If Penrith Panthers aren't on your list of #KiwiNRL clubs to pay attention to, then you'd better note them down. Not only do the Panthers house a large contingent of Aotearoa's finest Maori rugby league players, they also feature a bunch of players who are either looking to build on last year or return to their best footy after injuries robbed them of the 2016 NRL season.

Headlining the list are Dean Whare and Peta Hiku who will both return from injury and look establish themselves in the Panthers backline. I broke them down specifically in some depth here, so have a geeze at that but the best case scenario for Hiku and Whare is that they settle into the starting centre positions early on in the season.

Disappointed loosing to this thing today. But thanks to @bigswinggolf_penrith @rowddy @nathe_h_7 for letting us come in today for a swing/shank 👍🏽

See this Instagram photo by @t_m4rtin * 1,047 likes

Te Maire Martin is also returning from a season-ending injury and while the Panthers have the classy Nathan Cleary who looked at home in the NRL last season, the brewing combination between Martin and Cleary is mouth-watering. Martin will likely allow Cleary to run the show, freeing up Martin to run the footy and provide splashes of x-factor on the right edge. Last season Martin did little besides run the footy and shovel it on with Jamie Soward tasked with leading the Panthers around, expect Martin to enjoy much more responsibility this season though.

The last #KiwiNRL rep in the Panthers backline is Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and DWZ rarely puts a foot wrong while offering barn-storming carries out of Penrith's end. He'll likely be someone who creeps under the radar this season as we've come to expect his brilliance, just enjoy the show and I'd suggest that DWZ will play his way into contention for a Kiwis World Cup top-17.

I don't think we will see James Fisher-Harris do that though as the Kiwis forward pack is stacked with depth, however Northland's finest is definitely someone to watch as he enters his second NRL season. Predominantly used on the Panthers' right edge, Fisher-Harris is a nightmare of a match up as he's big, aggressive and super mobile which is near-impossible for opposition halves to defend against.

Hopefully we are treated to a Panthers right edge that features Martin, Fisher-Harris, either Whare or Hiku and DWZ. That would give the Panthers the top all-kiwi edge crew in the NRL.

As the Panthers strung impressive performances together leading into the Finals last year, Sitaleki Akauola stood up as a middle forward and (along with Suaia Matagi) gave the Panthers a serious dose of power through the middle. Akauola had been an edge forward previously, but with the NRL now moving towards quicker forwards who offer the same grunt, Akauola could blossom with more game time in the middle alongside the likes of Leilani Latu, James Tamou and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

Sione Katoa and Moses Leota will be hunting for bench spots; Leota is a Tongan international and will play through the middle while Katoa is an interesting case as he's likely to get minutes as a bench hooker but can play lock as well. Katoa will compete with Zach Dockar-Clay for that back up dummy half spot and while Dockar-Clay could give the Panthers some spice around the ruck, Katoa's versatility should see him nail a bench spot.

Dockar-Clay could also feature in the halves if there is an injury to Martin or Cleary.