Ahead of the announcement of the New Zealand Test squad to play Australia at GIO Stadium on May 5, the NRL.com team has come up with the Kiwis side we would select.
Tony Webeck - Chief Queensland Correspondent
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Kevin Proctor, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Kodi Nikorima, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Adam Blair, 17 Joseph Tapine.
No debutants in this team, just a squad bristling with power, aggression and an all-Warriors spine that has been training together for the past six months. Nikorima and Tapine bring game-changing attributes off the bench while Kevin Proctor will become the Titans' first Kiwi Test representative since Jake Webster way back in the club's inaugural season in 2007.
Chris Kennedy - National Correspondent
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Dean Whare, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Jared Waerea-Hargraeves, 17 Joseph Tapine.
A few form and fitness reshuffles in the backline with Kieran Foran returning at five-eighth for Tohu Harris, plus Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Dean Whare in for David Fusitu'a, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Jordan Kahu. Simon Mannering and Jared Waerea-Hargraeves replace Manu Ma'u and Greg Eastwood in the pack.
Martin Gabor - National Correspondent
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu'a, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Kenny Bromwich, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 17 Joseph Tapine.
New Zealand's spine receives a huge boost with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kieran Foran slotting straight into their respective positions. Veteran Simon Mannering is also back from injury and earns a spot in the back-row, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Kenny Bromwich have done more than enough to warrant spots on the bench.
Alicia Newton - National Correspondent
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jason Nightingale, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Danny Levi, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Adam Blair.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been one of Penrith's best after eight rounds despite the Panthers' struggles. I would play him in the centres alongside Jordan Rapana. Simon Mannering should make a return on the left-edge. The utility spot on the bench was a tricky one, you could take your 'pick-and-stick' method with Kodi Nikorima or blood a kid like Danny Levi to back-up Issac Luke.
Corey Rosser - New Zealand Correspondent
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jordan Rapana, 3 David Fusitu'a, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Jordan Kahu, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Manu Ma'u, 17 Joseph Tapine.
I'm tipping Shaun Kenny-Dowall may have played his last Test for New Zealand after a disappointing 2016 Four Nations, with David Fusitu'a and Dean Whare shaping as the future in the centres. After a long absence through injury Simon Mannering returns on the edge, while on the bench Lewis Brown's utility value should see him selected as dummy-half cover ahead of Kodi Nikorima or Danny Levi.
Adrian McMurray - Presenter/Producer
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jordan Kahu, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 16 Martin Taupau, 17 Manu Ma'u.
I'm tipping Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Simon Mannering and Dean Whare should all return for the Kiwis. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is surely a chance at a bench spot.
Dominic Brock - Production Editor
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jordan Kahu, 3 Dean Whare, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Adam Blair, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Manu Ma'u, 17 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Nothing earth-shattering here, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Simon Mannering and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returning to the side. I almost included Kodi Nikorima as the bench utility but left Lewis Brown there due to his extra utility value as a centre or extra forward.
Andrew Bryan - Deputy Editor
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 Jordan Kahu, 3 Solomone Kata, 4 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 Jesse Bromwich (c), 9 Issac Luke, 10 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 11 Adam Blair, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Martin Taupau, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Kevin Proctor.
There will be a few changes in the New Zealand outfit with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kieran Foran expected to make their international returns. The Kiwis forward pack will look strong with Waerea-Hargreaves, Jesse Bromwich and Jason Taumalolo set to terrorise the Kangaroos defence, with Martin Taupau providing the muscle and impact off the bench. Lewis Brown is the dependable utility option off the bench, while Jordan Rapana is capable of winning the game on the wing for the Kiwis.
NRL.com's combined Kiwis team
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2 Jordan Kahu
3 Solomone Kata
4 Dean Whare
5 Jordan Rapana
6 Kieran Foran
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Jesse Bromwich (c)
9 Issac Luke
10 Adam Blair
11 Kevin Proctor
12 Simon Mannering
13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
14 Lewis Brown
15 Martin Taupau
16 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
17 Joseph Tapine
