#KiwiNRL Encyclopedia: Round 11
Can't fux with people who sleep on Taukeiaho, or Tohu Harris.
Sharks vs Cowboys
The 13
Sharks: Sosaia Feki, Gerard Beale.
Cowboys: Antonio Winterstein, Jason Taumalolo.
Bench
Sharks: Sam Tagataese.
Cowboys: Kalyn Ponga
Doc's Word
Jason Taumalolo started the season with four games in which he had over 20 carries/200m, then in his last four games he has had less than 20 carries/200m in each of those games. Those first four games saw Taumalolo play big minutes (70, 78, 57, 80), compared to his last four games where he's rolled through 62 minutes, 51, 50 and 50. Obviously coach Paul Green is working through a bit of a plan here and I don't think it's a coincidence that around the Anzac Test, Taumalolo's minutes for the Cowboys dipped as that's just smart coaching.
This has also come with Jonathan Thurston being out injured and instead of Taumalolo's workload increasing, it's decreased. Again, I view this as smart coaching as there's no point in burning Taumalolo out at the start of the season, especially when you don't have the wizard that is Thurston fit and healthy. I suspect we'll see Taumalolo's minutes hover around that 50-minute mark in the lead up to Origin, then they'll increase during Origin, plateau a wee bit before roaring back into action as the season reaches a climax.
Warriors vs Dragons
The 13
Warriors: All but Blake Ayshford, Jacob Lillyman, Ryan Hoffman.
Dragons: Jason Nightingale, Taane Milne, Russell Packer, Kalifa Faifai Loa.
Bench
Warriors: All of the boys.
Dragons: Leeson Ah Mau, Siliva Havili.
Doc's Word
Euan Aitken's injury presents a great opportunity for Taane Milne to enjoy some game time at centre and this also makes room for Kalifa Faifai Loa to start on the wing. This is a great example of how important depth is in an NRL squad as Milne and Faifai Loa didn't feature at the start of the season, yet with a few injuries they slide straight into the starting team and both are worthy of that promotion.
Obviously Russell Packer's return to Aotearoa will be fun to watch. A lacklustre effort from the Warriors middle forwards last week combined with Packer wanting to put on a show will ensure that this is a brutal battle up the guts.
Broncos vs Tigers
The 13
Broncos: Jordan Kahu, Kodi Nikorima, Adam Blair.
Tigers: Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Matt McIlwrick, Elijah Taylor.
Bench
Broncos: Alex Glenn, Herman Ese'ese.
Tigers: Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee-Kam.
Doc's Word
Who gets more headlines between Kodi Nikorima and Luke Brooks? Brooks has enjoyed plenty of praise and attention as a halfback, but our cuzzy Nikorima is quietly going about his work for Brisbane and no one is really talking about the absence of Ben Hunt. We can't just expect Nikorima to put Brooks in the shade and having Anthony Milford there certainly helps, although it would be nice to see Nikorima dazzle ... unless Ben Hunt returns.
I love how Wayne Bennett uses Sam Thaiday as he is wisely juggling his workload to extract every ounce of goodness out of him, but Bennett can only do this because Alex Glenn is so versatile. Thaiday and Matt Gillett could play 80 minutes each in this game when that has happened previously, Glenn's slotted into the middle where his speed and low key power gives Brisbane a different look through the middle. Or Glenn can give Thaiday a spell and do a fine job on the edge.
Titans vs Sea Eagles
The 13
Titans: Konrad Hurrell, Leivaha Pulu.
Sea Eagles: Martin Taupau.
Bench
Titans: Paterika Vaivai, Nathaniel Peteru, Eddy Pettybourne.
Sea Eagles: Lewis Brown, Addin Fonua-Blake.
Doc's Word
I'm not sure if this was a product of Gold Coast's injuries last week or if Neil Henry has a plan for Paterika Vaivai; I reckon he likes to keep Vaivai fresh until mid-way through the second half. Jarrod Wallace and Ryan James do a fine job and then Vaivai adds some energy when fatigue is setting in.
Expect Leivaha Pulu to continue to impress as he'll start this game at lock. Pulu is super busy in the middle of the field and his mobility makes him tough to handle, while also capable of dishing a short ball or an offload.
Eels vs Raiders
The 13
Eels: Kirisome Auva'a, Josh Hoffman, Suaia Matagi, Manu Ma'u.
Raiders: Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine.
Bench
Eels: Kenny Edwards, Brad Takairangi.
Raiders: Iosia Soliola.
Doc's Word
828 Likes, 40 Comments - Suaia Matagi (@suaiamatagi) on Instagram: "Everything you need to succeed is within you . Sometimes it's gonna take all you have and a..."
Parramatta will need Suaia Matagi to be at his best against Canberra, especially during the opening stanza as Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd will be out to dominate. Matagi's nimble feet could make him a tricky target for the big Raiders forwards, while Manu Ma'u will be defending down Parramatta's left edge and will be tasked with keeping Elliott Whitehead quiet. Whitehead instigates a lot of Joey Leilua/Jordan Rapana's attack and the match up between Ma'u and Whitehead will be as rugged as they come.
Knights vs Panthers
The 13
Knights: Danny Levi.
Panthers: Peta Hiku, Dean Whare, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Corey Harawira-Naera.
Bench
Knights: Haters.
Panthers: Moses Leota, Sitaleki Akauola, Te Maire Martin.
Doc's Word
James Fisher-Harris keeps getting injured and the Northland revolving door at Penrith continues to turn with Corey Harawira-Naera taking his starting spot. I highlighted a few weeks back how Peta Hiku was offering value with his utility ability as he came off the bench, played as an edge forward and did whatever job was required of him. Now Penrith need him on the wing and he'll handle it with ease.
Bulldogs vs Roosters
The 13
Bulldogs: Haters.
Roosters: Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
Bench
Bulldogs: Sam Kasiano, Greg Eastwood, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Reimis Smith.
Roosters: Isaac Liu.
Doc's Word
Keep a close eye on Sio Siua Taukeiaho in this game as he's been steadily simmering away, having only returned from a knee injury in round seven. Taukeiaho is averaging a rather bonkers 16.3 carries/149m per-game and is coming off his strongest game of the season in the Roosters big win over Parramatta where he had 21 carries for 188m in just 53 minutes.
I've always viewed Taukeiaho as being rather similar to Jason Taumalolo with his power/footwork combo and against a slow moving Bulldogs pack, expect Taukeiaho to shine around the ruck area.
Rabbitohs vs Storm
The 13
Rabbitohs: Haters.
Storm: Tohu Harris.
Bench
Rabbitohs: Zane Musgrove.
Storm: Kenny Bromwich, Brandon Smith, Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Doc's Word
Brandon Smith edges closer to making his NRL debut after being named on Melbourne's extended bench, just don't expect him to take the field. Craig Bellamy is a shrewd operator though and he'll know that he needs to get Smith some game time before Origin, when Cameron Smith will be away with Queensland. This is the first step in getting Brandon some NRL minutes and I suspect we'll see him sneak into the 17 soon enough.
Tohu Harris slotted straight into his left edge spot last week, at the expense of Kenny Bromwich. Bromwich did a nice job there to start the season but now he'll be used as a middle forward where his mobility and skill will give Melbourne a dose of funk, especially if Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns this week, or next week.
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