League: Brown added to Kiwis squad

Warriors second rower Lewis Brown. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors second rower Lewis Brown has been added to the Kiwis' train-on squad for the Four Nations rugby league tournament.

Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney told TVNZ Brown had been brought in to provide cover for the squad's back row options.

"We've lost some of our second row contenders like Simon Mannering, Sika Manu and Zeb Taia so we've called Lewis in to give us some more depth there," he said.

Brown's inclusion brings the train-on squad to 39, with eight in the group already ruled out with injuries.

They include Roy Asotasi (knee), Taniela Tuiaki (ankle), Mannering (knee), Sam Rapira (chest), Jerome Ropati (shoulder), Manu Vatuvei (knee), Manu (ankle) and Taia (shoulder).

Despite the injuries, Kearney remained positive.

"My focus is always on the players we will have, not on those we won't have," he said last week.

"While it's obviously disappointing when players are unavailable, it's also a reality when you're dealing with a competition that's as tough as the National Rugby League is."

A 23-strong New Zealand tour party for the Four Nations will be named on October 5.

The Kiwis will play a one-off test against Tonga in Rotorua on October 14 before flying out for Britain three days later.

The opening Four Nations match is against Australia in London on October 24. The New Zealanders face France in Toulouse and England in Huddersfield on successive weekends after that.

The tournament final is in Leeds on November 14.

Amended train-on squad is: Louis Anderson (Warrington), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra), Kieran Foran (Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Kevin Locke (Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer (Warriors), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Eddy Pettybourne (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly), Brent Webb (Leeds), Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane), Lewis Brown (Warriors).

- NZPA