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KIWI INTERNATIONALS OF YESTERYEAR HONOURED

Kiwi internationals of yesterday were honoured in the presence of captain Benji Marshall and his 2011 New Zealand team-mates on Australia's Gold Coast tonight.

As it has done since late last year, the New Zealand Rugby League is taking the opportunity to award past and present Kiwis with specially-struck identification tags - or 'dog tags' - to mark their careers as New Zealand representatives.

The initiative was kicked off in Wellington last year when personal tags were handed out to a group of former and current Kiwis - those in the 2010 Four Nations s       quad - ahead of New Zealand's Four Nations clash against England.

With the Stephen Kearney-coached 2011 team in camp for Friday night's Anzac Test, the NZRL brought the old and the new together at a special function tonight which saw a group of ex-Kiwis now resident in Australia presented with their tags by Marshall. Two current Kiwis - the recalled Fuifui Moimoi (Kiwi No 741) and Kieran Foran (757) - also received their tags.

Earlier Kiwis from years gone by were acknowledged - Sel Belsham (367), Graeme Farrar (398), Ken McCracken (409), Bob Irvine (442), Trevor Patrick (470), Bernie Lowther (477), Eddie Heatley (482), Kevin Barry (515), Glenn Taylor (540), Lewis Hudson (552), Sam Stewart (591) and Aaron Whittaker (648).

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said the practice from now on would see new Kiwis presented with their tags in the dressing room immediately after their debut. Gerard Beale, Lewis Brown and Matthew Duffie are all in line to play in their first international this week.

In February, a collection of West Coast's former Kiwis were awarded their tags at a charity dinner during the Vodafone Warriors' visit to Greymouth for their trial match against Newcastle. More players were also honoured after the Legends of League charity match played in Auckland in March, which raised more than $150,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal.

Doyle also updated the Kiwis tonight on the work the NZRL has been doing and on its plans for the future.

The function rounded out a hectic first day for the Kiwis since they came into camp late on Sunday night to prepare for the Anzac Test.

After an early recovery session in the surf, the players had a photo call at Skilled Park, venue for the battle, followed by a mass media session. Marshall was typically in huge demand from all in sundry while newcomers Duffie and Beale plus Foran, Nathan Fien, Issac Luke, Greg Eastwood, Adam Blair, Jeremy Smith, Simon Mannering and Kearney were also much sought after.

Following the media session the Kiwis had their first run at their training base for the week, Pizzey Park, home of the Burleigh Bears. 

KIWI SQUAD - 2011 ANZAC TEST