Leuluai is one of only two Super League-based stars in the Kiwi squad

Leeds forward Greg Eastwood and Wigan back Thomas Leuluai have been named in New Zealand's preliminary squad for the end-of-season Four Nations series.

The pair are the only Super League-based players included in an initial 43-strong group for the Kiwis.

Greg Inglis and Josh Morris have been named in Australia's squad, despite already having ruled themselves out of the tournament with shoulder injuries.

England and Papua New Guinea have yet to name their squads for the series.

Leuluai, who is seen as a hooker by Kiwi boss Stephen Kearney, and Eastwood, who is quitting Leeds at the end of the season, were in last year's Four Nations team and will link up with their team-mates after their clubs' involvement in the Grand Final series in time for the warm-up Test against Samoa in Auckland on October 16.

606: DEBATE Inglis' surgery will at least save the selectors a headache - they won't have to choose between Michael Jennings and Jamie Lyon at centre Farmduck_AUS

"The fact we have so many of the train-on squad involved in finals football starting this weekend is a major boost for us," said Kiwi boss Stephen Kearney.

"It has to be beneficial having such a significant number with the chance of going well into the finals, perhaps all the way to the grand final."

Australia stars Inglis and Morris are both booked in for shoulder surgery but that has not stopped the selectors including them, alongside fellow injured stars Darren Lockyer (ribs) and Johnathan Thurston (foot).

The latter pair, both Queensland half-backs, are expected to be fit after sitting out the end of the NRL season.

New Zealand squad: Alex Glenn, Antonio Winterstein (all Brisbane), Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts (Canterbury Bulldogs), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Greg Eastwood (Leeds), Kieran Foran, Steve Matai, Tony Williams (Manly), Adam Blair, Sika Manu (Melbourne), Junior Sa'u, Zeb Taia (Newcastle), Krisnan Inu, Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Sam McKendry, Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Nathan Fien, Jason Nightingale, Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra), Roy Asotasi, Issac Luke, Eddy Pettybourne, Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Joseph Leilua, Mose Masoe, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam Perrett, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Lewis Brown, Aaron Heremaia, Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Ukuma Ta'ai, Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan).

Australia squad: Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Jamal Idris, Josh Morris (Canterbury), Paul Gallen (Cronulla), Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga (North Queensland), Jarryd Hayne, Timana Tahu (Parramatta), David Taylor (South Sydney).

2010 Four Nations schedule:

Sat 23 October: NZ v England, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Sun 24 October: Australia v Papua New Guinea, Parramatta Stadium
Sat 30 October: NZ v Papua New Guinea, International Stadium, Rotorua
Sun 31 October: Australia v England, Melbourne
Sat 6 November: England v Papua New Guinea, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 6 November: NZ v Australia, Eden Park , Auckland
Sat 13 November: Final, Suncorp Stadium Brisbane

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version