The Kiwis rugby league coach Stephen Kearney has ruled out selecting the British-based pair Thomas Leuluai and Brent Webb for next week's trans-Tasman Test.
Leuluai started at hooker against Australia in the World Cup final-winning team last November while Test regular Webb missed the tournament due to a back injury, but Kearney says it's logistically too difficult to include any British-based players for the rematch in Brisbane on May 8th.
Both returned from England for Kearney's first match in charge, the centenary Test in Sydney a year ago, but it was hardly ideal as the Kiwis lost 28-12.
After protracted negotiations with their clubs, both were released but Leuluai only flew in on the Tuesday night before the Friday match.
Kearney says he spoke to both players this week and told them to aim for the end-of-year quadrangular tournament in England and France, also involving Australia.
The decision means Lance Hohaia will likely wear the fullback's jersey in Brisbane, as he did in the World Cup final, while Issac Luke and Dene Halatau vie for the starting hooker's spot, assuming Nathan Fien remains at halfback.
Kearney will name his team on Sunday at the end of the NRL round, the day before the side assemble in Brisbane.
Warriors prop Sam Rapira (sternum) was the only definite injury scratching at this stage, while Kearney didn't want to tempt fate by commenting on the squad being largely injury-free.
From last year's World Cup-winning side, only Leuluai and the retired captain Nathan Cayless are definitely out.
