At 35 years and 286 days, Dane Gagai will become the second-oldest debutant in New Zealand Test history when he faces Australia in Sydney.
Gagai and Newcastle teammate Kalyn Ponga are set to make their Kiwis debuts in the Rugby League World Cup opener, with Ponga playing his first international.
Gagai previously played seven Tests for Australia, his last against New Zealand and Tonga in October 2018.
Their selection follows a journey that began in 2019, when head coach Stacey Jones brought them into the Māori All Stars for the team's first appearance against the Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne.
Gagai scored two of the Māori team's three tries in a 14-34 defeat. Ponga, who played 21 minutes, set up a try for Esan Marsters.
Ponga's Māori ancestry is on his father Andre's side, while Gagai's comes through his mother Tania. Both have since played three times for the Māori All Stars.
Gagai has also represented the Indigenous All Stars three times; his father, Ray, is of Torres Strait Islander descent.
Jones worked closely with both players before their selection in New Zealand's 2026 World Cup squad. Their families joined them for the presentation of their first Kiwis jerseys, with Ponga receiving his from his father and Gagai from his mother.