Kiwis

Prop Sam McKendry was back in camp with his Kiwi team-mates today less than 12 hours after having surgery following multiple fractures to his jaw sustained  in yesterday's Four Nations clash with Wales at Wembley Stadium.

Kiwis prop Sam McKendry will miss the rest of the Four Nations after severely breaking his jaw in today's 36-0 shutout of Wales at Wembley Stadium in London.

Adam Blair's return from suspension, a debut for Elijah Taylor and Nathan Fien's recall are the features of the Kiwis' line-up for their Four Nations clash against Wales at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Prop Russell Packer has pleaded guilty to a striking offence and will miss the Kiwis' opening Four Nations match against Australia in Warrington next weekend.

Australian coach Tim Sheens is already fearing a Four Nations ambush despite watching his side dismantle New Zealand 42-6 in Sunday's one-off rugby league test in Newcastle.

Winger Bill Tupou has been called into the Kiwis squad as a replacement for fellow Warriors player Krisnan Inu, who withdrew earlier in the week for personal reasons.

Frank-Paul Nuuausala's late-night drinking antics with Todd Carney hardly ingratiated the Sydney Roosters prop to Kiwis selectors, but three other teammates will be hoping to make a better impression as their disastrous National Rugby League (NRL) season winds down.

The Kiwis will play a match against Cook Islands in October as part of preparations for the Four Nations rugby league tournament in the United Kingdom.

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) and its Australian counterpart have unveiled plans to stage an Anzac test in Turkey on April 25, 2015, to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landings.

Fresh-faced Brisbane second-rower Alex Glenn is hoping to surf the Broncos' winning wave into his international debut for New Zealand in next month's test against Australia on the Gold Coast.

"A pretty sad day for all" is how the manager of Queenstown's Kiwi Birdlife Park described the death of their "miracle" kiwi chick yesterday.

Australia coach Tim Sheens has today made six personnel changes to the starting 13 that played against England at Melbourne last Sunday, as well as giving four players their test debuts, for the Four Nations rugby league test against the Kiwis at Auckland on Saturday night.

Cooper Cronk might only be playing the Anzac rugby league test by default, but fullback Billy Slater has no doubt where the halfback ranks among the Melbourne Storm's Kangaroos connection.