Test news

Melbourne second rower Ryan Hoffman has been called into the Australian rugby league squad as 18th man ahead of tomorrow night's Test against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.

A Kangaroos team spokesman said 23-year-old Hoffman, who made his representative debut for City in the City v Country match last year, was called up only as a precaution. Hoffman is to join the squad in camp in Brisbane this afternoon.

Meanwhile, next year's rugby league World Cup final will be played in Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has told parliament the final will be played at Suncorp Stadium on November 22, and the stadium will also host a semi-final on November 15. Other Queensland-based matches in the World Cup, which celebrates 100 years of rugby league, will be played at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville and the yet-to-be-built Skilled Stadium at Robina on the Gold Coast.