AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 13: Shaun Johnson of the Kiwis celebrates with James Fisher-Harris after winning the international Rugby League Test Match between the New Zealand Kiwis and the Australia Kangaroos at Mt Smart Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
New Zealand has named a 16-man squad for the upcoming World Cup Nines tournament, with six rookies a chance to get their first taste of international action.
Parramatta's Dylan Brown, Canberra's Bailey Simonsson, Canterbury trio Corey Harawira-Naera, Jeremy Marshall-King and Reimis Smith and Cronulla's Braden Hamlin-Uele could all debut during the two-day tournament at Bankwest Stadium on October 18-19 in Sydney.
“This is a hugely exciting opportunity for the whole group playing in the World Cup Nines,” coach Michael Maguire told nzrl.co.nz.
“I’m especially excited for the new players we’ve been able to bring into the group.
“We’ve got players right across this squad who have come off terrific NRL seasons and have earned the privilege to represent New Zealand. For us, this is another step towards taking the Kiwi jersey to the place we want it to be.”
New Zealand's Nines squad
LEESON AH MAU (Vodafone Warriors)
DYLAN BROWN (Parramatta Eels)
JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (Penrith Panthers)
COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
BRADEN HAMLIN-UELE (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
JAMAYNE ISAAKO (Brisbane Broncos)
SHAUN JOHNSON (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)
JEREMY MARSHALL-KING (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
KEN MAUMALO (Vodafone Warriors)
BRITON NIKORA (Cronulla Sutherland Sharks)
KODI NIKORIMA (Vodafone Warriors)
KEVIN PROCTOR (Gold Coast Titans)
JORDAN RAPANA (Canberra Raiders)
BAILEY SIMONSSON (Canberra Raiders)
REIMIS SMITH (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
JOSEPH TAPINE (Canberra Raiders)