League: Smith makes late charge for test jersey

Kiwis league coach Brian McClennan may finally have something to smile about.

Test standoff candidate Nigel Vagana is back in the NRL, making his first start of the season for Cronulla on Saturday night, playing at centre against the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, two new names to the NRL are being touted as Kiwis possibilities for the Anzac test in a few weeks.

Twenty-four-year-old five eighth Jeremy Smith makes his NRL debut for Parramatta against Wests Tigers on Friday night, while Junior Kiwis utility back teenager Greg Eastwood plays off the Brisbane bench again this weekend, after scoring his debut NRL try last week.

Eastwood stumbled into the Broncos a few years ago when a mate invited him along to watch training.

One of the club's recruitment officers spotted him running around and kicking the ball and quickly signed him to a contract.

Smith played for New Zealand 'A' last season and was one of the best players on the field in the Tri Nations curtain-raiser between New Zealand A and the Kangaroos Invitational 13.

He has been playing second division premier league in Sydney.

- NEWSTALK ZB