Kiwis recall unlikely for Marshall
Benji Marshall’s hopes of returning for the Kiwis appear over with convener of selectors Tawera Nikau confirming they’re looking for younger players.
The 32-year-old Marshall stated last week he hoped he’d be in the reckoning for the a call up for the New Zealand squad.
He has played exceptionally well for the Broncos this season and if did raise the question of whether he was in line for a recall after five years of not being selected and it’s something Marshall is keen on.
‘‘I’m available for the World Cup,’’ Marshall told Brisbane’s Courier Mail last week.
‘‘To be honest, I probably won’t get selected, but I’m never going to rule myself out of contention because representing your country is the highest honour.
‘‘If they need me, I’m available. I know I can offer something.’’
However, it looks like there isn’t going to be a change of thinking towards the former Kiwis captain with Nikau saying they’ve already indicated what direction they’re going down.
‘‘Over the last couple of years we’ve invested a lot of time and effort in some of the younger players,’’ Nikau said.
‘‘If you read through the lines you can see how we’ve brought some of the young players on, the likes of Te Maire Martin and Kodi Nikorima.
‘‘I think Benji has said they should pick Kodi before him in a couple of games in the finals.
‘‘What we’re doing is making sure we’ve got a team that can perform and does have experience, but also moving forward we’re doing some planning for the future.’’
Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran should be the starting halves for the Kiwis and with a stronger forward pack in front of them than they had at the Warriors, they should also be able to perform better.
Meanwhile, there have been rumours in league circles recently that the NZRL could backflip on banning Kevin Proctor and Jesse Bromwich for the World Cup.
However, Nikau says that’s not going to happen, with neither player still in consideration for the 24-man squad, which will be named in the week after the NRL Grand Final.
‘‘David Kidwell and the NZRL management made the decision earlier in the year and there are some strong values attached to that,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s something that people will be asking and talking about, but as we stand now as a selection panel and a coaching staff, that still remains.
‘‘In saying that, Jesse has been outstanding since he’s come back and been one of the major contributors to the Melbourne Storm.
‘‘But at the end of the day you have to stick by what those decisions were and what the values that this decision was based on and it’s something that we as selectors, coaching staff and management will stand by.’’
One of the contentious selection issues for Nikau and the other selectors, Kidwell, Tony Iro and Hugh Mcgahan, will be at hooker.
Issac Luke is the incumbent, but he didn’t have the best of seasons for the Warriors.
It could be that the selectors go with Thomas Leuluai from Wigan, or look at the other leading contenders, Danny Levi at the Knights, Matt Mcilwrick at Wests Tigers or even Warriors’ young gun Nathaniel Roache.
The Storm’s Brandon Smith was brought into the squad for the Anzac Test and did play three games for his club this season, but it would be a big ask to throw someone so experienced into a World Cup squad.
However, all eyes will be on whether Luke, who co-captained the Kiwis in 2015, makes the squad.
‘‘Issac has done very well in the team in the past, but these are the decisions we’ll have to make as a selection team and David is well aware of the players he wants in the team and how he wants them to perform.’’