Three added to Kiwi train-on squad

The Kiwi train-on squad has grown to 19 with three more players added following last weekend’s NRL preliminary finals.

After their sides were eliminated from the grand final race, Manly playmaker Kieran Foran and utility Dean Whare plus South Sydney hooker Issac Luke have been confirmed in the group of players preparing for the one-off Test against the Kangaroos in Townsville on October 3.

The Kiwi team for the match is due to be announced next Tuesday (October 2).

Foran’s last Test outing – his seventh – was against England in Hull in the Four Nations last November; injury ruled him out of this year’s Anzac Test at Eden Park. Rotorua-born Whare has previously played for the Junior Kiwis while Luke, who made his Kiwi debut in 2008, has now clocked up 20 Test appearances.

Two former Kiwis in the Manly side – centre Steve Matai and Joe Galuvao – were overlooked as were South Sydney’s ex-Kiwis Roy Asotasi and Eddy Pettybourne.

Eight current or past Kiwis and a New Zealand-eligible player have been named in the Canterbury-Bankstown and Melbourne squads for Sunday’s NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium. The latter is monster Auckland-born Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano, who’s set to become the country’s newest international for the Townsville clash (provided he doesn’t side with Australia instead). Also in the Canterbury-Bankstown squad are winger Sam Perrett, former Vodafone Warriors centre Krisnan Inu, second rower Frank Pritchard and loose forward Greg Eastwood plus 18th man Dene Halatau. Included in Melbourne’s squad are prop Jesse Bromwich – who made his Kiwi debut this year – back rower Sika Manu and interchange forward Kevin Proctor.

2012 KIWI TRAIN-ON SQUAD

Brisbane Broncos: Gerard Beale, Josh Hoffman
Cronulla Sharks: Jeremy Smith
Manly Sea Eagles: Kieran Foran, Dean Whare
North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo, Antonio Winterstein
Penrith Panthers: Sam McKendry
South Sydney Rabbitohs: Issac Luke
Sydney Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Vodafone Warriors: Ben Henry, Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering, Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei
Wests Tigers: Adam Blair, Benji Marshall

Unavailable: Brisbane Broncos: Alex Glenn (knee surgery); North Queensland Cowboys: Ricky Thorby (hip surgery); St George Illawarra Dragons: Nathan Fien (retired from international rugby league), Jason Nightingale (knee surgery); Sydney Roosters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (thigh surgery); Vodafone Warriors: Kevin Locke (high ankle sprain).