Kiwis Coach: Kidwell and Zealand

kiwis coach: Veteran winger Manu Vatuvei has been omitted but Kidwell said that did not mean his international career is over, according to The Waterloo Record. Bromwich retains the captaincy after leading New Zealand in a test loss to Australia in May. In naming his first squad as Kiwis coach, David Kidwell handed international call-ups to New Zealand Warriors backs David Fusitu'a and Solomone Kata, Penrith playmaker Te Maire Martin and Canberra Raiders players Joseph Tapine and Jordan Rapana. Former captain Simon Mannering was also included in the 24-man squad announced Tuesday, but Kidwell said Mannering is happy to have been relieved of the burden of captaincy. New Zealand will play Australia at Perth on Oct. 15 in a lead-up to the Four Nations, which begins Oct. 28 with a match between Australia and Scotland. Kidwell has recently taken over as Kiwis coach from Stephen Kearney and has selected a new-look side. "In picking this team we've tried to achieve a balance between players who are proven at test level and those that are the future of the Kiwis program," he said. "Injuries play an unfortunate part in our game and some of these newcomers will get an immediate opportunity to show they're ready for the next level." Players unavailable because of injury include Roger Tuivasa-Shock, Peta Hiku, Dean Whare, Kieran Foran, Ben Matulino, Alex Glenn and Kodi Nikorima. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.