Two Changes to Starters for Four Nations Final

Kearney Confirms Two Changes to Starting Line-up for Four Nations Final

Brisbane, Australia, November 9, 2010 – Coach Stephen Kearney today confirmed two changes to the Kiwis’ starting line-up for Saturday night's Four Nations final against the Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium.

Greg Eastwood, used off the bench in last weekend's 20-34 loss at Eden Park, will make his 17th Test appearance, joining the experienced Adam Blair as a starting front rower.

And Bronson Harrison, 18th man in Auckland, is reunited with the seasoned Simon Mannering in the second row.

Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Sika Manu, who both started at Eden Park, have been named on a seven-man bench. Listed in jersey No 17 today is Penrith prop Sam McKendry, the players’ player of the day when making his Test debut in the 76-12 win against Papua New Guinea in Rotorua on October 30. Not considered was interchange back rower Frank Pritchard, who hasn’t recovered from a knee injury which sidelined him during the second half of the Eden Park encounter.

“As a group we were very disappointed with our performance against Australia last week,” said Kearney.

“We prepared as well as we could for that Test but didn’t reach the standards we expect of ourselves. We need to make significant improvements in all areas this week if we are to compete against a very good Australian team.”

Of the changes made, Kearney said: “This is the side we think is going to work for us this week.”

While making two changes in the forwards, Kearney has retained the same starting backline used in the Kiwis’ last two Tests against Papua New Guinea and Australia since winger Manu Vatuvei broke his arm against England in Wellington.

All the starting forwards were involved in the Kiwis’ World Cup victory over Australia at the same ground two years ago as was interchange hooker Issac Luke. On that occasion, Simon Mannering was in the centres and Eastwood was on the bench but Blair, hooker Thomas Leuluai, Harrison and loose forward Jeremy Smith are in the same roles they had in the 2008 final. The backline survivors from that match are Nathan Fien, Benji Marshall, Sam Perrett and Lance Hohaia while winger Jason Nightingale was in the World Cup squad but didn’t play in the final.

Hohaia and Leuluai will take their Test career totals to 27 appearances on Saturday night while Mannering will play his 24th international.

The 2010 Four Nations final is set for a 7.15pm kick-off (local time), 10.15pm New Zealand time.

FOUR NATIONS FINAL

KANGAROOS v KIWIS

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

7.15pm Saturday, November 13

KIWIS

1 LANCE HOHAIA
(Vodafone Warriors)
2 JASON NIGHTINGALE
(St George Illawarra)
3 SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL
(Sydney Roosters)
4 JUNIOR SA’U
(Newcastle)
5 SAM PERRETT
(Sydney Roosters)
6 BENJI MARSHALL (c)
(Wests Tigers)
7 NATHAN FIEN
(St George Illawarra)
8 GREG EASTWOOD
(Leeds)
9 THOMAS LEULUAI
(Wigan)
10 ADAM BLAIR
(Melbourne)
11 BRONSON HARRISON
(Canberra)
12 SIMON MANNERING
(Vodafone Warriors)
13 JEREMY SMITH
(St George Illawarra)
Interchange:
14 ISSAC LUKE
(South Sydney)
15 BEN MATULINO
(Vodafone Warriors)
16 FRANK-PAUL NUUAUSALA
(Sydney Roosters)
17 SAM McKENDRY
(Penrith)
18 SIKA MANU
(Melbourne)
19 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
(Sydney Roosters)
20 LEWIS BROWN
(Vodafone Warriors)

COACH: STEPHEN KEARNEY

2010 KIWIS – SQUAD DETAILS

ADAM BLAIR
(Melbourne Storm)

Born: March 20, 1986

Height: 188cm

Weight: 108kg

Position: Prop/second row

Junior Club: Northland rugby union

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 732

Tests: 20 (2006-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2006

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 98 (2006-2010)

LEWIS BROWN
(Vodafone Warriors)

