As the 2023 Pacific Championships gets underway, Zero Tackleย looks at all the players who are absent from the New Zealand Kiwis squad that represented them at last year's Rugby League World Cup.

The players absent included a three-time Penrith Panthers premiership winner, a former New Zealand Kiwis captain and the reigning Dally M Winger of the Year.

1Jesse Bromwich (The Dolphins)

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Jesse Bromwich of New Zealand Kiwis during the Four Nations match between the England and New Zealand Kiwis at the John Smith's Stadium on October 29, 2016 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

A New Zealand Kiwis legend, Jesse Bromwich, was selected as the national team captain for the Rugby League World Cup but has since announced his international retirement ahead of the Pacific Championships.

A mainstay of the forward pack since his debut in 2012, he earned 33 caps for the international side and is a former Dally M Prop of the Year - his experience is set to be missed in the Pacific Championships and in future tournaments.

โ€œJesse is finishing up in the international space,โ€ Maguire toldย SENZ The Run Home.

โ€œHe's been a great player in my time as the coach and I really appreciated Jesse, I was very fortunate to have Jesse as a young player when I was down there in Melbourne.

โ€œTo watch him have such a great career and he had some challenges, but he always bounced back.

โ€œI can't thank him enough for the support that he's given me.โ€

Announced on Saturday at a venue that featured former captains such as Ruben Wiki,ย Stephen Kearney,ย Adam Blair,ย andย Nathan Cayless, Penrith Panthers front-rower James Fisher-Harris has been appointed as the new captain of the Kiwis team.

Previous International Caps:ย 33 (2012-23)

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