2016 Junior Kiwis Team Revisited
So good the Melbourne Storm came knockin'
As we near the start of the Four Nations and keep the NRL in the back of our minds, the level of talent and general intrigue around the Junior Kiwis has long drifted off into the background. The #KiwiNRL takeover is live and in full effect with Australian NRL teams signing copious amounts of kids out of Aotearoa meaning I could dish up information on all the school-kids who get signed, but the Junior Kiwis team is the best marker for young kiwi rugby league talent as it only deals in the very best and those who are likely to push on from the Under 20's competition.
Earlier this year, the Junior Kiwis lost to their Australian counterparts 34-20 which doesn't sound too crazy does it? There's not a whole lot of shame in losing to a Junior Kangaroos that had Nathan Cleary in the halves, or Coen Hess and Jaydn Su'A on either edge, Tevita Pangai and JJ Felise starting at prop or Connor Watson coming off the bench; all of whom went on to impress in the NRL this season.
The truth is, that despite the Aussies being full to the brim with NRL-ready talent, the Junior Kiwis competed strongly because they too ended up having a fair amount of NRL-ready talent. If they didn't go on to play in the NRL, they featured heavily in reserve grade despite still being eligible for Under 20's and even then, those in the Under 20's still made plenty of waves.
As tends to be the case, the New Zealand Warriors were well represented but that their contribution to the Junior Kiwis isn't quite what it used to be is a sign of how strong the #KiwiNRL presence is. Ata Hingano captained the JK's and made his NRL debut in the halves for the Warriors this season, leaving the door open for him to push his case for further selection next season depending on the Kieran Foran/Tuimoala Lolohea situation. Nathaniel Roache came off the bench for the JK's and featured in a similar role for the Warriors for much of the season, with all signs pointing to a long career as an NRL hooker and he'll flourish in learning off of Issac Luke.
Marata Niukore started on the edge for the JK's and there are pretty loud whispers that he'll be joining the Parramatta Eels next season, so watch this space. Isaiah Papalii came off the bench and he's an absolute freak-a-zoid who earned JK's selection despite playing more 1st XV rugby with MAGS this year than Under 20's footy, helping MAGS win a national title.
Brad Abbey (fullback) and Reimis Smith (centre) both had their seasons cut short by injury at the Bulldogs, with both spending plenty of time in reserve grade. Abbey is still learning the fullback craft at the Doggies and is stuck behind Will Hopoate and Brett Morris so it will be interesting to see if he can pounce on Hopoate's no-Sunday policy next season. Smith earned a weird ol' NRL debut for the Doggies against Canberra and scored two tries on debut, but wasn't used after that and then injury struck.
Funnily enough, Smith was joined by Siosifa Talakai (bench forward) in scoring a try in their NRL debut. Talakai earned a debut with the Rabbitohs, playing as an edge forward and centre with his powerful frame making him the perfect ball-runner to have out on the edges.
Greg Leleisiuao (wing), Patrick Herbert (centre) and Ken Tofilau (wing) didn't make NRL debuts but they enjoyed fantastic seasons with their respective clubs. Leleisiuao was apparently pushing for a Gold Coast wing spot before being ruled out for the season via injury and he'll be someone to watch out for next season as the Titans said ka kite to Josh Hoffmand and David Mead, opening a passage for Leleisiuao.
Tofilau went from winning Newcastle's Under 20's Player of the Year last season to winning their reserve grade equivalent this season, which is fantastic for Canterbury rugby league as Tofilau is joined by Jamayne Isaako as well Fa'amanu Brown and Matt McIlwrick as Cantabrians playing their role in the #KiwiNRL takeover. Newcastle are rebuilding and it would be silly not to give Tofilau a run on the wing next season as he's clearly making a good impression.
Also pushing for an NRL spot next year is Herbert who was one of the Dragons best Under 20's players this season at centre. Herbert has signed on to remain at the Dragons and while he might struggle to oust Euan Aitken and former JK Taane Milne, watch out for Herbert to get a run on the wing next season.
Jamayne Isaako is perhaps one of the most intriguing young kiwi players in an NRL system. Issako moved from the Sharks to the Broncos and started alongside Hingano in the halves for the JK's but featured at fullback and in the centres, for both the Broncos Under 20's and South's Logan in reserve grade. Only Brandon Smith's move to Melbourne makes me more excited than the prospect of Isaako blossoming in Brisbane, the only tricky bit will be where he fits in as the Broncos have a whole lot of depth.
Don't sleep on Brisbane signing Benji Marshall as Isaako will be one of the key benefactors in learning from Marshall's wisdom in running and ball-playing.
Smith is arguably the hottest young kiwi talent not yet in the NRL and was the Cowboys Under 20's Player of the Year, before making the move down to Melbourne. Already a gun, Smith will sit under Cameron Smith's wing and soak up all sorts of wisdom to go with his natural ability. Hailing from Waiheke Island, Smith will likely spend much of next season playing with either the Sunshine Coast Falcons or Easts Tigers up in Queensland and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in the NRL around Origin time.
Poasa Faamausili and Cowen Epere faced off against each other in the Under 20's Grand Final, with Faamausili's Roosters staging an epic come back to win. That Roosters team also featured former JK Joseph Manu (wasn't named in the 2016 team) who made his NRL debut this year and will feature heavily next season, as well as Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, younger bro of Roger.
Faamausili and Epere were the starting props for the JK's and both started at prop for the Panthers and Roosters, their paths to the NRL are slightly more cloudy as both teams have solid depth in their middle thirds. Tom Amone (lock) will also be looking to brush aside competition at Parramatta for a run next season, although it's far more likely that these three will make the step up to reserve grade and spent much of the season developing there.
Kurt Bernard (prop) came off the bench for the JK's and he could provide Gold Coast with another big body through the middle next season. Bernard made the jump up to reserve grade and will need to wait for an opportunity, but the prospect of Bernard joining the likes of Agnatius Paasi, Leivaha Pulu, Nathaniel Peteru along with Aussies Ryan James and David Shillington should make Titans fans excited.
During the season, Esan Marsters (edge) emerged as one of the most sought after young players but the Cook Island international ended up re-signing with Wests Tigers. Marsters is an athletic edge forward who looked like a man amongst boys in the Under 20's while also playing much of the season in reserve grade and there's nice scope for him to move through the ranks further, into the NRL.
Marsters could be a much better option than veteran Chris Lawrence who moved from centre to edge-forward this season, but Marsters will likely feature off the bench where he'll give Lawrence and former JK Josh Aloiai a spell. We could see Marsters on one edge and Aloiai on the other, that'd perk my #KiwiNRL antenna up.
From the 2016 Junior Kiwis team, Reimis Smith, Ata Hingano, Siosifa Talakai and Nathaniel Roache played NRL footy this year. What is extremely exciting though is that the rest of this team is brewing, waiting for an opportunity and if they make all the right moves over summer, many of them could feature in round one next season or at least transition to the NRL at some stage in 2017.