New Zealand Rugby League wishes to congratulate the following selected in the 2020 New Zealand Resident 16s squad who will face the New Zealand Māori Rugby League 17s on the 24th October at Rotorua International Stadium.
The fixture will be live-streamed on NZMRL and NZRL Facebook pages and will bring a close to Day One of the annual New Zealand Māori Rugby League (NZMRL) Tuakana Tournament.
17 players will be named from the below 19 to take the field on the day, congratulations to the following:
| NAME | CLUB | DISTRICT | ZONE |
| Alesana MAILEI | Linwood | Canterbury/Southern |
| Ben PENI | Papatoetoe | Counties Manukau |
| Benaiah IOELU | Mt. Albert | Akarana |
| Cassius TIA | Marist | Akarana |
| Demitric SIFAKULA | Otahuhu | Counties Manukau |
| Dickie TEREPO | Otara | Auckland |
| Felix FA’ATILI | Hornby | Canterbury/Southern |
| Francis MANULELEUA | Otahuhu | Counties Manukau |
| Henry TEUTAU | Marist | Akarana |
| Jacob LABAN | Randwick | Wellington |
| Jayden HARRIS | Glenora | Akarana |
| Jeremiah MATAUTIA | Otara | Counties Manukau |
| Matthew LOGOPATI | Linwood | Canterbury/Southern |
| Nathaniel TANGIMATAITI | Mt Albert | Akarana |
| Salesi FOKETI | Manurewa | Counties Manukau |
| Tamakaimoana WHAREAORERE | Te Puke | Coastline/Upper Central |
| Te Hurinui Apanui TWIDLE | Turangawaewae | Waikato/Upper Central |
| Tre FOTU | Marist | Akarana |
| Xavi TAELE | Otumoetai | Coastline/Upper Central |
Asst. Coach – Peter Butler (Mid Central)
Asst. Coach – Alex Parker (Upper Central)
Manager – Clarissa Percival (Mid Central)
Head Trainer – Ben Collins (Akarana)
Asst. Trainer – Clayton Amer (Wellington Rugby League)
NZMRL will select an U17s team from their Rangatahi Tournament just been which celebrated its 20th year over the weekend.
The highly successful NZMRL Rangatahi Tournament has provided a pathway for many young Kiwi players over recent years; 2020 NRL debutants Jordan Riki, Jackson Ferris and Matt Timoko have all previously played in the NZMRL Rangatahi Tournament.
In 2017, now Brisbane Bronco, Jordan Riki, captained the NZMRL U17s against NZ Resident 16s in a close game, where the NZ Resident 16s came away with the win 32 – 28.
John Devonshire, NZMRL Chairman says, “The 2020 season has been a huge challenge for all sectors across our code. To be able to stage a representative game for our elite players is awesome.
“We the NZMRL are happy to accommodate the NZRL in what we see as an exciting match up. We are very proud of our NZ Māori 17’s Rangatahi team and wish them well. It is one thing to play for your country, it is another to play for your people, kia kaha te tima Māori.”
