Cronulla utility back Gerard Beale has been summoned into the NZ Kiwis starting line-up for Friday’s Downer Trans-Tasman Test against Australia in Newcastle, replacing fullback Peta Hiku.
Beale (Kiwi #767) has played seven tests for New Zealand in 2011 & 2014, and last took the field for his country in the 2014 Four Nations opener against Australia at Brisbane.
He was called into the Kiwis camp on Monday morning, after Brisbane second row Alex Glenn injured a calf for his Broncos club the night before and had to withdraw from the initial 18-man squad.
But when Hiku was also ruled out with a knee injury, Beale moved into the centres and Brisbane utility Jordan Kahu shifted to fullback.
The Kiwis have further concerns over the fitness of Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who sported a moon foot at the team’s recovery training session on Monday. He will be given some time to prove his readiness, with Parramatta’s Brad Takairangi and Melbourne forward Kenny Bromwich arriving to cover further casualties in the test build-up.
Other features of the Kiwis line-up include the use of Melbourne second row Tohu Harris in the halves and debuts for Penrith wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Parramatta forward Manu Ma’u.
ANZAC TEST
Kiwis v Australia Kangaroos
9.50pm (NZT), Friday, May 6
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
1 Jordan Kahu
2 Jason Nightingale
3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
4 Gerard Beale
5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6 Tohu Harris
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Lewis Brown
10 Adam Blair
11 Kevin Proctor
12 Manu Ma’u
13 Jason Taumalolo
14 Kodi Nikorima
15 Greg Eastwood
16 Martin Taupau
17 Sam Moa
18 Brad Takairangi
20 Kenny Bromwich
