A broken foot is expected to rob Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of a Test debut but Penrith teammate Josh Mansour has capped a remarkable rise by being picked on the flank for the Kangaroos.
An innocuous fall while training is likely to see Watene-Zelezniak sidelined for up to six weeks, ruling him out of the tournament. The 19-year-old was named to make his debut on the wing for the Kiwis along with forward Jason Taumalolo against the Kangaroos on Saturday night.
Penrith's Lewis Brown will also play his first Test after a three-year absence. Watene-Zelezniak was reduced to a spectator as the rest of the Kiwis squad trained on Tuesday. Manu Vatuvei is likely to earn a Test reprieve, having been overlooked for Watene-Zelezniak and Jason Nightingale.
The news was much better for Mansour, who was one of five debutants named for a Kangaroos side who are missing more than half the side that won last year's World Cup as they usher in a new generation of stars.
South Sydney premiership winner Dylan Walker headlines a list of rookies who will take on the Kiwis in Australia's opening Four Nations clash.
Walker, Mansour, and Daniel Tupou fill an inexperienced back line, while forwards Aaron Woods and Aidan Guerra will also make their Test debuts.
Australian coach Tim Sheens has opted for the NSW back row of Greg Bird, Ryan Hoffman and Beau Scott. The Test will be just Scott's second, having previously played against Wales in 2011, and Hoffman's first since 2012.
Sheens has taken a risk by selecting just one genuine prop to combat a big New Zealand side. While Corey Parker spent time playing at prop for Brisbane this year, only Woods would be considered a regular front-rower. David Klemmer – the only other front-rower in the squad – missed selection in the 17. Thaiday will start at prop while Parker and Josh Papalii will also spend time in the middle of the field. Thaiday missed Kangaroos training on Tuesday with a virus but is expected to take his place come Saturday.
Papalii also plays on an edge for the Raiders.
"Papalii is starting to mature more of a front-rower," Sheens told Fairfax Media recently. "[Canberra coach] Rick [Stuart] sees it too. I wouldn't want to stand in front of him when he runs. [Against PNG] the kid who brought it back, I thought they were looking for parts of him, [Papalii] hit him that hard.
"He tackles like Les Boyd in that he is all hips and legs in his tackle."
Sheens resisted the temptation of handing teens Alex Johnston or Sione Mata'utia Test debuts, while Mata'utia, Klemmer and Boyd Cordner have been named on an extended bench. More than half of the Australian squad which beat New Zealand 34-2 to claim last year's World Cup is missing.
The likes of Test regulars Billy Slater, Brett Morris, Jarryd Hayne, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Paul Gallen are sidelined for various reasons.
England will play Samoa, followed by the Kangaroos taking on the Kiwis in a double-header at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Australia: Greg Inglis, Josh Mansour, Michael Jennings, Dylan Walker, Daniel Tupou, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Aaron Woods, Cameron Smith (capt), Sam Thaiday, Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird. Res: Robbie Farah, Aidan Guerra, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer, Sione Mata'utia (three to be omitted).
New Zealand: Peta Hiku, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dean Whare, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Manu Vatuvei), Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich, Thomas Leuluai, Adam Blair, Simon Mannering (capt), Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, Tohu Harris, Suaia Matagi (one to be omitted).
