15 Oct 2022

One change to Kiwis for World Cup opener

6:15 am on 15 October 2022

New Zealand Kiwis head coach Michael Maguire has made only one change to the side used against Mate Ma'a Tonga in June for Monday morning's opening Rugby League World Cup match against Lebanon in Warrington.

New Zealand's Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores a try against Leeds.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Returning in the centres is Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was used there in the 2019 Tests against Australia and Great Britain but missed the midseason clash against the Tongans.

Maguire's 17-man line-up includes four players who featured in the NRL grand final with Penrith front rower James Fisher-Harris starting and fellow prop Moses Leota on the bench.

Parramatta's Dylan Brown is again at standoff and Isaiah Papali'i in the second row while Marata Niukore, who made his New Zealand debut in the centres against Tonga, is in the extended 19-man squad.

NZ KIWIS v LEBANON

1 Joseph MANU

2 Ronaldo MULITALO

21 Charnze NICOLL-KLOKSTAD

4 Peta HIKU

5 Jordan RAPANA

6 Dylan BROWN

7 Jahrome HUGHES

8 Jesse BROMWICH (c)

9 Brandon SMITH

10 James FISHER-HARRIS

11 Isaiah PAPALI'I

12 Kenny BROMWICH

13 Joseph TAPINE

14 Kieran FORAN

15 Moses LEOTA

16 Nelson ASOFA-SOLOMONA

17 Briton NIKORA

19 Dallin WATENE-ZELEZNIAK

3 Marata NIUKORE