New Zealand national Coach Michael Maguire has named Wests Tigers teammates Benji Marshall and Esan Marsters as part of the extended Kiwis squad to face Tonga on Saturday, June 22.
Marshall and Marsters were named by Maguire as part of an 27-man squad to face Mate Ma'a at Mount Smart Stadium, with several debutants also included.
A veteran of the New Zealand side with over 27 Tests to his name, Marshall first made his Kiwis debut in 2005 during the ANZAC Test against Australia.
The playmaker was pivotal in the Kiwis' breakthrough success during the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
Marshall last appeared for the Kiwis in 2012 in the Trans-Tasman Test against Australia, but could be in line for a return to the side with Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Kodi Nikorima all named in the extended squad by Maguire.
Marsters has also been named by Maguire as he looks to consolidate his centre position for New Zealand after playing five Tests for the Kiwis throughout 2018.
In what was his debut season for the national side (having made his representative debut for the Cook Islands back in 2017), Marsters played every match of the Kiwis' end-of-season tour of England and will be looking to impress his club coach once again, should he be selected in the final side to face Tonga on June 22.
Maguire will update the squad to 19 players following Round 14 of the NRL.
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD
Players listed in alphabetical order
Leeson Ah Mau (Warriors)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm)
Jesse Bromwich (Storm)
Kenneath Bromwich (Storm)
James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Kieran Foran (Bulldogs)
Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
Jamayne Isaako (Broncos)
Shaun Johnson (Sharks)
Isaac Liu (Roosters)
Issac Luke (Warriors)
Joseph Manu (Roosters)
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers)
Ken Maumalo (Warriors)
Briton Nikora (Sharks)
Kodi Nikorima (Warriors)
Agnatius Paasi (Warriors)
Isaiah Papali’i (Warriors)
Jordan Rapana (Raiders)
Brandon Smith (Storm)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles)
Zane Tetevano (Roosters)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Bulldogs)
