Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns ready for Australia

Shanice Parker of New Zealand runs with the ball during the 2023 Pacific Championships
Photo: SCOTT RADFORD-CHISHOLM

The New Zealand rugby league sides have taken different approaches to team naming for Saturday’s clashes with Australia in the Pacific Championships.

The Kiwi Ferns have switched up the squad for a “redemption” game against the Jillaroos while the Kiwis remain unchanged for clash against the Kangaroos.

Kiwi Ferns wing Shanice Parker is no stranger to coming up against the Jillaroos. She was in last year’s squad which suffered a defeat to Australia in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup.

Even though injury kept her out of the final, it’s a determination to rewrite history that is fueling her and this new team on.

They also want to get the better of their Australian opposition to make Amelia Pasikala proud after a leg injury against Tonga in their Pacific Championships game cut short her debut tour in the black and white jersey.

“We definitely want to unleash the beast like Ama would on the field. Once she got injured, the girls were saying ‘this is for Ama’ so we are doing this one for her as well,” Parker said.

Head coach Ricky Henry said it had been his toughest selection process yet.

“Those named have consistently proven themselves on-field over the past two weeks. Their naming today is a reward for showing up and giving every training and game their absolute all.”

With the loss of Pasikala, Henry has been forced to rethink the Kiwi Ferns bench and cover.

Veteran Apii Nicholls returns to fullback, while Parker of the Newcastle Knights returns to the wing, alongside Wests Tigers’ Leianne Tufuga.

Mele Hufanga remains at centre, following her naming as player of the match against Tonga at Eden Park. Abigail Roache maintains her centre position, off the back of her hat-trick on Saturday.

The Kiwi Ferns lost 16-10 to the Jillaroos in their first encounter with the team during the Pacific Championships on 14 October.

An unchanged squad has been named for the New Zealand Kiwis’ Pacific Championships contest against the Kangaroos in Melbourne.

NZ Kiwis Kieran Foran
Photo: Brett Phibbs/ Photosport

Kieran Foran is listed in the number 9 jersey this week after being selected in the number 14 shirt but starting at dummy half in the Kiwis’ commanding 50-0 victory over Toa Samoa at Eden Park on Saturday.

The 33-year-old 282-game NRL veteran is set for his 30th Test since his debut as a 19-year-old against England in the 2009 Four Nations in Huddersfield.

With frontline hookers unavailable, Kiwi head coach Michael Maguire called on halfback Foran to fill the void at dummy half.

He responded with a courageous display in an unbroken 58-minute shift, finishing the encounter with 52 metres from eight runs and 31 tackles as he fronted up to the Samoans in the middle of the park.

“Kieran put his head in the middle against Samoa and did such a great job for the team,” Maguire said.

“He’s a hugely passionate Kiwi who has been in this space for 14 years and he’d die for his teammates. He loves the jersey.”

The Kiwis’ win over Samoa followed Australia’s 38-12 victory over the beaten Rugby League World Cup finalist on 14 October ensuring the trans-Tasman neighbours will meet in the final in Hamilton on 4 November.

First they face off in just the fourth Test between the two countries in the Victorian capital.

The first was in 1991 when the New Zealanders famously stunned the Australians 24-8 at Olympic Park.

They met at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome in the 2006 Tri Nations, the Kiwis leading 15-14 before Australia scored late to win 20-15.

Their last meeting was at AAMI Park in the 2006 Anzac Test when the Kangaroos held on for 12-8 triumph.

Kiwi Ferns team for Jillaroos on 28 October in Melbourne.

1. Apii Nicholls

2. Leianne Tufuga

3. Mele Hufanga

4. Abigail Roache

5. Shanice Parker

6. Tyla Nathan-Wong

7. Raecene McGregor

8. Mya Hill-Moana

9. Brooke Anderson

10. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa

11. Annessa Biddle

12. Otesa Pule

13. Georgia Hale

Interchange

14. Ashleigh Quinlan

15. Najvada George

16. Jasmine Fogavini

17. Tiana Davison

18. Laishon Albert-Jones

Kiwi team for Kangaroos on 28 October in Melbourne.

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

2. Ronaldo Mulitalo

3. Matthew Timoko

4. Joseph Manu

5. Jamayne Isaako

6. Dylan Brown

7. Jahrome Hughes

8. James Fisher-Harris (C)

9. Kieran Foran

10. Moses Leota

11. Isaiah Papali’i

12. Briton Nikora

13. Joseph Tapine

14. Fa’amanu Brown

15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

16. Griffin Neame

17. Leo Thompson

18. Naufahu Whyte