Leuluai drafted in to New Zealand squad
Tommy Leuluai will start at hooker for the Kiwis
Thomas Leuluai has been drafted in to New Zealand‘s 19-man squad for their clash against Papua New Guinea on Friday.
Leuluai, 28, has sat out the Kiwis’ opening two matches with a groin complaint, and had initially been left out of Stephen Kearney’s squad for the final group game.
However, his inclusion, in place of Simon Mannering, has now been confirmed.
If he does play, it will mean that all 24 of Kearney’s New Zealand squad will have made at least one appearance in the group stage.
The Kiwis will be captained by Kieran Foran in the absence of Mannering.
Squad: Josh Hoffman (Brisbane), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney), Dean Whare (Penrith), Bryson Goodwin (Souths), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Kieran Foran (Manly), Shaun Johnson (NZ Warriors), Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors), Isaac Luke (Souths), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Sonny Bill Williams (Sydney), Elijah Taylor (NZ Warriors), Sam Moa (Sydney), Sam Kasiano (Canterbury), Frank-Paul Nu’uausala (Sydney), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury), Jason Nightingale (St George), Thomas Leuluai (NZ Warriors)