Kiwis name 25-man squad to take on Tonga in Auckland

New Zealand have announced a squad consisting of 25 players for their clash with Mate Ma’a Tonga at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday 25 June, headlined by some of rugby league’s brightest stars.

The Kiwis last international outing was against the Great Britain Lions in November 2019, a game they came out 23-8 victors in Christchurch. Their clash against Tonga will jumpstart preparations for the World Cup in the United Kingdom later this year, in which the Kiwis will be looking to win their first world title since 2008.

Head coach Michael Maguire has named a very strong squad that will match-up well against what is a big and powerful Tongan side full of in-form and passionate stars. A spine consisting of the likes of Brandon Smith, Dylan Brown, and Jahrome Hughes is a scary prospect for opposition, particularly when you consider the talent on offer in the forward pack. Eight potential debutants have been named in the squad, which is terrific news for the New Zealanders as they look to transition into a new era of Kiwi rugby league.

An incredible five Storm stars have been named in the squad, whilst three Panthers and three Eels have also been named. Brisbane fullback Te Maire Martin has been named after making a miraculous return to top-flight rugby league after his career appeared to be over due to a frightening brain bleed back in 2019. Shaun Johnson, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima and Kevin Proctor are among the incumbents who have been omitted from Maguire’s squad.

New Zealand’s squad for their June 25 Test against Tonga:

• Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
• Jesse Bromwich (Storm)
• Kenneath Bromwich (Storm)
• Dylan Brown (Eels)
• Erin Clark (Titans)
• James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
• Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles)
• Peta Hiku (Cowboys)
• Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
• Moses Leota (Panthers)
• Isaac Liu (Titans)
• Joseph Manu (Roosters)
• Te Maire Martin (Broncos)
• Ken Maumalo (Wests Tigers)
• Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks)
• Griffin Neame (Cowboys)
• Briton Nikora (Sharks)
• Marata Niukore (Eels)
• Isaiah Papali’i (Eels)
• Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
• Jordan Riki (Broncos)
• Brandon Smith (Storm)
• Scott Sorensen (Panthers)
• Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
• Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors)

Unlike Tonga, the Kiwis have listed their squad alphabetically rather than numbered and will still have a number of key selection decisions to make. Martin and Manu have both spent time playing fullback this year at NRL level, whilst the likes of Hiku, Maumalo, Mulitalo, Rapana and Watene-Zelezniak will fight it out for the vacant backline spots. The Kiwis’ forward pack is close to the strongest we have seen it and will still hold out hope that the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Tohu Harris make themselves available for the World Cup. Tapine, Fisher-Harris, Papali’i and Asofa-Solomona are some of the NRL’s in-form forwards, whilst the Bromwich brothers, Nikora, Leota and Liu have all proven steady contributors for successful teams.

The Kiwis and Tongans have faced off 16 times in their history, with the Kiwis having won 13 of them. Their most memorable match-up, however, came in the 2017 World Cup where Tonga got the better of the Kiwis in front of more than 24,000 fans in Hamilton. The clash will kick-off at 5:30pm NZST and 3:30pm AEST on Saturday 25 June at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, as international rugby league ends its nearly three-year hiatus in this part of the world.

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