The Kiwis rugby league coach Stephen Kearney says he's moved on from rugby-bound Sonny Bill Williams while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves didn't warrant inclusion in the New Zealand side for Friday's test against Australia in Sydney.
Nor did Kearney feel Waerea-Hargreaves needed a phone call advising him of his surprise omission from a new-look 18-strong Kiwis squad to play the world champions.
The squad features six newcomers, including NSW Cup player Isaac John, and only five survivors from the team demolished 34-2 by the Kangaroos in the World Cup final last November in Manchester.
Injured players Keiran Foran, Frank Pritchard, Isaac Luke and Manu Vatuvei are also missing, with the Kiwis given little hope of toppling Australia in a one-off Test for the first time since 1998.
Kearney, has defended the selectors' decision to leave out Waerea-Hargreaves, widely considered among the best props in the world.
He says they're taking a long term view, looking up to three years ahead.
