2014 Four Nations: Two debutants in New Zealand side to face Australia at Suncorp Stadium

New Zealand have named two debutants in their side to face Australia in their opening 2014 Four Nations clash at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Forward Jason Taumalolo of the North Queensland Cowboys and Penrith Panthers’ teenage winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will make their bows for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos.

Watene-Zelezniak, who continues a proud family tradition of being picked for New Zealand, picked up a foot injury in training earlier in the week and will face a fitness test to confirm his inclusion.

The great-grandson of Steve Watene, a former national team captain who lends his name to the NZ Player of the Year Award, is expected to bring an added dynamism to the New Zealand set-up.

“Dallin is an exciting young prospect, who we think will play many tests for the Kiwis in the future,” said head coach Stephen Kearney.

“He’s brought a lot of youthful energy to the camp this week, but we’ll have to wait and see how his foot mends up.”

Consistency

Taumalolo was named in the squad for the 2012 Anzac Test but did not pick up a cap, but Kearney believes the impressive Cowboys forward is now ready to make his debut.

“His performances over the past year, but particularly over the last two months of the NRL, have been very consistent,” he added.

Dallin is an exciting young prospect, who we think will play many tests for the Kiwis in the future.

“Jason’s always been there or thereabouts. He had an opportunity to get picked for the Anzac Test before he injured a shoulder and he’s also been a Junior Kiwi.”

Veteran utility Thomas Leuluai gets the nod at hooker, while Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson have been reunited in the halves by coach Kearney.

Utility Lewis Brown also returns to the side, coming off the bench, after a three-year absence.

“I feel like this group has a good balance about it and we’ve certainly trained very well over the last couple of days, so you can feel the combinations starting to come together.” Kearney said.

New Zealand: Peta Hiku, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dean Whare, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich, Thomas Leuluai, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering (capt), Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, Tohu Harris, Suaia Matagi