Kiwi NRL Stocks #3
IDFWU
Stocks Up
Sam McKendry - Up against the big Bulldogs forward pack, McKendry scored a meat-pie and broke 3 tackles on his way to 124m in 45 minutes.
Curtis Rona - These are becomming standard performances for Rona and he's firmly near the top of the NRL winger rankings. Rona had 119m and squeezed out 2 offloads, more metres than Sam Perrett who had almost 10 more touches than Rona.
Kodi Nikorima - Talk about impact, Nikorima only ran the ball twice but had 42m via those 2 carries.
Adam Blair - Any game in which Blair is running for over 100m is a goodun' for the naughty Northlander. Blair had 108m and 17 tackles, a typically solid effort and all that Uncle Wayne requires.
Alex Glenn - Uncle Wayne also loves Glenn's 80 minutes out on the edge, especially when Glenn can get 119 (at almost 10m per carry), get an offload out, make 30 tackles and not miss a single tackle.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - Standard business for Mr 200 in another losing effort for the Warriors. Tuivasa-Sheck's 210 running metres come via a rather ridiculous number of carries (25, Darius Boyd and Josh McGuire had 18) and he also broke 3 tackles. Even if he missed a few crucial tackles, Tuivasa-Sheck's strength is running the footy and the Warriors are getting full value in that regard.
Jordan Rapana - The only Raiders starting player to run for over 100m was Rapana, who averaged 13.2m per carry from the wing and broke 4 tackles in the process.
Iosia Soliola - A try and another epic display off the bench for the veteran who came off the bench to replace an injured Shaun Fensom. Soliola played 76 minutes, made 45 tackles, broke 2 tackles and ran for 125m.
Jeff Lima - The Raiders have a great recruitment track record under Ricky Stuart and Lima is the latest signing to shine. Lima was good last week and backed it up against the Raiders, playing 45 minutes and avearaging almost 15m per carry in 15 carries.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho - Like Soliola, Taukeiaho came off the bench to play big minutes and when Taukeiaho is playing 74 minutes you can expect him to make plenty of metres (153m).
Sam Moa - The OG in this Roosters pack, Moa was highly efficient against the Raiders coming off the bench as he got through 13 carries in only 37 minutes for 126m.
Kirisome Auva'a - His cousin (Hymel Hunt) has taken his place in the Rabbitohs side, however Auva'a is still good enough to demand a bench spot and play in the forwards.
Manu Ma'u - It wasn't a typically brutal display for Ma'u with the ball as he didn't have any tackle busts and only ran for 92m, however Ma'u continues to show what a freak he is as he made 36 tackles in 80 minutes. Ma'u was the only Eels forward to play 80 minutes.
Kenny Edwards - A breakout game for Levin's Kenny Edwards as he scored a steamrolling try, broke 6 tackles and got an offload out in only 35 minutes.
Antonio Winterstein - One of my most slept on wingers, Winterstein ran for 135m and broke 4 tackles against the Eels.
Jason Taumalolo - Not quite his rampaging best, although 108m, 5 tackle busts and an offload will always go down nicely.
Jesse Bromwich - Nothing to write home about, just another solid display from our best prop. 107m, 2 tackle busts, 2 offloads and 32 tackles in a breezy 48 minutes.
Kevin Proctor - Life outside Cooper Cronk has gotta be fun right? Proctor managed 4 tackle busts despite only running for 86m.
Martin Taupau - Up against his old club, Taupau flicked the beast mode switch and put on a show. Taupau scored a try, averaged 14m per carry, broke 13 tackles and made 32 tackles in 80 minutes out on the edge. That's interesting as Taupau burst on to the scene in a similar role to Taumalolo, using his power and footwork through the middle but against the Tigers, Taupau played on the edge and I think we can expect to see him there again.
Sauaso Sue - Every time Sue carried the footy, you had to take note as he charged the ball forward with great intent. Sue had 109m in 52 minutes.
Ava Seumanufagai - Pay too much attention to Sue and you'll missed his bash 'em brother in Seumanufagai who came off the bench for 48 minutes of action and ran for 107m.
Stocks Down
Peta Hiku - After a big game last week, Hiku couldn't quite match it against the Bulldogs as he only ran for 80m in 11 carries. This is just a slip up on Hiku's usual standards, also the Panthers desperately need Hiku at his classy best if they are to cause some damage.
Elijah Taylor - Trent Merrin's arrival has confused Taylor's role for the Panthers with Taylor only playing 27 minutes off the bench, making 3 carries. Usually a tackling machine, Taylor also missed 3 tackles.
Sam Kasiano - Don't expect big minutes from Kasiano, but I do expect much more impact from Kasiano, more than 46m off 7 carries and only a single offload. Surely Kasiano can do better than 6.57m per carry?
Shaun Johnson - 1 run for 7m off 62 touches? The Warriors will never win without SJ6 running the footy.
Issac luke - 3 runs for 18m off 103 touches? The Warriors will never win without Issac Luke running the footy.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall - The Roosters' backline had a 'mare against the Raiders defensively and SKD was very much a part of this in missing 4 tackles.
Leeson Ah Mau/Russell Packer - The Dragons look great when their kiwi props are playing well, however against the Sharks Ah Mau and Packer were basically passengers. Combined they ran for 1m more than Andrew Fifita and missed 4 tackles between them.
Zeb Taia/Josh Hoffman/Agnatius Paasi - The Titans' three kiwi lads combined to miss 17 tackles, 17 of the Titans' 35 missed tackles came courtesy of these three.