Kiwis name side for first tour match...

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Kiwis name side for first tour match

Thu 22nd October, 11:52AM
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Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has named a 20-man side to face English Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Carnegie this weekend.

Wests Tigers forward Martin Taupau is set to take to the field for the side's first match of its Northern Hemisphere tour.

Four Kiwis newcomers are poised to make their debuts for the national team in their England tour warm-up game against Leeds Rhinos with utility Jordan Kahu lining up in the centres and Tuimoala Lolohea at half, with Kodi Nikorima and Sio Siua Taukeiaho set to come off the bench against the English triple-crown winners.

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has named 20 players and both sides will run extended 19-man rotations for the game, which will double as a hit-out for the Kiwis ahead of their three-test series against England and a celebration for the Leeds Rhinos, after their successful domestic campaign.

“This will be perfect preparation for us,” says Kearney. “Leeds will be honouring some pretty special players and they’re expecting a full house.

“We’re very aware of the history of this match, with the 1907 All Golds playing Leeds in their build-up to a test series, so for me, this is an historic occasion in that sense too.”

Local officials are indeed predicting a sell-out at Headingley Carnegie.

The Kiwis line-up for their game against Leeds Rhinos, scheduled for 8pm Friday (UK time) is:

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Jason Nightingale
Jordan Kahu
Dean Whare
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Peta Hiku
Tuimoala Lolohea
Jesse Bromwich
Isaac Luke
Ben Matulino
Kevin Proctor
Tohu Harris
Martin Taupau
Kodi Nikorima
Adam Blair
Sam Moa
Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Alex Glenn
Gerard Beale
Lewis Brown

http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2015/10/22/kiwis_name_side_for_.html
 
nope no injury.. kearney wants to look at the future. dumbest frikkin decision ever. must have some personal agenda with benji- honestly the only explanation.
 
THE New Zealand Kiwis have proved too strong for the Leeds Rhinos, scoring 24 points in the second half to run out 34-16 winners at Headingley.

Here are five things RLW learned.

1\. NEW Zealand left it late before powering to an ultimately-comfortable win in their opening tour game. The travel-weary Kiwis took until the 34th minute to register their first points and – approaching the hour-mark – trailed 12-10\. But they blew away the cobwebs from that point on. Three tries in a whirlwind six minute spell put them firmly in control, and two further tries followed to swell the scoreline and spare any blushes. But…

2\. THE performance highlighted the Kiwis’ strengths – but it also exposed their weaknesses.

As expected, Jesse Bromwich provided the grunt, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck the grace, Issac Luke was outstanding and Brisbane’s Kodi Nikorima dynamite. But their last tackle options were often scratchy and their kicking was generally poor.

Rookie halves Tuimoala Lolohea and Peta Hiku will be looking to work on their combinations at a training camp in France this week, ahead of the first of three Tests against England.

Adam Blair (calf) and Jordan Kahu (groin) picked up injuries and will need to be assessed.

3\. IF rugby league is going to stage exhibition games, let them all be like this.

A breathless start was sprinkled with offloads and breaks, the lead exchanged hands three times and there were emotional farewells and stylish tries.

And it was all played out in front of an appreciative crowd of more than 20,000 at Headingley, to mark the famous ground’s 125th anniversary. Great to see.
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4\. UNDER-strength Leeds handled themselves well, considering they were missing eight members of their Grand Final-winning side – including three England internationals and departing duo Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield. Jordan Lilley and Danny McGuire sparkled at halfback and former Warriors centre Joel Moon added the gloss with two well-taken tries.

And what about Mitch Garbutt? The ex-Broncos prop only arrived at Leeds in June and, in 14 games, won three trophies, while his 15th game for the club was against the No.1 side in the world!

5\. It was a nice touch by Leeds to invite legends Ali Lauitiiti and Adrian Morley to have a swansong game for their former club.

Crowd-pleaser Lauitiiti used the occasion as a shop-window for a deal in 2016 – his offloads and one-handed carries were great to see.

Morley, who is hanging up his boots, spent six years at Leeds before moving to Sydney Roosters in 2001, and played just days after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro… and being stretchered down with altitude sickness!

“I made my senior debut for Manly in a trial against the Roosters when Moz was playing,” said Leeds’ Australian forward Adam Cuthbertson.

“All you’d notice was this white armband looming. I was scared s**tless!”

In a poignant touch after the game, the Kiwis performed the haka with Kiwi hardman Leuluai and Lauitiiti.

New Zealand 34 (R.Tuivasa-Sheck 2, J.Nightingale, J.Kahu, J.Bromwich, D.Whare, K.Nikorima tries; T.Lolohea 2, I.Luke goals) beat Leeds 16 (J.Moon 2, T.Briscoe tries; D.McGuire, J.Lilley goals). Crowd: 20,158.

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/five-things-learned-leeds-kiwis/
 
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