Bromwich named Kiwis' captain for Australia test
Prop Jesse Bromwich has been named to captain New Zealand for the first time in Friday's ANZAC rugby league test against Australia.
Coach Steven Kearney named his 19-man squad for the match on Sunday, elevating Melbourne Storm prop Bromwich to the captaincy in place of Simon Mannering who is injured. Bromwich has played 17 tests for New Zealand since 2012.
The squad includes two new caps: winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, whose previous bids for a Kiwis debut were affected by injury and suspension, and Parramatta forward Manu Ma'u.
The major omission is veteran hooker Isaac Luke who has been in poor form for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
Three other Warriors players, Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson, were made unavailable by the club after breaking team rules.