Auckland, New Zealand, October 10, 2019 – Braden Hamlin-Uele, Corey Harawira-Naera, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Zane Tetevano are in line to make their debuts in
the New Zealand Kiwis’ coming Tests against the Kangaroos and the Great Britain Lions.
The four players have all been named tonight in a squad which also features returns for winger Jamayne Isaako and back
rowers Kevin Proctor and Joseph Tapine who weren’t involved in the June Test victory over Mate Ma’a Tonga at Mount Smart
Stadium.
Tokoroa product Tetevano now has a third opportunity to play his first Test.
He was selected but then ruled out of last year’s end-of-season programme with injury and was then in the 19-man squad
but didn’t make the playing 17 when the Kiwis beat Mate Ma’a Tonga 34-14 in June.
A premiership winner with the Sydney Roosters last year, the 28-year-old was a regular again throughout this season
totalling 23 appearances but suffered further disappointment when, after being named for the grand final against
Canberra, he was ultimately omitted.
Northland-raised Canterbury-Bankstown second rower Harawira-Naera has earned a second chance of making his Test debut.
Like Tetevano, he was originally selected in last year’s squad for the home Test against Australia and the following
three-match series in England only to be ruled out with injury.
He played for the New Zealand Māori Kiwis in the match against the Australian Indigenous All-Stars in Melbourne in January and went on to make 21
appearances in his first season with the Bulldogs.
After previously representing the Cook Islands at Test level, Nicoll-Klokstad comes into the Kiwi squad for the first
time after a superb season for beaten grand finalists the Canberra Raiders. He scored 11 tries in 25 appearances.
Glenora Bears junior and former Junior Kiwi Hamlin-Uele earns selection after impressing in 21 interchange appearances
for the Sharks this year.
Harawira-Naera, Hamlin-Uele, Nicoll-Klokstad and Tetevano are also in the Kiwis’ World Cup Nines squad, Tetevano coming
into both sides today after James Fisher-Harris was forced to withdraw with injury and Nicoll-Klokstad being called in
to replace Jordan Rapana. Rapana was originally chosen in both sides but has now been ruled out; his replacement in the
Test squad is yet to be named.
Of the 19 players in the squad for the Tonga Test in June, 15 return for the internationals against the Kangaroos and
the Lions. Four of the playing 17 are unavailable due to injury – captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, prop Jesse Bromwich,
centre Esan Marsters and back rower Fisher-Harris.
Three players from the premiership-winning Roosters side are named – centre Joseph Manu, back rower Isaac Liu and prop
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – along with Tetevano while the beaten Raiders provide Nicoll-Klokstad and Tapine.
In all 11 players in the Test squad are also in the Kiwis’ World Cup Nines side.
The Nines players assemble in Sydney on Monday with the Test squad gathering on Sunday week.
The Kiwis begin their Test campaign with their Oceania Cup clash against the Kangaroos in Wollongong on Friday, October
25 before flying to New Zealand for two Tests against the reformed GB Rugby League Lions (Great Britain).
The first of these will be the second match of an international tripleheader at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday,
November 2, which also features the Kangaroos facing Tonga Invitational and Toa Samoa taking on Fiji Bati in Oceania Cup
matches.
The Kiwis then move to Christchurch for the second Test at Orangetheory Stadium (formerly AMI Stadium) on Saturday,
November 9.
• Buy tickets HERE for the Kiwis’ Tests against the GB Rugby League Lions
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS | v KANGAROOS & GB RUGBY LEAGUE LIONS
ITINERARY
Oceania Cup
Friday, October 25 7.30pm v Australia WIN Stadium
Wollongong
First Test
Saturday, November 2 5.00pm v Great Britain Eden Park
Auckland
Second Test
Saturday, November 9 8.00pm v Great Britain Orangetheory Stadium
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS | SQUAD
PlayerClubKiwi NoTests for NZLEESON AH MAUVodafone Warriors8126NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONAMelbourne Storm8046KENNEATH BROMWICHMelbourne Storm7968KIERAN FORANCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs75721BRADEN HAMLIN-UELECronulla-Sutherland Sharks--COREY HARAWIRA-NAERACanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs--JAHROME HUGHESMelbourne Storm8191JAMAYNE ISAAKOBrisbane Broncos8082SHAUN JOHNSONCronulla Sutherland Sharks77430ISAAC LIUSydney Roosters8058JOSEPH MANUSydney Roosters8155BENJI MARSHALLWests Tigers71728KEN MAUMALOVodafone Warriors8106CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTADCanberra Raiders--BRITON NIKORACronulla Sutherland Sharks8181KEVIN PROCTORGold Coast Titans77121BRANDON SMITHMelbourne Storm8165JOSEPH TAPINECanberra Raiders80010ZANE TETEVANOSydney Roosters--ROGER TUIVASA-SHECKVodafone Warriors77917JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVESSydney Roosters75529