Wigan's Thomas Leuluai is the only Super League player named in New Zealand's squad for the Four Nations. Coach Stephen Kearney left out Leeds' Brent Webb and Warrington's Louis Anderson but includes seven newcomers. "It's hugely exciting to be able to pick so many young players who have so much potential to play a big part in the Kiwis' future," said Kearney. The Kiwis have a one-off Test against Tonga on 14 October before facing Australia in London on 24 October. Coach Kearney said he was already planning for the 2013 World Cup by naming so many newcomers.  | 606: DEBATE |
Kieran Foran (Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kevin Locke (New Zealand Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly) are the first-time call-ups in the squad captained by Benji Marshall. Injuries mean many experienced players like Roy Asotasi (knee), Simon Mannering (knee), Sam Rapira (chest) and Jerome Ropati (shoulder) miss out, and Setaimata Sa is left out for disciplinary reasons. But backrower Frank Pritchard, who last played for the Kiwis in 20008 and missed the World Cup because of injury returns, as does prop Fuifui Moimoi, after a two-year absence from the international scene. The Kiwis' opening Four Nations clash, against Australia at the Twickenham Stoop on 24 October, will be a repeat of last year's World Cup final, won 34-20 by New Zealand.
New Zealand squad for the Four Nations: A Blair (Melbourne), G Eastwood (Canterbury), N Fien (St George Illawarra), K Foran (Manly), B Goodwin (Canterbury), B Harrison (Canberra), L Hohaia (NZ Warriors), K Inu (Parramatta), T Leuluai (Wigan), J Lima (Melbourne), K Locke (NZ Warriors), I Luke (South Sydney), B Marshall (Wests Tigers capt), S Matai (Manly), B Matulino (NZ Warriors), F Moimoi (Parramatta), J Nightingale (St George Illawarra), F-P Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), S Perrett (Sydney Roosters), F Pritchard (Penrith), Junior Sau (Newcastle), I Soliola (Sydney Roosters), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly).
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