Euan Aitken and Valentine Holmes lead a host of players with NRL experience to be named in the Junior Kangaroos squad to play their Kiwi counterparts on Saturday.
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Jackson Hastings, Robert Jennings and Tepai Moeroa have all been selected to play in the curtain-raiser to the Pacific Test double header on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Despite wearing the No.1 jersey for the Sharks, Holmes will play on the wing with Roosters utility Hastings to start at fullback.
Canberra outside back Brenko Lee will start on the wing, meaning all the outside backs in the squad have tasted NRL experience. The Broncos have six players in the 18-man squad including Ashley Taylor, Joe Ofahengaue, Jayden Berrell, Jayden Nikorima and Jai Arrow. The Eels have three players named to play with Moeroa joined by Tyrell Fuimaono and Alex Twal. Nine of the 16 NRL clubs are represented by at least one player with Gold Coast, the Warriors, Canterbury, South Sydney, Newcastle, Manly and Melbourne all missing the cut. Former Newcastle, Penrith and Roosters halfback Justin Holbrook – now on the coaching staff at the Roosters – will coach the side. Holbrook has been an assistant NRL coach at the Dragons and Eels in recent seasons.
Junior Kangaroos: Jackson Hastings, Brenko Lee, Robert Jennings, Euan Aitken, Valentine Holmes, Drew Hutchison, Ashley Taylor, Joe Ofahengaue, Jayden Berrell, Matthew Lodge, Coen Hess, Tepai Moeroa, Tevita Pangai Junior. Interchange: Tyrell Fuimaono, Salesi Funaki, Jayden Nikorima, Alex Twal, Jai Arrow.
