Benji Marshall will lead the Kiwis against the Kangaroos in Brisbane on Friday. Photo / Getty Images
Playmaker Benji Marshall will lead New Zealand in the one-off league test against Australia in Brisbane on Friday.
Wests Tigers star Marshall, who didn't play for his club in the NRL match against the Bulldogs yesterday, was named captain of the 18-man squad announced last night.
However, the national selectors
were scheduled to meet again overnight to consider medical reports on St George Illawarra's Jeremy Smith and Penrith's Frank Pritchard before confirming the squad.
Both have injuries from this weekend's round of NRL games.
Marshall, 24, takes over the captaincy from Nathan Cayless, who announced his retirement from international football last month after leading New Zealand to their Rugby League World Cup final win over Australia in Brisbane last November.
It won't be Marshall's debut as the national team's skipper.
He filled in as the Kiwis' captain in their 36-24 pool game win over England in Newcastle during the World Cup. His club coach at Wests Tigers, Tim Sheen, coaches Australia.
Two other former test captains are named in the squad - South Sydney prop Roy Asotasi and Smith.
"We're lucky to have plenty of natural leaders in our group," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said.
"It was a huge honour for Benji to lead his country against England and it was a job he really took to.
"This is another step. Benji enjoys the extra responsibility and he'll have plenty of leadership support around him from the likes of Roy, Jeremy and others."
The squad is largely based on the players used at the World Cup.
Of the 17 in the team for the 34-20 win over the Kangaroos, only three were not included in last night's team.
Apart from Cayless, they are injured New Zealand Warriors prop Sam Rapira and Wigan halfback-hooker Thomas Leuluai, who isn't being flown in.
TEAMS
KANGAROOS: Darren Lockyer (c), Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Darius Boyd, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, Cameron Smith, Steve Price, Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Gallen, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Kurt Gidley, Brent Kite, Luke Bailey, Anthony Watmough.
KIWIS: Benji Marshall (c), Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Jason Nightingale, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Iosia Soliola, Nathan Fien, Jeremy Smith, Bronson Harrison, Greg Eastwood, David Fa'alogo, Simon Mannering, Frank Pritchard, Roy Asotasi, Adam Blair, Jeff Lima, Issac Luke.
- NZPA
