Kiwis v Kangaroos: Newcastle Knights grand finalists Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai named for NZ debuts

Dane Gagai will become New Zealand’s second-oldest test debutant when he joins fellow first-time Kiwi Kalyn Ponga in the Rugby League World Cup opener against Australia on Thursday. Named in the centres, Gagai takes the field at 35 years, 286 days in Sydney, nine years after playing the first of his seven tests for the Kangaroos in the opening match of the 2017 World Cup in Melbourne. That leaves the Newcastle Knights star second only to Alf Chorley as the oldest man to debut for New Zealand.