As the 2023 Pacific Championships gets underway, Zero Tackle 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.
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.
“Jesse is finishing up in the international space,” Maguire told SENZ The Run Home.
“He'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.
“To watch him have such a great career and he had some challenges, but he always bounced back.
“I can't thank him enough for the support that he's given me.”
Announced on Saturday at a venue that featured former captains such as Ruben Wiki, Stephen Kearney, Adam Blair, and Nathan Cayless, Penrith Panthers front-rower James Fisher-Harris has been appointed as the new captain of the Kiwis team.
Previous International Caps: 33 (2012-23)
Just like brother Jesse, Kenneath Bromwich has not been selected to take part in the Pacific Championships. However, unlike his brother, his de-selection from the team comes due to him wanting an extended break from playing rugby league rather than announcing his retirement.
Another mainstay of the forward pack in recent years, Bromwich has amassed 15 games in the Kiwis jersey since his international debut in 2016.
While he may not be as recognised as his brother, Kenny has continually shown his ability in the international arena, whether it is in the starting second-row position or coming off the interchange bench and making an impact in limited minutes.
“Kenny, his body is just at that stage where he needed a break,” Michael Maguire told SENZ The Run Home.
“I think off the back of a long year, (a) World Cup, (being at a) new club, he wanted to have a bit of a pause in the international space."
Previous International Caps: 16 (2016-23)
Exiting the NRL for a stint overseas in the Super League with the Hull Kingston Rovers, Peta Hiku's decline started after the conclusion of the World Cup as he only managed to score twice in 22 games for the Cowboys.
Representing sporadically since 2014, Hiku has been omitted from the team in favour of centres Matthew Timoko and Joseph Manu. The latter is likely to enter the centres after a stint at fullback, where he won the 2022 Golden Boot due to the arrival of Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad.
While Hiku has plenty of experience and is versatile in a number of different positions, it is time for the Kiwis to go in a new direction and focus on a new group of back-line players who are presently at their peak or a set to enter their peak.
"We're excited to welcome Peta to Hull KR next season. Peta is proven at every level in the game and brings a wealth of experience to our side," Hull Kingston Rovers coach Willie Peters said.
"It's a real capture to have Peta join us from next season. Peta's high standards in the NRL and for the Kiwis are a testament to his ability on the field and to him as a person.
"We've earmarked Peta to play fullback for us next season with him playing there through the grades and in the NRL.
"However, Peta's versatility will be an asset to us next season as he can play Fullback, Five Eight and Centre, equally well. Peta is a strong leader and a motivated winner."
Previous International Caps: 16 (2014-22)
Michael Maguire confirmed that if Sebastian Kris were not banned from competing due to suspension, he would have been a certain starter in the squad - either pairing up with 2023 Dally M Winger of the Year Jamayne Isaako on the wing or playing in the centres.
Making his international debut at the World Cup against Jamaica, Kris has continued to get better and had a breakout season in 2023. However, the chance for him to play in the Kiwis jersey again came to a sudden halt after being hit with a five-game suspension to round out the year.
Kris was sent off during the Round 27 clash against the Cronulla Sharks, with his teammates crumbling out of the game as he was forced to watch on from the dressing rooms.
The tackle, which came in the 60th minute of the game, saw Kris lift Sharks' winger Sione Katoa and dump him well above the horizontal, with the landing appearing to be on the back of his head.
The referee and bunker were realistically left with no choice on the immediate punishment for Kris, and it's a punishment the NRL's match review committee agreed with, pinging him with a Grade 3 charge.
Previous International Caps: 1 (2022)
While many players on this list haven't been selected due to injuries or suspensions, the same can't be said for Isaac Liu. Linked with a move away from the Titans after the conclusion of the World Cup, he has struggled to make an impact at the club level during the 2023 season.
Whilst he managed to play 23 games for the Gold Coast Titans as their starting lock forward, Liu didn't have the same impact he had the season before and at the Sydney Roosters - this has seen him drop down the pecking order for the Kiwis.
Looking at the Kiwis' squad, it is hard to find a spot where he could fit in, especially since rookies Leo Thompson (Newcastle Knights), Wiremu Grieg (Parramatta Eels) and Griffin Neame (North Queensland Cowboys) are attempting to make their mark on the national team.
The trio are not only younger than Liu, meaning they will be around for a longer period, but they also had a better season than that of the former Sydney Roosters NRL premiership winner.
Previous International Caps: 10 (2017-22)
Set to be chosen as the first-choice Kiwis hooker, Jeremy Marshall-King will be absent from the squad after enduring a shoulder injury at the backend of the season. Having not been chosen, it is understood that he will spend his time getting ready for the upcoming season and will not try and re-aggravate it during the Pacific Championships.
The hooker's move to The Dolphins from the Canterbury Bulldogs has been a revelation, and it has elevated him to the upper echelon of dummy halves in the NRL competition. Whilst not playing for the Kiwis this year, he will likely be a certain pick heading into the future.
After the Round 18 game in which Marshall-King injured his shoulder, Wayne Bennet stated he is unlikely to play again this season and will instead get ready for the 2024 season.
“He did (make a difference) but he's still got a bit of a shoulder problem there so I don't know how long we'll have him back for," Bennett said at the time.
