Manu Ma’u, Tuimoala Lolohea named in Kiwis train on squad for tour to Great Britain

MANU Ma’u and Tuimoala Lolohea are among six uncapped players named to the initial train-on squad for New Zealand’s end of year tour to Great Britain.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Manu Ma'u of the Eels on the charge during the round 26 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Canberra Raiders at Pirtek Stadium on September 6, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)

SIX uncapped players are among the first selections for the first Kiwis rugby league train-on squad for the tour of England.

They include Warriors backs Tuimoala Lolohea and Solomone Kata, Parramatta second-rower Manu Ma’u, and Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona along with hooker Manaia Cherrington.

Warriors second-rower Bodene Thompson is also among the 14 players from the eight NRL teams that have missed out on the finals.

Thompson was part of the Kiwis’ Four Nations-winning squad last year, but did not take the field.

Lolohea enjoyed an excellent season for the Warriors.

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Missing are two of Thompson’s Warriors teammates, halfback Shaun Johnson and winger Manu Vatuvei, who are recovering from injuries that will sideline them for the rest of the year.

As other teams exit the NRL finals, further players will be added to the train-on squad, which is expected to total around 40. Train-on camps will begin in Auckland and Sydney on September 23, and the 23-strong party for the three-Test tour of England is scheduled to be named soon after the NRL grand final on October 4.

First train-on squad members: Lewis Brown (Penrith), Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Kieran Foran (Manly), Peta Hiku (Manly), Solomone Kata (Warriors), Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Manu Ma’u (Parramatta), Sam McKendry (Penrith), Tim Simona (Wests Tigers), Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers), Bodene Thompson (Warriors), Dean Whare (Penrith).