INDEPENDENT NEWS

NZRL Release Rugby League World Cup Wider Squad And Notable Kiwi Players List

Published: Thu 7 Oct 2021 03:54 PM
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is pleased to announce the Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup Wider Squad. Despite the absence of international football over the last two years, 2022 will be the busiest international calendar in recent time, as NZRL work towards a June Pacific Test and Trans-Tasman clash, all before the October 2022 World Cup campaign. After his impressive club season, Premiership-winning Panther and Dally M Prop of the Year, James Fisher-Harris unsurprisingly made the list, as did Dally M Backrower of the Year and Eels' golden buy, Isaiah Papali'i. Papali'i is joined by fellow Parramatta playmakers Dylan Brown and Marata Niukore. Star Rooster's centre Joey Manu had one of his best seasons with 12 line breaks, ten tries and 141 metres per game. He joins veteran Kiwi prop and Roosters teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who made 1280 post-contact metres in 23 appearances for 2021. Melbourne's Reimis Smith locked in his selection with 14 tries this year, as he joins a plethora of Kiwi Storm talent, including standout half Jahrome Hughes, who was instrumental in a well-oiled Melbourne side that ran rampant throughout 2021. Corey Harawira-Naera returns after a dominant performance in his first full season at Canberra, and departing Shark Shaun Johnson is joined by Cronulla teammates Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Briton Nikora. Fresh names to join the frame include Bronco's back-rower and former Junior Kiwis captain Jordan Riki, who enters the squad after a solid debut season. Titan's Hooker and former Manurewa Marlin Erin Clark gets the call up alongside dynamic youngster Josh Schuster and Waikato born Morgan Harper after a breakthrough seasons with Manly. "We have listed this wider squad, so players are aware that the upcoming preseason and following season creates an enormous opportunity for them and this Kiwis team", says Head Coach Michael Maguire. "International football has been a challenge," Maguire adds. "But the player's enthusiasm to represent their country is as strong as ever; there's no question as to how much this jersey means to them, and their eagerness to play has never wavered. The senior players set a strong foundation and have their eyes focused on the 2022 World Cup." The 2021 season saw many Kiwi eligible players stamp their mark on the NRL, encouraging selectors to name a 'Notable Players' list that Head Coach Maguire has deemed "the future of the Kiwis team." "With the football that our younger players have played, we have created a list of players that, with a little more experience, could be the future of this team," says Maguire. "I am sure we will unearth some new Kiwi talent in the next 12 months, and we may even uncover more current names not listed. Nevertheless, this depth is encouraging. "This year, we have watched many New Zealand players have their best seasons yet. Now with that experience, coupled with the new generation of talent coming through - it is an exciting time to be a Kiwi."RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP WIDER SQUADNONAME (In Alphabetical Order By Surname)2021 NRL CLUB1Josh ALOIAIManly Sea Eagles2Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONAMelbourne Storm3Jesse BROMWICHMelbourne Storm4Kenny BROMWICHMelbourne Storm5Dylan BROWNParramatta Eels6Erin CLARKGold Coast Titans7James FISHER-HARRISPenrith Panthers8Kieran FORANManly Sea Eagles9Braden HAMLIN-UELECronulla Sharks10Corey HARAWIRA-NAERACanberra