Maguire names Marshall, Marsters in Kiwis squad to face Tonga

TheDaBoss

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Maguire names Marshall, Marsters in Kiwis squad to face Tonga
Author
Dan Talintyre
Timestamp
Thu 13 Jun 2019, 07:07 PM

New Zealand national Coach Michael Maguire has named Wests Tigers teammates Benji Marshall and Esan Marsters as part of the extended Kiwis squad to face Tonga on Saturday, June 22.

Marshall and Marsters were named by Maguire as part of an 27-man squad to face Mate Ma'a at Mount Smart Stadium, with several debutants also included.

A veteran of the New Zealand side with over 27 Tests to his name, Marshall first made his Kiwis debut in 2005 during the ANZAC Test against Australia.


The playmaker was pivotal in the Kiwis' breakthrough success during the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations, where he was named Player of the Tournament.

Marshall last appeared for the Kiwis in 2012 in the Trans-Tasman Test against Australia, but could be in line for a return to the side with Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Kodi Nikorima all named in the extended squad by Maguire.


Marsters has also been named by Maguire as he looks to consolidate his centre position for New Zealand after playing five Tests for the Kiwis throughout 2018.

In what was his debut season for the national side (having made his representative debut for the Cook Islands back in 2017), Marsters played every match of the Kiwis' end-of-season tour of England and will be looking to impress his club coach once again, should he be selected in the final side to face Tonga on June 22.

Maguire will update the squad to 19 players following Round 14 of the NRL.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD
Players listed in alphabetical order

Leeson Ah Mau (Warriors)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
Jesse Bromwich (Storm)
Kenneath Bromwich (Storm)
James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Kieran Foran (Bulldogs)
Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
Jamayne Isaako (Broncos)
Shaun Johnson (Sharks)
Isaac Liu (Roosters)
Issac Luke (Warriors)
Joseph Manu (Roosters)
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers)
Ken Maumalo (Warriors)
Briton Nikora (Sharks)
Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
Agnatius Paasi (Warriors)
Isaiah Papali’i (Warriors)
Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
Brandon Smith (Storm)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles)
Zane Tetevano (Roosters)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs)
 
@TIGER
Well Hughes can be depth for FB or 7
Kodi depth for 9 or 7 or even 14
Foran depth for 6 or 7
With benji and Johnson to play
 
@Jimmy said in [Maguire names Marshall said:
@TIGER
Well Hughes can be depth for FB or 7
Kodi depth for 9 or 7 or even 14
Foran depth for 6 or 7
With benji and Johnson to play

Exactly why would you need 3 depth 7s?
Our whole club hasn't got 3 7s and we play every week.

And Benji Johnson combo would be disastrous.
 
Given the injury histories of a few of these blokes maybe he’s only expecting one or two to be fit by game time.
 
@TIGER said in [Maguire names Marshall said:
@Jimmy said in [Maguire names Marshall said:
@TIGER
Well Hughes can be depth for FB or 7
Kodi depth for 9 or 7 or even 14
Foran depth for 6 or 7
With benji and Johnson to play

Exactly why would you need 3 depth 7s?
Our whole club hasn't got 3 7s and we play every week.

And Benji Johnson combo would be disastrous.

I'd argue that with the halves at their disposal, any combination of them doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence.
 
On form you'd have to say neither Marsters nor Benji will get picked in the 17. Having the club coach may make this a bit more awkward though. Their form has been quite poor. This may be a poor NZ squad but they have enough depth in both positions not to need either player.

And lol at a 27 man squad!
 
@gallagher said in [Maguire names Marshall said:
@avocadoontoast said in [Maguire names Marshall said:
No Packer?

He was number 28.
Why the need for 27 players for one test? 30 used to go on roo tours that lasted months.

The last sentence tells you that the squad will be reduced to 19 after rnd 14. The 27 would be to cover should injuries occur to frontline players this round.
 
1. Sheck
2. Rapana
3. Manu
4. Masters
5. Marmalo
6. Nikorima
7. Johnson
8. JWH
9. Luke
10. J.Bromwich
11. Nikora
12. Tapine
13. Taupau

14. Smith
15. Asofa
16. Tetevano
17. Fisher-Harris

Maybe shuffle the bench a bit to balance it better but it's not a bad side on paper.
 
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