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.
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.
(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
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.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Sorensen's uncles played for the Kiwis - Dane & Kurt Sorensen in the 70's/80's.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Madge has taken this team from #3 in the World to #1 after defeating England, Aust and Tonga. If you watched the recent win over a powerful Tonga team you can see just how well prepared the Kiwis were. Each player had a specific role and the cohesion and leg speed in defence was evident of a very well coached and happy team. The challenge will be Aust on Nov.11. The team selections and prep will be all pointed to this mouth watering match. Australia will have Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the centres, and minimizing their impact will be trained for daily by the Kiwis.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Dylan Brown???? They must have a space for an invisible man too
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Actually It was Simmonson from the Eels I was thinking of Sorry.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sorensons dad played for the All Blacks. Paul Sorenson
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Wasnt Sorensons old man an All Black?
ALL ABOUT BALLS
Roar Rookie
I still dont understand that when Macguire took over as coach he appointed Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as captain, he lost me as a coach back then. If they know the Haka they are Kiwis.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
They are going to need a lot more from Dylan Brown & Isaiah Papali’i than they produced last night. And Brandon Smith, on holidays, no Bellamy to keep him in line, pommy pubs, I have him at odds of 3 to 1, 1st player sent home
jammel
Roar Rookie
Yeah that was the best moment of the Melbourne game for sure!!
Tony
Roar Guru
If anyone can destroy NZ's chances of winning, McGuire can
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Highlight of the game I thought - he reminds me a bit of Brian To'o from the Panthers Seb Kris is doing really well - he sat out all of 2020 with mental health issues so good on him The thing about the Raiders is they all look so frickin happy. A far cry from when they had all those issues with George Williams, Josh Hodgson, Curtis Scott etc
The Barry
Roar Guru
Timoko’s double don’t argue on Munster was a thing of beauty Both those guys have come on leaps and bounds in the last 5-6 weeks…
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Young Timoko and Kris from the Raiders have been added to the squad. Both playing well in the centres. Both very young and with great potential - but not quite in the same league as Latrell and Holmes at this stage. But great recognition for how well both have been playing. Surprised that Seb Kris has been included in the squad - apparently he has Australian Indigenous and Maori heritage so I guess he's chosen to go for the Kiwis
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah - I'm really liking the look of the Kiwi team - should be an absolute cracker when they play the Kangaroos. Bit hard to believe that Australia is currently ranked 4th in the IRL rankings - behind NZ, Tonga and England.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I have just posted before reading Jimmy, you and I both have the same concern, this on paper looks to the best side to have represented NZ at a RLWC. But you cannot have both Latrell and Val together, if it goes to plan and we play the Kangaroos! You where they will be targeting us in the semifinals, our forwards look impressive though.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
No! No! Surely we using Latrell and Val as a combo? I love the team and wider squad but not the above two together.
Eric
Guest
Remember when you wrote this Nat? Hahaaha
phil billman
Roar Rookie
Te Marie Martin at fullback. Manu at centre. best spot for joey.
Nat
Roar Guru
If at anytime you want to engage in actual football you'll be welcomed. We are good like that. You choose to be a multi profile D... so you will be treated that way.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Oh strewth. NAS, JWH and Rapana on the same team? They will give away 18 penalties a game and be placed on report 27 times a game. And then he fined $1500 in total for the tournament