Joey Manu, the Golden Boot winner, moves to the center as four new Kiwis are announced for the Toa Samoa match.
Kiwis vs. Toa Samoa, Saturday, 6 p.m.; Eden Park, Auckland; live coverage on Sky Sport 4; live updates on Stuff starting at 5 p.m. 2023 Pacific Championship.
In order to make room for Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has decided to move last year’s Golden Boot winner Joey Manu to the center position.
Maguire’s team, which will play Toa Samoa in the Kiwis’ opening Pacific Championships game at Eden Park on Saturday night, also includes middle forwards Griffin Neame and Leo Thompson as well as center Matthew Timoko, who will come off the interchange.
Manu, who plays centre for the Roosters in the NRL, was crowned international player of the year at last year’s Rugby League World Cup when playing fullback. Despite Nicoll-Klokstad having previous experience at centre for the Kiwis, Maguire will play the pair in their regular NRL positions
Brown, who represented Toa Samoa at the 2021 (2022) World Cup, has won the race, over Danny Levi, to start in the vacant hooker role despite playing limited NRL this season and often as a utility when he was in the top grade.
With incumbent hooking options Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King, along with Phoenix Crossland and Kodi Nikorima all unavailable or injured, Brown will start the match with veteran Kieran Foran providing cover from the bench.