Brisbane Broncos outcast Josh Hoffman will be given the chance to audition for his NRL future during New Zealand’s Four Nations campaign, after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak withdrew from the tournament with a foot injury.
Hoffman was drafted into Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney’s 24-man squad for the four-week tournament after Watene-Zelezniak broke his foot at training.
Broncos veteran Sam Thaiday confirmed on Wednesday that Wayne Bennett was in the midst of some spring cleaning at the Queensland flagship upon his return to Red Hill.
And Hoffman is said to be squarely in the crosshairs due to the club’s surplus of fullbacks.
The 26-year-old has been linked to a number of suitors including Canberra, Canterbury and Parramatta and has the talent to continue his career in the NRL.
With Darius Boyd set to fill the custodian role at the Broncos under his long term mentor Bennett next season, Hoffman and Ben Barba have been linked to moves elsewhere, alongside prop Martin Kennedy.
Kearney, who is on Bennett’s support staff, spoke of Hoffman’s enthusiasm on entering the Kiwi camp after being initially overlooked.
But he refused to speculate on the utility’s future.
“I know Josh was certainly very disappointed to miss the squad initially but very excited to be a part of it now,” Kearney told reporters on Wednesday.
“It’s pretty difficult (to talk about his future).
“He is loved down there by the boys (at Brisbane).
“At the moment it is speculation and I’m not going to make a comment on it.”
St George Illawarra utility Gerard Beale will come onto the right wing for the Kiwis for Watene-Zelezniak for the tournament opener against world champions Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
But Hoffman is sure to play a role for New Zealand moving forward.
Kearney said he felt for 18-year-old Watene-Zelezniak.
“He had a bit of a mishap on the beach on Monday where he felt he rolled his ankle,” Kearney said.
“We got that scanned and he has a small fracture there.
“Obviously, he’s feeling fairly disappointed.
“He has bounced back from it fairly well but you can tell he’s disappointed not to be playing this weekend.”
England play Samoa in the other game in Saturday’s double header.
Realist 1975
Guest
Steve Kearney is "protected" because people rated him as a player (I didn't), he looks the part and fundamentally plays "the game". And good on him for being successful. Nevertheless I feel his selections are normally poor given the talent pool. For instance Hoffman had to be FB especially the game is being played in his back yard of Suncorp BUT more importantly his performances for the Kiwi jumper. Peter Hiku has talent no doubt and did try hard in the last test, but his handling errors as the game progressed didn't help the Kiwis. Nor did Beale's reads in defence which lead to a couple of late tries. I say Beale as Nightingale is a good defender. Vatuvei over Beale is another "no brainer: but alas Kearney & cohorts differ. Mannering to me is the best LC available but is always selected in the forwards where he can't benefit the team as much. Adam Blair is a better player at 13 then as a prop also in my opinion. Lastly I would of had Sam Perrett in the 17. Nobody has mentioned it but I could see Sam as a potential hooker given the way he runs from dummy half. Given that this is the 1st game I would have tried him out in training along with Leuluai
cedric
Guest
there have been more than a few odd selections this year, including leaving Manu out of the opener. Not selecting Au'vaa is also strange. From what I've read Kearney and Richie Barnett are the selectors, or are there others involved? I sometimes just cannot get my head around their selections or plans. Maybe Manu is injured, no he's still in the squad, maybe they are holding him back to use him in the final? Weird! Naming that young penrith boy ahead of Manu is just very strange to say the least!! I could only guess that perhaps Manu is lacking fitness or a nigling injury cause the young fella is not in Manu's class yet and possibly never will be. I also think Hiku is special, but Perrett was NZ best fullback this year and his returning stats, I read, showed he was 3rd overall. To me these 2 selections show the selectors are looking to the future. The future is SATURDAY!! I read somewhere Kearney said their much argued selections for the Anzac showed they were right in who they picked, because they were leading at 1/2 time, and they just have to change a few things cause the game got away from them in the end!! If they seriously believe that dribble we're in trouble. Cause in reality they played a side that was asleep until 1/2 time when Sheens gave them the boot in the backside they deserved and then they came out firing and we lost by the usual margin. If the Roos' had come out firing for 80 minutes the score would have been alot bigger! The NZ press don't know what is what and really alot of kiwis don't either they'll watch the game maybe and that's it. All I want is the selectors to put the best man in every position, not someone who is going to be good in 2 or 4 years maybe!!
Akari
Roar Rookie
Spot on Nerval. I think the Kiwi press are not as inquisitive as the Oz press and Kiwi coaches, like the ABs counterpart, are left alone to play god with the selections and totally unaccountable to the NZ and general public at large. This has continued during Kearney's bizarre selections over the past two years with not a word. The Kangaroos have responded by thrashing the Kiwis.
maximillian
Guest
100% agree. Vatuvei scored 17 tries this year & was voted players player of the year at the Warriors. Surely he should be in there well before Beale. I think the Kiwis have the players to give this competition a good shake, they just need a better coach.
nerval
Guest
Really disappointed not to be able to see Dallin W-Z in this competition. He is destined to be a very special player indeed. Aside from this, Stephen Kearney appears to have made yet another bizarre selection. Surely this is the moment for Manu Vatuvei to take his place on the left wing? What on earth has Gerard Beale ever done to convince Kearney that he's a superior wing to Vatuvei? Now, this doesn't men to say that the Kiwis won't be competitive or that Beale will necessarily let the side down - we saw in the Anzac Test that the Kiwis are capable of putting up a fight. However, as with the Anzac Test, Kearney's selections seem to have no rhyme or reason behind them. It just seems to be pot luck. Unfortunately, the Kiwi press, such as it is, never really seems to be able to put him on the spot.