One New Zealand Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris and clubmates Te Maire Martin, Erin Clark and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have all been named in the Kiwis’ squad for their Rugby League World Cup opener against the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Thursday.
Fisher-Harris, the Dally M NRL captain of the year, will lead his country for the 10th straight international after taking over the position for the 2023 Pacific Championships.
He also captained the Kiwis in their pool match against Jamaica at the 2022 World Cup in England.
Martin reprises the interchange utility role he filled in the Kiwis’ successful campaign in the Pacific Championships last year while Erin Clark is set for his fifth Test on end off the interchange after making his debut against Papua New Guinea in 2024.
Nicoll-Klokstad is listed on the six-man bench after playing in the centres in last year’s win over Toa Samoa in the Pacific Championships final.
Dane Gagai will become the second oldest Test debutant in New Zealand history when he joins fellow first-time Kiwi Kalyn Ponga for the clash against Australia.
Named in the centres, Gagai will be 35 years 286 days on Thursday night, nine years after playing the first of his seven Tests for the Kangaroos in the opening match of the 2017 World Cup in Melbourne.
Alf Chorley has the record as the Kiwis’ oldest debutant. He was was 36 years 46 days when New Zealand played Great Britain in 1910 while Canterbury hooker Jim Fisher, who passed away just last month at the age of 85, was the next oldest at 30 years 75 days when he lined up in the first Test against Great Britain in Salford in 1971.
Gagai, who has Māori heritage on his mother’s side, was cleared to switch his eligibility to New Zealand on the eve of Newcastle’s appearance in the NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters on October 4.
He has previously played three times for the Māori All Stars and also appeared three times for the Indigenous All Stars through his father’s heritage.
Gagai’s Knights teammate Ponga will line up at fullback against the Kangaroos, capping his ambition to play for the Kiwis after representing the Māori All Stars three times.
