Stacey Jones has been forced to call up two fringe first-graders to his maiden New Zealand camp as the Kiwis coach named a heavily depleted squad for the Pacific Championships. Penrith duo Trent Toelau and Casey McLean were the surprise inclusions in Jones’s squad, with the pair boasting just 16 games of NRL experience between them. The uncapped Panthers have spent most of the season playing in the NSW Cup.
Meanwhile, rising Panthers star Paul Alamoti has capped his breakout season with the Panthers by being called into a Tongan squad dripping with talent. Centre Alamoti, who scored the match-winning try in Sunday’s NRL grand final win over Melbourne, is one of five debutants called up by coach Kristian Woolf.
For the Kiwis, Toelau and McLean will be joined in a fresh-looking squad by six further debutants, including Newcastle utility Phoenix Crossland, Gold Coast Titans livewire Keano Kini and Melbourne’s former New Zealand sevens international Will Warbrick. The likes of Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Moses Leota, Brandon Smith, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora and Jeremy Marshall-King are all unavailable due to injury.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is suspended, while former Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu has recently switched codes to take up a deal in Japanese rugby union. Retiring Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson could not be convinced to finish his career with an international call-up.
Jones has turned to versatile back Peta Hiku to compensate for his player shortage after an impressive season in the Super League with Hull KR, who have qualified for Sunday’s grand final. Hiku is the first Kiwi call-up from England since 2017.
“While we’ve had a number of players ruled out through injury or unavailability, it’s a hugely exciting opportunity having the Kiwis playing at home in front of our fans again,” Jones said. “We’ve still got a solid core of last year’s squad but, the way I see it, it’s a fantastic chance for us to build the group to provide lots of options and depth for following campaigns.”
Warriors-bound Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris will captain the side again after his exploits in their 30-0 defeat of Australia to claim last year’s Pacific Championships helped him become the first forward to win the Golden Boot.
Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes has been selected and looks set to partner Kodi Nikorima in the halves after the Dolphins playmaker was recalled to the Kiwis side for the first time since 2019.
Alamoti will be joined in the Tonga squad by four more debutants in Manly prop Taniela Paseka and winger Lehi Hopoate, Parramatta-bound fullback Isaiah Iongi and Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. But aside from a nod to the future in a squad that includes Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa, Woolf has kept faith with the core of the Tongan players who revolutionised the international game in 2017.
Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Daniel Tupou and Huddersfield five-eighth Tui Lolohea are all included in Woolf’s set-up. Roosters forward Siua Wong, who made his Tongan debut on last year’s three-Test tour of England, is part of a formidable forward pack that also contains South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu.
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The impressive squad will give Tonga hope they can cause a boilover against Australia in their first meeting since 2019. Tonga defeated the Kangaroos five years ago and will be looking to repeat that feat at Suncorp Stadium on 18 October in the Pacific Championships opener.
New Zealand will face Australia in their first game of the tournament in Christchurch on 27 October, before meeting Tonga on 2 November in Auckland.
New Zealand squad: Erin Clark, Phoenix Crossland, James Fisher-Harris (capt), Peta Hiku, Jahrome Hughes, Jamayne Isaako, Keano Kini, Casey McLean, Griffin Neame, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kodi Nikorima, Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali’i, Jordan Riki, Scott Sorensen, Joseph Tapine, Leo Thompson, Matt Timoko, Trent Toelau, Will Warbrick, Naufahu Whyte
Tonga squad: Paul Alamoti, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili, Lehi Hopoate, Isaiah Iongi, Sione Katoa, Eliesa Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Keaon Koloamatangi, Tolutau Koula, Tuimoala Lolohea, Soni Luke, Haumole Olakau’atu, Taniela Paseka, Moses Suli, Jason Taumalolo, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua, Siua Wong