tigersrule4life
New member
ADAM Blair will return from suspension, while Elijah Taylor will be in line to make his Test debut, when the Kiwis take on Wales in a Four Nations rugby league match at Wembley Stadium in London.
Wests Tigers-bound Blair, 25, hasn't played for more than two months after being banned for his part in the brawling that marred Melbourne's NRL defeat to Manly in Sydney in late August.
He comes into the second row for his 23rd cap, replacing Simon Mannering, who gets a breather after a unbroken run of 28 NRL and three Test appearances this year.
Taylor's selection on the bench caps a season in which the 21-year-old Warrior made his NRL debut.
Meanwhile, hooker Nathan Fien is recalled to the bench after missing the 26-12 defeat to Australia in the tournament opener last weekend.
Fien will back up for Thomas Leuluai, who is elevated to the starting line-up, with Issac Luke getting a rest.
\
\
\
Coach Stephen Kearney has reshuffled the backline, starting Alex Glenn in the centres and moving Gerard Beale out to the wing in place of Kalifa Faifai Loa, who drops out of the 17.
"As we do every Test we play, we have selected the side that we think best suits our needs against Wales," Kearney said.
"After being out for so long, it's great to have Adam back. He has been working hard to get himself ready for this."
The Test is the first leg of a doubleheader at Wembley and will be followed by the clash between England and Australia.
New Zealand: Kevin Locke, Gerard Beale, Lewis Brown, Alex Glenn, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall (capt), Kieran Foran, Sam McKendry, Thomas Leuluai, Ben Matulino, Sika Manu, Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith. Res: Nathan Fien, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Fuifui Moimoi, Elijah Taylor.
\
\
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/adam-blair-back-for-kiwis-after-completing-ban/story-e6frfgbo-1226184075469
Wests Tigers-bound Blair, 25, hasn't played for more than two months after being banned for his part in the brawling that marred Melbourne's NRL defeat to Manly in Sydney in late August.
He comes into the second row for his 23rd cap, replacing Simon Mannering, who gets a breather after a unbroken run of 28 NRL and three Test appearances this year.
Taylor's selection on the bench caps a season in which the 21-year-old Warrior made his NRL debut.
Meanwhile, hooker Nathan Fien is recalled to the bench after missing the 26-12 defeat to Australia in the tournament opener last weekend.
Fien will back up for Thomas Leuluai, who is elevated to the starting line-up, with Issac Luke getting a rest.
\
\
\
Coach Stephen Kearney has reshuffled the backline, starting Alex Glenn in the centres and moving Gerard Beale out to the wing in place of Kalifa Faifai Loa, who drops out of the 17.
"As we do every Test we play, we have selected the side that we think best suits our needs against Wales," Kearney said.
"After being out for so long, it's great to have Adam back. He has been working hard to get himself ready for this."
The Test is the first leg of a doubleheader at Wembley and will be followed by the clash between England and Australia.
New Zealand: Kevin Locke, Gerard Beale, Lewis Brown, Alex Glenn, Jason Nightingale, Benji Marshall (capt), Kieran Foran, Sam McKendry, Thomas Leuluai, Ben Matulino, Sika Manu, Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith. Res: Nathan Fien, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Fuifui Moimoi, Elijah Taylor.
\
\
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/adam-blair-back-for-kiwis-after-completing-ban/story-e6frfgbo-1226184075469
