Containing my excitement about the #KiwiNRL funk that is going to flood the NRL over the coming years, thus taking the #KiwiNRL takeover even further, is a difficult task. The number of young kiwis who are already aligned with NRL clubs is only sky-rocketing and the fact that via the National Secondary Schools Tournament and various development camps, the quantity and quality of kiwis is increasing; to such an extent that I need to remind everyone that there's more than enough talent to fill the Warriors stocks and every NRL clubs stocks as well.

I'm going to try attack this from a few different angles and I'll be keeping a close eye on how the Warriors go about setting their farm up now that the Under 20s competition is no longer. There are many different tiers to explore and we'll start with #KiwiNRL prospects who are yet to play NRL footy and are currently with Australian clubs and who have played Under 20s footy.

Manase Fainu - Manly Sea Eagles

Named on the bench for the Junior Kiwis earlier this year, Fainu is primarily a hooker who also dabbles in the halves. He's been a star of Manly's Under 20s side, much of which has come after moving to hooker from the halves and during this off-season, Fainu has impressed Daly Cherry-Evans with the Sea Eagles skipper highlighting Fainu in the training group;

“We have started doing some work with the halves and hookers, and Manase has been standing out, especially his physicality. He is an extremely powerful athlete for such a young kid.“Manase is the sort of person who is willing to learn and is not afraid to ask questions which is very important in young kids coming through. The natural progression for Manase is to go up to Intrust. I don’t know what Trent Barrett’s plans are with him, but I certainly think he will be able to handle it.”

Signed for two more years with Manly, there is a fair chance that Fainu could break into their NRL team during next season if injuries open the door for him. Apisai Koroisau doesn't have a consistent back up and Manly have tinkered with bench utility options, which is a perfect role for Fainu as he breaks into the NRL. At only 19-years-old, Fainu can still play in Manly's 2018 Jersey Flegg (NSW Under 20s) team, which he'd dominate. Fainu was also part of the 2016 Taurahere camp and skippered Manly's Under 20s team this year.

Steven Marsters - St George Illawara Dragons

Another product of the 2016 Taurahere camp is Marsters, who slid into the Junior Kiwis at fullback this year. Marsters spent the season playing fullback for the Dragons' Under 20s team and was rewarded with a development spot for the Dragons heading into 2018 - NRL clubs have six development players outside of their top-30 and I'll pop up with a break down of which #KiwiNRL tokos, usos and cuzzies have been named as development players when those are all announced.

Marsters is super funky because he's an example of a different route NRL clubs take to snapping up premier young talent in Aotearoa. While the NZSST and other age-group gatherings offer scouts the chance to recruit players later on in their teens, Marsters was scouted by the Dragons after spending time in the Warriors Development team (as a 12-year-old!). The Dragons put Marsters in school at Holy Spirit High and got him into their system, just as many other NRL clubs have as they snap up kiwis at a young age and bring them through SG Ball teams etc.

Low key, Marsters was also named in the Aotearoa Under 18 squad that lost to Australia Schoolboys earlier this year. Marsters didn't play, yet it's crazy that Marsters was named in the Junior Kiwis (Under 20s) and Aotearoa Under 18 squads in the same year. 

And yes Steven is related to West Tigers centre Esan Marsters.

And yo I found this from Esan's Instagram and it's classic:

Mawene Hiroti - South Sydney Rabbitohs

Having played for Australian Schoolboys last year, Hiroti turned out for the Aotearoa Under 18 team this year against his former team on the wing. Hiroti is one of the best juniors at the Rabbitohs and was re-signed earlier this year for two years, plus he was apparently close to getting a call up for the Rabbitohs Nines squad this year due to his efforts in pre-season but was too young.

The Hiroti yarn is super funky as well after the whole whanau left Taranaki to move to Sydney as Mawene impressed the Rabbitohs in a trial game, with older brother Haimona already on the Rabbitohs books. Their father Rangi Hiroti has coached the Taurahere team since 2014 and is perfectly positioned in Sydney to work with young kiwi eligible players based in Australia - Mawene was in the Taurahere camp this year.

Briton Nikora - Cronulla Sharks

From Mount Maunganui and linking up with Cronulla Sharks via Gold Coast, Nikora was a beast on the right edge for Cronulla's Under 20s team this season. That resulted in Nikora being one of three #KiwiNRL players named in the Under 20s Team of the Year and he even wiggled his way on to Cronulla's extended NRL bench at one stage.

Nikora seems fairly similar to Corey Harawira-Naera from Penrith Panthers as they are both north-south edge forwards who earn a living running great lines, with their explosive power. There's also a nice pathway for Nikoria at Cronulla as Wade Graham's holding down the left edge and Luke Lewis is nearing the end of his career, which will give Nikora time to move up to reserve grade and develop further. Once Lewis retires, expect Nikora to slot in on the right and if the stars align this season Nikora could get a sniff of NRL footy.

Greg Leleisiuao - Parramatta Eels

I've talked so much about Leleisiuao over the past two years that there's not much more to say other than this dude is a beast. He's a winger who earned Junior Kiwis selections in 2016 and 2017 via Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta and joined Nikora in the Under 20s TOTY (the other was Sharks winger Sione Katoa).

Bank on Leleisiuao getting NRL minutes next year at some point, whether it's through injuries/suspension of him simply dominating reserve grade.

Hit an ad if you enjoyed the read and stay woke to the #KiwiNRL takeover.

Peace and love 27.