Meet The 2016 Junior Kiwis
Kiwi on kiwi crime at the Nines via Jamayne Isaako
As our kiwi takeover of the NRL continues, the Junior Kiwis teams become more and more relevant. With each season, there's a new wave of kiwi lads popping up in the Under-20's competition and the JK team named for this weekend's fixture against the Junior Kangaroos features a bunch of players who I haven't really heard too much about before.
This is a great sign as it shows how deep kiwi rugby league is and how many players are now getting opportunities with NRL clubs. Before getting into this 2016 team, I want to take a looksie at the 2015 team because they are a great example of the strength of kiwi rugby league at the moment.
Taane Milne (Dragons), Te Maire Martin (Panthers), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Lamar Liolevave (debuted with Tigers, now with Bulldogs), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Danny Levi (Knights) and Toafofoa Sipley (Warriors) have all tasted NRL footy and some of them are even consistent NRL selections.
Sione Katoa has been named to represent Tonga while Jamayne Isaako, Marata Niukore and Fisher-Harris are in the 2016 JK's as well.
Brad Abbey
Despite being a gun with the Junior Warriors, Abbey didn't make previous JK teams thanks to the depth we have. Abbey was born in Auckland and was a standout across a few seasons with the Junior Warriors before joining the Bulldogs where he's been starting at fullback for their reserve grade team.
Reimis Smith
Abbey's team mate in the Bulldogs' reserve grade team is Reimis Smith, who has previously represented New South Wales a thte Under-18 level. Reimis is the son of Tyran Smith who was a Kiwi himself and as Tyran played in Sydney, Reimis would have grown up in Sydney but looks to have nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FyqLGmsdbYow opted to go dow the kiwi route.
Partrick Herbert
A former schoolboy rugby star with Saint Kentigern college in Auckland, Herbert was snapped up by the Dragons to play for their SG Ball team despite Super Rugby interest. Herbert was quickly promoted to Under-20s footy along with a stint training with their NRL team over the summer.
Greg Leleisiuao
One of two Gold Coast Titans in this JK team - an important note because the Titans haven't been well represented in previous JK teams - Leleisiuao is a Mangere East junior who has been with the Titans for a few years now. After leaving Auckland in 2011, Leleisiuao settled in Logan, Brisbane and has previously juggled being a hip hop dancer, working in a fruit market and daily train trips down to the GC to get to this point.
Ken Tofilau
It really is a mark of the strength of kiwi rugby league that there's a few Cantabrians coming through. Tofilau made numerous NZ age-group teams from the Halswell Hornets and was named the Knights' NYC Player Of The Year in 2015. There's many folk who are excited about Tofilau's potential, I guess when you're a star for the Canterbury Bulls as teenager, you go alright.
Jamayne Isaako
Another Cantabrian, Isaako was the fullback of the 2015 JK. He now gets an interesting shift to the halves, which follows an interesting shift north from Cronulla to Brisbane where he has allocated to play for Souths Logan in the Intrust Super Cup. You don't get scouted by Wayne Bennett and the Broncos unless you're a very solid all-round player and person so I'd be keeping close tabs on the former St Bede's College rugby star.
Ata Hingano
Perhaps the most talented play-maker coming out of Aotearoa not in the NRL, Hingano was initially selected in the Tongan squad, such is his ability. Hingano has opted to go the Junior Kiwis route and I'd suggest that Hingano will be a key figure in the halves for the Warriors within the next three years. Keep an eye on his work down the left edge, he's left-footed and has fantastic footy instincts.
Isaiah Papalii
The former Mount Albert Grammar student First XV player has been a standout with the Junior Warriors and also pushes some heft weight around, having won two gold medals in the Oceania Power Lifting Championships.
Nathaniel Roache
Another MAGS product, Roache has already had a taste of NRL footy with the Warriors and is a slick operator out of dummy half. Roache has plenty of experience with the Junior Warriors, but will make his JK debut, look for Roache to ooze leadership through the middle of the park though.
James Fisher-Harris
It really is unfair that Fisher-Harris can still play in the Under-20's, especially after his recent outings in the NRL which saw him showcase his barn-storming potential. Fisher-Harris was born in Rawene, a small town in Northland and is an example of Penrith's development/recruitment connection with Northland rugby league. This guy is a beast and should be a standout forward in this game.
Ofahiki Ogden
The all-Warriors edge forward combination starts with Ogden who plays was a Mangere East junior and has previously represented NZ at Under-16/18 level as a student at De La Salle College.
Marata Niukore
The second half of that all-Warriors edge forward combo is Niukore who has been a standout with the Junior Warriors for a number of years now and backs up his selection in the JK's last year. Niukore went to Aorere College and after last year's Junior Test, Niukore was heavily scouted so expect the same this time around.
Esan Marsters
Auckland-born Marsters has already represented the Cook Islands, coming on the back of a very impressive 2015 campaign in which the Mount Albert junior finished second in tries for the Wests Tigers NYC team.
Brandon Smith
Everything you need to know about the Waiheke junior is in the video below from 2013. Smith has obviously enjoyed the benefits of his hard work and I'm very intrigued to see how the nuggety hooker goes off the bench for the JK's.
Kurt Bernard
Another Titans player, Bernard has already represented Niue and is a Glenora Bears junior. Bernard actually moved from Melbourne Storm's junior team to the Titans for the 2016 season and clearly enjoyed the move north.
Cowen Epere
I couldn't find too much about Epere, who like Bernard is a big, athletic prop. He's with the Panthers and loves Tupac.
Poasa Faamausili
Another Glenora junior, Faamausili has come through the Roosters set up having won an SG Ball premiership and has previously represented New South Wales Under-20's. He gives the JK's three props on their bench.
Siosifa Talakai
Out of the Rabbitohs comes Talakai, who is a Mascot junior and was born in Sydney, plus he's managed by Tyran Smith (Reimis' dad). I guess there's some kiwi in there somewhere.