Issac Luke to make Test debut

Boom South Sydney hooker Issac Luke will make his Test debut for New Zealand in the upcoming Centenary Test against Australia.

Luke, 20, has been named in a fresh-faced squad which includes other debutants Jason Nightingale and Setaimata Sa.

Hawera-born Luke, 20, graduates to the Kiwi squad after making his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs last June while Sydney-born Nightingale (21), whose parents are New Zealanders, first appeared at first-grade level last May.

No stranger to the try-line, Nightingale has scored five tries in seven matches for the Dragons this season and 12 in 23 matches in all.

While Luke, Nightingale and Sa are all new to the squad, several recent Kiwis have been recalled including 16-test fullback Brent Webb (Leeds), who missed all six tests last year. The only other player named from an English Super League club is Wigan halfback Thomas Leuluai, used in last year’s series against Great Britain and in the one-off test against France in Paris.

Centre Iosia Soliola, prop Nathan Cayless, loose forward David Fa’alogo and second rower Sonny Bill Williams are all back in the side after last appearing in the Kiwi jersey in the 2007 Anzac Test.

Melbourne prop Adam Blair is back after playing four times in the 2006 Tri Nations campaign but missing much of last season through injury.

Apart from Leuluai, other players retained from last year’s tour to Britain and France are Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs) and Jeremy Smith (Melbourne). Joining them is South Sydney veteran David Kidwell, who left the tour early for personal reasons.

The playing line-up will be confirmed when the team assembles in Sydney next week, with Webb and Leuluai in doubt as their Super League clubs attempt to keep them in the UK.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD:

Roy Asotasi (South Sydney, capt), Brent Webb (Leeds), Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Lance Hohaia (NZ Warriors), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Nathan Cayless (Parramatta), Issac Luke (South Sydney)