Bradford Bulls stand-off Robbie Paul has won the vote over New Zealand regular Gene Ngamu for tomorrow's second Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Paul, who flew out to Australia following the Bulls' Super League play-off defeat at St Helens last Friday, will partner scrum-half Stacey Jones as the Kiwis, 1-0 up after the Anzac Day Test in April, seek to complete their first series win in Australia since 1953.
The side also includes former Wigan and Leeds centre Kevin Iro, who is considering a move to St Helens.
New Zealand coach Frank Endacott, concerned over the heat in Queensland, took his players indoors for ten-pin bowling yesterday.
Endacott, meanwhile, hinted that he could be coaching in England next season after the takeover of Auckland Warriors cast doubts over his club position.
Auckland's new owners, who include ex-Wigan coach Graham Lowe, are expected to appoint ex-Kiwi second rower Mark Graham to replace him.
Endacott will be in charge of New Zealand for the three-match series against Great Britain, starting on October 31, but is then likely to consider his position.
"I would find it very difficult to not coach for 11 months of the year and then coach for one month," he said.
"I've got some options - some in the UK and some outside of football - and I will re-assess my situation after New Zealand's tour of Britain."
Leeds may risk Kiwi Test centre Richie Blackmore in Sunday's Super League qualification semi-final against Wigan - even though he needs an operation to correct a groin injury.
Blackmore, who missed last Sunday's opening play-off victory over Halifax, has been withdrawn from New Zealand's trip to England later this month for the three-match Lincoln Test series because of the injury.
But Rhinos coach Graham Murray has not yet ruled him out of the Central Park tie and says there is also an outside chance of the club's other Kiwi international, stand-off Tony Kemp, recovering from a rib injury that forced him to miss the Halifax match.
"We have a question mark over Richie. He went to see the specialist on Monday and we'll be monitoring him in training this week," said Murray.
Murray is encouraged by the case of St Helens forward Chris Joynt, who recently played on with a groin injury as he awaited surgery.
Blackmore's co-centre Brad Godden, who scored the match-winning try in Leeds' 15-8 Super League win at Central Park in August, has been passed fit after twice going off against Halifax.
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