York, England, November 11, 2022 – Prop Moses Leota is confirmed on the bench while Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora form a new second row combination for the New Zealand Kiwis’ Rugby League World Cup semi-final against the Kangaroos at Elland Road in Leeds today (7.45pm kick-off local time; 8.45am Saturday NZT).
Leota will make just his second appearance of the tournament as he returns on the interchange alongside Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Isaac Liu and Kieran Foran.
After using Asofa-Solomona and Kenny Bromwich in the second row in last week’s quarter-final against Fiji, head coach Michael Maguire has selected the 24-year-olds Papali’i and Nikora in the second row after both were on the interchange against Fiji.
Bromwich is 18th man and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is 19th.
NZ KIWIS v AUSTRALIAN KANGAROOS
Elland Road, Leeds
7.45pm, Friday, November 11 2022