Kiwi NRL Stocks Round 22
Stocks Up
Peta Hiku - If you find yourself alongside Roger Tuviasa-Sheck in the 200 metre + hatty club, you're doing a pretty fine job, but what else would we expect of a Kiwi winger?
Michael Chee Kam - It's hard not to notice Chee Kam when he's on the field with his combination of athletic ability, size and skill smacking you in the face. He's done a great job coming off the bench over the past two weeks and if Manly are going to go deep into the finals, you would expect Chee Kam to feature in some capacity.
Justin Horo - The same can be said about Horo who battled through a pretty stink early portion of this season thanks to injury and a slump in form, but with consistent performances on the edge for Manly, he's back in business. You not get the spectacular with Horo but you get 80 minutes, over 100 metres and little touches of class.
Jordan Kahu - With Manu Vatuvei having a picnic under an injury cloud, there could be a wing spot up for grabs for the Kiwis' tour of England and another strong performance from Kahu where he ran for 175 metres has him in contention. He's also got Stephen Kearney as his assistant coach at the Broncos, don't sleep on that.
Leeson Ah Mau - The most carries and metres of any player on the field along with an abnormal number of tackles busts saw Ah Mau put in a breakout performance. He's been hovering around this season as a very, very solid NRL prop, but he led the Dragons' pack against his former club and led them admirably.
Gerard Beale - After toiling away all season, Beale finally had his moment in the sun as he took a good catch at deep-square-leg to run the length of the field and score. How he staggered with the speed wobbles as he neared the try line was also worth a giggle.
Sam McKendry - A switched was flipped somewhere within McKendry's loins this season and he's consistently putting together Kiwi-worthy performances. 151 metres in 36 metres? Yeah, sign me up.
Tupou Sopoaga - Game time, that's what we want with Sopoaga and he gets another chance this week against the Warriors.
Matt Duffie - This week showed me how much the Melbourne Storm love Duffie as they got him in a funky set up to score his first try - coming in off his wing, while we also saw his trademark AFL-style catch on the wing. Duffie is a specialist winger, similar to how Manu Vatuvei will score if he's one-on-one 5 metres out, Duffie will score most times that the ball is put in the air to his wing.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - Mr 200 metres himself, what a guy. Mr 200 also went and got a cheeky hatty as well, fuck he's good.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - Only here because of that kick-chase which saw Waerea-Hargreaves hit Kurt Gidley on his own try line after he sprinted 40 odd metres. It was glorious.
Jordan Rapana - The NRL is home to the best rugby league players on the planet right? Well every time I watch Rapana run the footy he looks hard to handle, which puts him in pretty good company and 133 metres off 10 carries (anything over 10 metres per carry is great) with four tackle busts is evidence of that.
Ava Seumanufagai - You want efficiency? How about 120 metres off 12 carries in 28 minutes?
Manaia Cherrington - He's still managing a bench spot and I'm loving it.
Stocks Down
Curtis Rona - No tries ... hey he set his own standards, plus only 56 metres off seven carries while his opposite and fellow Kiwi-wing-spot-contender Kahu was putting in a classy performance.
Sam Kasiano - 36 minutes make me wonder if Des Hasler either has a master plan or doesn't quite know how to best use Kasiano. They'd better figure that out before the finals.
Simon Mannering - Four missed tackles, simply not good enough from the Warriors' skipper.
Manu Vatuvei - Possibly a season-ending injury, not ideal.
Jason Taumalolo - Quiet performances have been made easier to stomach as he's still been efficient and John Asiata's done a nice job but the Cowboys need Taumalolo at his barnstorming best if they are to go deep in to the finals.
Siosiua Taukeiaho - No tackle busts, disgusting.