Marsters chosen to start at centre
Michael Maguire has not wasted any time blooding the next generation of Kiwis.
The New Zealand coach’s decision to go with Esan Marsters at centre ahead of Jordan Kahu means all seven new faces selected in the initial 19-man squad will make their debut against England in Denver.
Marsters’ selection is a bold call from the coach and was one of the reasons why he delayed confirming his playing 17 until yesterday.
Kahu is among the more experienced players in the side and can cover all the outside back positions, as well as kick goals.
But with Marsters, a former Cook Islands international, enjoying a breakout season for the Wests Tigers, Maguire has backed the 21-year to transfer that form to the international arena.
‘‘It took me some time to make sure I was comfortable with the decision making in attack and defence,’’ Maguire said. ‘‘But over the two training sessions, his improvement was immense so I was pretty happy to go with him.’’
Kahu has been named as the 18th man, with three-test forward Isaac Liu the other player to miss out.
Recalled hooker Issac Luke is the senior figure in the spine alongside halves Kodi Nikorima and Te Maire Martin and fullback Dallin WateneZelezniak. Marsters will link with fellow rookie, Warriors winger Ken Maumalo, on the left edge, while Brisbane flyer Jamayne Isaako will make his debut on the right wing and will also handle the goalkicking.
Bulldogs back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner is the only uncapped forward in the starting pack with Slade Griffin, Herman Ese’ese and Leeson Ah Mau to make their debuts off the bench. One-test forward James Fisher-Harris makes up the interchange.
While it is an inexperienced lineup, Maguire has gone with the heavy artillery up front.
His three star props are all in the starting side with Jared WaereaHargreaves and Nelson AsofaSolomona in the front row and Manly enforcer Martin Taupau to start at lock.
It sets the stage for a physical opening 20 minutes against an England pack led by Sam Burgess and James Graham.
‘‘I like to have a bit of size there in the forwards and I think having Nelson, Jared and Marty there gives us real good punch at the start,’’ Maguire added.
Slade Griffin’s test debut will bring a wry smile to even the most hardened rugby league battler. If the 13-man code really is still the blue-collar game, Griffin’s career personifies the struggles of the working class more than most.
The Newcastle Knights hooker will make his Kiwis debut from off the bench against England in Denver tomorrow.
The 27-year-old’s story is one of resilience.
If Griffin, who hails from the coal mining town of Greymouth, walked away from the game during a period when he endured three knee reconstructions in four seasons – when contracted to the Melbourne Storm – nobody would have held it against him.
His dream of playing for the Kiwis was fading fast in 2015 when a third ACL rupture meant he would lose 21⁄2 seasons.
When he returned to the NRL midway through 2016 he had been out of first grade for 1065 days.
‘‘If someone had told me you’ll be playing for the Kiwis one day it would have been easier to come back from,’’ Griffin said from Denver this week.
Much has changed for Griffin in the last two years. His selection in the Kiwis team caps a careerdefining nine months.
‘‘To be here now is just a buzz and it was all worth it,’’ he said of his injury-plagued journey.
‘‘You kind of have dreams of pulling on the black and white so I just want to do my job.’’
Win, lose or draw against England, Griffin will be able to call himself a premiership winner, test representative and a regular first-grade starter.
Griffin has certainly come a long way since leaving Greymouth in late 2008 – as a 17-year-old – to begin pre-season training.
He played just 25 NRL games for the Storm over three seasons but was able to nail down an interchange spot at the back end of 2017. He took the field for the