New Zealand Maori have named a squad featuring former Australia international Timana Tahu for next Saturday's match against England.
Former Australia international named ahead of England match
New Zealand Maori have named a squad featuring former Australia dual international Timana Tahu as well as current Kiwi star Aaron Heremaia for next Saturday's match against England in Auckland.
Tahu comes in alongside hooker Heremaia, who made his Test debut against Australia this year, as well as four past and present Super League players.
Having recently returned from a spell in rugby union, Tahu originally turned down New Zealand in order to play for the Kangaroos. He will line up in the threequarters alongside former Leeds centre Clinton Toopi, who last played for the Kiwis in 2007 and recently revived his NRL career with the Gold Coast Titans.
A trio of current Super League players have also been included in Castleford stand-off Rangi Chase, Salford scrum half Jeremy Smith - who will join Wakefield in 2011 - and Crusaders forward Weller Hauraki.
The team also includes full-back Kevin Locke, who was in New Zealand's Four Nations squad last year but did not play a game.
The meeting at Mount Smart Stadium serves as a warm-up for England's Four Nations campaign and will also act as a curtain-raiser for the first-ever Test between New Zealand and Samoa, who have named eight current Super League players in their squad.
They are St Helens duo Tony Puletua and Francis Meli, Leeds second rower Ali Lauitiiti, Huddersfield hooker David Faiumu, Warrington loose forward David Solomona, Wigan pair George Carmont and Harrison Hansen and Crusaders back row forward Frank Winterstein.
New Zealand Maori: K Locke (NZ Warriors); S Earl (Penrith), T Tahu (Parramatta), C Toopi (Gold Coast), A J Taumata (North Queensland); R Chase (Castleford), J Smith (Salford); W Heta (Otahuhu), A Heremaia (NZ Warriors), W Hauraki (Crusaders), J Horo (Parramatta), B Thompson (Gold Coast), K Proctor (Melbourne). Subs: J Tamou (North Queensland), S McKendry (Penrith), R Packer (NZ Warriors). One player to be added from the Kiwis.
Samoa (from): T Puletua, F Meli (both St Helens), A Lauitiiti (Leeds), D Faiumu (Huddersfield), D Solomona (Warrington), G Carmont, H Hansen (both Wigan), B Roberts (Canterbury), C Mika (Newcastle), M Taufua (Newcastle), J Paulo (Penrith), M Iosefa (Penrith), T Seuseu (Manly), W Isa (Melbourne), D Vidot (Canberra), J McGuire (Brisbane), T Tautai (Cronulla), Q Togaga'e (Souths Logan), F Winterstein (Crusaders). One player to be named from Samoa domestic players: T Ulufale, T Pasene, V Kereti, D Masoe, T Lepou.
