Rugby League: Nikau delighted with Maori squad

Aotearoa Maori rugby league World Cup captain Tawera Nikau was "over the moon" with the squad he will lead to the event in October-November and concentrating on playing himself into top form for his last internationals.

Nikau, aged 33, has had a slow start for Warrington since shifting from the Melbourne Storm but has been firing in recent matches.

He cited that lack of early performance as reason why he could not recommend other players when asked by Maori coach Cameron Bell, saying he wanted to focus on his own returns.

The Maori squad of 24 includes four others from England - ex-Auckland Warriors Sean Hoppe, Gene Ngamu and Marty Moana - the first two still on standby for the Kiwi side - and Warrington centre Toha Kohe Love.

There are seven players with National Rugby League premiership experience - old hand Terry Hermansson in for his swansong, discarded Kiwi centre David Kidwell, who has struggled with form and spent most of this season in first grade, injury-plagued Warrior Awen Guttenbeil, Warrior wing Odell Manuel and finds-of-the-season Paul Rauhihi, from the Knights, and Jason Cayless, younger brother of Kiwi Nathan, and the Tigers lock Tyran Smith. Smith said he was bemused as missing out on the Kiwis and would go out with plenty to prove for the Maori.

There are nine NRL first-division regulars, including another three Warriors in Henry Perenara, Paul Whatuira and Clinton Toopi, one from the equivalent Queensland competition and two players from the Bartercard Cup, Otahuhu halfback Hare Te Rangi and Glenora centre and former Warrior Boycie Nelson.

Bell, chasing crayfish on the Coromandel yesterday as he enjoys his last days of freedom before the fulltime work begins, was happy with the mix of youth and experience and sure the squad would acquit themselves well in the World Cup. The first Maori match is against Scotland in Glasgow.

They will come together in Auckland on October 8 and remain in camp until departure for England on the same plane as the Kiwis on October 23.

Whatuira has a leg injury but is expected to be cleared to resume full training next week while Jared Mills has a groin problem that may require surgery but the rest of the 24 are fully fit. All have been given individual programmes to ensure their readiness for the event.