Broncos playmaker Kodi Nikorima has been recalled to the Kiwis starting line up along with a couple of veterans to face Tonga in this Saturday's Rugby League World Cup clash in Hamilton.
Simon Mannering after the 2015 Anzac Test between the Kiwis and The Kangaroos. Photo: PhotoSport
Nikorima was rested for New Zealand's 74-6 win over Scotland in Christchurch in place of North Queensland Cowboys' five-eighth Te Maire Martin.
Also returning to the Kiwis pack are veterans Thomas Leuluai and Simon Mannering.
Jordan Rapana will start on the right wing, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak gets his first ever chance to play in front of his home crowd, partnering with club team mate Dean Whare on the left wing and centre respectively.
Kodi Nikorima will join Shaun Johnson in the halves with Te Maire Martin named on the bench.
Isaac Liu is the only change to the bench, which continues to look to Russell Packer, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Danny Levi to add a further spark during the match.
The Kiwis have beaten Samoa 38-8 and Scotland 74-6, while Tonga beat Scotland 50-5 and samoa 32-18.
The winner of this match will finish top of the group.
New Zealand team
KIWI NO. JERSEY NO. NAME TEST APPEARANCES
779 1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK 14
794 2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 4
776 3 DEAN WHARE 17
803 4 BRAD TAKAIRANGI 2
798 5 JORDAN RAPANA 6
793 6 KODI NIKORIMA 6
774 7 SHAUN JOHNSON 23
785 8 MARTIN TAUPAU 18
704 9 THOMAS LEULUAI 39
755 10 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES 21
731 11 SIMON MANNERING 43
800 12 JOSEPH TAPINE 4
732 13 ADAM BLAIR 43
804 14 NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA 2
768 15 RUSSELL PACKER 5
805 16 ISAAC LIU 1
806 17 DANNY LEVI 2
796 18 KENNY BROMWICH 3
802 19 TE MAIRE MARTIN 2
770 20 ELIJAH TAYLOR 11
781 21 PETA HIKU 10
