Did you try doing the same with
<g:ListBox uifield="myListbox">
<g:item value='1'>
first
</g:item>
<g:item value='2' selected='true'>
second
</g:item>
<g:item value='3'>
third
</g:item>
</g:ListBox>
@UiField
Listbox myListbox;
public constructor(){
//...
listbox.setSelectedIndex(1);
}