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New Zealand World Cup squad: Six Grand Final stars in Kiwis squad - should they be considered favourites?

2nd October, 2022
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2nd October, 2022
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New Zealand are listed as second favourites for the tournament, and it’s easy to see why. They have gun players in every position and a fair bit of depth to go with it.

All things going to plan, they’re set for a semi-final showdown with Australia at Elland Road in Leeds that should be a cracker.

Their spine of Joey Manu, Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown and Brandon Smith is elite while their forward rotation begins with James Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine and then they swap in Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Moses Leota. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is suspended for the start, but will feature at some point. Big, big boys.

Their pack also includes multiple NRL premiership winners in Jesse and Kenny Bromwich as well as one of the best strike forwards in the world, Isaiah Papali’i.

Michael Maguire must laugh that he went from dealing with the shallow pool of the Wests Tigers to the Marianas Trench of talent.

Canberra’s Brisbane-born centre Seb Kris, who qualifies through his mother, is a surprise call-up as part of a strong Canberra contingent headlined by in-form prop Joe Tapine, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jordan Rapana.

“We’re excited about the depth of players available and the form they’re in,” Maguire said. “The vast majority of them are in sides that made it into the finals which is a real positive as we look ahead to the tournament.”

So this bit is really easy. The Kiwis won handily over Tonga in June and have suffered no injuries to major players since. The predicted 17 below is literally the same as the one that started in Auckland.

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There’s all those names above, plus backs Jordan Rapana, Peta Hiku, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Kieran Foran. Marata Niukore played in the centres against Tonga and Briton Nikora came off the bench, so they’ll travel for sure.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 22: Jahrome Hughes of the Kiwis scores a try during the Oceania league test between the Kiwis and Mate Ma'a Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium on June 22, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Unable to make the 17 but likely to make the squad are Scott Sorensen and Isaac Liu with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak the only Warrior in the squad. Jeremy Marshall-King has been excellent late in the year for the Bulldogs and goes as dummy-half depth but veteran playmaker Shaun Johnson has also been overlooked in what is likely to signal the end of his international career.

Confirmed Squad

Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Jesse Bromwich
Kenny Bromwich
Dylan Brown
James Fisher-Harris
Kieran Foran
Peta Hiku
Jahrome Hughes
Seb Kris
Moses Leota
Isaac Liu
Joey Manu
Jeremy Marshall-King
Ronaldo Mulitalo
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Briton Nikora
Marata Niukore
Isaiah Papali’i
Jordan Rapana
Brandon Smith
Scott Sorensen
Joe Tapine
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

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World Cup Chasers is our new Rugby League World Cup podcast and will be released weekly all the way through to the final at Old Trafford in November.

It features exclusive interviews, plus expert analysis from The Roar rugby league writers Mike Meehall Wood and Mary Konstantopolous, as well as Michael Carbone from Chasing Kangaroos, the original international rugby league podcast.

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