Five One New Zealand Warriors players have been named for the Pacific Championships opener between the Kiwis and Toa Sāmoa at Go Media Stadium on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off).
Fisher-Harris begins his third season as Kiwi captain lining up in his 19th Test, reunited in the front row with his long-time former Penrith teammate Moses Leota.
Nicoll-Klokstad, lining up for his 14th Test, reverts to fullback after filling a void in the halves in the Kiwis’ Pacific Championships campaign last year.
Clark was used from the bench in his Test debut in New Zealand’s last outing against Papua New Guinea last November and reprises the role this week.
Sāmoa coach Ben Gardiner has named Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback with Chanel Harris-Tavita on the interchange while three former Warriors are also involved - Kieran Foran and Isaiah Papali'i for the Kiwis and Jazz Tevaga for Toa Sāmoa.
Kiwi head coach Stacey Jones has recalled six players from the side that handed the Kangaroos a record 30-0 win in the 2023 final but were unavailable for last year’s series.
Cronulla Sutherland’s Ronaldo Mulitalo comes back on the left wing with Newcastle-bound Dylan Brown and retiring 35-year-old Gold Coast veteran Kieran Foran paired in the halves; Foran in a more familiar role after starting at hooker in the 2023 final.
As well as Leota, Briton Nikora (Sharks) returns in the second row with Melbourne’s Asofa-Solomona on the interchange.
Making a Test comeback is hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, three years after his only international appearances against Lebanon and Jamaica at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.
The remaining 10 players included in the starting lineup and on the interchange were all used when the Kiwis beat Papua New Guinea 54-12 in Sydney last November.
Sunday’s encounter will be the sixth between the two nations with the Kiwis winning the previous five, the last a 50-0 victory in their opening game of the 2023 tournament at Eden Park.