Born: October 3, 1986

Height: 179cm

Weight: 96kg

Position: Second row

Junior Club: Riccarton Knights (Christchurch)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 762

Tests: 0

Test Debut: Yet to make debut

Test Points: 0

NRL Games: 38 (2009-2010)

GREG EASTWOOD
(Leeds Rhinos)

Born: March 10, 1987

Height: 183cm

Weight: 109kg

Position: Second row

Junior Club: Manurewa Marlins (Auckland)

NRL Clubs: Brisbane (2005-2008), Bulldogs (2009)

Kiwi Number: 737

Tests: 16 (2007-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2007

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 87 (2005-2009)

NATHAN FIEN
(St George Illawarra Dragons)

Born: August 1, 1979

Height: 172cm

Weight: 86kg

Position: Hooker/halfback

Junior Club: Mt Isa Brothers (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: North Queensland (2000-2004), Warriors (2005- 2009)

Kiwi Number: 733

Tests: 17 (2006-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2006

Test Points: 12 (3 tries)

NRL Games: 215 (2000-2010)

BRONSON HARRISON
(Canberra Raiders)

Born: October 10, 1985

Height: 183cm

Weight: 102kg

Position: Second row

Junior Club: Leichhardt Wanderers (NSW)

Other NRL Clubs: Wests Tigers (2004-2008)

Kiwi Number: 723

Tests: 11 (2005-2010)

Test Debut: v France, 2005

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 129 (2004-2010)

LANCE HOHAIA
(Vodafone Warriors)

Born: April 1, 1983

Height: 175cm

Weight: 86kg

Position: Fullback

Junior Club: Taniwharau (Waikato)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 695

Tests: 26 (2002-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2002

Test Points: 60 (11 tries, 8 goals)

NRL Games: 163 (2002-2010)

SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL
(Sydney Roosters)

Born: January 23, 1988

Height: 190cm

Weight: 101kg

Position: Centre

Junior Club: East Coast Bays Barracudas (Auckland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 746

Tests: 5 (2007-2010)

Test Debut: v France, 2007

Test Points: 20 (5 tries)

NRL Games: 85 (2007-2010)

THOMAS LEULUAI
(Wigan Warriors)

Born: June 22, 1985

Height: 176cm

Weight: 85kg

Position: Halfback/hooker

Junior Club: Otahuhu Leopards (Auckland)

Other Clubs: Warriors (2003-2004), London Broncos (2005),

Harlequins (2005-2006)

Kiwi Number: 704

Tests: 26 (2003-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2003

Test Points: 12 (3 tries)

NRL Games: 22 (2003-2004)

ISSAC LUKE
(South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Born: May 29, 1987

Height: 174cm

Weight: 84kg

Position: Hooker

Junior Club: Hawera Hawks (Taranaki)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 749

Tests: 15 (2008-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2008

Test Points: 38 (2 tries, 15 goals)

NRL Games: 78 (2007-2010)

SAM McKENDRY
(Penrith Panthers)

Born: July 19, 1989

Height: 188cm

Weight: 115kg

Position: Prop

Junior Club: Mount Albert Lions (Auckland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 763

Tests: 1 (2010)

Test Debut: v Papua New Guinea, 2010

Test Points: 0

NRL Games: 27 (2009-2010)

SIMON MANNERING
(Vodafone Warriors)

Born: August 28, 1986

Height: 190cm

Weight: 103kg

Position: Second row

Junior Club: Wellington Orcas (Wellington)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 731

Tests: 23 (2006-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2006

Test Points: 16 (4 tries)

NRL Games: 118 (2005-2010)

SIKA MANU
(Melbourne)

Born: January 22, 1987

Height: 180cm

Weight: 107kg

Position: Second row/prop

Junior Club: Randwick Kingfishers (Wellington)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 750

Tests: 9 (2008-2010)

