League: Kiwis train-on squad named for Four Nations

Inspirational forward Roy Asotasi (L) is set to return to the Kiwis after missing the 2008 World Cup through injury. Photo / Getty Images

World Cup-winning Kiwis dominate a 45-man train-on squad named today ahead of the Four Nations rugby league tournament in England and France later this year.

National selectors Howie Tamati (convener), Tony Kemp, Darrell Williams and coach Stephen Kearney have included 20 of the 24-man squad that beat Australia in last year's World Cup final.

The missing World Cup players are captain Nathan Cayless, now retired from international football, Sika Manu, Evarn Tuimavave and David Kidwell.

Manu is sidelined with a broken leg, Tuimavave has only just returned from a long injury lay-off and Kidwell has been playing the New South Wales Cup recently.

Also selected are five players who were ruled out of the World Cup with injury - Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters) and Brent Webb (Leeds).

Among others named are a number who last played for the Kiwis in the end of seasons test's in 2007 - Louis Anderson (Warrington), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra) and Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers).

English Super League clubs provide three players in Anderson, Webb and World Cup winner Thomas Leuluai (Wigan).

While 32 of the squad have test experience, the other 13 are some of the most promising New Zealand-eligible players in the National Rugby League as well as more established first graders who have won recognition.

"The squad we've named reinforces the quality and depth of players we have to choose from when looking to select New Zealand teams these days.

"We've named 45 players but there are plenty with good claims that haven't been included.

"That's a sign of the competition we now have for spots and that has to be good for our game.

"There's a lot of football to be played before we can be sure what team we will finally have for the Four Nations but we believe we'll have a competitive squad to go to Europe."

Kearney confirmed the Kiwis would prepare for their Four Nations campaign by assembling in Auckland in early October before spending six days in camp in Rotorua for a one-off Test against Tonga on October 14.

National high performance director Kemp said the selection of a player such as Manly's Kieran Foran showed there are pathways for New Zealand-eligible players living in Australia to make the Kiwis.

"It's also hugely encouraging for us that four of the players included were part of the Junior Kiwis' win over the Junior Kangaroos in Wellington in 2007 - Chase Stanley, Alex Glenn (New Zealand's 18th man for this year's Anzac Test in Brisbane), Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Eddy Pettybourne.

"Kevin Locke, Ben Matulino and Russell Packer are all local products, examples of what can be achieved by coming through the system here."

Apart from Foran, Glenn, Locke, Matulino, Pettybourne and Packer, other promising players named who are yet to play for the Kiwis are Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin, Roosters front rower Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Newcastle centre Junior Sau, Newcastle back rower Zeb Taia, South Sydney winger Fetuli Talanoa, Manly back rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Brisbane winger Antonio Winterstein.

Waerea-Hargreaves, born in Rotorua, has a rugby union background but was picked up by the Sea Eagles last season.

Taia's eligibility is being confirmed by the Rugby League International Federation. Of Cook Islands heritage, he travels on a New Zealand passport.

After the Rotorua test against Tonga, the Kiwis travel to London for the first of the Four Nations internationals against Australia in London on October 24.

The next match against France has been confirmed in Toulouse on October 31 before the Kiwis return to the United Kingdom to meet England at Huddersfield on November 7.

The final between the top two teams will be played at Elland Road in Leeds on November 14.

Kiwis training squad
Louis Anderson (Warrington), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), 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), Simon Mannering (Warriors), 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), Sam Rapira (Warriors), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Zeb Taia (Newcastle), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly), Brent Webb (Leeds) and Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane).

- NZPA