Three players have today been added to the Kiwis train-on squad to prepare for the October 13 Test match against the Kangaroos at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.
The additional players come from the two clubs that were knocked out of the NRL play-offs over the weekend, being the Brisbane Broncos and the Cronulla Sharks. The players join those named last week from teams whose seasons were already over.
The Brisbane Broncos provide two players to the train-on squad. They’re Gerard Beale and Josh Hoffman. Both were part of the Kiwis last Test squad in April. Jeremy Smith is the sole representative from the Cronulla Sharks. He’ll look to improve on his 23 Tests.
Alex Glenn from the Broncos is unavailable due to proposed knee surgery. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who was originally in the train-on squad, also now faces surgery - due to calcification in an abductor tendon. The Sydney Roosters player has been withdrawn from the squad.
The national selectors - Richie Barnett, Tony Iro, Stephen Kearney and Tawera Nikau - will add to the squad in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the NRL finals.
2012 KIWIS TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Brisbane Broncos: Gerard Beale, Josh Hoffman
Cronulla Sharks: Jeremy Smith
Penrith Panthers: Sam McKendry
Sydney Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Warriors: Ben Henry, Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering, Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei
Wests Tigers: Adam Blair, Benji Marshall
Unavailable: Brisbane Broncos: Alex Glenn (knee surgery); St George-Illawarra Dragons: Nathan Fien (retired from international rugby league), Jason Nightingale (knee surgery); Sydney Roosters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (thigh surgery); Warriors: Kevin Locke (injury – high ankle sprain).