Moa withdraws from NZ league squad

West Tigers forward Bodene Thompson has received a late call-up for New Zealand’s Four Nations campaign, after Sydney Roosters prop Sam Moa withdrew due to a family illness.

Thompson, touring Queensland with the New Zealand Maori side, will join the Kiwis on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Originally from Tauranga, 26-year-old Thompson moved to Australia as a teenager and played three seasons for the Gold Coast Titans, before joining the Tigers in 2013.

He has now made 85 NRL first-grade appearances, scoring 16 tries.

Thompson joins centre Sosaia Feki, prop Suaia Matagi, second row Jason Taumalolo and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as uncapped players in the national side, although Taumalolo was a non-playing member of the 2012 Anzac Test squad.

The Kiwis open their Four Nations account against Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on October 25.

New Zealand: 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, Jason Nightingale, Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Bodene Thompson, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare.

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