Sir Peter Leitch’s Mad Butcher Club AT MT SMART STADIUM, HOME OF THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS 28 April 2015 Great Giveaway # NewsletterRead on for details! 70 To subscribe or unsubscribe email: [email protected] Anzac Day Test Vodafone Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans Photos courtesy of www.photosport.co.nz ES I will talk about the Voda- gave us another chance to have Yfone Warriors, after all, this a look at a few players, and that’s is our newsletter, but what I really an important opportunity to fine want to focus on is the Kiwis this tune our thinking. Friday at Suncorp. “Whatever happens, one thing we Strong Kiwis Side Named do know is that Australia will be very wary of us. They have always Four players have forced their way said they don’t take us lightly, but back into Kiwis contention for this we are standing on the brink of week’s Test in Brisbane, after miss- Kearney Ready For The making it three in a row and they ing last year’s Four Nations. Challenge will not want that to happen,” Kearney said. Coach Stephen Kearney has Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney took named his 18 players to prepare the time to talk to us exclusively He said preparation remained the for the traditional one-off encoun- about the test. And say what you key. ter at Suncorp, with Roger Tuiva- like, when the Kiwis coach can sa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelzni- give us his time, that shows the “From our perspective we have to ak, Ben Matulino and Sam Moa character of the man. get together and prepare well, and returning. beyond that we must go out and He told us his planning had gone perform to the levels I know these Tuivasa-Sheck was unavailable for well, but of course he was staring boys are capable of. If we can do the end-of-season internationals, at the NRL round and hoping that we will give ourselves oppor- but has hit top form in his new to get all the players he wants tunities, but make no mistake, it is role as Sydney Roosters fullback. through unscathed. a huge challenge facing a wounded Kangaroos side.” Watene-Zelezniak was named to That was not to be, with Jason make his Kiwis debut on the wing Taumalolo, the Kiwis lock ruled “Having said that, the players in the Four Nations opener, but out of the Anzac Test in Brisbane are entitled to take confidence broke a bone in his foot during the after suffering a serious knee inju- from what we achieved at the team’s build-up. ry in the Cowboys' 26-24 win over Four Nations, so if we play to our the Knights. strengths, put our hands up and A variety of injuries kept Matulino take ownership and responsibil- out of the Kiwis programme last Taumalolo suffered a medial lig- ity, we could achieve something year, while Moa withdrew from ament injury after taking just the historic. Four Nations consideration due to second hit-up of the game. He's family illness. likely to be sidelined for between “This team is capable of a job for six to eight weeks. us this week and it’s also an oppor- The full NZ Kiwis squad : Jesse tunity to take another step to- Bromwich (Storm), Lewis Brown “Last year we were staring down wards our ultimate goal – the 2017 (Panthers), Greg Eastwood (Bull- the barrel of selecting a team with World Cup.” dogs), Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), 16 players unavailable, but this Tohu Harris (Storm), Peta Hiku (Sea year there are a lot of guys in form Eagles), Shaun Johnson (Warriors), and we have plenty to pick from,” Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters), Kearney said. Thomas Leuluai (Warriors), Issac Luke (Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering “A third of the year is out of the (Warriors), Ben Matulino (Warri- way, and while it is always a blow ors), Sam Moa (Roosters), Kevin to lose anyone to injury, it is just Proctor (Storm), Matin Taupau (Ti- something you have to be aware of gers), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roost- and plan for. ers), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Panthers). Stephen “The weekend’s round of the NRL Kearney Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 2 Follow Our Teams Ferns Get A New Captain turning players for next Saturday’s encounter at Gold Coast’s Cbus To support the Kiwis send them After 15 years and four World Cup Stadium. an email to [email protected]. finals, veteran half Laura Mariu will finally get a chance to captain “At under-20s, you don’t get much You can also follow the Kiwis at the Kiwi Ferns, when they line continuity, because they’re getting the NZRL website www.nzrl.co.nz. up for the Anzac curtainraiser at older and moving on so