While the State Of Origin beast pops up, both the Intrust Super Premiership (NSW) and Intrust Super Cup (QLD) roll on. Last week I put the spotlight on Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Pita Godinet (Manly) and Peter Gubb (Wynnum) in the Reserve Grade Kiwis debut, this week I'm zoning in on Brad Abbey, Abraham Papalii and Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard. Three Reserve Grade Kiwis, who all share the common starting point of Mt Smart, yup the Warriors can't keep all their talent, they can be a well-oiled NRL production line though.

Brad Abbey

After leaving Mt Smart as the Warriors snapped up Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Abbey swiftly arrived at Belmore where the one and only Des Hasler was waiting for him. Hasler, like you or I, had seen Abbey's work with the Junior Warriors and made sure that he got the signature of Abbey, possibly with an eye to make Abbey the long-term Bulldogs fullback.

Abbey has been a regular in the Bulldogs' reserve grade side, running out in the No.1 jersey and while Will Hopoate's decision not to play on Sunday's may have gifted Abbey an NRL opportunity, Hasler is keeping Abbey in reserve grade with Sam Perrett moving to fullback. I can't find fault with Hasler there as Abbey will benefit greatly from having consistent game time against NRL-sized blokes and in the quicker reserve grade competition. 

What's funky is that Abbey lines up this week for the Bulldogs against Manly Warringah (ft. Pita Godinet) at fullback, alongside an almost-all-kiwi outside back crew. Reimis Smith starts on the wing and he made the recent Junior Kiwis team, Chase Stanley has played for the Kiwis and starts at centre while the other centre is Reubenn Rennie is a former Junior Kiwi and Howick College student.

Bulldogs vs Manly Warringah | Belmore Sports Ground | 3pm Sat (Aus time)

Abraham Papalii

We've seen Papalii get a run with Sydney Roosters in the NRL this season, in round six against the Rabbitohs and Papalii's power was evident immediately. Papalii only had a short stint (9 minutes) but he took 4 runs for 63m with a line break and an offload, this was enough to ensure that I made a note of Papalii for future reference.

He hasn't featured in the Roosters side since then as they've welcomed back the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho (another former Warrior), so Papalii has settled back into his reserve grade footy. Papalii arrived at the Roosters from the Junior Warriors after the 2014 season, spending 2015 in reserve grade with Wyong Roos and this week Papalii will start at prop for Wyong against Illawarra. It's a fair way from being a Glenora Bears junior and Massey High School First XV star for Papalii.

Papalii's Wyong team also features Omar Slimankhel (another former Warrior) and Paki Afu, who will join Papalii starting at prop.

Wyong Roos vs Illawara | WIN Stadium | 5:10pm Sat (Aus time)

Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard

This one snuck up on me as Wayne Bennett's signing of Tuimavave-Gerrard didn't make too many waves late last year. Tuimavave-Gerrard had left the Warriors after the 2014 season to take a two-year deal with St George Dragons and he was then released from the final year of his contract, that it was Bennett and the Broncos that came calling is always a good sign.

Last week I wrote about Peter Gubb and Tuimavave-Gerrard will line up with Gubb for Wynnum this weekend, he's been named to come off the bench in the No.17 jersey. What's interesting is that Tuimavave-Gerrard is a capable edge forward/centre, which gives him options moving forward and how he's used for Wynnum will likely dictate his future. He's only on a 1-year deal with the Broncos, so he's got to put his best foot forward, although he is now in the Intrust Super Cup system which should give him a bit of a safety net if the Broncos don't snap him up for the coming years.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls vs CQ Capras | BMD Kougari Oval | 6pm Sat (Aus time)