Kiwis welcome selection headache for Anzac test
Kiwis team that played the trans-tasman test in Townsville, October 13
Thomas Leuluai is on track to resume his international rugby league career in this month’s Anzac Test in Canberra now the tyranny of distance is no longer an impediment to him representing the Kiwis.
The 28-cap veteran was occasionally summoned south for the traditional one-off test until Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney decided the arduous journey from the north of England – and minimal preparation time – were unfair on Leuluai.
However, thanks to his return to the New Zealand Warriors from Super League, the 27-year-old shapes as the ideal backup for two key roles – the halves and hooker – when the Kiwis tackle the Kangaroos on April 19.
While Benji Marshall and Kieran Foran are cemented in the playmaking roles and Issac Luke has dummy half secure – ideally for 80 minutes – the Kiwis selectors lack depth if any of the trio are injured.
‘‘We’d still like to add a few more faces to put pressure on the guys who are in and around there now,’’ said Kiwis assistant Tony Iro.
Shaun Johnson made his debut alongside Marshall in the corresponding fixture at Eden Park last year but has struggled at the Warriors while the departure of Aaron Heremaia and Lance Hohaia to Super League has left the heavily-marked Luke to generally fend for himself.
Leuluai, who last played for the Kiwis in the 2011 Four Nations tournament in Europe, was invited to a 32-man camp in Sydney late January and is clearly in the selectors’ thoughts despite the Warriors woeful start premiership.
‘‘Thomas Leuluai’s return to the NRL has given us a little bit more of an option there around that role plus an extra halfback,’’ Iro said.
Wing berths are highly contestable with Manu Vatuvei’s lack of match play likely to count him against given the form of incumbent Sam Perrett and Jason Nightingale, who missed the Townsville test due to injury.
Josh Hoffman is likely to retain the fullback role despite playing on the wing for the Brisbane Broncos while Dean Whare – who made an impressive debut in October – is in line to retain his spot in the centres although he plays in the No 1 jersey at new club Penrith.
Whare’s prospects of a second test cap have been enhanced by Krisnan Inu’s suspension and Steve Matai this week declaring his allegiance to Samoa for October’s World Cup in Britain, Ireland and France.
‘‘Three or four years ago if we’d lost players of that calibre we would have been in real trouble,’’ said Iro, who instead faces a welcome selection headache before the team
to
the
NRL is finalised on April 14.
Experienced Sydney Roosters centre Shaun KennyDowall and Gerard Beale are other candidates to play in midfield while new captain Simon Mannering could also switch from the second row where there is an abundance of talent.
Fitness permitting, Sonny Bill Williams is assured of resuming a seven-test career that stalled when he abandoned the NRL for French rugby in 2008 while Jeremy Smith is a highly regarded stalwart who missed the last Kangaroos clash through injury.
Williams has made an impression since returning to the code, his performance for the Roosters against Parramatta on Easter Monday indicating he was primed for a return to the test arena.
‘‘He’s really impressed me. He’s probably exceeded what I expected from him,’’ Iro said.
Sam Kasiano, a high profile debutant in Townsville, is out of calculations because he is yet to play for the Bulldogs due to injury but there is no shortage of quality front rowers vying for inclusion.