At a glance
Who: Kiwis v Mate Ma’a Tonga
Where, when: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland; 5.20pm today
Kiwis: Joey Manu, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Marata Niukore, Peta Hiku, Jordan Rapana, Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich (c), Brandon Smith, James Fisher-Harris, Isaiah Papali’i, Kenny Bromwich, Joseph Tapine. Interchange: Kieran Foran, Moses Leota, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Briton Nikora.
Mate Ma’a Tonga: Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu, Will Penisini, Moses Suli, Sione Katoa, Kotoni Staggs, Talatau Amone, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Sitili Tupouniua, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: Soni Luke, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tevita Tatola, Moeaki Fotuaika.
was probably the best No 6 in the game’’.
And of Manu, who he will play alongside next year at the Sydney Roosters: ‘‘Every time he chucks on the Roosters’ No 1 jersey, he definitely takes the game on and that’s what we need him to do’’.
The last time the Kiwis were together, for a loss to Australia and two wins over Great Britain at the end of 2019, Smith was the starting hooker, but the first-choice halves were Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran and Benji Marshall and the fullback was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
These days Tuivasa-Sheck is in
camp with the All Blacks, on the verge of becoming a dual international, Marshall is retired and Johnson’s form upon his return to the Warriors hasn’t come close to warranting a callup.
Foran is still there and will cover hooker and halfback off the interchange bench, having played only six minutes for the Kiwis since their calamitous quarterfinal exit at the 2017 World Cup.
This match marks the start of a new era. Kiwis coach Michael Maguire got his spine players together on a video call a couple of weeks back in preparation.
He readily admits the idea wouldn’t have occurred before the pandemic made such gatherings second-nature, but Hughes says it ‘‘helped us a lot – just to figure out how we want to play and what our strengths are and how we can use them on the footy field’’.
The 27-year-old from Wellington has quietly become one of the best No 7s in the NRL, helping the Storm stay strong even after the last member of their iconic spine – Cam Smith – hung up his boots at the end of last season.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has noted that Hughes’ rise has come as he has become more confident – growth that the players trace back to a conversation with his boss in preseason in 2019.
‘‘He said you can’t be a good footy player if you’re not going to be confident and can’t be a good halfback if you’re not going to be confident,’’ says Hughes.
‘‘That was a turning point, but it still took a while to get confidence and the trust and the belief of the players around me and the coaching staff and it’s a constant thing – I’m still trying to work on it.’’