Wade Graham is set to celebrate his 29th birthday in style when he runs out for the Kangaroos at WIN Stadium in Wollongong tonight.
Playing his seventh Test for Australia, Graham will be a member of a star-studded Kangaroos outfit, but one which is set to have their hands full against a Kiwi side featuring three of his Sharks teammates in Shaun Johnson, Briton Nikora and Braden Hamlin-Uele.
Graham comes into the game after leading the Australian team to victory in the World Nines just a week ago.
Named on the interchange bench, he is likely to be used in a utility role, with Graham’s versatility giving coach Mal Meninga a variety of options as to how he will be used for the Australian team tonight.
On the other side of the ledger, the Kiwis are set to provide an extremely worthy challenge to the Australians, with Sharks five eighth Johnson to team up with Benji Marshall in the halves.
Johnson’s right edge partner in Nikora will again be by his side, the youngster to play his second Test match for the Kiwi’s, while Hamlin-Uele will make his international debut in what is a fitting reward for what was a standout NRL season in 2019.
The game will represent Johnson’s 31st in New Zealand colours.
The Australia v New Zealand Test match, which kicks off at 8.10pm, will be preceded by the Junior Kangaroos v France and the Australian Jillaroos playing the New Zealand Silver Ferns.
The schedule of matches and links to team lists are below.
Kangaroos v Kiwis
Where: WIN Stadium
When: Friday, October 25 – 8.10pm
https://www.nrl.com/draw/internationals/2019/round-2/australia-v-new-zealand/
Jillaroos v Kiwi Ferns
Where: WIN Stadium
When: Friday, October 25 – 5.40pm
https://www.nrl.com/draw/womens-internationals/2019/round-2/jillaroos-v-kiwi-ferns/
Junior Kangaroos v France
Where: WIN Stadium
When: Friday, October 25 – 3.10pm
https://www.nrl.com/draw/internationals/2019/round-2/junior-kangaroos-v-france/
