THE New Zealand Rugby League has named 40 players in the Kiwi rugby league squad for this year's Tri-Nations competition against Australia and Great Britain and the New Zealand A team.

New Zealand squad:

Louis Anderson (New Zealand Warriors),
Roy Asotasi (Canterbury Bulldogs),
George Carmont (Newcastle Knights),
Nathan Cayless (Parramatta Eels),
Luke Covell (Cronulla Sharks),
Greg Eastwood (Brisbane Broncos),
David Faiumu (North Queensland Cowboys),
Joe Galavao (Penrith Panthers),
Awen Guttenbeil (New Zealand Warriors),
Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers),
Bronson Harrison (Wests Tigers),
Lance Hohaia (New Zealand Warriors),
Stacey Jones (New Zealand Warriors),
David Kidwell (Melbourne Storm),
Wairangi Koopu (New Zealand Warriors),
Tevita Latu (Cronulla Sharks),
Phillip Leuluai (Cronulla Sharks),
Kylie Leuluai (Manly Sea Eagles),
Peter Lewis (Parramatta Eels),
Jamaal Lolesi (Wests Tigers),
Steve Matai (Manly Sea Eagles),
Hutch Maiava (Cronulla Sharks),
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers),
Frank Pritchard (Penrith Panthers),
Tony Puletua (Penrith Panthers),
Frank Puletua (Penrith Panthers),
Paul Rauhihi (Warrington),
Iafeta Palea'aesina (St Helens),
Marcus Perenara (Parramatta Eels),
Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters),
Jeremy Smith (Parramatta Eels)
Clinton Toopi (New Zealand Warriors),
Tame Tupou (Brisbane Broncos),
Glen Turner (Melbourne Storm),
Nigel Vagana (Cronulla Sharks),
Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors),
Brent Webb (New Zealand Warriors),
Jake Webster (Melbourne Storm),
Paul Whatuira (Wests Tigers),
Ruben Wiki (New Zealand Warriors).

Did Craig Smith rule himself out? Otherwise I'd have no idea how the likes of Glen Turner, Hutch Maivia, either Leuluai, Jeremy Smith, or Peter Lewis were included ahead of him.

Not a single English based player selected? Surely they'll add the likes of Vainikolo and Lauititi once the season is over?

1. Brent Webb
2. Manu Vatuvai
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Paul Whaitura
5. Jamaal Lolesi
6. Benji Marshall
7. Stacey Jones
8. Roy Asotasi
9. Lance Hohaia
10. Paul Rauhihi
11. Tony Puletua
12. Ruban Wiki c
13. Dene Halatau

14. Nathan Cayless / Iafeta Palea'aesina
15. Frank Pritchard
16. Joe Galuvao
17. David Faiumu

I would have to say they would definately have to name some, I mean there is heaps of kiwis over there going great guns!

Imagine if the Kiwi's had everyone fit... I'd love to see this team play

1. Brent Webb
2. Lesley Vainokolo
3. Sonny Bill-Williams
4. Paul Whaitura
5. Matthew Utai
6. Benji Marshall
7. Stacey Jones
8. Jason Cayless
9. Lance Hohaia
10. Ruban Wiki
11. Ali Lau'itiiti
12. Tony Puletua
13. Dene Halatau

14. Roy Asotasi
15. Frank Pritchard
16. Joe Galuvao
17. David Faiumu

Imagine that team...with Faiumu, Halatau and Hohaia terrorising the Aussies around the ruck area with quick dummy half play. Then you got huge backline with Sonny and Lesley running over the top of Cooper and Tahu....while Whaitura shimmy's past Gasnier and sets up utai to run past King.

Then you've got Stacey and Benji...the creators up against Joey and Lockyer...what a match.

Then you've got the forwards who would shit alllll over the aussies.

Fark I crave a contest and what a game it would be to have the Aussies play that team.

My full strength/full selection NZ team

1: Brent Webb
2: Lesley Vainikolo
3: Paul Whatuira
4: Nigel Vagana
5: Matt Utai
6: Benji Marshall
7: Stacey Jones
8: Ruben Wiki ©
9: Lance Hohaia
10: Craig Smith
11: Sonny-Bill Williams
12: Ali Lauititi
13: Dene Halatau

14: Louis Anderson
15: Tony Puletua
16: Jason Cayless
17: Roy Asotasi

40 players? Are a few of them having a birthday party or something over there?

Nah, to even things out we're letting them field 34 players per game :P

hmm and 6 benchies...they better hope they don't get any injuries in that case!

Twenty six on the field, and then fourteen benchies. They should be fine.

ud deadset think about quitting if u were a kiwi and didnt make the kiwi side, everyone made it

Late call ups expected for players involved in ESL play-offs - Volcano, Hape, Ali and Vinnie Anderson

this is not just the kiwi squad it is also the new zealand squad. the actually squad will be out around friday.

volcano, ali, and hape will be in the squad but since they still can be in the grand final they will not be named yet. vinnie is still a shot if he is healthy.

Leeds are in the final so Ali wont be in match 1 and Lesley and Hape will also be missing cos Bulls will murder Saints this week.

Benji Marshall and Dene Halatau out

first two english based players join the squad

motu tony and david solomona

the squad has now been split into two teams (hutch maiava has pulled out)
the 21 man kiwi team is:

Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi, Nathan Cayless, David Faiumu, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, David Kidwell, Wairangi Koopu, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Paul Rauhihi, David Solomona, Clinton Toopi, Motu Tony, Iosia Soliola, Nigel Vagana, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Paul Whatuira, Ruben Wiki.

my team would be:
1. brent webb
2. manu vatuvei
3. iosia soliola
4. nigel vagana
5. paul whaturia
6. lance hohaia
7. stacey jones
8. roy asotasi
9. louis anderson
10. ruben wiki
11. wairangi koopu
12. nathan cayless
13. david kidwell

14. paul ruahihi
15. tony puletua
16. david solomona/frank pritchard
17. motu tony

the other members of the squad make the nza squad (unless they pack a tantrum)


George Carmont (Newcastle Knights),
Luke Covell (Cronulla Sharks),
Greg Eastwood (Brisbane Broncos),
Joe Galavao (Penrith Panthers),
Awen Guttenbeil (New Zealand Warriors),
Bronson Harrison (Wests Tigers),
Tevita Latu (Cronulla Sharks),
Phillip Leuluai (Cronulla Sharks),
Kylie Leuluai (Manly Sea Eagles),
Peter Lewis (Parramatta Eels),
Jamaal Lolesi (Wests Tigers),
Steve Matai (Manly Sea Eagles),
Frank Puletua (Penrith Panthers),
Marcus Perenara (Parramatta Eels),
Jeremy Smith (Parramatta Eels)
Tame Tupou (Brisbane Broncos),
Glen Turner (Melbourne Storm),
Jake Webster (Melbourne Storm),

Whatuira's wasted on the wing. He's been in better form than both of the guys you list in your centre pairing

Watching Hull FC play all season I wopuldn't pick Moyu Tony in Hull's A team, never mind the New Zealand international side

Looks like another Aussie walkover

Doug...you want to move one of the best centres this season...top 3 imo...to the wing to cater for those two....you got no idea.

their is only one winger in the squad out of vagana, soloila and toopi whats is the better winger. but they will probably put toopi on the wing and vagana to five eight.

i had to move a centre to wing and soliola lacks the pace.

but soliolia is now out with jake webster into the team.

webster to wing and whats to go back to centre.