ManlyBacker
Winging it
Manly youngsters Kieren Foran and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will be forced to make decisions on their international allegiance after being named in a 45-man New Zealand squad for the end-of-season Quad-Nations tournament.
The squad also includes Warriors sensation Kevin Locke and Newcastle back rower Zeb Taia, whose eligibility is yet to be confirmed by the Rugby League International Federation.
Foran and Waerea-Hargreaves have both represented Australia at junior level -- the former as a member of the Australian schoolboys and the latter in the 2007 rugby union World Cup.
Their selections stunned Manly officials given neither is a regular first grader -- both have played only a handful of games in the NRL. Their selection could also force both to decide on their representative futures despite the likelihood neither will be chosen in the final squad to play against Australia, England and France later in the year.
"The selection of a player like Kieran Foran from Manly shows there are pathways into our national teams for New Zealand-eligible players living in Australia," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said.
"We're committed to giving players like Kieran every opportunity to represent their country."
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The squad also includes Warriors sensation Kevin Locke and Newcastle back rower Zeb Taia, whose eligibility is yet to be confirmed by the Rugby League International Federation.
Foran and Waerea-Hargreaves have both represented Australia at junior level -- the former as a member of the Australian schoolboys and the latter in the 2007 rugby union World Cup.
Their selections stunned Manly officials given neither is a regular first grader -- both have played only a handful of games in the NRL. Their selection could also force both to decide on their representative futures despite the likelihood neither will be chosen in the final squad to play against Australia, England and France later in the year.
"The selection of a player like Kieran Foran from Manly shows there are pathways into our national teams for New Zealand-eligible players living in Australia," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said.
"We're committed to giving players like Kieran every opportunity to represent their country."
bottom of http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25888996-5012431,00.html