Rugby League: Selectors eye squad

Gary Freeman has 25 players pencilled in for his first test squad as Kiwis coach and says Saturday's match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and NZ Warriors in Wellington will help him to sift through the list.

The three Kiwis selectors - Freeman, Gerard Stokes and Jarrod McCracken - are mapping out 25 players they each like.

They will compare notes in six weeks before naming their 17-man squad for the June 10 test against France in Auckland.

"This game will be good to assess some of the names I'm tossing around," Freeman said.

"Some of the Bulldogs have been going particularly well. Paul Rauhihi has been playing out of his skin, Nigel Vagana has gone to another level, and I'll be watching him and Willie Talau as a combination."

Some Warriors have also caught Freeman's attention. He has been impressed with young forward Monty Betham, backs Henry Faafili, Francis Meli and fullback Clinton Toopi.

- NZPA