NRL: Jesse Bromwich could be the next captain of the Melbourne Storm

Melbourne Storm player Jesse Bromwich is during a round 6 match between the Storm and the Bulldogs at AAMI Park. Photo / Getty Images

Jesse Browmich looms as the man most likely to be the next Melbourne Storm captain, when Cameron Smith moves on, after being named skipper of the Kiwis for Friday's Anzac Test.

Bromwich, who has played 17 Tests for New Zealand was elevated to replace injured Simon Mannering, ahead of former Storm forward Adam Blair, who was Kiwis vice-captain.

He'll lead a side without a host of frontline players who have been left out by coach Stephen Kearney after they were suspended by their NRL club.

The Warriors blocked Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson from playing against Australia in Newcastle on Friday amid allegations some players had been mixing prescription medicine with energy drinks.

Kearney said on Monday he was involved in ruling the trio out of the Test, after they breached Warriors protocol with their off-field behaviour in the wake of the loss to Melbourne a week ago.

"In talking with the hierarchy at the Warriors I am aware of the detail and that doesn't fit our protocol either," Kearney said.

"So from our point of view we made a decision in conjunction with the Warriors. That is important to be clear about.

"It is important that Test match football is the pinnacle of our game. But if there are issues at club level that we certainly don't agree with either then we will make the appropriate decisions accordingly."