Raiders11Morgan HARPERManly Sea Eagles12Tohu HARRISVodafone Warriors13Chanel HARRIS-TAVITAVodafone Warriors14Peta HIKUVodafone Warriors15Jahrome HUGHESMelbourne Storm16Jamayne ISAAKOBrisbane Broncos17Shaun JOHNSONCronulla Sharks18Isaac LIUSydney Roosters19Joseph MANUSydney Roosters20Jeremy MARSHALL-KINGCanterbury Bulldogs21Ken MAUMALOWests Tigers22Ronaldo MULITALOCronulla Sharks23Charnze NICOLL-KLOKSTADCanberra Raiders24Briton NIKORACronulla Sharks25Kodi NIKORIMAVodafone Warriors26Marata NIUKOREParramatta Eels27Isaiah PAPALIIParramatta Eels28Kevin PROCTORGold Coast Titans29Jordan RAPANACanberra Raiders30Jordan RIKIBrisbane Broncos31Joshua SCHUSTERManly Sea Eagles32Bailey SIMONSSONCanberra Raiders33Brandon SMITHMelbourne Storm34Reimis SMITHMelbourne Storm35Joseph TAPINECanberra Raiders36Jazz TEVAGAVodafone Warriors37Jared WAEREA-HARGREAVESSydney Roosters38Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAKVodafone WarriorsKIWI ELIGIBLE / NOTABLE PLAYERS LISTNONAME (In Alphabetical Order By Surname)2021 NRL CLUB1Brad ABBEYSydney Roosters2Caleb AEKINSCanberra Raiders3Bunty AFOAVodafone Warriors4Tom ALEVodafone Warriors5Jesse ARTHARSBrisbane Broncos6Daejarn ASINorth Queensland Cowboys7Rocco BERRYVodafone Warriors8Shawn BLOREWests Tigers9Cassisus COWLEYWynnum Manly Sea Eagles10Haze DUNSTERParramatta Eels11Herman ESE'ESENewcastle Knights12Raymond FAITALA-MARINERCanterbury Bulldogs13Jackson FERRISCronulla Sharks14Wiremu GREIGParramatta Eels15Lani GRAHAM-TAUFASydney Roosters16Moala GRAHAM-TAUFASydney Roosters17Patrick HERBERTGold Coast Titans18Mawene HIROTICronulla Sharks19Peter HOLANorth Queensland Cowboys20Hymel HUNTNewcastle Knights21Isaiya KATOAPenrith Panthers22Sione KATOACronulla Sharks23Oregon KAUFUSIParramatta Eels24Asu KEPAOAWests Tigers25Kina KEPUVodafone Warriors26Lingi KEPUVodafone Warriors27Sebastian KRISCanberra Raiders28Spencer LENIUPenrith Panthers29Moses LEOTAPenrith Panthers30Danny LEVIBrisbane Broncos31Sam LISONEGold Coast Titans32Christian MA'ANAIMANewcastle Knights33Esan MARSTERSGold Coast Titans34Steven MARSTERSSouth Sydney Rabbitohs35Greg MARZHEWGold Coast Titans36Isaac MATALAVEA-BOOTHBrisbane Broncos37Sione MOALACanberra Raiders38Jeremiah NANAINorth Queensland Cowboys39Griffin NEAMENorth Queensland Cowboys40Taniela OTUKOLOVodafone Warriors41Jaxson PAULOSouth Sydney Rabbitohs42Hayze PERHAMParramatta Eels43Emry PERENorth Queensland Cowboys44Adam POMPEYVodafone Warriors45Nathaniel ROACHEParramatta Eels46TC ROBATIBrisbane Broncos47Simi SASAGINewcastle Knights48Tuki SIMPKINSWests Tigers49Toafofoa SIPLEYManly Sea Eagles50Siosifa TALAKAICronulla Sharks51Murray TAULAGINorth Queensland Cowboys52Tukupa-Ke Hau TAPUHASydney Roosters53Zane TETEVANOLeeds Rhinos54Matthew TIMOKOCanberra Raiders55Starford TOANewcastle Knights56Jackson TOPINECanterbury Bulldogs57Christian TUIPULOTUManly Sea Eagles58Paul TURNERVodafone Warriors59Christopher VEAILANewcastle Knights60Naufahu WHYTESydney Roosters61Jack WILLIAMSCronulla Sharks62Xavier WILLISONBrisbane Broncos

Next in Lifestyle

Mandated Single Approach To Reading Will Not Work
By: NZEI Te Riu Roa
Could The School Phone Ban Work?
By: The Conversation
To Avoid A Measles Epidemic, Aotearoa Must Close The ‘Immunity Gap’
By: Public Health Communication Centre
A Kid-friendly Archaeology Resource Kit Is Being Launched Today As Part Of New Zealand Archaeology Week (April 27-may 5)
By: Heritage New Zealand
Cyber Skills Programme For Tamariki Recognised At Māori Language Awards
By: Tatai Aho Rau Core Education
Waitaha-South Island Kapa Haka Celebrates 60th Anniversary With Record Participation
By: Waitaha Kapa Haka
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media