#KiwiNRL 2018 Emerging Kiwis
Good idea g.
Building an Emerging Kiwis group has been a staple of my #KiwiNRL yarns, in whatever fashion I have packaged it. Whether it's an actual Emerging Kiwis group, the Maori All Stars or the Niche Cache Kiwi Rugby League Camp, there's always enough kiwi funk going around that requires such an initiative (keep ya heads up). I'll re-up with the Niche Cache Rugby League Camp after a month or two of NRL action next season and you can peep the 2017 Maori All Stars here, now I'm sparking up the Emerging Kiwis.
Niche Cache Kiwi Rugby League camp is more holistic, with coaches and veteran players chipping in to offer a broad experience for kiwi players. Emerging Kiwis is more specific, high performance based, zoned in on players who are on the brink of illustrious Aotearoa careers.
As you ponder my Emerging Kiwis group, it's important to note that such an initiative doesn't actually exist for Aotearoa and while I've been positive about NZRL's pathways and development a few tiers below (NZSST, NZU16/18, Taurahere), it's strange that they have not gone a step further. While I'm sure Mal Meninga will whip something up, Australia doesn't exactly need an Emerging Kangaroos program because they have the Emerging Origin squads and then Origin itself as steps between NRL footy and international footy.
Australia has two steps, Aotearoa has nothing. To expect kiwis to slide from NRL footy to international footy without anything in-between, is foolish and just like in the case of David Kidwell's Kiwis showing up to World Cup camp a week after Australia; we need to do more things like Australia, definitely don't try to be cool and do things differently.
It's actually rather bamboozling that there is nothing between NRL and international footy for kiwis.
Hopping on the back of the Emerging Queensland and New South Wales squads, I was intrigued to see that Brad Fittler and Kevin Walters went about building their squads very differently. Fittler essentially picked a large group of players who have showed promise, some of whom will not play Origin ever, while Walters is all about preparing a smaller group for Origin footy. One method is not better than the other, it's simply due to circumstance but for the Emerging Kiwis I'm going to go down the Queensland route; less players, more one-on-one time, skill work based on Aotearoa's style of play.
Please note that there is not a Kiwis style, this is in an ideal universe where a good coach takes over from David Kidwell.
James Fisher-Harris (Northland), Corey Harawira-Naera (Northland), Brandon Smith (Waiheke Island), Joseph Manu (Tokoroa), Jamayne Isaako (Christchurch), Jahrome Hughes (Wellington).
There are many players in the tiers above and below this group. The tier above largely got their promotion to Aotearoa Kiwis during the World Cup; Jospeh Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Te Maire Martin, Danny Levi, Isaac Liu, Addin Fonua-Blake. The tier below this group haven't quite stacked up enough NRL games or shown enough promise in limited NRL opportunities to be considered. Either way, the #KiwiNRL takeover is producing a wave of fresh kiwi talent.
The two forwards I've selected are both from Hokianga up north and are both Penrith Panthers, with Fisher-Harris already getting a taste of international footy last year. Harawira-Naera made his debut this year and held down Penrith's right edge spot for much of the season, a spot that Fisher-Harris had previously looked impressive in before getting injured.
That sets up a rather funky 2018 as Harawira-Naera should be given the opportunity to start as the right edge forward and this will likely see Fisher-Harris play through the middle. How Harawira-Naera deals with more resources floating around on his style of play and the lines he likes to run will be interesting; he will need to add to his game to be effective in his second season. That could see Harawira-Naera offer more ball-playing, offloads and a splash more footwork when he carts the footy up behind the ruck. For all these Emerging Kiwis, how easily they slot into NRL footy is a marker of their abilities and Harawira-Naera looked super-comfy when given his chance.
Fisher-Harris will have greater clarity next season and this could see him flourish as he's able to focus on a consistent role, instead of chopping and changing between edge and middle, or being healthy and injured. Mobility is the key for Fisher-Harris and he moves like a centre, which I suspect will see Fisher-Harris become a force when combined with his aggression and energy.
I've got no idea how Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy is going to use Brandon Smith in 2018 and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Smith is kept on ice until the Origin period. What excites me though is that possibility that Smith could demand selection in Melbourne's top-17, alongside Cameron Smith. That's only because Brandon was a low key beast in his opportunities this year, showcasing rather freakish power and generally looking as though he's played NRL footy for five years already.
Brandon's current skill-set is nicely suited to what Cameron offers as well, which is why I reckon we could see Brandon given a bench spot. Right now, Brandon's a runner and the more time he spends with Cameron, the better his play-making and kicking game will get. Keep in mind that Melbourne have lost Cooper Cronk and Cameron is sublime, so Brandon could get minutes at hooker with Cameron doing more first-receiver when Brandon is on the field. This would give Melbourne some play-making experience and Brandon will be able to focus on what he does best as he eases into his NRL career.
Mainstream media readers won't know who Jahrome Hughes is, Niche Cache homies will definitely know who Jahrome Hughes is and just like Brandon Smith, Hughes has been crisp in his Storm appearances. Hughes is a fullback who can also play in the halves and while I'm not as confident in my Bellamy theory for Hughes as I am for Smith, nothing would make me happier than seeing Hughes play NRL footy every week; such were his performances when he played in 2017.
No one is really speaking about Hughes taking over from Billy Slater when he retires, but that's the way I see it and Melbourne have locked up Hughes until 2020 so they obviously see something in Hughes as well. I've got no idea where Hughes fits into Melbourne's top-17 next year, I just know that the kid can play and I'll be glued to Melbourne's team lists every week to see what he's up to.
And I've also got no idea where Jamayne Isaako will fit in for Brisbane Broncos, but I'm also 3,000 percent confident that Isaako is a monster. Given an opportunity at fullback this season, Isaako seamlessly slotted in and his athletic prowess had him eating metres, while he's also played in the halves for the Junior Kiwis.
Isaako was re-signed for 2018 and is one of many Broncos who are heading into a contract year. The arrival of Jack Bird has brought plenty of buzz with it and this will have a super low key impact on Isaako; if Bird plays as a middle forward, then there will be an outside back spot up for grabs. I'm also not sold on the Kodi Nikorima x Anthony Milford halves combo, which could see Bird or Darius Boyd play alongside Milford at some stage and any of these scenarios would be great for Isaako.
Capable of playing fullback, centre or wing will be an asset for Isaako and with Tautau Moga leaving for Newcastle, Isaako will be gunning to demand selection at left centre. Isaako will be fantastic anywhere though and like Melbourne lovin' Hughes, Broncos coach Wayne Bennett knows he's got a goodun' in Isaako. It's up to Isaako to earn selection and a new contract, which will make him mandatory viewing in 2018.
Joseph Manu was one of my weirdest narratives as the 2017 season wrapped up because he was punted from the Roosters top-17 in favour of Mitch Aubusson and Ryan Matterson. The #KiwiNRL based Jah curse was placed on the Roosters during the last few rounds and Finals footy as they played without Manu, even opting to swap Matterson and Latrell Mitchell between centre and wing for attacking or defensive sets; instead of rocking with Tokoroa's finest.
With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck-esque footwork, Manu is a centre who can offer a nightmare match up on the edges and with more reps to his name he should be more comfortable in dealing with the defensive reads. The Roosters don't have any new outside back openings and replaced Michael Gordon with James Tedesco, although Manu should be viewed as their best centre and with Manu heading into a contract year, he'd be eager to establish himself in the NRL at centre.
The thought of Manu playing outside Tedesco and Cooper Cronk is dangerous.
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Peace and love 27.