Nelsen Special Guest at Kiwis’ Test Dinner

Nelsen Special Guest at Kiwis’ Test Dinner

Warrington, England, October 28, 2011 – All Whites and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen was the guest speaker at the Kiwis’ traditional Test dinner on the eve of tonight’s opening Gillette Four Nations clash against Australia at Hallliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.

The 34-year-old Nelsen joined the Kiwis at the Hilton in Liverpool last night where he offered the players some thoughts and also handed out the jerseys to those involved in tonight’s international.

Nelsen, who led the All Whites in their unbeaten campaign at last year’s FIFA World Cup, was presented with a signed Kiwi jersey by captain Benji Marshall.

The Kiwis go into tonight’s clash with the same side named on Wednesday with Vodafone Warriors prop Ben Matulino coming into the front row for his suspended club-mate Russell Packer and Wigan’s Thomas Leuluai coming onto the bench. Out of the side which lost to Australia in Newcastle is St George Illawarra’s Nathan Fien while South Sydney’s Issac Luke takes his starting spot at hooker.

Controlling the match is England’s Phil Bentham, who was also in charge of the Newcastle Test on October 16.

The Australian team is identical to the one used in the 42-6 win two weeks ago. Greg Inglis, Beau Scott and Corey Parker all move off an extended bench named on Wednesday.

2011 FOUR NATIONS

KIWIS v KANGAROOS

Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
8.00pm, Friday, October 28, 2011
Referee: Phil Bentham (England)

KIWIS

1 KEVIN LOCKE
(Vodafone Warriors)
2 KALIFA FAIFAI LOA
(North Queensland)
3 LEWIS BROWN
(Vodafone Warriors)
4 GERARD BEALE
(Brisbane Broncos)
5 JASON NIGHTINGALE
(St George Illawarra)
6 BENJI MARSHALL (c)
(Wests Tigers)
7 KIERAN FORAN
(Manly)
8 BEN MATULINO
(Vodafone Warriors)
9 ISSAC LUKE
(South Sydney)
10 SAM McKENDRY
(Penrith)
11 SIKA MANU
(Melbourne)
12 SIMON MANNERING
(Vodafone Warriors)
13 JEREMY SMITH
(Cronulla)
Interchange:
14 THOMAS LEULUAI
(Wigan)
15 FUIFUI MOIMOI
(Parramatta)
16 ALEX GLENN
(Brisbane)
17 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
(Sydney Roosters)

18TH MAN: KEVIN PROCTOR
(Melbourne)

COACH: STEPHEN KEARNEY

KIWI SQUAD

Player Club Kiwi No Tests Points

Gerard Beale Broncos 767 1 0
Adam Blair Storm 732 22 8
Lewis Brown Warriors 762 2 0
Kalifa Faifai Loa Cowboys 766 1 0
Nathan Fien Dragons 733 20 16
Kieran Foran Sea Eagles 757 4 0
Alex Glenn Broncos 769 1 0
Thomas Leuluai Wigan 704 27 12
Kevin Locke Warriors 758 1 4
Issac Luke Rabbitohs 749 18 40
Sam McKendry Panthers 763 4 0
Simon Mannering Warriors 731 26 16
Sika Manu Storm 750 11 8
Benji Marshall (c) Tigers 717 22 88
Ben Matulino Warriors 756 8 4
Fuifui Moimoi Eels 741 10 0
Jason Nightingale Dragons 747 12 32
Russell Packer Warriors 768 1 0
Kevin Proctor Storm - 0 0
Jeremy Smith Sharks 742 19 26
Elijah Taylor Warriors - 0 0
Bill Tupou Warriors - 0 0
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves Roosters 755 7 8

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