Rugby League: Carroll for Kiwis World Cup squad

By PETER JESSUP

Tonie Carroll's decision to shift from the Brisbane Broncos to Leeds is a bonus for New Zealand, with the Queensland State of Origin centre now set to play for the Kiwis at the World Cup.

The 24-year-old is the pleasant surprise in a cup train-on squad of 42 named by Kiwi coach Frank Endacott and his fellow selectors Graeme Norton and Gary Kemble.

Carroll wanted to play for Queensland during his four years at the Broncos and only players making themselves available for Australian selection are considered for the Origin series.

But he was told he will not be selected for the Maroons from England and so fell to an approach from the New Zealand Rugby League to make himself available for the Kiwi squad. Norton flew to see him mid-week and Carroll signed.

"He's very enthusiastic, totally committed to New Zealand. He knows a lot of the guys and enjoys their company and is looking forward to getting together with them," said Norton.

Carroll has around 80 Aussie premiership games to his credit, was part of Brisbane's 1998 premiership winning team, and would look a certainty to make the final World Cup squad of 23. He, Willie Talau and Richie Blackmore would all seem first-choice centres.

Norton also approached Broncos' second-rower Brad Thorn, but he confirmed he was trying for the All Blacks and seeking a contract to play NPC rugby with either Otago or Canterbury, with the intention of gaining a Super 12 job and pushing on from there.

If Thorn falls flat in his code change, he may well come back into Kiwi consideration, Norton said.

The selectors considered the form and statistics of close to 100 players before settling on the squad of 23 forwards and 19 backs, 33 of the players from the Aussie NRL and the remaining nine from Euro Super League. The 42 will be whittled down to 23 travellers to be named on August 10, along with four or five to cover for injuries. The selectors will keep the door open until then for anyone else who performs outstandingly.

All will have to pass a fitness and medical, which one-time skipper Jarrod McCracken is likely to fail after the neck injury he received in a tackle by Melbourne pair Marcus Bai and Steve Kearney. First-choice captain Richie Barnett must also be in doubt, given his severe facial injury from the Anzac test and lack of play since.

The NRL players will have a three-week break after round-play finishes, and grand final plays a week, before the first of three squad camps. The second camp will be immediately after the Olympics and the third will be a week-long final preparation in Auckland before departure for England on October 20.

The Kiwis have no warm-up games before their pool play against Lebanon, the Cook Islands and Wales. The three are minnows, but the Kiwis expect all sides to be stacked with Australian and English professionals who qualify by parentage.

Kiwis World Cup train-on squad: Forwards: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Craig Smith (St George/Illawarra), Quentin Pongia (Sydney City), David Solomona (Sydney City), Paul Rauhihi (Newcastle), Joe Vagana (prop, Warriors), Jerry Seuseu (Warriors), Jason Lowrie (Wests Tigers), Terry Hermansson (Warriors), Brady Malam (Wigan), Richard Villasanti (Wests Tigers), Richard Swain (Melbourne), Ali Lauiti'iti (Warriors), Tony Puletua (Penrith), Ruben Wiki (Canberra), Matt Rua (Melbourne), Steve Kearney (Melbourne), Jarrod McCracken (Wests Tigers), Sean Hoppe (St Helens), Willie Mason (Canterbury), Marty Moana (Halifax), Logan Swann (Warriors), Tyran Smith (Wests Tigers).

Backs: Stacey Jones (Warriors), Robbie and Henry Paul (Bradford), Tasesa Lavea (Melbourne), Gene Ngamu (Huddersfield-Sheffield), Tonie Carroll (Brisbane Broncos), Nigel Vagana (Warriors), Ritchie Blackmore (Leeds), Anthony Swann (Canberra), Toa Kohe-Love (Warrington), Carl Lovell (Huddersfield-Sheffield), David Kidwell (Parramatta), Shontayne Hape (Warriors), Brian Jellick (North Queensland), Lesley Vainikolo (Canberra), Henry Faafili (Warriors), Timana Tahu (Newcastle), Richie Barnett (Sydney City/London Broncos), David Vaeliki (Parramatta).