Four new caps in Kiwis Four Nations squad

Four new faces including teenage winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak have made the Kiwis squad to contest rugby league’s Four Nations tournament.

Watene-Zelezniak, 19, impressed enough in 10 appearances for Penrith to earn a spot in coach Stephen Kearney’s 24-man squad for the tournament also involving Australia, England and Samoa starting this month.

The other uncapped players are North Queensland second rower Jason Taumalolo, Cronulla utility Sosaia Feki and Warriors prop Suaia Matagi.

Matagi’s selection is dependent on an eligibility transfer from Samoa.

Penrith utility Lewis Brown returns to the squad for the first time since 2011.

It won’t be powerhouse Taumalolo’s first experience with the Kiwis. He was a non-playing member of the 2012 Anzac Test against Australia before he represented Tonga at last year’s World Cup.

Feki and Matagi get their chances with the late withdrawals of Sydney Roosters players winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

A New Zealand Rugby League release said both had suffered “burnout from a long season”.

Three other players named in the New Zealand train-on squad also weren’t considered because of injury. They are Warriors pair Konrad Hurrell and Ben Matulino and Panthers prop Sam McKendry.

The Kiwis open their campaign against Australia in Brisbane on October 25.

Kiwis squad: Gerard Beale, Adam Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Sosaia Feki, Kieran Foran, Tohu Harris, Siliva Havili, Peta Hiku, Shaun Johnson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Suaia Matagi, Sam Moa, Jason Nightingale, Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare.

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