New Zealand will be without intimidating prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for their World Cup semi-final against Australia.
The Sydney Roosters forward has only played one game at this tournament, suspensions forcing him to sit out their opening two group fixtures and their quarter-final win over Fiji. Waerea-Hargreaves has also been struggling with a hamstring injury and won’t feature against the Kangaroos at Elland Road on Friday (Saturday AEDT).
New Zealand have only beaten Australia once in their last five meetings and coach Michael Maguire will also be without versatile utility Marata Niukore for the first trans-Tasman game since 2019.
But Maguire has some welcome news with the return of prop forward Moses Leota, who has been dealing with a pectoral injury, and has only featured once on this tour.
(Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also included in the 19-man squad after dealing with a hamstring complaint.
New Zealand squad:
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Bromwich (captain), Kenny Bromwich, Dylan Brown, James Fisher-Harris, Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku, Jahrome Hughes, Moses Leota, Isaac Liu, Joseph Manu, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali’i, Jordan Rapana, Brandon Smith, Joseph Tapine, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Strewth Hicks!!! You must watch a different Joey Manu and Hughes to the ones I do.
Hicks
Roar Rookie
Manu is not creative, he just hogs the ball and runs meteres. A selfish player. Hughes? Munster runs the Storm, Hughes is his lackey.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But now they have left him only as reserve ?? And playing Isaac Liu instead ? Strange move if you are wanting some impact off the bench .
Cam
Roar Rookie
I thought Moses Leota was outstanding in the GF and surprised me with the quality of his work. The Kiwis are a better side with him being named in the team.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
A blessing for the kiwis. Jarrod and Nelson in the same team reduces your chances of finishing the game with a full squad. Kiwis are a chance here, Australia has had a really soft lead up and never really been challenged.
matth
Roar Guru
Have you met Manu and Hughes?
Phil
Roar Rookie
Now that JWH is not playing, NZ are a good chance to topple Aus. The big fella is not much use to his teammates being easily baited and binned. In the four key positions they have Manu, Smith, Hughes and Brown or possibly Foran, four key players capable of causing us some grief. Looking forward to this game and if both teams are on song it will be a crackerjack of a match.
Hicks
Roar Rookie
They don`t have a creative spine.That`s were they will struggle v the Kangaroos.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Although they haven’t performed anywhere near their potential at the WC as yet, this NZ squad is as good a squad as NZ has produced, IMHO. They have 10 x premiership winners in their squad, a very strong pack & bench , and plenty of strike across the backs. The Aussies will not want to take these guys lightly. They are due their best performance, which could easily win this match.