New Zealand have called up uncapped pair Lewis Brown and Antonio Winterstein to their 23-man squad for the Four Nations Series.
Brown and Winterstein included in Four Nations squad
New Zealand have called up uncapped pair Lewis Brown and Antonio Winterstein to their 23-man squad for the Four Nations Series.
Brisbane Broncos winger Winterstein and New Zealand Warriors back-rower Brown will be looking for debuts in next week's tune-up Test against Samoa.
Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall has been handed a recall after winning his only previous cap against France three years ago.
Loose forward Jeremy Smith returns for the first time since the 2008 World Cup, while Warriors duo Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei are also back in the Kiwi squad.
There are also a host of familiar faces as 16 of the players named were involved in last year's competition, including Leeds forward Greg Eastwood and Wigan scrum-half Thomas Leuluai.
Injuries
Centre Jerome Ropati, prop Sam Rapira and half-back Kieran Foran are all unavailable due to injury while centre Steve Matai is suspended.
However, coach Stephen Kearney still claimed that he had an embarrassment of riches to pick from.
"We're in a position with our depth developing where a number of very good players have missed out," he said.
"That's disappointing for them but really encouraging for us that we now have strong competition for spots."
After New Zealand play their first ever Test with Samoa on October 16, they will begin preparations for their Four Nations opener against England in Wellington on October 23.
New Zealand squad: Adam Blair (Melbourne), Lewis Brown (Warriors), Greg Eastwood (Leeds), Nathan Fien (St George Illawarra), Bronson Harrison (Canberra), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Junior Sa'u (Newcastle), Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane).
