Papalii, Taumalolo and Winterstein added to Kiwis squad

by NRL

Josh Papalii, Jason Taumalolo and Antonio Winterstein have been added to the Kiwis train-on squad to prepare for the October 13 Test match against the Kangaroos at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville. The players come from the two clubs that were knocked out of the NRL play-offs over the weekend.

Papalii, who'll look to make his Kiwi debut, is from the Canberra Raiders, while Taumalolo and Winterstein are from the North Queensland Cowboys. Both Cowboys players have been part of Kiwis squads previously, with Taumalolo 19th man for the VB Test in April. Ricky Thorby, also from the Cowboys, was unavailable due to a hip injury that requires surgery.

Papalii, Taumalolo and Winterstein join the 14 train-on squad members named earlier, from teams whose seasons were already over.

The national selectors - Richie Barnett, Tony Iro, Stephen Kearney and Tawera Nikau - will add to the squad over the next two weeks, following the last two weekends of the NRL finals.

2012 KIWIS TRAIN-ON SQUAD (at September 19)

Brisbane Broncos: Gerard Beale, Josh Hoffman
Canberra Raiders: Josh Papalii
Cronulla Sharks: Jeremy Smith
North Queensland Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo, Antonio Winterstein
Penrith Panthers: Sam McKendry
Sydney Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
NZ Warriors: Ben Henry, Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering, Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Manu Vatuvei
Wests Tigers: Adam Blair, Benji Marshall

Unavailable: Brisbane Broncos: Alex Glenn (knee surgery); North Queensland Cowboys: Ricky Thorby (hip surgery); St George Illawarra Dragons: Nathan Fien (retired from international rugby league following April's Test), Jason Nightingale (knee surgery); Sydney Roosters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (thigh surgery); Warriors: Kevin Locke (injury - high ankle sprain).

2012 KIWIS MATCH SCHEDULE

October 13 - vs Australia, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

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