Kiwis coach needs more time
Centre and the makeup of his forward rotation are the two areas Michael Maguire is weighing up after the Kiwis coach delayed naming his team to face England in Denver.
While English counterpart Wayne Bennett revealed his playing 17 yesterday for Sunday’s test at Mile High Stadium, Maguire has pushed back the announcement of his starting lineup 24 hours.
The new coach has been generally encouraged by the effort at training. But having only had two sessions with what is a largely inexperienced squad, Maguire said he needed more time to review training footage and talk with his coaching staff before deciding which two players to cut from the 19-man group.
The Australian confirmed Dallin Watene-Zelezniak would start at fullback which leaves two of his more experienced outside backs, Peta Hiku and Jordan Kahu, battling with new cap Esan Marsters for a place in the centres.
Hiku and Kahu could also line up on the left wing but face competition from Ken Maumalo, with fellow rookie Jamayne Isaako expected to play on the right flank.
Up front, veteran duo Martin Taupau and Jared WaereaHargreaves and Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona are vying to start at prop. But Maguire said he was still considering the mix of his middle forwards, with James Fisher-Harris and new trio Leeson Ah Mau, Herman Ese’ese and Raymond Faitala-Mariner all in contention.
‘‘Obviously this is my first time with the players. I’ve had two sessions with the group and I’ve been impressed with all of them,’’ the former Rabbitohs coach said.
‘‘I’ve got a few players that I need to look at to confirm the team we’re going to put. I was hoping to have it finalised but training today was of high quality which gives me some good decisions to make.’’
With halves Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran absent, Kodi Nikorima and Te Maire Martin will have the responsibility of organising the attack.
It is an inexperienced combination but both have played in NRL grand finals and will be supported by veteran hooker Issac Luke and Watene-Zelezniak, who has spent the last six games in the No 1 jersey for the Panthers.
‘‘We’ve got a pretty handy spine there with Issac at hooker, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire and then Dallin will be at fullback,’’ Maguire said.
‘‘I’ve been impressed with Kodi. He’s been very strong in camp, he’s spent a lot of time talking to the players of what we’re about and what we want to do. So along with Te Maire I’ve been pretty impressed with both of those boys.’’
England will blood debutants Jake Connor and Tommy Makinson against the Kiwis.
Bennett’s side includes 12 players from the team that lost last year’s World Cup final to Australia, including leading NRL forwards Sam Burgess and James Graham.