New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney has won his battle with Leeds and Wigan over Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai.

The ex-Melbourne second rower, now in charge of the Kiwis, insisted on selecting the Super League pair for the centenary Test between against Australia on May 9.

Both clubs had expressed their unwillingess to release their players as the game clashes with the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.

But the Rugby League International Federation has ruled that full back Webb and scrum half Leuluai must be released.

Leeds travel to Harlequins whilst Wigan host Whitehaven.

The RFL tried to persuade the RLIF to make an exception to the rule, but it now means that if the players are not made available to play for their country, they will not be permitted to play for their club within five days of the Test match.

Leeds Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said: "We will abide by the ruling but we are very disappointed with the way the whole thing has been managed, by New Zealand in particular, and by the International Board.

"It is ridiculous to place such demands on players. They should not be put in this position."

Wigan chief executive Joe Lydon said his sympathy lies with scrum-half Leuluai.

"Our whole stance was based on player welfare and the fact that a one-off Test in the middle of our domestic season is less than ideal," he said.

"We do not wish to stand in anyone's way of representing their country because it is the pinnacle of their career but our objective and our concern was for the player's welfare.

"To expect a player to travel 24,000 miles and play three games in 11 days, including a Test match, is unfair."

Australia: Billy Slater; Greg Inglis, Mark Gasnier, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau; Darren Lockyer (capt), Johnathan Thurston; Brent Kite, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Paul Gallen, Ryan Hoffman, Greg Bird
Replacements: Carl Webb, Anthony Tupou, Willie Mason, Kurt Gidley

New Zealand (from): Roy Asotasi (capt), Brent Webb, Sam Perrett, Jason Nightingale, Setaimata Sa, Iosia Soliola, Ben Roberts, Lance Hohaia, Thomas Leuluai, Simon Mannering, Sonny Bill Williams, Jeremy Smith, David Fa'alogo, Frank Pritchard, David Kidwell, Dene Halatau, Adam Blair, Nathan Cayless, Issac Luke