Storm winger Will Warbrick among eight rookies in Kiwis squad to face Australia

After smashing the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships final last year, the Kiwis have named an unrecognisable squad to try to repeat the feat.

Will Warbrick will debut for the Kiwis. Picture: NRL Photos

Eight is the magic number for international debutantes as Kiwis coach Stacey Jones matched Australian rival Mal Meninga by naming the same amount of first-timers for the Pacific Championships as injuries hit the New Zealanders hard.

Storm winger Will Warbrick will play for his country in a third code after earning a maiden call-up from Jones, who has taken over from Broncos coach Michael Maguire in a quest to repeat last year’s 30-0 shellacking of the Kangaroos in the final.

Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes and NRL guns including Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako make up the core of the squad.

Premiership-winning Penrith, soon to be Warriors, big man James Fisher-Harris has been named skipper of a squad that includes Penrith NSW Cup players Trent Toelau and teenager Casey McLean.

But a long list of first-choice players are unavailable due to injury and suspension including Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Moses Leota (shoulder), Te Maire Martin (neck), Brandon Smith (knee), Jeremy Marshall-King (knee), Briton Nikora (ankle), Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspended) with Joey Manu switching to rugby union.

“While we’ve had a number of players ruled out through injury or unavailability, it’s a hugely exciting opportunity having the Kiwis playing at home in front of our fans again,” Jones said.

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“We’ve still got a solid core of last year’s squad but, the way I see it, it’s a fantastic chance for us to build the group to provide lots of options and depth for following campaigns.”

The eight new players are Warbrick, Knights hooker-halfback Phoenix Crossland, Warriors signing Erin Clark, Brisbane Broncos second rower Jordan Riki, Roosters back rower Naufahu Whyte, Titans fullback Keano Kini, Toelau and McLean, who is the 18-year-old nephew of former Kiwi Alex Chan.

Warbrick, who played in Storm’s losing grand final side, has played rugby sevens and AFL for New Zealand and earnt high praise from Jones.

“He has gone to another level, with the way he is playing and from where he came from last year,” Jones said.

“I have spoken to Will a couple of times during the year and let him know how he has been playing and that he is certainly right in the mix for us.

“I saw him do an interview earlier in the year and he said he wanted to make the national side. He has certainly made good progress on that journey.

“He seems very professional, and he is obviously in a good system at the Melbourne Storm. They tend not to rush players, and Will is reaping the rewards of how they do things at the Storm.”

The Kiwis’ first match in the Pacific Championships will be against the Kangaroos on October 27 in Christchurch.

Kiwis’ Pacific Championship squad:

Erin Clark, Phoenix Crossland, James Fisher-Harris (capt), Peta Hiku, Jahrome Hughes, Jamayne Isaako, Keano Kini, Casey McLean, Griffin Neame, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kodi Nikorima, Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali’i, Jordan Riki, Scott Sorensen, Joseph Tapine, Leo Thompson, Matt Timoko, Trent Toelau, Will Warbrick, Naufahu Whyte.

Originally published as Storm winger Will Warbrick among eight rookies in Kiwis squad to face Australia