League: Warriors stars Vatuvei, Rapira to miss Four Nations

Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors stand-outs Manu Vatuvei and Sam Rapira are among the big name drop-outs for the Kiwis' end-of season Four Nations tour.

Vatuvei struggled with a knee complaint for much of the NRL season but was still the Warriors top try-scorer, with 11 in 18 matches, while Rapira, who is nursing a chest injury, was the team's best-performed prop.

The Warriors have also ruled out Simon Mannering (knee) and Jerome Ropati (shoulder) from the Kiwis and captain Steve Price from the Kangaroos.

Other confirmed withdrawals from the 45-man Kiwis train-on squad include former skipper Roy Asotasi (knee), prolific Wests Tigers wing Taniela Tuiaki (ankle) and Knights forward Zeb Taia (shoulder).

Despite the withdrawals coach Stephen Kearney was still confident of putting together a competitive side.

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

"We lost a lot of players who were in contention for the World Cup last year but we still had a very committed group of players who were desperate to represent New Zealand and had a real belief. It's exactly the same now."

The 38 players left in the train-on squad include 16 from the Kiwis' World Cup-winning squad, while 12 have yet to make their international debuts.

A final touring squad of 23 will be named on October 5, with the team assembling early next month to prepare for a one-off test against Tonga in Rotorua on October 14.

Their first Four Nations game is against the Kangaroos on October 24, with tests against France and England and possibly a final to follow.