We love the NRL and obviously we love our beautiful little nation, so we're going to keep tabs on which kiwi lads went well on the weekend and who didn't. This is very loose in terms of 'kiwis', they may not play for the Kiwis but anyone who was born in Aotearoa and is cool enough to be known as a kiwi is eligible.

Stocks Up

Martin Taupau - Beast. Taupau deserves much of the same credit that Jason Taumalolo gets as he's cut from the same cloth. Extremely powerful and with a strong work ethic, Taupau continued his ruthless run of form against the Titans with 112 metres gained from 12 carries. Taupau's next level would be to play more minutes, but don't sleep on this big lad.

Dallin Watene Zelezniak - DWZ is one of those wingers who just makes playing in the NRL look stupidly easily. Two tries, plenty of metres gained with strong carries and another solid effort from DWZ against the Doggies.

Agnatius Paasi - He left the Warriors after making his debut last season to join the Gold Coast Titans and he was probably a huge winner in their CoCo saga. Paasi wasn't amazing for the Titans but his stocks certainly have gone up simply by putting in a good shift and it's hard to see him not kicking on as the Titans need that little bit of power and mongrel.

Thomas Leuluai - A try, an injury and a solid effort from Leuluai in at dummy half for the Warriors. Again, Leuluai's stocks are rising as last season he predominantly came off the bench so for him to do his job well as a start means he's going up on a Tuesday.

Siosiua Taukeiaho - This lad was in danger of seeing his career drift in to oblivion after battling injury in his first season at the Roosters but he must have impressed Trent Robinson over the off season and got a bench spot against the Cowboys. Five carries for 56 metres is great impact from Taukeiaho and hopefully we'll see him continue to add some punch off the bench.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - His first game starting at fullback for the Chooks and RTS showed what a great player he is and can be by filling Anthony Minichello's boots nicely. A try assist, 9 tackle breaks and 188 metres gained off 13 carries is a great start for RTS in the #1 jersey and long may it continue.

Elijah Taylor - Any young kiwi lad who does the amount of ball playing that goes unnoticed and makes 50+ tackles deserves a shout. Taylor's work with the ball in hand helps his halves out greatly along with his talk and effort on defence to tie up the edge or the middle - he can do both, against the Doggies who were keen to power up the guts.

Stocks Down

James Gavet - Not the Broncos debut that Gavet was after with two big errors, some ill discipline and just a generally average game. Gavet earned his contract with the Broncos thanks to some great form with the Tigers, despite off field issues and Uncle Wayne won't be happy. Gavet, like most of the Broncos players looked a little chunky and didn't seem as mobile but hopefully he gets another go.

Shaun Johnson - As a halfback you've got to stand up, get your hands on the ball and win the game, that's your job. Johnson largely went absent when the game was on the line and not in terms of some razzle dazzle, he didn't close the game out and do what the best halves are doing by kicking to corners and playing down the right end of the field. Stocks dropped heavily here but it's a good lesson first up.

Justin Horo - He's gone from being a solid starter to 18th man so far this season which is stink. Not sure who he pissed off but Horo needs to get back on the park and impress otherwise he'll be back to that NRL nomad battler life.

James Tamou - Aussie Jim was effective off the bench, but he's slipped down a few pegs on the ladder at the Cowboys which is interesting. Whether it's injury or coach Paul Green hating him because he's a hearty Maori playing for Australia, who knows but Tamou is no longer part of the super prop duo at the Cowboys.

Sosaia Feki - Bruh, good game but you got socked in the face by Jack Wighton and got 10 in the bin! If you're going to shove a lad back with anger, you've got to be smart about it and either land the first one (because apparently it doesn't matter - you both get 10 in the bin) or just don't throw anything and suck up your pride and let Wighton look like a muppet. Either way your team mates are sprinting in so the punishment won't last too long?