often,” Suncorp next Friday. says Wright. “So it’s great that we They are on Facebook at www. have managed to bring so many facebook.com/NZKiwis, and Mariu, 34, has inherited the job back. But we’re expecting another on Twitter @nzrl_kiwis #nzki- from fullback Sarina Fiso, who extremely tough game.” wis #anzactest. hasn’t recovered from a knee injury suffered at the Nines in The full NZ Junior Kiwis squad: And you can even find them on February. Bunty Afoa (Warriors), Nelson Instagram at nz_rugby_league Asofa-Solomona (Storm), Zach “It was quite overwhelming to Dockar-Clay (Eels), James Fish- Recall for Sue be told I was captain, but it’s an er-Harris (Panthers), Watson awesome opportunity, and an Heleta (Tigers), Jamayne Isaako Mid Central utility Kristina Sue honour and a privilege,” she says. (Sharks), Sione Katoa (Panthers), returns to the Kiwi Ferns squad “In terms of leadership, I guess Daniel Levi (Knights), Lamar after seven years in the wilderness, I’ve always played a role because of Liolevave (Tigers), Joseph Manu in new coach Alan Jackson’s first the position I play, but captaincy (Roosters), Te Maire Martin team to take on the Jillaroos in the is not something that’s ever come (Tigers), Taane Milne (Roosters), Anzac Test curtainraiser. my way.” Marata Niukore (Warriors), Toafo- foa Sipley (Warriors), Jazz Tevaga Built predominantly on the squad Mariu has been a mainstay of (Warriors), Renouf To’omaga (Bull- that headed the Aussies 2-1 in the the national side for more than dogs), Tony Tumusa (Storm) and NRL Auckland Nines series, the a decade and is actually a double Braden Uele (Cowboys). side will be captained by veteran international, having represented double international Laura Mariu. New Zealand for five years as a Junior Kangaroos Will softball outfielder. Offer Plenty The full NZ Kiwi Ferns squad: Ta- sha Davie, Shontelle Dudley, Mai- Kiwi Ferns v Australia Jillaroos, Never expect an Aussie in the tua Feterika, Teuila Fotu-Moala, 5.20pm, May 1. green and gold to lie down, but Georgia Hale, Annabelle Hohepa, their Juniors team looks to have Nora Maaka, Kelly Maipi, Lau- plenty. ra Mariu, Krystal Murray, Hilda Peters, Kahurangi Peters, Rona The full squad is: Jackson Hastings Peters, Krystal Rota, Kristina Sue, (Roosters), Brenko Lee (Raid- Atawhai Tupaea, Janna Vaughan ers), Robert Jennings (Panthers), and Sharnita Woodman. Euan Aitken (Dragons), Valentine Holmes (Sharks), Drew Hutchin- son (Dragons), Ashley Taylor, Joe Ofahengaue and Jaden Berrell (all Broncos), Matthew Lodge (Tigers), Laura Mariu Coen Hess (Cowboys), Tepai Moe- roa (Eels), Tevita Pangi Jnr (Raid- Juniors Go For Consistency ers), Tyrell Fuimaono (Eels), Selesi Funaki (Tigers), Jaden Nikorima After their dramatic 15-14 win (Broncos), Alexx Twal Eels) Jai Ar- over Australia last year, Junior row (Broncos) and Justin Holbrook Kiwis coach Kelvin Wright has (Roosters). Kristina Sue the luxury of naming eight re- Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 3 Watene-Zelezniak May Miss Out plus all the international footy? things. When you score 28 points Again Queensland Tourism and the NRL that should be enough, but there have combined to sweeten the deal are some things that were very Penrith star Dallin Wa- for the Anzac Test. disappointing. tene-Zelezniak is set to be denied a Kiwis debut for a second time. The Kiwis play the Kangaroos on Those Warriors players not in the May 1 at Brisbane’s Suncorp, with Kiwis can expect a tough week Less than a day after being select- the Kiwi Ferns and the NZ De- and surely defence will be top of ed to play Australia, the 19-year- fence Force playing curtainraisers. the list. old was charged by the NRL The next day, the Junior Kiwis take match review committee with a on the Junior Kangaroos as part of “We are just leaking too many grade one dangerous throw. a triple bill at Gold Coast’s Cbus points and when you leak easy Stadium, which will also include points the opposition feel that and Even with an early guilty plea, Wa- Fiji v PNG and Samoa v Tonga. that's what happens. Hopefully we tene-Zelezniak faces a one-match get through the rep round un- suspension due to points from League fans can secure a pass scathed, but we're going to have to previous offences, meaning he’d for both nights, plus a visit to bounce back. We've got two away have to beat the charge to make Dreamworld, or grab a package games next (Sharks and Eels) so his debut. that includes just the Brisbane it's going to be a critical period.” tests/Dreamworld or just the Gold But early indications from Penrith Coast tests/Dreamworld. And it was worse in the Herald are that the club will accept the on Sunday, which described 20 one-match sanction.