Friday 17 October 2014 15:49, UK
Sam Moa has become the latest big-name withdrawal from New Zealand’s squad for the Four Nations Series.
Former Hull forward Moa, who was in the Kiwis side that that lost to Australia in the 2013 World Cup final, has withdrawn due to family illness.
Moa’s place goes to Wests Tigers forward Bodene Thompson, 26, who was touring Queensland with the NZ Maoris but will meet up with Stephen Kearney's squad on the Gold Coast this weekend.
Thompson, who comes from Tauranga but moved to Australia as a teenager, joins centre Sosaia Feki, prop Suaia Matagi, second row Jason Taumalolo and wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as rookies in the national side.
New Zealand open their Four Nations campaign against Australia in Brisbane on October 25.
New Zealand squad: Gerard Beale (St George Illawarra Dragons), Adam Blair (Wests Tigers), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), Lewis Brown (Penrith Panthers), Greg Eastwood (Canterbury Bulldogs), Sosaia Feki (Cronulla Sharks), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm), Siliva Havili (Vodafone Warriors), Peta Hiku (Manly Sea Eagles), Shaun Johnson (Vodafone Warriors), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Thomas Leuluai (Vodafone Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering (Vodafone Warriors), Suaia Matagi (Vodafone Warriors), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers), Bodene Thompson (Wests Tigers), Manu Vatuvei (Vodafone Warriors), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers), Dean Whare (Penrith Panthers).
