Four Kiwis You MUST Watch In The NRL
Another former Warrior who has reached greater heights at a new club.
In the depths of winter we are often graced with options as to which NRL game we pay close attention to or if you watch an NRL game over another sport. Often, with two games on at the same time, a decision must be made - which game is more interesting? Which game means the most? Which game is the most entertaining? Or which game has a kiwi in it that you simply must watch?
Such is the depth of kiwi rugby league that nearly every team has a kiwi who offers a bit of intrigue. Most NRL teams have a kiwi somewhere in their squad, but a few teams have kiwis in their squads that demand your attention, whether you're supporting/watching that kiwi player or supporting that team. This is the beauty of the NRL nowadays with so many kiwis doing the rounds as you get your fix of kiwi, without having to fully commit to supporting some Aussie battlers.
There's two blokes who gave me the inspiration for this and they come from the same team, making the Brisbane Broncos a team that most kiwis should be tuning in to watch. Neither Jordan Kahu or Kodi Nikorima have reached superstar level just yet where the average kiwi sports fan is well aware of their exploits, which is why you've just got to watch them as this is the opportunity to catch them on the rise.
Kahu has long battled knee injuries and the Broncos have stood by their man throughout multiple knee reconstructions solely because they know he can play. Kahu floated around the backline under Wayne Bennett last season, filling in at fullback and centre when required but spending much of the season on the wing. Kahu did this all with ease, swapping positions without fuss and simply doing his job for his comrades and Bennett, while also oozing a silky nature to his play where he makes everything look effortless.
Kahu was spotted playing rugby and I've heard (and seen examples of this) whispers of incredible undercover skill. It looks likely that Kahu will have to do a job on the wing with James Roberts joining the Broncos, Jack Reed's recovery from a shoulder injury could see Kahu get game time at centre though.
I've got Kahu first and foremost because you've got to really pay attention to him to truly understand how awesome he is. If the Broncos are playing, I'll be watching because I want to see Kahu play as often as possible.
Kodi Nikorima is more exciting than Kahu, but a little less intriguing than Kahu. Nikorima has burst on to the NRL scene, spending much of last season coming off the bench to give Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough a break and adding plenty of spice to Brisbane's attack through the middle. That's the first sign of wizardry in the NRL as Nikorima tends to make things happen, there's a buzz around him assisted by quick feet and the skills of a half.
While Nikorima could genuinely start in the halves, the Broncos have Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt who did a great job last season. This means that Nikorima will likely do the same job as last season and play the odd game in the halves to give Milford or Hunt a rest, or cover them when they are injured.
Nikorima and Kahu offer the perfect kiwi-watching combo as you can watch Kahu and then Nikorima will come off the bench giving you something new to peep. With Nikorima specifically though I'd keep a close eye on the team lists on Tuesdays and later in the week as I'm sure Nikorima will start for the Broncos in the halves or at hooker some stage this season.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are both beastly human beings capable of doing every aspect of NRL forward play reasonably well. Taukeiaho has loved life since moving across the ditch to the Roosters (despite injury which kept him on ice for a season) and emerged last season as a player who could help fill the void left by Sonny Bill Williams.
Playing a similar role to Jason Taumalolo with the Cowboys, Taukeiaho stays in the middle of the field and uses his footwork to get in-between defenders which when combined with incredible power makes him one of the toughest forwards to handle. Last season Taukeiaho averaged 115.25 metres per game which isn't that crazy for a starting NRL prop, but when you consider that Taukeiaho only averaged 10.88 hitups per game, it puts Taukeiaho's power and mobility into perspective; Taukeiaho averaged 10.59m per hitup last season which means that with every hitup, Taukeiaho is getting his team on the front foot.
The Roosters have lost two of their best strike-weapons in Michael Jennings and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck which has me thinking that they are going to rely even more on a beastly forward pack to not only establish field position but also create attacking chances. Taukeiaho will be a key man in this and he's going to enjoy greater responsibility so make sure you're keeping a close eye on him, it won't be too hard as he'll be storming up the guts.
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Asofa-Solomona is still only 19-years-old but he got a nice taste of NRL footy last season and I expect coach Craig Bellamy to increase his NAS' minutes and workload this season. Just like how it's easy to spot Taukeiaho, NAS is a huge human being so you won't have any troubles pointing him out, once you've found him you'll be captivated A) by his ability to make metres and whack in defence and B) by his ability to offload in the tackle.
It goes without saying that Jesse Bromwich is a kiwi who you've got to watch every damn weekend (he's amazing) but the combination Bromwich will likely have with NAS will be very interesting. Bromwich has some of the best footwork of any NRL prop and is also has the offload disease, just like NAS and while everyone worries about Melbourne's big three or Cameron Munster, they sleep on the fact that Melbourne's attack starts with guys like Bromwich and NAS making big metres, gettting quick play-the-balls and squeezing offloads out with east.
I saw enough of NAS last season to get me extremely excited about this huge kiwi and while NAS still has a lot of development left in him, we are going to be treated to much more NAS action this season. The kid is only 19 and he looks at home in the NRL, in one of the best NRL clubs ever but more importantly, what NAS offers is unique to him as there's no NRL player with his size or skill. I'd go as far as saying that NAS unique ability (along with the likes of Munster and Tohu Harris) gives the Melbourne Storm a playing roster that will be extremely difficult to beat and very fun to watch.