The North Queensland second rower Jason Taumalolo is in line for a Kiwis debut, after being added to the train-on squad for the upcoming Four Nations rugby league competition.
Three players have joined the squad, with the Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles eliminated from the NRL playoff race over the weekend.
North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo has been added to the Kiwis training squad. Photo: Photosport
Taumalolo, and Manly's Peta Hiku and Kieran Foran bring the wider group to 28.
Hiku played at fullback in loss to Australia in May while Foran has established himself as a virtually automatic selection in any Kiwis line-up.
But Taumalolo, a former Junior Kiwi, has yet to take the field for the senior side - he was a non-playing member of the 2012 Anzac squad and represented Tonga at last year's Rugby League World Cup.
He was poised to make his Kiwis debut in May, but picked up an injury on the eve of the squad assembling in Sydney and was unavailable.
With players from the Roosters, Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Penrith Panthers still to come, the train-on squad so far is:
Gerard Beale (St George Illawarra Dragons), Adam Blair (Wests Tigers), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Kenny Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Fa'amanu Brown (Cronulla Sharks), Sosaia Feki (Cronulla Sharks), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles) David Fusitu'a (Warriors), Alex Glenn (Brisbane Broncos), Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm), Siliva Havili (Warriors), Peta Hiku (Manly Sea Eagles), Josh Hoffman (Brisbane Broncos), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), Ngani Laumape (Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Warriors), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Suaia Matagi (Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Matt McIlwrick (Canberra Raiders), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm), Sauaso Sue (Wests Tigers), Brad Takairangi (Gold Coast Titans), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers), Bodene Thompson (Wests Tigers), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
