Shaun Johnson will spearhead New Zealand’s World Cup Nines campaign with star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck kept on ice for the end-of-year Tests.
Johnson was unveiled in coach Michael Maguire’s 16-man squad on Wednesday, which also includes young guns Dylan Brown, Braden Hamlin-Uele and Briton Nikora.
But there was no Tuivasa-Sheck in the list, who would have been one of the game’s most exciting players in the shortened format.
New Zealand have three Tests following the Nines: one against the Kangaroos in Wollongong the following week and two at home against Great Britain.
Benji Marshall and Kieran Foran were also missing but devastating wingers Jordan Rapana and Ken Maumalo have both been named.
“We’ve got players right across this squad who have come off terrific NRL seasons and have earned the privilege to represent New Zealand,” Maguire said.
“For us, this is another step towards taking the Kiwi jersey to the place we want it to be.”
The Nines event will be the first World Cup in the format played, with New Zealand in the same as Australia, Papua New Guinea and the USA.
NEW ZEALAND NINES SQUAD: Leeson Ah Mau, Dylan Brown, James Fisher-Harris, Corey Harawira-Naera, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jamayne Isaako, Shaun Johnson, Jeremy Marshall-King, Ken Maumalo, Briton Nikora, Kodi Nikorima, Kevin Proctor, Jordan Rapana, Bailey Simonsson, Reimis Smith, Joseph Tapine.