The #KiwiNRL contingent of Manly Sea Eagles isn't all that big, nor is it deep with serious top-tier quality. Don't sleep though as there's plenty of intrigue in the few kiwi/island lads that the Sea Eagles do have and the standing of Manly's #KiwiNRL gang reflects the general situation of Manly the footy club as they fight to maintain relevance without wiping the slate clean to start again.

Leading the crew is Martin Taupau, who Manly have shown immense faith in by snapping him up until the end of 2020. Jake Trbojevic has the No.13 jersey for as long as he wants it and Taupau spent a fair bit of last season playing out on an edge with Manly trying to cover their bases, expect Taupau to cause all sorts of havoc through the middle this season though.

2016 saw Taupau make less than 100m in just three of his 20 games and two of those games saw Taupau playing on the edge. He averaged 10.30m/per-carry last season and that puts him in the same conversation as Jason Taumalolo; let's not forget that Taumalolo won the Dally M and Players Champion award. Taupau not only puts up similar numbers to Taumalolo, he does so in a similar fashion with his speed/size combination making him extremely difficult to handle as he bursts in behind the ruck area.

The role of veteran and my favourite centre ever (Konrad Hurrell could overtake him) Steve Matai will be interesting to watch this season. Manly will once again be preparing themselves to play without Matai for much of the season as he's always got some sort of injury hampering him and a long-term shoulder issue could see Matai retire at some stage this year. 

If Matai is playing, then having him on one edge and Dylan Walker on the other will be dangerous, especially with Daly Cherry-Evans and Blake Green in the halves. I just can't see Matai playing more than 15 games and I'm struggling to see Matai making a big play to represent Samoa at the World Cup.

Lewis Brown will once again do everything that is required of him, without fuss. He could be called on to play centre if Matai's crook, although Manly have bolstered their outside back depth this season. I suspect we'll see Brown play as an edge forward for much of the season as this is where Manly are the lightest and they have signed Jackson Hastings to offer back up to Apisai Koroisau at hooker.

The funkiest #KiwiNRL lad at Manly is Addin Fonua-Blake, who came off the bench in his first 10 games of the season before starting at prop in the last four. Averaging 9.92m/per-carry is super impressive and some this strong work saw Fonua-Blake called up to the City team, before officials found out than he had previously represented the Junior Kiwis, despite being born in Sydney.

Fonua-Blake won Manly's Rookie of the Year award and was signed until the end of 2018, coming after he had been named in the Kiwis' Four Nations train-on squad.

Martin Taupau could put himself in the mix for the NRL's best forward this season.

Steve Matai will be sending prayers up to Jah that he can get through one more season.

Lewis Brown does whatever the coach asks of him.

Addin Fonua-Blake will come off the bench and keep Taupau's good work flowing.