# Junior Kiwis

The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name.
Since 2010, they are an under-20s side, with players selected from the NRL, Intrust Super Cup, Intrust Super Premiership, Jersey Flegg Cup and Hastings Deering Colts. They are administered by the New Zealand Rugby League.

## History

Prior to 2010, the Junior Kiwis consisted of the best New Zealand players aged 18 years or younger and would represent the country against the likes of the Australian Schoolboys, the New South Wales Under 18 side and the England Under 18 side, sometimes as curtain raisers to the senior Kiwi games. Players such as Adam Blair, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Sonny Bill Williams represented the Junior Kiwis early in their careers and went on to play at the senior level for New Zealand.
In 2010, with the advent of the National Youth Competition, the Junior Kiwis was switched to an under 20s team and played in a two Test series against the Junior Kangaroos. From 2011 to 2018, the Junior Kiwis faced the Junior Kangaroos at the end of each season in a one-off Test match, usually as a curtain raiser to a senior level Australia-New Zealand Test match. In 2019, the side faced the Australian Schoolboys. The side reverted to an under-19 side for the fixture.

## 2010 series
### 1st Test

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-England Four Nations match.
* 23 October 2010
| Junior Kiwis | 16 – 24 | Junior Kangaroos |
| Tries Siuatonga Likiliki 1 Drury Low 1 Shaun Johnson 1 Goals Shaun Johnson 2 | Report | Tries Dane Gagai 2 Michael Oldfield 1 Justin O'Neill 1 Cameron King 1 Goals Cameron King 2 |
* Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand Referee: Henry Perenara

### 2nd Test

Played as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Four Nations match.
* 30 October 2010
| Junior Kiwis | 36 – 20 | Junior Kangaroos |
| Tries Lama Tasi 1 Drury Low 1 Nafe Seluini 1 Martin Taupau 1 Siuatonga Likiliki 1 Carlos Tuimavave 1 Goals Shaun Johnson 6 | Report | Tries Michael Oldfield 1 Josh Jackson 1 Dane Gagai 1 Justin O'Neill 1 Goals Cameron King 2 |
* Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua, New Zealand Referee: Shane Rehm

## 2011 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand pre-Four Nations tournament match. Both coaches agreed to allow an 18th man be used during the match.
* 16 October 2011
| Junior Kangaroos | 16 – 28 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Dane Gagai 2 Stewart Mills 1 Kane Evans 1 Goals Chad Townsend 2 | Report | Tries Sebastine Ikahihifo 2 John Palavi 1 Michael Parker-Walshe 1 Wayne Ulugia 1 Goals Siliva Havili 3 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 1 |
* Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, Australia Referee: Adam Gee

## 2012 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.
* 13 October 2012
| Junior Kangaroos | 48 – 16 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Edrick Lee 2 Jack Wighton 2 Cheyse Blair 1 Tautau Moga 1 David Klemmer 1 Mahe Fonua 1 Jack Stockwell 1 Goals Jacob Miller 6 | Report | Tries Ngataua Hukatai 2 David Fusitua 1 Carlos Tuimavave 1 |
* Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville, Australia Referee: Gavin Reynolds

## 2013 match

* 13 October 2012
| Junior Kangaroos | 38 – 26 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Patrick Mago 2 Vai Toutai 1 Junior Paulo 1 David Nofoaluma 1 Charly Runciman 1 Mitch Cornish 1 Goals Bryce Cartwright 5 | Report | Tries Kurtis Rowe 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 1 Goals Mason Lino 3 |
* WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, Australia Referee: Henry Perenara

## 2014 match

* 18 October 2014
| Junior Kiwis | 15 – 14 | Junior Kangaroos |
| Tries Sam Manuleleua 1 Kodi Nikorima 1 Chance Peni 1 Goals Zach Dockar-Clay 1 Field Goals Te Maire Martin 1 | Report | Tries Valentine Holmes 2 Jake Mamo 1 Goals Clinton Gutherson 1 |
* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Referee: Shane Rehm

## 2015 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.
* 2 May 2015
| Junior Kangaroos | 22 – 20 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Valentine Holmes 1 Robert Jennings 1 Brenko Lee 1 Tepai Moeroa 1 Goals Jackson Hastings 2 Valentine Holmes 1 | Report | Tries Watson Heleta 1 Joseph Manu 1 Te Maire Martin 1 Tony Tumusa 1 Goals Zach Dockar-Clay 2 |
* Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Australia Referee: Grant Atkins

## 2016 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Papua New Guinea-Fiji Melanesian Cup match and the Samoa-Tonga Polynesian Cup match.
* 7 May 2016
| Junior Kangaroos | 34 – 20 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Nathan Cleary 1 JJ Felise 1 Robert Jennings 1 Brian Kelly 1 Curtis Scott 1 Connor Watson 1 Goals Nathan Cleary 5 | Report | Tries Mafoa'aeata Hingano 2 Siosifa Talakai 1 Ken Tofilau 1 Goals Jamayne Isaako 2 |
* Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta, Australia Referee: David Munro

## 2017 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the 2017 Anzac Test.
* 6 May 2017
| Junior Kangaroos | 46 – 22 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Tyronne Roberts-Davis 2 Reece Robson 2 Corey Allan 1 Jai Field 1 Victor Radley 1 Jaydn Su'A 1 Goals Jai Field 5 | | Tries 1 Dane Aukafolau 1 Jarome Luai 1 Steven Marsters 1 Briton Nikora Goals 3 Patrick Herbert |
* GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia Referee: Phil Henderson

## 2018 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the Australia-New Zealand end of year Test match.
* 13 October 2018
| Junior Kiwis | 24 – 40 | Junior Kangaroos |
| Tries Jackson Ferris 1 Steven Marsters 1 Sean Mullany 1 Isaiah Papali'i 1 Joseph Vuna 1 Goals Chanel Harris-Tavita 2/5 | Report | Tries 2 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 2 Enari Tuala 1 Corey Allan 1 Tom Flegler 1 Louis Geraghty Goals 6/7 Zac Lomax |
* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Referee: Chris McMillan

## 2019 match

Played as a curtain raiser to the 2019 Queensland Cup Grand Final.
* 29 September 2019
| Australian Schoolboys | 36 – 20 | Junior Kiwis |
| Tries Max Feagai 1 Jack Howarth 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 1 Jackson Topine 1 Sam Walker 1 Reece Walsh 1 Goals Reece Walsh 6/6 | Report | Tries 2 Starford To'a 1 Kayal Iro 1 Selestino Ravutaumada Goals 2/4 Sione Moala |
* Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe, Australia Referee: Wyatt Raymond

## Players
### Captains

* Martin Taupau (2010)
* Carlos Tuimavave (2011–2012)
* Jason Taumalolo (2012)
* David Bhana (2013)
* Manaia Cherrington(2014)
* Zach Dockar-Clay (2015)
* Mafoa'aeata Hingano (2016)
* Jarome Luai (2017)
* Isaiah Papali'i (2018)
* Jordan Riki (2019)

## Coaches

* David Kidwell (2010–2011)
* John Ackland (2012)
* Brent Gemmell (2013–2014)
* Kelvin Wright (2015–2016)
* Nathan Cayless (2017)
* Ezra Howe (2018–)