Rookie Warriors second rower Lewis Brown has been added to the Kiwis' train-on squad preparing for next month's one-off Test against Tonga and the inaugural Four Nations tournament in England and France.
Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney says 22-year-old Brown has been brought in to provide more cover for the squad's back row options.
He says they've lost some of our second row contenders like Simon Mannering, Sika Manu and Zeb Taia so we've called Lewis in to give them some more depth there.
Christchurch-born Brown was one of the three finalists for the Warriors' 2009 Young NRL Player of the Year award, which prop Russell Packer ultimately won.
His inclusion boosts the train-on squad to 39. Those players not involved in finals football have been training at various locations since last week.
The world champion New Zealanders assemble in Auckland early next month to prepare for the Test against Tonga in Rotorua on October 14th before flying out to London two days later for their opening Four Nations clash against the Kangaroos in London on October 24th.
