NZ rugby league

The Warriors want to have a team in the competition, which is due to start in October, but chief executive Cameron George says a full side from Auckland will not relocate to Australia to take part.

Instead individual players are faced with deciding whether they can afford to leave their jobs and families for around 10 weeks to be based in Sydney and playing in a Warriors team that will bear little resemble to the side that took the field last season.

Nicoll-Klokstad (24) is one of four changes to the starting line-up used in the Kiwis' 34-14 win over Mate Ma'a Tonga in June.

With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback, the Canberra custodian replaces the injured Esan Marsters while Jamayne Isaako comes in for injured captain Dallin Watene-Zeleniak on the right wing,

Leeson Ah Mau starts in the front row for Jesse Bromwich, out with a foot injury, and veteran Adam Blair comes into loose forward for Isaac Liu (knee).

Tuivasa-Sheck won the National Rugby League's prestigious Dally M player of the year award - the first time a Warriors' player has won the prize in the club's 24 year history.

RNZ asked New Zealand Rugby League why Tuivasa-Sheck was not nominated by them for the Halbergs and their initial repsonse was that as Tuivasa-Sheck was injured and didn't play for the Kiwis in 2018, he couldn't be nominated.

When it was pointed out an athlete didn't have to be playing for a national side to be nominated the NZRL then replied:

The NRL's coaching carousel has taken its next stop with Ivan Cleary released by the Tigers and Maguire confirmed as his successor for the next three seasons.

Maguire will continue his role with the New Zealand national team, a role handed to him after he was sacked by Souths at the end of last year.

The news broke after the Kiwis were beaten 18-16 by England in Hull this morning to go 1-0 down in the three-match series, and NZRL chief executive Greg Peters said they had no issue with Maguire combining dual roles.