Sizeable Kiwi contingent in Wests Tigers squad

Last week the Gold Coast Titans had a strong flavour of New Zealanders in their squad and it’s much the same with Wests Tigers for Friday night’s third-round NRL encounter at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in west Sydney.

Heading the contingent is one of the Tigers’ 2022 captains Ken Maumalo, having his first full campaign with the club after leaving the Vodafone Warriors after 106 appearances midway through last season.

Maumalo’s joined in the starting line-up by 33-year-old Palmerston North-born veteran James Tamou, another of the Tigers’ co-captains who’s closing in on the 300-game mark.

Auckland-born middle forwards Stefano Utoikamanu and Joe Ofahengaue are also named in the starting pack.

Mangere East Hawks junior Zane Musgrove is on the interchange while the extended bench includes Auckland-born Thomas Mikaele, Auckland-born former Junior Kiwi and St Paul’s College product Starford To’a, Rotorua-born Tukimihia Simpkins, Hamiltonian Austin Dias and Rua Ngatikaura, whose father is a New Zealander.