Strong Junior Kiwis Team Named

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Strong Junior Kiwis Team Named

Auckland, New Zealand, October 7, 2013 - Junior Kiwis coach Brent Gemmell has named a side strong on experience to play the Junior Kangaroos in Sydney this Sunday, October 13.

The team includes nine of the Junior Warriors side which played in Sundays NYC grand final along with three of the NYC winning Penrith Panthers squad, two of whom played in the final.

Gemmell says he is very pleased to be able to name a number of players with NSW Cup experience including Warriors juniors Albert Vete, David Bhana and Raymond Faitala-Mariner saying “These players bring a lot of valuable experience to the side. They’ve had time in NSW Cup, which means they’ve been playing against players with a lot more experience, regular first graders, and that experience has shown through in their strong finals campaigns.”

Other strengths in the team lie in being able to bring together players who have formed strong combinations during the season, notably Tuimoala Lolohea and Mason Lino from the Warriors and Manaia Cherrington and Kurtis Rowe from the Tigers.

“Tui, at age 18 is playing at a level well above most of his peers, and with the support of his teammate and kicker Mason Lino we have an established halves pairing who know each others game well.” Gemmell said. “The two Tigers boys also bring something new and exciting to the team, Kurtis is a great fullback with a really good running game. He supports his ball carriers well and scores tries.”

Other players who excite the coach are James Taylor, who earned the praise of a number of commentators (and experienced first grade players) for his ability to consistently break the line and create opportunities for his team and Jeremy Hawkins who came through the system from Wellington and has played well for the Canberra 20s in a number of positions this year.

Gemmell concludes “I am really looking forward to bringing this group together; they have great skills and experience and should be very competitive against Australia. A number of players have missed out, simply because of the growing depth at this level, and many of them will still be eligible for the Junior Kiwis again next year.”

2013 JUNIOR KIWIS SQUAD:
David Bhana NZ Warriors
Mania Cherrington West Tigers
Mitch Clark Penrith Panthers
Zach Docker Clay Parramatta Eels
Raymond Faitala-Mariner NZ Warriors
David Fusitua NZ Warriors
Jeremy Hawkins Canberra Raiders
Ngani Laumape NZ Warriors
Mason Lino NZ Warriors
Tuimoala Lolohea NZ Warriors
David Minute Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Takai Moeakiola Parramatta Eels
Kurtis Rowe West Tigers
Joseph Tapine Newcastle Knights
James Taylor NZ Warriors
Adam Tuimavave- Gerard NZ Warriors
Albert Vete NZ Warriors
Dallin Watene Zelezniak Penrith Panthers
Jarrod Wilson Penrith Panthers

Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis
Sunday, October 13,
WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, Sydney
Kick off 2.30pm

ENDS

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