Five exciting young Wests Tigers players will take the field this Saturday in Auckland as part of the annual Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos match.
Manaia Cherrington, Watson Heleta, Lamar Liolevave and Te Maire Martin will take the field for New Zealand, coming up against Australian representative Matt Lodge.
One of the Club’s recruits for 2015, Chance Peni will also play for the Junior Kiwis after a successful season with the Holden Cup minor-premiers Newcastle.
This match will be Cherrington’s second appearance in the Under 20s representative fixture, starting at hooker in last year’s match that ended with the Junior Kangaroos running out 38-26 victors at Kogarah Oval.
On the opposing side, Lodge is one of nine players in the Junior Kangaroos squad with NRL experience, playing four games for the Wests Tigers towards the back end of the year.
The Junior Kangaroos side will be looking to record their third straight victory in this Representative fixture, however the Junior Kiwis will have the home crowd advantage this year in what is sure to be a thrilling encounter.
Match Details
Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos
7pm (Local) Saturday, October 18
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
TV COVERAGE: 8pm (AEDT) on Fox Sports 3
NZ Junior Kiwis:
Josh Ailoai (Parramatta Eels), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm), Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Zach Docker-Clay (Parramatta Eels), Addin Fonua-Blake (St George Illawarra Dragons), Watson Heleta (Wests Tigers), Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers), Danny Levi (Newcastle Knights), Lamar Liolevave (Wests Tigers), Sam Lisone (Vodafone Warriors), Sam Manulelua (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Te Maire Martin (Wests Tigers), Taane Milne (Sydney Roosters), Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane Broncos), Chance Peni (Newcastle Knights), Joseph Tapine (Newcastle Knights), Adam Tuimavave-Gerard (Vodafone Warriors), Braden Uele (Sydney Roosters)
Coach: Brent Gemmell
Assistant Coach: Kelvin Wright
Junior Kangaroos:
1 Clint Gutherson (Sea Eagles)
2 Valentine Holmes (Sharks)
3 Jack Bird (Dragons)
4 Euan Aitken (Dragons)
5 Jake Mamo (Knights)
6 Drew Hutchison (Dragons)
7 Ryan Matterson (Eels)
8 Matthew Lodge (Wests Tigers)
9 Cameron McInnes (Rabbitohs)
10 Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos)
11 Patrick Mago (Raiders)
12 Tevita Pangai (Raiders)
13 Kelepi Tanginoa (Eels)
14 Brett Greinke (Broncos)
15 Willis Meehan (Roosters)
16 Cameron Munster (Storm)
17 Andy Saunders (Panthers)
18 Jackson Hastings (Roosters)
Coach: Kelly Egan (Bulldogs)
Past Wests Tigers Representatives
Junior Kangaroos:
David Nofoaluma (2013)
Jacob Miller (2012)
Jacob Miller, Matt Groat (2011)
Junior Kiwis:
Kurtis Rowe, Manaia Cherrington (2013)
Sauaso Sue, Mosese Fotuaika, Ben Murdoch-Masila (2012)
Ben Murdoch-Masila (2011)
Past Results:
2013: Junior Kangaroos 38 def Junior Kiwis 26
2012: Junior Kangaroos 48 def Junior Kiwis 16
2011: Junior Kiwis 28 def Junior Kangaroos 16
2010 (Under 19s): Game 1 – Junior Kangaroos 24 def Junior Kiwis 16
Game 2 – Junior Kiwis 36 def Junior Kangaroos 20
