Re-appointed Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney is looking at having policies in place to prevent a repeat of the misuse of prescription medicines that blighted last year’s Rugby League World Cup campaign.

Australian Glenn Morrison is in the running to coach the Kiwis after being unveiled as one of four shortlisted candidates for the vacant role by New Zealand Rugby League.

Kiwis captain Simon Mannering has given his players no room for excuses as they embark on the defence of their rugby league World Cup title.

The New Zealand Rugby League accept they will polarise opinion with their decision to make Sonny Bill Williams a late addition to the Kiwis’ World Cup squad.

They won’t start favourites for the rugby league World Cup, but New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney claims the current crop is more advanced than the group which claimed the 2008 title.

The New Zealand train-on squad for the rugby league World Cup has swelled to 24 following the addition of seven players from the Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys.

New Zealand are deep into negotiations with Sonny Bill Williams with a view to him featuring in the rugby league World Cup this autumn.

New Zealand Test prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves says Benji Marshall’s decision to quit rugby league will be a huge blow to the Kiwis’ hopes of retaining the World Cup in the UK later this year.

Winger Manu Vatuvei is back in the Warriors starting 13 but coach Matthew Elliott has left a buffer for other injured players, naming a seven-man interchange for their NRL match against West Tigers in Sydney.

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney is taking a hands-off approach as Kiwis playmaker Benji Marshall reportedly considers his future in rugby league.

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Benji Marshall has been dumped as Kiwis captain ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams may turn his back on New Zealand and represent Samoa at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

New Zealand are hoping a ‘State of Origin’ style approach to international rugby league will result in Test football domination – and give them a stranglehold on the World Cup.

Canberra back-rower Josh Papalii requested more time to think about his representative future, as the tug-of-war between Queensland and New Zealand for his services intensified on Wednesday.