Injury rules Broncos star Alex Glenn out of trans-Tasman Test

NEW Zealand’s stocks have suffered another major blow after Broncos backrower Alex Glenn was injured yesterday in Brisbane’s 30-28 loss to Cronulla.

NEW Zealand’s stocks have suffered another major blow after Broncos backrower Alex Glenn injured his calf yesterday in Brisbane’s 30-28 loss to Cronulla.

Glenn was one of four Broncos named in the Kiwi squad last night alongside Adam Blair, Jordan Kahu and Kodi Nikorima for Friday night’s Anzac Test against Australia.

But Glenn’s Test selection was short-lived with Kiwi coach Steve Kearney, also Brisbane’s assistant, confirming the back-rower will not be fit to join the New Zealand camp today.

The Kiwis hold the No.1 Test ranking but travel to Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium in crisis.

Aside from Glenn, the Kiwis have lost Simon Mannering and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to injury while star pivot Kieran Foran has taken time out of the NRL to address personal problems.

Big-name duo Ben Matulino and Manu Vatuvei were overlooked for Test selection after being stood down by their club side the Warriors for breaching team discipline.

Cowboys back-rower Jason Taumalolo returns after missing last year’s Test with injury and Jesse Bromwich will captain the Kiwis for the first time in his career.

The 26-year-old Storm prop sounded an warning to the Australians with a bruising display in Melbourne’s 38-0 thrashing of the Titans yesterday.

“He’s a wonderful leader in his own right,” Kearney said.

“You just need to look at Jesse’s performances over the past two years when he’s elevated himself to one of the premier front-rowers in the game.

“It was just a matter of time that he assumed the role we’ve given him this week.”

Alex Glenn is out of Friday’s Test.

Bromwich will team up front with Broncos prop Blair, who is free to face the Kangaroos after serving a one-match ban against Cronulla yesterday.

Broncos utility Kahu is expected to start at centre, with Issac Luke axed by Kearney after a poor start to the season at his new club the Warriors.

Despite the injury saga buffeting the Kiwis, Bromwich is determined to maintain New Zealand’s dominance in his captaincy debut.

“I’m really looking forward to it, it was a game I was looking forward to from the start of the season,” he said.

“It’s very disappointing losing a few guys but we have the depth in the New Zealand camp to step in and do the job. I have full faith in the team.

“The Anzac Test showed us last year we have the team to beat them. It’s done a lot for our confidence and we’ll try to take that into this game.”

NEW ZEALAND: Jesse Bromwich (c), Adam Blair, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Alex Glenn, Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku, Shaun Johnson, Jordan Kahu, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Manu Ma’u, Sam Moa, Jason Nightingale, Kodi Nikorima, Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Danny Levi (19th man).

Originally published as Injury rules Broncos star Alex Glenn out of trans-Tasman Test