The Second Niche Cache Maori All Stars
Following up from the first Niche Cache Maori All Stars team named earlier in the year, we're proud to announce the second edition of this prestigious team.
Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Doing a fine job on the wing for Penrith Panthers, Watene-Zelezniak starts at fullback thanks to the shortage of centres. As Maori rugby league royalty, Watene-Zelezniak offers a strong running game that constantly makes him a stand out alongside Josh Mansour and Matt Moylan for the Panthers and at only 21-years-old, it hurts to think what the future holds for the lad from Ngaruawahia.
Wingers: Jordan Rapana, Kalyn Ponga
Jordan Rapana caps off his meteoric rise with another Maori All Stars appearance and young Cowboys outside back Kalyn Ponga slots in on the wing. Rapana has formed a lethal combination for Canberra Raiders alongside Joey Leilua and I'd be keen to see Rapana play outside fellow Wellingtonian Jordan Kahu here. Regardless of whether Ponga pledges to Australia or Aotearoa, he's Maori and while he'll definitely move to fullback once he joins Newcastle in the next few years, Ponga needs to serve his apprenticeship on the wing.
Ponga attended Monrad Intermediate School in Palmerston North and won a national Under-13 golf title during this time.
Centres: Jordan Kahu, Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
Having featured at fullback for the Kiwis recently, I reckon Jordan Kahu will see more game time at centre for the Kiwis in the coming years and he's equally as gifted at centre or on the wing for Brisbane Broncos. Shaun Kenny-Dowall is a veteran of the Kiwis and Maori All Stars, however a poor Four Nations campaign had him on thin ice here with the absence of Peta Hiku and Dean Whare forcing me to roll with SKD.
Halves: Benji Marshall, Te Maire Martin.
The same halves partner from the first Niche Cache Maori All Stars team and I'm still frothing to see these two play alongside each other - we'll try our best to make it happen. Martin burst on to the scene this year, making his NRL debut and slotting a clutch field-goal which was followed by an injury and then a Kiwis call up, while Marshall is still playing at a high level and could be reinvigorated with a move up to Brisbane.
Middle Forwards: Jesse Bromwich, James Tamou, Kenny Bromwich.
Jesse Bromwich is the best prop in the NRL and in a way, he's the very reason this team exists (along with his love for Katchafire). Older bro Jesse is joined by Kenny, with Kenny starting at lock after a strong season for Melbourne Storm in which he came off the bench to play through the middle, showcasing a sublime combination with Jesse via short passing.
I'm always going to selected James Tamou because he's an Aussie Maori and this team isn't about whether you're a kiwi or an Aussie, as long as you're Maori it's all good and Tamou simply demands selection with his quality.
Hooker: Issac Luke.
Speaks for itself really and we were graced with a special moment via Luke and his whanau down in Taranaki this year.
Edge Forwards: Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor.
Two more selections that were among the first names I noted as the Melbourne edge forwards played integral roles - along with the Bromwich bros - in taking Melbourne to an NRL Grand Final. Fun fact; you can draw an Illuminati triangle connecting Harris' Hastings, Proctor's Te Kuiti and Luke's Hawera.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Joseph Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Adam Blair.
Lending his guiding hand to a young bench, veteran forward Adam Blair also offers a funky Northland connection as both he and James Fisher-Harris hail from the naughty north. There's similarities in how they play as well with Fisher-Harris looking like a young Blair who used to play on the edge back in Melbourne, sharing the same size/mobility/aggression combination.
Kodi Nikorima had his season cut short via injury but I've still got him as a lethal weapon off the bench, giving Luke a break at dummy half and using his speed to cause havoc around the ruck. Nikorima hails from Palmerston North, just up the road from Wellington which is where Joseph Tapine was scouted by Newcastle Knights. Tapine enjoyed a break out season in 2016 after moving from Newcastle to Canberra, coinciding with a move from the edge to the middle.