KEARNEY CONFIRMS FOUR NATIONS TRAIN-ON SQUAD TRIMMED TO 38

2009-09-21

Coach Stephen Kearney says the world champion Kiwis will have a potent team at the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France next month despite confirmation today that eight contenders have been ruled out.

The world champion New Zealanders assemble in Auckland early next month to prepare for a oneoff
Test against Tonga in Rotorua on October 14 before flying out to London three days later for
their opening Four Nations clash against the Kangaroos in London on October 24.
National selectors Howie Tamati (convener), Tony Kemp, Darrell Williams and Kearney named a
45-man train-on squad early last month from which the 23-man touring team, due to be announced
on October 5, will be selected.

Melbourne’s Sika Manu (ankle) had already been ruled out before the extended group was named
and, following medical assessments, Kiwi team doctor Simon Mayhew has confirmed seven
original train-on squad members are also out of contention – South Sydney prop Roy Asotasi
(knee), Newcastle back rower Zeb Taia (shoulder), Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki (ankle) and
Warriors Simon Mannering (knee), Sam Rapira (chest), Jerome Ropati (shoulder) and Manu
Vatuvei (knee).

The 38 players now left in the train-on squad include 16 from the Kiwis’ World Cup-winning team
last year. A number of the others last played for the Kiwis in the end of season tests in 2007 –
Louis Anderson (Warrington), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters),
Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs) and Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra).
Webb, Frank Pritchard, Jeff Lima and Iosia Soliola were all ruled out of the World Cup.

While 26 of the squad have test experience, the other 12 include some of the most promising New
Zealand-eligible players in the NRL as well as more established first graders. One of the 12 is
Brisbane utility Alex Glenn, who played for the Junior Kiwis in their win over the Junior Kangaroos in 2007 and was called in as 18th man for the Kiwis in this year’s Anzac Test in Brisbane. The other players yet to play for the Kiwis are Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Eddy Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer (Warriors), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Fetuli Talanoa(South Sydney), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly) and Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane).

The amended train-on squad is:
Louis Anderson (Warrington), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Greg Eastwood
(Bulldogs), David Fa’alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra), Kieran Foran
(Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers),
Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), Shaun Kenny-
Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Kevin Locke
(Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben
Matulino (Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra),
Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer (Warriors), Sam Perrett (Sydney
Roosters), Eddy Pettybourne (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs),
Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra),
Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Fetuli Talanoa (South
Sydney), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly), Brent Webb (Leeds), Antonio Winterstein
(Brisbane).

Article courtesy of New Zealand Rugby League.

A link to their website can be found here…