Leuluai of Wigan Warriors has been called up to New Zealand squad playing in Four Nations
Thomas Leuluai of Wigan Warriors has been named in New Zealand’s 23-man squad for the Four Nations Series, by the Kiwi coach, Stephen Kearney, on Tuesday, October 4.
Leuluai is the most experienced international in the Kiwi squad, with 27 international caps already to his credit.
There are a total of nine players who have been ousted from the selection pool on account of injuries that includes Lance Hohaia, who is all set to join St. Helens from next season and Greg Eastwood of Leeds Rhinos.
Frank Pritchard of Canterbury Bulls is no more an option because the second rower has committed himself to Samoa.
Six uncapped players along with nine players from Sunday’s National Rugby League Grand Final between Manly Sea Eagles and Warriors will be seen on field.
While speaking about the latest news ahead of the Four Nations, Kearney said, “There's evidence again that our playing depth is building. As usually happens, we've had a significant number of players who couldn't be considered due to injury but we've still
been able to bring together a strong group of players, one we're really pleased with. It's a benefit as well that so many of them have played deep into the finals."
Some players could not make it to the final selection on account of injuries but overall the selection has been good, with 14 out of 23 players available from last year’s Four Nations’ title winning squad.
The training is all set to begin in Sydney on Sunday, where the finalised squad will gather to start off their practice sessions before the squad flies off to Newscastle for a Test against Australia, on October 16.
After returning from Sydney the squad will be heading out for England, where the inaugural encounter Four Nations will be played against Australia on October 28 at Warrington.
The 23-man New Zealand squad has the following players included in the squad so far:
Gerard Beale, Alex Glenn of Brisbane, Adam Blair, Kevin Proctor and Sika Manu of Melbourne, Lewis Brown, Shaun Johnson , Simon Mannering and Thomas Leuluai of NZ Warriors, Nathan Fien and Jason Nightingale of St George Illawarra, Kieran Foran and Steve
Matai of Manly, Kevin Locke and Issac Luke of South Sydney, Sam McKendry of Penrith, Benji Marshall of Wests Tigers, Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi of Parramatta, Russell Packer and Jeremy Smith of Cronulla, Manu Vatuvei, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of Sydney Roosters.
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