League: Christensen in national squad

Kadince Christensen is the sole Northland player named in the New Zealand Rugby League Residents 16s train-on squad.

The former Kaitaia junior now attends Whangarei Boys' High School and plays for the Portland U-17 squad who beat Otaua 8-6 to take the Northland title on Saturday.

The two national squads will be monitored during the upcoming National Rugby League competition, which kicks off on August 25, with the final squads confirmed in September. Other players who perform well during the competition and National Secondary Schools tournament may also be considered for selection in the 19-man travelling teams to play in Australia.

Earlier this month members of the 15s and 17s Merit teams that were named at the end of the 2011 National Competition joined a further 40 elite players at an intensive four-day residential national performance camp in Rotorua.

All seven NZRL zones are represented in the 16s squad with Christensen returning for Rugby League Northland and Jiordan Fidow-Kele from the Southern zone being given another opportunity to make the team.

NZ Residents 16s wider squad:

Ahurei Winitana (Upper Central), Bunty Afoa (Auckland), Cale Karanga (Mid Central), Christian Mika (Counties Manukau), Daniel Liddicoat (Auckland), Eljen Petersen (Auckland), Haimona Hiroti (Mid Central), Jack McCormack (Wellington), Jacob Diaz (Counties Manukau), Jeniero Smallman (Mid Central), Jiordan Fidow Kele (Southern), Jo Apikatoa (Wellington), Jordan Pinnock (Southern), Kadince Christensen (Northern), Kalolo Saitaua (Auckland), Ken Tofilau (Southern), Kurt Bernard (Auckland), Losi Filipo (Wellington), Mafoaa'eata Hingano (Counties Manukau), Michael Uluakiola (Auckland), Netane Vi (Counties Manukau), Ofahiki Ogden (Counties Manukau), Peter Scanlon (Auckland), Richard Timoti (Auckland), Satch Pryor (Mid Central), Sean McGregor (Upper Central), Semisi Vea (Auckland), Sheldon Pitama (Southern), Viliami Moala (Counties Manukau), Xavier Smith (Mid Central).

NZ Residents 18s wider squad:

Adam Tuimavave-Gerrad (Auckland), Afatasi Lio-Collins (Counties Manukau), Alamoti Finau (Auckland), Braxton Stanley (Auckland), Danny Levi (Wellington), David Fusitua (Auckland), Eric Newbigging (Counties Manukau), Ezra Togia (Wellington), James Taylor (Auckland), Jeffery Sua (Auckland), Joseph Tapine (Wellington), Jules Webley (Southern), Katamiro Atera (Counties Manukau), Kirisome Kirisome (Wellington), Kouma Samson (Auckland), Kruz Tupou (Counties Manukau), Kurt Robinson (Wellington), Mason Lino (Auckland), Ngataua Hukutai (Counties Manukau), Ray Lesoa (Wellington), Reubenn Rennie (Counties Manukau), Sam Lisone (Counties Manukau), Semisi Tyrell (Counties Manukau), Simioni Ma'amaloa (Counties Manukau), Tama Koopu (Upper Central), Tauturu Hapuku (Counties Manukau), Thoren Fidow-Kele (Southern), Tuimola Lolohea (Auckland), Viliami Kaveinga (Counties Manukau).