League: Testing time awaits Kiwis debutants

Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson today named three debutants to face Australia in the Anzac rugby league test in Brisbane on Friday.

New Zealand Warriors utility Jerome Ropati will play at fullback at Suncorp Stadium, while Penrith Panthers second rower Frank Pritchard and Wests Tigers standoff Benji Marshall are the other newcomers.

Only one British-based player has been included, London Broncos halfback Thomas Leuluai, giving the Kiwis a fresh-faced look in the crucial halves combination.


Anderson admitted the acid would be on Marshall, 20, and Leuluai, 19, but he was confident the pairing would cope.


"Of course it is, but that's part of the cycle of a rugby league side," Anderson told NZPA.


"You can only get experience by playing. These boys are going to be enthusiastic. It's going to be a tough ask for them but they're up to it.


"You can look at it in two ways - either we're very inexperienced or we're developing a team in a one-off test match where almost anything can happen," he said.


"Thomas has played six or seven tests for the Kiwis at halfback and is pretty comfortable with the role and comfortable with the players. His form in the UK has been very solid."


Players who were named in an enlarged 22-man squad earlier this week but missed the cut were Bronson Harrison, Alex Chan, Lance Hohaia, Clinton Toopi and Brent Webb who failed to recover from a back injury.


While Anderson can lament a lack of experience and depth in the crucial positions at fullback and stand-off, he had no such problem with the forwards.


Ruben Wiki was predictably named skipper in his 44th test and will be joined by fellow prop Paul Rauhihi.


The Kiwis' second row stocks were hammered through injury with the withdrawal of Tony Puletua, Joe Galuvao and Sonny Bill-Williams, but the emergence of Penrith's Frank Pritchard was an encouraging sign, Anderson said.


"We don't seem to have to much problems filling spaces in the forwards.


"We've got some depth there and it bodes well for the Tri-Series and these boys will be butting heads again at the end of the year."


The Warriors pairing of Wairangi Koopu and Sione Faumuina complete the back row formation, although Faumuina injured his knee in today's 30-26 win for the Warriors over Newcastle.


Anderson said Faumuina would have a scan tomorrow and the selectors would make a decision on his availability after that.


In the backline, veteran Nigel Vagana got the nod over Toopi and will partner Paul Whatuira in the centres, while the Bulldogs connection of the nuggety Matt Utai, and regular centre Jamaal Lolesi are on the wings.


Anderson has stacked his bench with size including props Jason Cayless and Roy Asotasi with second rower David Kidwell and Wests Tigers utility Dene Halatau.


"All the players thoroughly deserve their spots," Anderson said.


"I'm very excited about this team and feel privileged and proud about guiding them into the Anzac test on Friday. I couldn't be happier."

Kiwis: Jerome Ropati, Jamaal Lolesi, Nigel Vagana, Paul Whatuira, Matt Utai, Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Paul Rauhihi, Louis Anderson, Ruben Wiki (captain), Frank Pritchard, Wairangi Koopu, Sione Faumuina. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Jason Cayless, Roy Asotasi, David Kidwell.



- NZPA