Auckland, New Zealand, October 3, 2022 – Back-to-back NRL premiership winners James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Scott
Sorensen are among six grand finalists named in the New Zealand Kiwis’ 24-man squad for the Rugby League World Cup in
England.The trio have been confirmed after making impressive contributions in Penrith’s 28-12 victory over the
Parramatta Eels in last night’s 2022 NRL decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney.The Penrith players are joined by Dylan
Brown, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore from the beaten Eels side.All six players were in the Kiwis’ extended squad
which went into camp for the June Test against Mate Ma’a Tonga at Mount Smart Stadium, a match which saw Brown, Niukore
and Leota make their New Zealand Test debuts alongside the previously capped Fisher-Harris and Papali’i while Sorensen
was on the extended bench.“Selecting the squad for the World Cup was a real challenge given the quality of players in
contention,” said New Zealand Kiwis head coach Michael Maguire.“There were some tough calls to make but we’re excited
about the group we’ve settled on.“These players have all been impressive for their clubs this season, not least James
(Fisher-Harris), Moses (Leota) and Scott (Sorensen) who were all outstanding for Penrith in the grand final.”Another
feature of the selection is the return of seasoned middle forwards Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Isaac Liu plus
fullback-centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.Waerea-Hargreaves and 2019 Kiwi Nicoll-Klokstad were unavailable for the Tonga
Test due to injury while Liu, after being originally selected, remained in Australia to be with his wife for the birth
of the couple’s second child.The only new face in the squad is centre Sebastian Kris (23), who has scored 25 tries in
his 44 NRL appearances for Canberra. Born in Brisbane, he is of New Zealand descent through his Huntly-raised
mother.Another player making a return is Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King. Uncapped at Test
level, he was in the Kiwi squad for the World Nines in 2019.The Kiwis, minus the six grand final players, assembled and
trained in Sydney this week before the advance party of 18 players plus staff flew to England on Friday.They’re based in
Leeds this week for a warm-up match against the beaten Super League grand finalists the Rhinos at Headingley on Saturday
night. Three players are joining the Kiwis for the match which will serve as a farewell for Thomas Leuluai, who is
ending his remarkable 20-season career after making his NRL debut as a 17-year-old with the Vodafone Warriors in
2003.The 37-year-old will lead the Kiwis in his last game before beginning a coaching career with Wigan.Les Catalans
centre Dean Whare, a 19-Test Kiwi from 2012-2017, and Wigan back rower Willie Isa are also joining the Kiwis for the
match against Leeds.The six players involved in the NRL grand final are due to arrive in Leeds next Saturday but won’t
be involved in the match against the Rhinos.The Kiwis then move to their World Cup base in York. Their opening Pool C
match is against Lebanon in Warrington on October 16 followed by Jamaica in Hull on October 22 and Ireland in Leeds on
October 28.The quarter-finals are scheduled for November 4,5 and 6, the semifinals on November 11 and 12 and the final
at Old Trafford in Manchester on November 19. NZ KIWIS | RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP SQUADPLAYERSNAMECLUBNELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONAMelbourne StormJESSE BROMWICHMelbourne StormKENNEATH BROMWICHMelbourne StormDYLAN BROWNParramatta EelsJAMES FISHER-HARRISPenrith PanthersKIERAN FORANManly Warringah Sea EaglesPETA HIKUNorth Queensland CowboysJAHROME HUGHESMelbourne StormSEBASTIAN KRIS*Canberra RaidersMOSES LEOTAPenrith PanthersISAAC LIUGold Coast TitansJOSEPH MANUSydney RoostersJEREMY MARSHALL-KING*Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsRONALDO MULITALOCronulla Sutherland SharksCHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTADCanberra RaidersBRITON NIKORACronulla Sutherland SharksMARATA NIUKOREParramatta EelsISAIAH PAPALI’IParramatta EelsJORDAN RAPANACanberra RaidersBRANDON SMITHMelbourne StormSCOTT SORENSEN*Penrith PanthersJOSEPH TAPINECanberra RaidersJARED WAEREA-HARGREAVESSydney RoostersDALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAKVodafone Warriors