Test Debut: v Tonga, 2008

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 51 (2007-2010)

BENJI MARSHALL – Captain
(Wests Tigers)

Born: February 25, 1985

Height: 182cm

Weight: 89kg

Position: Standoff

Junior Club: Keebra Park (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 717

Tests: 19 (2005-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2005

Test Points: 82 (9 tries, 23 goals)

NRL Games: 130 (2003-2010)

BEN MATULINO
(Vodafone Warriors)

Born: January 3, 1989

Height: 193cm

Weight: 108kg

Position: Second row/prop

Junior Club: Te Aroha Eels (Wellington)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 756

Tests: 6 (2009-2010)

Test Debut: v France, 2009

Test Points: 4 (1 try)

NRL Games: 58 (2008-2010)

JASON NIGHTINGALE
(St George Illawarra Dragons)

Born: September 20, 1986

Height: 183cm

Weight: 91kg

Position: Wing/fullback

Junior Club: Renown United (NSW)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 747

Tests: 9 (2008-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2008

Test Points: 28 (7 tries)

NRL Games: 84 (2007-2010)

FRANK-PAUL NUUAUSALA
(Sydney Roosters)

Born: February 13, 1987

Height: 184cm

Weight: 107kg

Position: Prop

Junior Club: Mangere East Hawks (Auckland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 754

Tests: 8 (2009-2010)

Test Debut: v Tonga, 2009

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 66 (2008-2010)

SAM PERRETT
(Sydney Roosters)

Born: May 14, 1985

Height: 182cm

Weight: 92kg

Position: Wing/fullback

Junior Club: Burleigh Bears (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 744

Tests: 18 (2007-2010)

Test Debut: v Great Britain, 2007

Test Points: 48 (12 tries)

NRL Games: 121 (2004-2010)

FRANK PRITCHARD
(Penrith Panthers)

Born: November 3, 1983

Height: 189cm

Weight: 109kg

Position: Second row

Junior Club: Campbelltown City (NSW)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 718

Tests: 21 (2005-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2005

Test Points: 16 (4 tries)

NRL Games: 144 (2003-2010)

JUNIOR SA’U
(Newcastle Knights)

Born: April 18, 1987

Height: 175cm

Weight: 102kg

Position: Centre

Junior Club: Logan Brothers (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 753

Tests: 9 (2009-2010)

Test Debut: v Tonga, 2009

Test Points: 32 (8 tries)

NRL Games: 57 (2008-2010)

JEREMY SMITH
(St George Illawarra Dragons)

Born: April 14, 1980

Height: 184cm

Weight: 100kg

Position: Loose forward/second row

Junior Club: Runaway Bay (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: Melbourne (2004-2008)

Kiwi Number: 742

Tests: 16 (2007-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2007

Test Points: 26 (3 tries, 7 goals)

NRL Games: 97 (2004-2010)

MANU VATUVEI
(Vodafone Warriors)

Born: March 4, 1986

Height: 189cm

Weight: 112kg

Position: Wing

Junior Club: Otara Scorpions (Auckland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 720

Tests: 19 (2005-2010)

Test Debut: v Australia, 2005

Test Points: 52 (13 tries)

NRL Games: 113 (2004-2010)

JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
(Sydney Roosters)

Born: January 20, 1989

Height: 190cm

Weight: 108kg

Position: Prop/second row

Junior Club: North Sydney rugby union

Other NRL Clubs: Manly

Kiwi Number: 755

Tests: 6 (2009-2010)

Test Debut: v Tonga, 2009

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL Games: 25 (2009-2010)

ANTONIO WINTERSTEIN
(Brisbane Broncos)

Born: May 30, 1988

Height: 185cm

Weight: 92kg

Position: Wing

Junior Club: Logan Brothers (Queensland)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 764

Tests: 0

Test Debut: Yet to make debut

Test Points: 0

NRL Games: 47 (2009-2010)

ENDS

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