Vodafone Warriors Sam Rapira and Manu Vatuvei working out with the Kiwi train-on squad at Ellerslie Domain last week. Photo: Photosport
Rugby League World Cup fever comes into focus over the next two days with the Kiwis and the Kangaroos both announcing their squads for the tournament.
The Australians will reveal their squad today while Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney will be Auckland for the announcement of New Zealands 24 players tomorrow morning (the announcement is due at 9.00am from NZRL headquarters).
In recent weeks the Kiwi selectors have named a total of 30 players in a train-on squad. Theyve all been in contention along with a host of players involved in last nights NRL grand final.
Eight Vodafone Warriors have been training regularly in Auckland since their NRL season ended. Those included in the train-on squad were Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor and Manu Vatuvei.
The key question remains, of course, whether Sonny Bill Williams will make himself available after helping the Roosters to their 26-18 premiership victory over Manly.
Williams apart, other Roosters contenders for the Kiwis are centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall (now seemingly in doubt with a jaw injury), wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, props Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa and back rower Frank-Paul Nuuausala. In contention from the Manly line-up are Kieran Foran and Justin Horo while fullback Peta Hiku, who didnt play in the grand final, also impressing for the Sea Eagles when filling in for Brett Stewart this season (Steve Matai has made himself available for Samoa).
Every match from the Rugby League World Cup will be shown live on SKY Sport in New Zealand
The Kiwis begin their World Cup defence against Samoa in Warrington on October 27 with their other group matches against France in Avignon (November 1) and Papua New Guinea in Leeds (November 8).
They prepare for their campaign with a Test against the Cook Islands in Doncaster on October 20.
2013 KIWIS TRAIN-ON SQUAD:
Brisbane Broncos: Alex Glenn, Josh Hoffman
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Greg Eastwood, Krisnan Inu, Sam Kasiano, Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard
Melbourne Storm: Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Newcastle Knights: Jeremy Smith
North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo, Antonio Winterstein
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra Dragons: Bronson Harrison, Jason Nightingale
Penrith Panthers: Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Dean Whare
Vodafone Warriors: Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei
Wests Tigers: Adam Blair, Tim Simona
Also in line after last nights NRL grand final are:
Sydney Roosters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sam Moa, Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Manly Sea Eagles: Kieran Foran, Justin Horo, Peta Hiku
SCHEDULE:
One-of Test:
October 20 v Cook Islands, Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Rugby League World Cup:
October 27 v Samoa, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
November 1 v France, Parc des Sports, Avignon
November 8 v Papua New Guinea, Headingley Carnegie, Leeds
November 15-17 Quarter-finals (Leeds, Wrexham, Wigan, Warrington)
November 23 Semi-finals, Wembley Stadium, London
November 30 Final, Old Trafford, Manchester
Every match from the Rugby League World Cup will be shown live on SKY Sport in New Zealand
Rugby League World Cup fever comes into focus over the next two days with the Kiwis and the Kangaroos both announcing their squads for the tournament.
The Australians will reveal their squad today while Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney will be Auckland for the announcement of New Zealands 24 players tomorrow morning (the announcement is due at 9.00am from NZRL headquarters).
In recent weeks the Kiwi selectors have named a total of 30 players in a train-on squad. Theyve all been in contention along with a host of players involved in last nights NRL grand final.
Eight Vodafone Warriors have been training regularly in Auckland since their NRL season ended. Those included in the train-on squad were Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor and Manu Vatuvei.
The key question remains, of course, whether Sonny Bill Williams will make himself available after helping the Roosters to their 26-18 premiership victory over Manly.
Williams apart, other Roosters contenders for the Kiwis are centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall (now seemingly in doubt with a jaw injury), wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, props Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa and back rower Frank-Paul Nuuausala. In contention from the Manly line-up are Kieran Foran and Justin Horo while fullback Peta Hiku, who didnt play in the grand final, also impressing for the Sea Eagles when filling in for Brett Stewart this season (Steve Matai has made himself available for Samoa).
Every match from the Rugby League World Cup will be shown live on SKY Sport in New Zealand
The Kiwis begin their World Cup defence against Samoa in Warrington on October 27 with their other group matches against France in Avignon (November 1) and Papua New Guinea in Leeds (November 8).
They prepare for their campaign with a Test against the Cook Islands in Doncaster on October 20.
2013 KIWIS TRAIN-ON SQUAD:
Brisbane Broncos: Alex Glenn, Josh Hoffman
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Greg Eastwood, Krisnan Inu, Sam Kasiano, Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard
Melbourne Storm: Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Newcastle Knights: Jeremy Smith
North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo, Antonio Winterstein
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra Dragons: Bronson Harrison, Jason Nightingale
Penrith Panthers: Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Dean Whare
Vodafone Warriors: Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei
Wests Tigers: Adam Blair, Tim Simona
Also in line after last nights NRL grand final are:
Sydney Roosters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sam Moa, Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Manly Sea Eagles: Kieran Foran, Justin Horo, Peta Hiku
SCHEDULE:
One-of Test:
October 20 v Cook Islands, Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Rugby League World Cup:
October 27 v Samoa, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
November 1 v France, Parc des Sports, Avignon
November 8 v Papua New Guinea, Headingley Carnegie, Leeds
November 15-17 Quarter-finals (Leeds, Wrexham, Wigan, Warrington)
November 23 Semi-finals, Wembley Stadium, London
November 30 Final, Old Trafford, Manchester
Every match from the Rugby League World Cup will be shown live on SKY Sport in New Zealand
