League: Kasiano, Whare and Proctor to make Kiwis debut

Sam Kasiano of the Bulldogs makes his debut for the Kiwis this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Three players will make their debuts for the Kiwis in their test against the Kangaroos in Townsville on Saturday night.

The new faces are Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano, Sea Eagles centre Dean Whare and Storm second-rower Kevin Proctor. Proctor has toured with the Kiwis before but has not yet taken the field.

The starting forward pack features four players from the NRL grand final between the Storm and the Bulldogs, with two each from the Bulldogs (Kasiano and Frank Pritchard) and the Storm (Jesse Bromwich and Proctor). They are joined by Issac Luke and Simon Mannering.

The side is again captained by Benji Marshall, who is partnered in the halves with Kieran Foran. Sam McKendry is 18th man.

Kiwis team to play Australia in Townsville on Saturday, kick-off 9.45pm (NZT):

Josh Hoffman (Brisbane Broncos), Sam Perrett (Canterbury Bulldogs), Krisnan Inu (Canterbury Bulldogs), Dean Whare (Manly Sea Eagles), Gerard Beale (Brisbane Broncos), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Sam Kasiano (Canterbury Bulldogs), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Elijah Taylor (Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs), Adam Blair (Wests Tigers).