New Zealand names tug-of-war prop Sam Kasiano for Test

UPDATE: New Zealand has confirmed they have won the battle for Sam Kasiano, naming the Bulldogs prop in the Kiwis squad to face Australia next month.

UPDATE: New Zealand has confirmed they have won the battle for the services of Sam Kasiano, naming the Bulldogs prop in the Kiwis Test squad to face Australia next month.

The uncapped Kasiano, who had been courted by Queensland coach Mal Meninga, was included in the 19-strong squad named by Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney and selectors for the match against the Kangaroos in Townsville on October 13.

The NRL's prop of the year joins Manly's Dean Whare in the squad for the first time.

NRL champions Melbourne Storm contribute prop Jesse Bromwich and second-rower Kevin Proctor, with Proctor, who toured with the Kiwis to the United Kingdom last year but didn't take the field, the third player in the squad yet to make his international debut.

The Bulldogs, beaten 14-4 by the Storm in Sunday's NRL final, also have forwards Greg Eastwood and Frank Pritchard and outside backs Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett in the squad.

Eastwood, Inu, Perrett, Proctor and Warriors' backrower Elijah Taylor are recalled and Manly's Kieran Foran is included after missing the Anzac Test with an injury.

Wests Tigers playmaker Benji Marshall will captain the side.

Kiwis: Gerard Beale (Brisbane Broncos), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Josh Hoffman (Brisbane Broncos), Krisnan Inu (Canterbury Bulldogs), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Sam Kasiano (Canterbury Bulldogs), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (Warriors) Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Sam McKendry (Penrith Panthers), Sam Perrett (Canterbury Bulldogs), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm), Jeremy Smith (Cronulla Sharks), Elijah Taylor (Warriors), Dean Whare (Manly Sea Eagles).

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