Auckland, New Zealand, October 25, 2018 – Head coach Michael Maguire has retained the same 17 players used in the win
over the Kangaroos for the Kiwis’ first Test against England at Hull’s KC Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm kick-off local
time).
The only change is on the extended bench where Canberra second rower Joseph Tapine is included as 19th man with
Melbourne utility back Jahrome Hughes 18th man.
Maguire said the players had earned the right to line up in the opening match of the series, New Zealand’s 17th
three-Test campaign on United Kingdom soil since the pioneering All Golds played the first in 1908.
The second Test will be played at Anfield in Liverpool on Sunday, November 4, followed by the third at Elland Road in
Leeds on Saturday, November 10.
Maguire said the Kiwis needed to reset for the opening international in Hull.
“What we achieved in New Zealand against the Kangaroos was a start and the players recognise it was just that, a start,”
he said.
“Our focus since leaving New Zealand has been fixed on this first Test. We have a group of players here who are
exceptionally passionate about playing for the jersey. I’ve seen that. There are great signs for where we’re going but
we need to make sure we do everything right this week.”
Hooker Brandon Smith and centre Joseph Manu will both play their second Test after they each impressed in the Kiwis’
superb 26-24 win over Australia at Mount Smart Stadium on October 13.
Left centre Esan Marsters and his wing partner Ken Maumalo will be lining up for the Kiwis for third time as will
interchange prop Leeson Ah Mau while another seven players in the 19-man squad also have fewer than 10 Tests to their
name.
The New Zealanders travelled to Brigg on the outskirts of Hull this afternoon ahead of their final training run at the
Test venue tomorrow. Based in Manchester since arriving from a stopover in Dubai, the Kiwis have trained at the Wigan
Warriors’ high performance training centre in Orrell and also had a session at the Manchester City Football Club’s
exceptional academy facility on Monday.
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v ENGLAND
2.30pm, Saturday, October 27, 2018
KC Stadium, Hull
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS
1DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK (c)
(Penrith Panthers)2KEN MAUMALO
(Vodafone Warriors)3ESAN MARSTERS
(Wests Tigers)4JOSEPH MANU
(Sydney Roosters)5JORDAN RAPANA
(Canberra Raiders)6SHAUN JOHNSON
(Vodafone Warriors)7KODI NIKORIMA
(Brisbane Broncos)8JESSE BROMWICH
(Melbourne Storm)9BRANDON SMITH
(Melbourne Storm)10JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
(Sydney Roosters)11KEVIN PROCTOR
(Gold Coast Titans)12ISAAC LIU
(Sydney Roosters)13JAMES FISHER-HARRIS
(Penrith Panthers)Interchange:14KENNY BROMWICH
(Melbourne Storm)15LEESON AH MAU
(St George Illawarra Dragons)16MARTIN TAUPAU
(Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)17ADAM BLAIR
(Vodafone Warriors)18JAHROME HUGHES
(Melbourne Storm)19JOSEPH TAPINE
(Canberra Raiders)
HEAD COACH | MICHAEL MAGUIRE
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS | END OF SEASON CAMPAIGN
(includes Test v Australia, Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
PlayerClubKiwi NoTests for NZLEESON AH MAUSt George Illawarra Dragons8122GERARD BEALEVodafone Warriors76711ADAM BLAIRVodafone Warriors73246JESSE BROMWICHMelbourne Storm77525KENNEATH BROMWICHMelbourne Storm7964JAMES FISHER-HARRISPenrith Panthers8013PETA HIKUVodafone Warriors78111JAHROME HUGHESMelbourne Storm--JAMAYNE ISAAKOBrisbane Broncos8081SHAUN JOHNSONVodafone Warriors77426ISAAC LIUSydney Roosters8054JOSEPH MANUSydney Roosters8151ESAN MARSTERSWests Tigers8092KEN MAUMALOVodafone Warriors8102KODI NIKORIMABrisbane Broncos79010AGNATIUS PAASIVodafone Warriors--ISAIAH PAPALI’IVodafone Warriors--KEVIN PROCTORGold Coast Titans77118JORDAN RAPANACanberra Raiders7989BRANDON SMITHMelbourne Storm8161JOSEPH TAPINECanberra Raiders8008MARTIN TAUPAUManly Warringah Sea Eagles78522JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVESSydney Roosters75525DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAKPenrith Panthers7948
PROGRAMME
Saturday, October 13 | v Australia, Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland | Won 26-24
Saturday, October 27 | v England, KC Stadium, Hull
Sunday, November 4 | v England, Anfield, Liverpool
Saturday, November 10 | v England, Elland Road, Leeds
ends