Kiwis Coach David Kidwell has brought back nearly one hundred Tests of experience for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup clash against Tonga in Hamilton.

After sitting out the Kiwis 74-6 victory over Scotland, veterans Thomas Leuluai returns to the number 9 jersey while Simon Mannering slots in at 11.

Jordan Rapana will start on the right wing, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak gets his first ever chance to play in front of his home crowd, partnering with club team mate Dean Whare on the left wing and centre respectively.

Kodi Nikorima will join Shaun Johnson in the halves with Te Maire Martin named in 19.

Isaac Liu is the only change to the bench, which continues to look to Russell Packer, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Danny Levi to add a further spark during the match.

NEW ZEALAND v TONGA
WAIKATO STADIUM, HAMILTON
11 NOVEMBER 2017

KIWI NO. JERSEY NO. NAME TEST APPEARANCES
779 1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK 14
794 2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK 4
776 3 DEAN WHARE 17
803 4 BRAD TAKAIRANGI 2
798 5 JORDAN RAPANA 6
793 6 KODI NIKORIMA 6
774 7 SHAUN JOHNSON 23
785 8 MARTIN TAUPAU 18
704 9 THOMAS LEULUAI 39
755 10 JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES 21
731 11 SIMON MANNERING 43
800 12 JOSEPH TAPINE 4
732 13 ADAM BLAIR 43
804 14 NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA 2
768 15 RUSSELL PACKER 5
805 16 ISAAC LIU 1
806 17 DANNY LEVI 2
796 18 KENNY BROMWICH 3
802 19 TE MAIRE MARTIN 2
770 20 ELIJAH TAYLOR 11
781 21 PETA HIKU 10