State Of Origin is talked up as the pinnacle of rugby league and while I don't argue that running out in Sydney or Brisbane would be sensational, it's a game that doesn't involve our kiwi lads (one time for Aussie Jim). That doesn't stop us kiwis loving the contest, we even go as far as pledging our loyalty to an Australian state which is weird. State Of Origin also allows for moments of games like we had yesterday between Canberra Raiders and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, a game which served as yet another example of the kiwi influence on the NRL.

It all started in rather hectic fashion with Josh Morris getting a rushed call up to the New South Wales squad. Morris had been released by NSW to play for the Doggies but was a late inclusion, replacing Josh Dugan on Sunday morning and I'll explore the hectic nature of that in tomorrow's NRL Bench. 

Des Hasler had a few options to pick from to replace Morris in the Bulldogs' line up. The day before (Saturday) a gang of kiwis ran out in the Intrust Super Premiership (reserve grade) for the Bulldogs; Brad Abbey at fullback, Reimis Smith on a wing with Chase Stanley and Reubenn Rennie filling either centre spot. All four have played Junior Kiwis or Kiwis footy.

Hasler went with Smith, an interesting choice given that he had played on the wing a day before and here he was getting a call up to replace Morris. Smith is an example of one of the pathways to a Kiwis jersey as his father Tyran is a former Kiwi international and is now an NRL player agent, meaning that Reimis Smith had basically grown up in Sydney, he even represented NSW Under-18s. Now however, Smith has pledged allegiance to the Kiwis.

As was kinda expected, Smith wasn't a direct replacement for Morris as he played on the wing with kiwi Curtis Rona sliding into centre. Rona was a try-scoring machine on the wing for the Doggies last season and he moved to centre with ease, enjoying a minor promotion and showcasing his versatility. 

Smith scored with his first touch and later grabbed a double on debut. Rona was solid, averaging 8.2m per-carry and he served up a delightful grubber for Aiden Tolman to score.

It wasn't an easy night for Smith and Rona because they lined up against Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana, the most dangerous right edge in the NRL. Leilua is great, but he's no kiwi so who cares about him (he is an uso, so malo), especially when Rapana is in the hottest form of his life. Rapana scored the Raiders' first try and ran for 112 off 12 carries with 5 tackle busts.

But back to the Doggies, who also had Greg Eastwood rolling down their left edge, in combination with Rona, Smith and Sam Perrett when he drifted over that way. That's an all-kiwi left edge folks, ponder that ... along with Perrett's 128m off 16 carries and that Greg Eastwood is now officially known simply as 'Beastwood'. The only player on the park yesterday with more tackle busts than Rapana, was Beastwood (6) who is enjoying a new lease of life after moving from the middle to an edge (RIP T-Rex).

Beastwood played 80 minutes and ran for 183m off 19 carries, with those 6 tackle busts, 5 offloads and a line break #Beastwood. 

On the Doggies' other edge was Samoan international Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who has quickly gone from fringe Warriors battler to starting with the Bulldogs. He didn't quite have the same impact as the other kiwi lads and he had half the touches, half the metres as Beastwood, but Faitala-Mariner was starting for the Bulldogs. A few months ago he was part of a mediocre Warriors team and here there he was, starting for Des Hasler (RIP T-Rex).

Faitala-Mariner switched clubs and Beastwood switched from the middle to an edge, while Joe Tapine has been through a similar situation. Tapine left the Knights to head to Canberra earlier this season and after playing most of his footy on an edge for Newcastle, Tapine has been shifted to the middle where he's providing some hefty impact off the bench for Ricky Stuart. 

Beastwood went from the middle to an edge, while Tapine is following the Jason Taumalolo example in going from an edge to the middle. Tapine's efforts in this game followed his season's trend as he came off the bench and used his footwork/mobility to run for 119m off only 10 carries (11.9m per-carry!) with 5 tackle busts and 2 line breaks. Tapine was the only player with 2 line breaks. 

Tapine scored in the 79th minute, but topping it all off was Iosia Soliola scoring upon his return to the Raiders team, replacing Josh Papalii. Soliola put a step on his fellow uso Faitala-Mariner which was a bummer, however Soliola slotted back into the Raiders seamlessly and his value to Canberra can't be slept on.

Reimis Smith scored a double on debut.

Bulldogs rolled out an all-kiwi left edge: Beastwood, Rona, Smith with Perrett sweeping.

Beastwood had the most offloads and tackle busts of anyone on the park. 

Rapana and Tapine were 2nd in tackle busts.

Faitala-Mariner started, Soliola returned.

Smith x2, Rapana, Soliola and Tapine x2 scored tries.

Of the 52 points scored, 24 points came via kiwi lads.

Of the 44 tackle busts, 19 came via kiwi lads.

May the takeover continue.