The Northern Express Herald

Rugby League World Cup: Kiwis make five changes for pivotal clash with Fiji

NZ Herald
Prop Naufahu Whyte is one of five players to return for the Fiji clash. Photo / Photosport
NZ Herald's Nathan Limm and Michael Burgess dissect the Rugby League World Cup, Te Kaha Stadium's heat issue and debate the Kiwis' best performers in the Cook Islands fixture.

Five experienced campaigners have been recalled for the Kiwis’ final group stage match at the Rugby League World Cup encounter against the Fiji Bati in Robina on Saturday.

Dane Gagai, who made his Kiwi debut against the Kangaroos on October 15, is back in the centres for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad after missing Sunday’s 82-16 win over the Cook Islands.

There are three changes in the starting forward pack with Moses Leota named at prop (Joseph Tapine returning to loose forward for Erin Clark) and fellow Test regulars Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora teamed up again in the second row for Scott Sorensen and Xavier Willison, who move to the six-man bench.

Back on the bench is premiership-winning Roosters front rower Naufahu Whyte who joins Te Maire Martin, Clark, Willison, Nicoll-Klokstad and Sorensen.

Gagai, Leota, Papali’i, Nikora and Whyte missed the 14-try rout of the Kukis as head coach Stacey Jones recalled Nicoll-Klokstad, Sorensen and prop Leo Thompson while handing Test debuts to prop Tanner Stowers-Smith (Kiwi #846) and Jacob Laban (Kiwi #847).

Apart from Keano Kini starting at fullback for the injured Kalyn Ponga, Jones has named the same starting combination and interchange used in the tournament-opening 22-24 loss to the Kangaroos.

The Kiwis arrived on the Gold Coast on Monday night to prepare for a difficult mission against a Fiji side which led the Kangaroos 16-12 early in the second half before the home side rallied to win 36-22 in their round-two clash at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

The Kiwis have battled against Fiji in the last two World Cups, suffering a shock 2-4 loss in the quarter-finals in Wellington in 2017 and needing a late comeback to escape with a 24-18 quarter-final victory in Hull four years ago.

Kiwis: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 James Fisher-Harris (C), 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Moses Leota, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Briton Nikora, 13 Joseph Tapine (v/c)

Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Naufahu Whyte, 16 Erin Clark, 17 Xavier Willison, 18 Charnze Nicoll-Klostad, 19 Scott Sorensen

Reserves: 20 Leo Thompson, 21 Jacob Laban, 22 Tanner Stowers-Smith