Allow your minds to drift, off into the sunset where the Rugby League World Cup lurks on the horizon. It's no certainty that the Kiwis will make the final and it's no certainty that the Kangaroos will be in it either, but we can dream and ahead of the 2017 NRL season, there's no better time to throw up a possible Kiwis team for the World Cup final. 

Obviously that's going to include a few slices of funk as I'm assuming that there's no injuries, or that certain players enjoy fruitful seasons in the NRL. In the process of predicting a Kiwis team, I'm looking into my crystal ball to see which players are going to bounce back from tough years or international oblivion, or which players will push themselves into the big ol' mixer. The other important note here is that rugby league in Aotearoa is deep, we've got options and we've got so many options that just because a couple of youngsters have earned a call up in the last two end of season touring squads, doesn't mean they are automatic selections for the pinnacle of rugby league.

Fullback

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Fairly easy decision here as Tuivasa-Sheck is a gun and the casual footy fan, or the casual NZ Warriors fan is being given a cheeky taste of Tuivasa-Sheck's potential with coach Stephen Kearney naming him captain at such a young age. While the Kiwis have forwards who can trouble the Kangaroos and dominate other nations, what gives the Kiwis a real point of difference is that they have such forwards and Mr 200m at fullback. That results in a borderline unstoppable force through the middle as Tuivasa-Sheck does a whole lot of dirty work - dirty as in filthy footwork and speed - around the ruck.

Wings

Jason Nightingale, Manu Vatuvei.

Wing is a position that the Kiwis are super deep in and in the last 18 months we have seen many youngsters given these spots. These two grizzly veterans will enjoy good seasons with the Dragons and Warriors respectively, good enough to earn their selection for such an important fixture. Much of this centres on the experience that they offer and they have seen it all before, they're both strong runners of the footy and are strong in the air, plus they give the Kiwis an extra bit of go-forward off their own try line which has been missing in recent tours. 
Yes - this is the riskiest prediction of the squad. I'm backing the vets though.

Centres

Jordan Kahu, Peta Hiku.

Hopefully this season we see Brisbane Broncos coach give Kahu some substantial game time at centre, where Kahu should shine thanks to his low key mix of size, speed and skill. There's not too many players who can do what Kahu can, well Hiku can and both these lads capable of playing fullback, wing, halves or centre. This is the year we see Kahu really start to establish himself as a force with the Broncos, while Hiku is coming back from injury and I'm predicting that Hiku will be a go-to weapon for Penrith at centre.

Halves

Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.

The risk here obviously surrounds Foran and his immediate playing future, although if Foran is able to get on the field for at least eight rounds of footy, that footy will most likely come alongside Johnson at the Warriors. Foran and Johnson have already combined to bring Kiwis success and the prospect of them rolling into a RLWC on the back of a full season training together has me fizzing.

Middle Forwards

Jesse Bromwich, Adam Blair, Jason Taumalolo.

Not too many dramas here and the only possible bit of funk comes via Blair, who is about as polarizing kiwi rugby league player that there is. I like Blair because he offers something different to Bromwich's footwork/offlaods and Taumalolo's power - especially when you factor in the other block-bustin' forwards that the Kiwis have - they need that rugged, niggler. Blair is the bloke who makes multiple efforts, rushes off the line to put pressure on kickers and if he's putting late shots, or being a dick on the field, then that's fantastic.

Edges

Tohu Harris, Simon Mannering.

On the left edge we'll have Harris and as I sat through the 2016 NRL season consistently admiring Harris' work with Melbourne, I've got high hopes for him this season and then pushing into the RLWC. The Four Nations saw Harris get a few minutes each game in the middle as coach David Kidwell tried to accommodate Manu Ma'u, with Mannering coming back into the mix though I expect Harris to settle on the left. Yes, Mannering will come back and Taumalolo's presence in the middle will having Mannering starting on the right edge where he'll do a job without fault.

Hooker

Issac Luke.

Still the best dummy half out of Aotearoa and until those youngsters can really string big minutes together at their NRL clubs, Luke will continue to reign.

Bench

Kodi Nikorima, Martin Taupau, Kevin Proctor, Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

The all-round skill of Nikorima and what he's done previously for the Kiwis, but more importantly with Brisbane off the bench has him as the Kiwis bench utility. A powerful Kiwis forward pack, Mr 200m chiming in around the ruck and then Nikorima sliding on against tired forwards is a recipe for RLWC domination.

Proctor's spot was the most contentious as I had to ponder his impact value off the bench as well as the need for an edge forward on the bench. Harris and Mannering can both play 80 minutes fairly easily and Proctor will be leaving the Storm's safety net this season, I still think that Proctor will be there though. Expect Proctor to enjoy a solid NRL season and do enough to keep his Kiwis spot - there's a fair chance that Proctor starts ahead of Harris as well with Harris more versatile and better suited to the bench.

They don't get too much more damaging than Marty Taupau and he's a certainty. I do love a cheeky bolter though and that spot goes to Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who is probably my #KiwiNRL lad to watch out for this season. Asofa-Solomona was immense for the Storm in limited game time and if he can avoid injury for much of this season, expect him to be a focal point of Melbourne's ability to stroll down the field. That'll make him impossible to ignore in terms of Kiwis selection.