League: Rookie halves to excel behind powerful Kiwis pack

Tui Lolohea in action for the Warriors. Photo/Getty.

Coach Stephen Kearney is confident uncapped halves duo Tui Lolohea and Kodi Nikorima will excel behind the Kiwis' powerful forward rotation on the upcoming four match tour of England.

Lolohea is the only member of the 23-man squad to have played in the halves this season, but with Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran, and Thomas Leuluai unavailable through injury and former Kiwis captain Benji Marshall unwanted, Kearney is backing his rookies to deliver.

With next year's Four Nations followed by the World Cup in 2017, this tour is seen as the best opportunity to blood new talent.

Their job will be made easier, Kearney believes, as the Kiwis continue to focus on playing through the middle, to draw in defenders and create a roll-on for the backs to exploit.

"We're not going to find out if we don't put them in that position and I'm confident that I can get these guys in a position where they do perform for us in three test matches," said Kearney.

"The young guys that we'll have in the halves, they'll be licking their lips at the opportunity to run off the back of what I think we can create with the forward group that we have.

"That's our strength, the likes of Martin Taupau and Jason (Taumalolo) who can really build some play the ball speed. Tries don't come off set-plays all the time, they come off quick play-the-balls, and all of a sudden there's space a bit wider and we've got individuals that can take advantage of that.

"That's been the way we've played the last couple of years. A change in a couple of personnel might alter that a little, but essentially the strength has been built off a forward group laying a pretty good platform."

Both players can fill a variety of positions, and Kearney nominated another two fullbacks, Peta Hiku and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, as potential playmakers.

That quartet's versatility could see them swap roles in different parts of the field, although Kearney was holding his cards close to his chest.

"The structure will be to maximise those opportunities," he said. "I don't want to give away my game plan.

"I watched Roger play for the Roosters and he's sat on the short side with three attackers, and their halves were out on the long side, and the ball goes to Roger and he does the ball-playing. And we've got four blokes who can play through those positions that can do exactly the same thing."

The presence of edge forwards Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor and Alex Glenn, will help ease the defensive burden on the rookie halves.

"I know they're going to take control of the edge. That's one of the reasons why I've gone down the path with the younger halves, because I know these guys are going to help them out. That's certainly the plan."

Both Lolohea and Nikorima carry a reputation as confident individuals and Kearney has no doubts they have the mettle to handle anything thrown at them in the test arena.

"They've (young players) got too much confidence these days," he laughed. "They're different but they have their own presence about them which stands them in good stead.

"It's important for them to have that confidence but it's also important for them to understand they've got to deliver and that's what they've been doing and I'm sure that's what they'll do within this group."