2 May 2011

New faces in Kiwi's squad

6:11 am on 2 May 2011

The Melbourne winger Matthew Duffie and Brisbane fullback Gerard Beale are the two newcomers named in the Kiwis' 19-man squad for Friday night's rugby league Anzac Test against the Kangaroos at Skilled Park on Australia's Gold Coast.

The 20-year-old Aucklander Duffie made his NRL debut for the Storm last year while Beale, also 20, first played for Brisbane in 2009.

Also yet to make his Test debut is Warriors utility Lewis Brown, who was in the Kiwis' Four Nations squad last year.

Three other players who missed the Four Nations success - props Sam Rapira and Fuifui Moimoi plus halfback Kieran Foran - have earned recalls while the other 13 players all lined up for the Kiwis in their 16-12 victory against the Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium last November.

Of the other four who appeared in the final, winger Sam Perrett and forward Sika Manu are out of contention with injury while front rower Frank Paul Nuuausala hasn't gained selection and hooker Thomas Leuluai hasn't been brought back from the United Kingdom.

Apart from Beale, Brown and Duffie, the core of the side is now highly experienced at Test level with Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Benji Marshall and Adam Blair all with more than 20 international appearances each while several others are within reach of the same mark.