League: Bromwich real weapon for Kiwis

Jesse Bromwich is now one of the most important players on the Kiwis. Photo / Getty

The Kiwis not-so-secret-weapon heading into Saturday's test isn't hard to spot.

He's 1.94m tall, around 114 kilos and regarded as one of the best players in his position in the world.

Two years ago Jesse Bromwich was an international rookie - now he is one of most important players in the team and the anchor of the forward pack.

With the absence of established names like Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sam Moa, Bromwich leads a new look propping rotation, with converted back rowers Adam Blair and Greg Eastwood and the inexperienced Martin Taupau.

Fortunately the responsibility has come at a good time, with Bromwich coming off a breakthrough season for the Storm. He was outstanding for the Melbourne club in 2014, recognised when he picked up their player of the year award, the first time the honour had gone to someone outside the big three in many years.

"It's an indicator of his consistency," says Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. "He has gone to a new level."

"I'm not carried away but everything went well this season," adds Bromwich. I'm feeling very confident."

Bromwich took on more of a leadership role within the team before this year's Anzac test, after a slew of high profile withdrawals.

"I like to lead with my actions more than my words," says Bromwich, "But it is something I am becoming more comfortable with."

No one is more important to the Kiwis' cause than Bromwich on Saturday night. While the focus tends to fall on the likes of Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran and Jason Taumalolo, tests are won in the trenches. Bromwich has the ability to dominate in that area, especially as Australia are without many of their regular starters.

The 25-year-old was part of an impressive effort in May's Anzac test, when the Kiwis surprised the more fancied Australians with a spirited, albeit patchy effort.

"We played really well for the first 60 minutes and then they blew us off the park in the last 20," says Bromwich. "We need to look at the first 40 and go from there. We believe in ourselves and we really need to take that belief into the game and see what happens."