Friday 31 October 2014 18:12, UK
Former Wigan and London Broncos favourite Thomas Leuluai has made way for the return of hooker Issac Luke for New Zealand's Four Nations clash with Samoa in Whangarei on Saturday.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs No 9 was forced to miss the Kiwis' opening 30-12 win over Australia because of a two-game ban carried over from the NRL season.
Leuluai does not even have the consolation of a place on the bench, with Lewis Brown retained following his try-scoring return to the international side in Brisbane.
After thwarting Australia’s 17-match unbeaten streak, the Kiwis know victory over Samoa could see them through to the Four Nations final.
The depleted Kangaroos, who needed one more win to enter the record books, let slip a 12-6 lead, conceding 24 unanswered points as New Zealand gained some revenge for their Rugby League World Cup final defeat at Old Trafford last year.
Jason Nightingale, Kevin Proctor, Brown, Shaun Johnson and Dean Whare all retain their places in the 17-man squad after crossing the whitewash at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, head coach Stephen Kearney has made two other changes, with experienced winger Manu Vatuvei returning in place of Gerard Beale and former Samoa prop Suaia Matagi set to make his Kiwis debut against his old team-mates.
Matagi, 26, who started all four matches for Samoa in the 2013 World Cup, replaces Greg Eastwood on the bench.
New Zealand: P Hiku (Manly Sea Eagles), J Nightingale (St George Illawarra), S Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), D Whare (Penrith Panthers), M Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors); K Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), S Johnson (New Zealand Warriors); J Bromwich (Melbourne Storm), I Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), A Blair (Wests Tigers), S Mannering (New Zealand Warriors, capt), K Proctor (Melbourne Storm), J Taumalolo (North Queensland)
Replacements: L Brown (Penrith Panthers), S Matagi (New Zealand Warriors), M Taupau (Wests Tigers), T Harris (Melbourne Storm)
