League: Moimoi returns for Kiwis

Rampaging prop Fuifui Moimoi is back in the Kiwis side. Photo / Getty Images

Front rower Fuifui Moimoi will play his first international in two years when the Kiwis open their Four Nations rugby league campaign against the Kangaroos at the Twickenham Stoop in London on Sunday (NZT).

Moimoi, 30, outstanding for the beaten Parramatta side in this year's National Rugby League grand final against Melbourne, was today confirmed as the only change from the side that beat Tonga 40-24 in Rotorua last Wednesday.

Tongan-born Moimoi played the last of his five tests against France in Paris in 2007. He has been named to partner Melbourne's premiership-winning prop Jeff Lima.

A hamstring injury will keep World Cup-winning utility Greg Eastwood, 22, out of the side to meet Australia.

Eastwood, who started his 10th test at loose forward against Tonga in Rotorua, has been replaced in the No 13 jersey by Melbourne's Adam Blair.

The line-up is otherwise unchanged from the one that last week produced the sixth victory in Stephen Kearney's nine tests so far as Kiwis coach.

"Greg has been troubled by a tight hamstring this week," Kearney said.

" We had hoped he'd recover but at this early stage of the tournament we don't want to take a risk with it.

"While he's out, it's great to have Fuifui back in the New Zealand side.

"He's been in great form in the NRL and is certainly one of the most exciting players in the game right now."

While Blair has played most of his 13 tests as a prop, he had a stint in the second row against Tonga and he started each of Melbourne's last six games of the year in the back row.

"Adam has shown he has the ability to play there," Kearney said.

England's Steve Ganson has been named to referee the match.

Kiwis
Lance Hohaia, Sam Perrett, Steve Matai, Junior Sa'u, Bryson Goodwin, Benji Marshall (captain), Nathan Fien, Jeff Lima, Issac Luke, Fuifui Moimoi, Bronson Harrison, Frank Pritchard, Adam Blair.

Interchange: Thomas Leuluai, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Iosia Soliola, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kieran Foran, Ben Matulino.

- NZPA