Kearney delays naming team

Stephen Kearney: Keeping team under wraps

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney will keep England waiting and will not name his team for Saturday's Four Nations clash until the day of the game.

The Kiwis must name a 19-man squad on Thursday for the game at Hull's KC Stadium, but with prop Sam Kendry ruled out of the tournament after breaking his jaw in last Saturday's 36-0 win over Wales, Kearney said the other 22 players all remained in contention for the team's final round-robin match.

"We have some selection issues to consider and won't be making a final decision on our side until as late as possible," said Kearney, who arrived with his squad in Leeds on Tuesday.

World record

Wigan hooker Thomas Leuluai, who was named the players' player of the day against Wales after having a key hand in three of the Kiwis' tries, is set to win his 30th cap which would move him ahead of his father James, a former Hull centre who played 29 Tests from 1979-1986.

The Leuluais' total of 58 caps so far is thought to be a world record for a father-and-son combination.

According to rugby league historian David Middleton, the best father-and-son total for Australia is 35 by the late Steve Rogers and his son Mat, while the most prolific father-and-son total for Great Britain is 30 by Bill Burgess senior (16 Tests, 1924-29) and Bill Burgess junior (14 Tests, 1962-69).