Crossland, Panthers rookies among eight Kiwis debutants

Knights utility Phoenix Crossland and Penrith rookies Casey McLean and Trent Toelau are among eight debutants in the Kiwis squad to play Australia and Tonga in the Pacific Championships.

Golden Boot winner James Fisher-Harris, fresh from an extraordinary fourth consecutive NRL grand final win with Penrith, will again captain the side after leading the Kiwis to a record 30-0 defeat of the Kangaroos in last year’s final.

Also named from that line-up are Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako, Raiders centre Matt Timoko, Dally M Medal-winning Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes, back rowers Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers) and Joseph Tapine (Raiders), plus bench forwards Leo Thompson (Knights) and Griffin Neame (Cowboys).

Broncos second rower Jordan Riki, Titans utility Erin Clark and fullback Keano Kini, Storm winger Will Warbrick and Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte have been in camp with the Kiwis over the last two years without making their Test debuts.

In the group for the first time are Crossland, who can play in the halves or hooker, McLean and Toelau, who made their NRL debuts for the Panthers this season.

“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,” new Kiwis coach Stacey Jones said.

“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.”

Former Warriors centre Peta Hiku will fly from England to join the eight debutants in the 21-man squad after playing in this weekend's Super League grand final against Wigan at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old has been in outstanding form in his first season with Hull KR, helping the club to a 10-8 win over Warrington last Friday to clinch a spot in their grand final.

After last playing for the Kiwis in their semifinal loss to Australia at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, Hiku becomes the first Super League player selected for New Zealand since Thomas Leuluai was brought back home from Wigan for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

First a Kiwi 10 years ago in 2014, he boasts 17 Test appearances in a squad which has eight players in line to make their international debuts during the competition.

The Kiwis start their campaign against the Kangaroos at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on October 27, the first time the Trans-Tasman rivals have squared off in the South Island centre since the opening Test of the 1989 series.

The New Zealanders then travel to Auckland to face Tonga at Go Media Stadium on November 2 before the competition moves to CommBank Stadium in Sydney for the finals on November 10.

The Pacific Championships start with the Kangaroos meeting Tonga in Brisbane on October 18.

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS

• ERIN CLARK Gold Coast Titans
• PHOENIX CROSSLAND Newcastle Knights
• JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c) Penrith Panthers
• PETA HIKU Hull Kingston Rovers
• JAHROME HUGHES Melbourne Storm
• JAMAYNE ISAAKO Dolphins
• KEANO KINI Gold Coast Titans
• CASEY McLEAN Penrith Panthers
• GRIFFIN NEAME North Queensland Cowboys
• CHARNZE NICOLL KLOKSTAD NZ Warriors
• KODI NIKORIMA Dolphins
• MARATA NIUKORE NZ Warriors
• ISAIAH PAPALI’I Wests Tigers
• JORDAN RIKI Broncos
• SCOTT SORENSEN Penrith Panthers
• JOSEPH TAPINE Canberra Raiders
• LEO THOMPSON Newcastle Knights
• MATTHEW TIMOKO Canberra Raiders
• TRENT TOELAU Penrith Panthers
• WILLIAM WARBRICK Melbourne Storm
• NAUFAHU WHYTE Sydney Rooster

• Players ruled out through injury were Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee), Dylan Brown (knee), Kieran Foran (ankle), Moses Leota (shoulder), Brandon Smith (knee), Jeremy Marshall-King (knee), Briton Nikora (ankle), Kayal Iro (hamstring), Te Maire Martin (neck).

• Suspended: Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

• Rugby union: Joseph Manu.