Ahead of the announcement of the New Zealand Test squad to play Australia at Hunter Stadium on May 6, we in the NRL.com offices have come up with the side we would pick to represent the Kiwis.
Tony Webeck – Chief Queensland Correspondent
1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Martin Taupau, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Jason Taumalolo, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Sam Moa.
I'd ruled out Simon Mannering initially when he left the field cradling his jaw on Monday night and it remains to be seen whether his sickening injury will have recovered in time. Dean Whare comes in after being named to return for the Panthers in Round 9. Tohu Harris and Alex Glenn are both unlucky to miss out but I'm too much of a Greg Eastwood fan not to have him in my team. Kodi Nikorima's ability to play anywhere in the backline and the zip he brings off the bench is also too tempting to ignore.
Chris Kennedy – National Correspondent
1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4 Peta Hiku, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Adam Blair, 16 Martin Taupau, 17 Jason Taumalolo.
The Kiwis have more good forwards than you can poke a stick at right now. With that potent pack I still couldn't fit in Alex Glenn, Sam Moa or Greg Eastwood. And even with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tui Lolohea out injured that back five is still red hot.
Martin Gabor – National Correspondent
1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Simon Mannering (c), 12 Alex Glenn, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Tohu Harris, 16 Sam Moa, 17 Martin Taupau.
He might have been Man of the Match in last year's Anzac Test, but I've left Manu Vatuvei out of my squad this time around. I've opted for Penrith's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to finally make his international debut. Jason Taumalolo and Martin Taupau should cause plenty of damage.
Jack Brady – National Correspondent
1 Peta Hiku, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Jordan Kahu, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Sam Moa, 17 Jason Taumalolo.
It's a pretty stock-standard Kiwis team such is the squad they have built over the past number of years, with a few injuries forcing a slight reshuffle. Unlike the Kangaroos, it was tougher to leave players out than find individuals suitable for the team (sorry Greg Eastwood and Alex Glenn).
Corey Rosser – NZ Correspondent
1 Peta Hiku, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Martin Taupau, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Sam Moa, 16 Adam Blair, 17 Jason Taumalolo.
Given the way the Kiwis have performed of late this team pretty much picks itself. The starting forward pack is an easy choice, while I have gone for Sam Moa and Adam Blair's aggression off the bench. Lewis Brown can play hooker if Issac Luke needs a spell, otherwise he can go on either edge. I'm backing Solomone Kata to come into the final 17 with injuries hampering the backline.
Adrian McMurray – Producer
1 Peta Hiku, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Jordan Kahu, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Ben Matulino, 17 Jason Taumalolo.
With injuries to RTS and Lolohea, I'm backing Peta Hiku to do a job at custodian. Greg Eastwood has also enjoyed a very good start to the season with the Bulldogs and is unlucky to just miss out on a bench spot.
Dominic Brock – Production Editor
1 Peta Hiku, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering (c). Interchange: 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Adam Blair, 16 Martin Taupau, 17 Jason Taumalolo.
The Kiwis look good these days, don't they? Despite a few injuries at the back there's still plenty of points in the backline, the halves are as good as they get and any pack that has the wily Adam Blair and the pure brute force of Martin Taupau and Jason Taumalolo coming off the bench can match it with any team. I've opted for the spark of Kodi Nikorima off the bench as a halves utility/late-game impact man who could run rings around Australia's tiring big men.
Andrew Bryan – Deputy Editor
1 Jordan Kahu, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 4 Lewis Brown, 5 Peta Hiku, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Simon Mannering (c), 12 Kevin Proctor, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Sam Moa, 16 Martin Taupau, 17 Tohu Harris.
With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tui Lolohea out, there will be a reshuffle of the Kiwis; I've brought in the versatile Lewis Brown to resume a position in the centres with Peta Hiku playing on one wing and the reliable Jason Nightingale on the other. Jordan Kahu will be in the hot seat at fullback. The forward pack picks itself, while Kodi Nikorima will inject pace and skill from the bench in a utility role.
NRL.com's combined Kiwis team
1 Peta Hiku
2 Jason Nightingale
3 Jordan Kahu
4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Kieran Foran
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Issac Luke
10 Adam Blair
11 Kevin Proctor
12 Tohu Harris
13 Simon Mannering (c)
Interchange:
14 Kodi Nikorima
15 Martin Taupau
16 Sam Moa
17 Jason Taumalolo
