League: Halatau set to make test debut as a hooker

He was born in Invercargill, was raised in Australia from the age of four, is normally a back for the West Tigers but may play for the Kiwi rugby league team as ... you guessed it, hooker.

Dene Halatau is set to win his first cap when the Kiwis play a one-off test against France on Thursday at Carcassonne.

With coach Daniel Anderson expected to give his fringe players a run, Halatau, 21, is likely to figure.

He made his first-grade debut for the Tigers against Manly in the middle of last season, played 22 games this year but says he never thought that he would end up being involved in the Tri-Nations campaign.

Halatau has made one appearance in England so far, for the Anzacs in their 64-12 win over Cumbria last week. He was handed the No 9 jersey, mainly because there was no specialist hooker available.

Anzac coach Craig Bellamy praised Halatau, who scored one of the visitors' 10 tries, for a fine all-round performance in a role that was far from his usual one.

Halatau had previous spells at hooker but had never started there before Cumbria. It's a position he could occupy more, with his Tigers' coach, Tim Sheens, having raised the issue.

- NZPA