Junior Kiwis Dominated By NYC Grand Finalists
Thursday, 6 October 2011
2010 Junior Kiwis celebrate great win at Rotorua Poto: Photosport
NYC grand finalists the Vodafone Junior Warriors and North
Queensland supply all but five of the Junior Kiwis' 18-man squad
for their one-off international against the Junior Kangaroos at
Ausgrid Stadium in Newcastle on October 16.
After winning the Toyota Cup for the second consecutive year on
Sunday, the John Ackland-coached Warriors provide 10 players while
the Cowboys have three including 18-year-old second rower Jason
Taumalolo, one of three players in the squad with NRL
experience.
Taumalolo has played for the Cowboys at first-grade level in the
last two seasons while fellow back rower Josh Papalii has appeared
for the Canberra Raiders this year and prop Ben Murdoch-Masila has
turned out for Wests Tigers over the last two seasons.
Taumalolo is a survivor from the David Kidwell-coached Junior
Kiwis' two-match campaign against the Junior Kangaroos last year
while others returning are the Warriors' trio of Carlos Tuimavave,
Sebastine Ikahihifo and Samiuela Lousi.
The other players selected from the champion Warriors side are
fullback Omar Slaimankhel, winger Adam Henry, centre Sosaia Feki,
hooker Siliva Havili, prop Agnatius Paasi, loose forward John
Palavi and utility Sio Siua Taukeiaho. Captain Ben Henry was also a
contender but wasn't available as he is getting married while two
other Vodafone Junior Warriors - halfback Jordan Meads and utility
George Maka - are among the players on standby.
Slaimankhel missed Sunday's 31-30 extra time win over the Cowboys
but still finished the season's as the competition's top try scorer
with 27 tries in 25 games. Three other players in the squad feature
among the leading try-scorers. North Queensland standoff Michael
Parker Walshe was second with 24, Henry eighth with 19 and North
Queensland fullback Wayne Ulugia 13th with 17.
In last year's series the Junior Kiwis recovered from losing the
first clash in Wellington by stunning the Australians in Rotorua
when they converted a 0-20 halftime deficit into a 36-20
victory.
Of the players in the 2010 squad, Glen Fisiiahi (Warriors), Shaun
Johnson (Warriors), Siuatonga Likiliki (Newcastle), Sam Mataora
(Canberra), Kane Morgan (South Sydney), Nafe Seluini (Penrith),
Lama Tasi (Sydney Roosters), Martin Taupau (Canterbury-Bankstown),
Bill Tupou (Warriors) and Dean Whare (Manly) as well as Taumalolo
have all made NRL appearances this year.
Kidwell, now Melbourne's NRL assistant coach, is again coaching the
Junior Kiwis.
2011 JUNIOR KIWIS
Kenneath
Bromwich
Melbourne Storm
Sosaia
Feki
Warriors
Tohu
Harris
Melbourne Storm
Siliva
Havili Warriors
Adam
Henry
Warriors
Sebastine
Ikahihifo
Warriors
Samiuela
Lousi Warriors
Ben
Murdoch-Masila Wests
Tigers
Agnatius
Paasi Warriors
John
Palavi
Warriors
Josh
Papalii Canberra
Raiders
Michael Parker-Walshe
North Queensland Cowboys
Andrew
Pelasio
Penrith Panthers
Omar
Slaimankhel
Warriors
Sio Siua
Taukeiaho
Warriors
Jason
Taumalolo
North Queensland Cowboys
Carlos
Tuimavave
Warriors
Wayne
Ulugia
North Queensland Cowboys
Players on standby:
Jordan
Meads
Warriors
George
Maka
Warriors
John
Koko
North Queensland Cowboys
Tupou
Sopoaga
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs