Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich returns for World Cup pool match

Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich returns to New Zealand’s star-studded World Cup side for their Rugby League World Cup clash against Ireland on Saturday in Leeds.

Jesse Bromwich
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

Bromwich played in the team’s World Cup opener against Lebanon, but missed the 68-6 win over Jamaica.

He has been named in the front row alongside another three big forwards, James Fisher-Harris, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Joseph Tapine in the starting pack to face Ireland.

The imposing Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been switched to the second row with Tapine back at loose forward after he also missed the Jamaica contest.

Fisher-Harris, hooker Brandon Smith and second rower Kenny Bromwich remain from the starting pack used in the two matches against Lebanon and Jamaica.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes returns after picking up a thigh strain in training two weeks ago. He featured in the Kiwis’ warm-up match against the Leeds Rhinos earlier this month but has been sidelined since.

While 33-year-old Waerea-Hargreaves is on the bench after serving a suspension incurred in the Sydney Roosters’ NRL finals loss to South Sydney in NRL.

Standoff Dylan Brown was cleared to play this week after missing the last game due to illness.

Recalled on the wings are Jordan Rapana and Ronaldo Mulitalo after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and debutant Sebastian Kris filled those positions against Jamaica – and scored five tries between them – while second rower Briton Nikora has been selected in the centres this week.

He played there for much of the Jamaica contest after Marata Niukore left the field with a hamstring injury.

Kieran Foran, used in the halves in all three tour matches so far, moves to the bench where he was used against Tonga in June with Isaiah Papali’i, Isaac Liu and Waerea-Hargreaves rounding out the interchange. Injuires have kept Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Moses Leota and Scott Sorensen out of the side.

The Kiwis have beaten Lebanon 34-12 and Jamaica 68-6 in their first two pool matches while Ireland accounted for Jamaica 48-2 but lost 14-32 to Lebanon last weekend.

The World Cup quarter-finals will likely see New Zealand face Fiji, with the Kangaroos possibly facing Lebanon. This potentially sets up a looming New Zealand and Australia semi-final.

– RNZ