“Looks like it might be a bit ongoing that one. He's a wonderful player and we probably got him at about 75 per cent tonight.
“We'll probably have to go the rest of the season without him.”
It is understood that Kieran Foran or Danny Levi will take the reins of the number nine jersey after both Marshall-King and Sydney Rooster Brandon Smith are absent from the squad due to injuries.
Previous International Caps: 2 (2022)
After a stellar stint with the Parramatta Eels that earned Marata Niukore several appearances for the Kiwis, he has struggled to have the same impact in the 2023 season with the New Zealand Warriors.
Despite the Warriors being 80 minutes away from the 2023 Grand Final, which would have been his second in back-to-back seasons, he was unable to stand out in the team's jumper. Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris were the main contributors from the forward pack.
Only 27 years of age, Niukore could very well find his way back into contention for a spot in the New Zealand squad. In 22 appearances during the 2023 season, he scored three tires, made 579 tackles (92.9 per cent tackle efficiency) and ran a total of 2085 metres, averaging 94 per game.
Previous International Caps: 3 (2022)
The re-emergence of Jamayne Isaako (The Dolphins) and the rise of youngsters Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla Sharks) and Keani Kini (Gold Coast Titans) means that Jordan Rapana makes his way out of the squad.
Rapana has been a key ingredient to the Kiwis' success in the backline, but it seems as though his international career has come to an end as the 34-year-old gets older and younger players emerge for New Zealand.
It is understood that 2024 is set to be Rapana's last season in the NRL, with Ricky Stuart confirming that it is time for the next generation to make an impact. Currently working as an assistant under Stuart at the Raiders, Michael Maguire has probably decided to implement the same thing.
"Over the next 12 months we're going to be transitioning into a new era," Stuart told The Canberra Times.
"We'll be losing 1000 games of NRL experience with Jarrod and Jack leaving this year, Elliott and Jordan being their last season in '24."
Previous International Caps: 15 (2016-22)
In the exact same scenario as Dolphins hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, Brandon Smith would have been one of the first players selected by Michael Maguire if he wasn't unavailable for selection due to injury.
While it took some time for him to get going and solidify consistent performances in the Roosters jersey, playing in the NRL finals saw him take his ability and skill to the next level - an aspect the Roosters will be hoping to see him in, week in, week out.
Smith's versatility is incredibly useful to the New Zealand Kiwis as he not only plays in the number nine jumper but can also be used in the second row and as a lock forward - two positions where he mainly played for the Storm due to the emergence of Harry Grant.
Smith recently opened up on the difference between playing in Melbourne compared to Sydney. Melbourne is predominantly known as an AFL state, whilst Sydney is more known for rugby league.
"I completely underestimated it. I didn't realise that every paper, every week, Roosters are in there and there's big write-ups. The scrutiny was a lot bigger..." Smith recounted on Sporting News.
Previous International Caps: 12 (2018-22)
Out of all the players who missed selection into the New Zealand Kiwis Pacific Championships squad, the omission of Scott Sorensen is the biggest question mark.
The three-time premiership winner for the Penrith Panthers had his best season to date in 2023 after being promoted to the starting second row after the departure of Viliame Kikau and solidified himself in the back row along with Liam Martin.
While Sorensen could have easily made it into the Kiwis starting 17 - and especially the extended squad - the only reason Michael Maguire could have had not to include him his age. Aged 30, it seems as though he has been passed over for younger Kiwi players.
However, as time has told many times, some players age like fine wine. For example, Shaun Johnson had an incredible season in 2023, proving all of his doubters wrong after they believed he was too old to cut it and should have retired at the beginning of the season.
Previous International Caps: 1 (2022)
A mainstay of the New Zealand Kiwis lineup since making his international debut in 2009, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been one of the most impactful forwards ever to don the Kiwis jersey. Amassing 33 international caps, the Rooster would likely have been chosen in the Pacific Championships squad if not handed a suspension by the NRL.
Waerea-Hargreaves was charged with a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge by the NRL judiciary after being sin-binned against the Wests Tigers earlier this year, in which he faced a long-term suspension of seven games.
Of the seven-match ban, Waerea-Hargreaves served three of the games for the Roosters, who made the semi-finals, and if the Kiwis make the final of the Pacific Cup that gets underway this weekend, then would have another three matches shaved off. It is understood the Sydney Roosters have lodged an application for the pre-season All-Stars clash to be included in the suspension.
Previous International Caps: 33 (2009-23)
A former captain of the New Zealand Kiwis (in 2018), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is unavailable to be selected for the national team after reportedly switching international allegiances to Tonga - a tier two nation - as well as requiring minor surgery in the hopes of being fully fit in time for the start of pre-season with the Warriors.
The 2023 Dally M Winger of the Year is coming off his best season to date, recording 24 tries in 20 games and seeing the Warriors make the preliminary final, and he will be greatly missed in the Kiwis jersey on the flank of the field.
Despite playing in 13 Test matches for New Zealand and captaining the squad at one point in time, he is eligible to represent Tonga through his grandmother.
"He's a wonderful bloke," NZRL Chief Executive Greg Peters told Newshub.
"That's one of the wonderful things about rugby league.
"Players will make their decisions, factoring in their family links, culture and things they should be considering.
"Dallin is at that stage where he wants to pursue that, and we respect that."
Previous International Caps: 13 (2016-22)