: 1. Keano Kini 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Matt Timoko 4. Peta Hiku 5. Will Warbrick 6. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 7. Shaun Johnson 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Griffin Neame 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Scott Sorensen 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Marata Niukore 17. Jordan Riki 18. Erin Clark 19. Trent Toelau 20. Casey McLean
Kangaroos: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Xavier Coates 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Zac Lomax 6. Tom Dearden 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Harry Grant 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Cameron Murray 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Matt Burton 15. Mitch Barnett 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Hudson Young 18. Ben Hunt 19. Lindsay Smith 20. Bradman Best 21. Reece Robson
The Kangaroos were humiliated by the Kiwis the last time they met, but Harry Grant said dwelling on the past was counter-productive. Their defensive resolve was lacking in 2023, but it is an area a new-look outfit has addressed.
“It was obviously disappointing (what happened) last year, but we can’t change that. We can’t dwell on that. It is a new team and we can just learn from it,” Grant said.
“I think we are putting things in place to learn from that and go again this week. Defence is a massive one. You win games on defence.
“A lot of guys are fresh to the team and to the Test match arena and they are bringing their strengths and thriving in camp.
Lindsay Collins. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
“We have addressed last year, but I don’t think this series should be based on last year, or that we should be focusing on that too much.”
While the Melbourne skipper is set to be starting hooker for Australia for years to come, it is a prospect he refuses to entertain ahead of the blockbuster Pacific Cup showdown with New Zealand.
The Kangaroos vice-captain started for the first time for Australia in the 18-0 win over Tonga in Brisbane on Friday night, and the 26-year-old Queensland star is entering the prime of his career.
Grant has NSW hooker Reece Robson snapping at his heels, but with utility Ben Hunt nearing the end of his career there is scope to cement himself long-term as Kangaroos’ No.9 if he can be part of a winning side.
It is not on the Melbourne captain’s mind right now, however, particularly as the Kangaroos lost 30-0 in the Pacific Cup final the last time the two sides met.
Grant came off the bench in that match but bristled at suggestions he was on the cusp of a long stint as a starter after one outstanding display.
“I can’t really look too far ahead,” Grant said ahead of Sunday’s clash in Christchurch.
“I think I have got to build on last week’s game and perform this week.
“I just think if you start looking too far ahead, that’s when the complacency comes in.
“You want to make your teammates and coaching staff proud, and you don’t do that looking too far ahead, you do that by looking at what’s in front of you and what you can control this week.”
(Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said after the win over Tonga that he would not make changes to a winning side, so Grant, who played 74 minutes at Suncorp Stadium, will play big minutes again against the Kiwis.
“I think probably 80 minutes is what I’ve been used to this year at club land … but in rep footy, in the past, I have played off the bench and played a bit of that tandem role with Dozer (Hunt),” he said.
“We’ll just see how things go over the next couple of weeks.”
The Kangaroos trained at Ballymore in Brisbane on Tuesday and will be based in Christchurch from Wednesday.
with AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.