Price right for All Golds
Steve Price joins the New Zealand tour.
Johns was forced into premature retirement at the start of the NRL season due to a neck injury while Lockyer is out for the remainder of the Brisbane Broncos with a knee injury.
The Australian representation in the one-off game is designed to emulate Dally Messenger’s involvement in the corresponding match a century ago.
Following the match, New Zealand will then embark on a three Test series against Great Britain.
The NZRL have also attempted to temporarily recruit a host of former or out-of-favour All Blacks for the match with takes place on the same day as the Rugby World Cup final.
However, so far they have had little success with Wellington duo Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu possibly having a clash with a New Zealand domestic final on the same day while former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has club rugby commitments in France.
Jonah Lomu and the England-based Carlos Spencer had also been sounded out though are unlikely to be involved.