Only three more #KiwiNRL games for the season and obviously two of those are this weekend, meaning we've not only got the quality, we've also got the quantity. Only the best are still competing at this stage of the season and it should come as no surprise that many of the cuzzies taking the field this weekend will - at the very least - be sniffing around a Kiwis spot come RLWC time.

Competition for places is high though and while a few are certainties to be in a top-17 for Aotearoa, many will be hoping to make the most of the opportunity to play a few extra games. And these are high-pressure games, the type of games that will put you in a good position come RLWC semi-final or final time. Adam Blair is a Kiwis certainty given that he is captain, while Jason Taumalolo will also definitely be in the Kiwis team barring injury. We've also got Jesse Bromwich who was ruled out of contention after the Anzac Test which is a bummer, however the Kiwis have plenty of depth up front and we can all be proud of how Bromwich senior has bounced back from that situation; he led Melbourne through Origin and has been consistently awesome ever since.

Besides those three, there's plenty of funk to explore so here's a debrief of the players who will play this weekend and where they stand in terms of Kiwis RLWC selection...

Melbourne Storm

Tohu Harris

Despite missing much of this season through injury, Harris is still the top-dawg left edge forward in Aotearoa. Harris has a slight advantage over Manu Ma'u as Parramatta Eels were knocked out last week and if Harris can finish the season strongly, he'll seal that starting spot. 

Kenny Bromwich

The younger Bromwich bro started the season on an edge before shifting back to the bench where he plays a low key crucial role. Many people don't note the work Bromwich does, but in conjunction with the size of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Bromwich gives the Storm a splash of funk with his ball-playing and footwork/speed. Bromwich is probably likely to be a victim of Aotearoa's middle forward depth, although he'll likely be in the Kiwis squad and his best chance of RLWC minutes will be off the bench. 

Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Big ol' Nasty NAS was in the mix for the Anzac Test but was ruled out through injury and he should be in the Kiwis squad for RLWC. David Kidwell will likely be paying close attention to how Asofa-Solomona deals with the pressure and how he executes his job, without over-playing his hand. That's obviously meat and two vege for Melbourne's players, Asofa-Solomona has got to prove it though. The Kiwis ceiling for NAS is exactly the same job he does for Melbourne and he'd be an asset for the Kiwis to bring off the bench in a 15-20 minute stint.

Brisbane Broncos

Jordan Kahu

Centre or wing? That's the conundrum for Kidwell with regards to Kahu as other than Dean Whare, there's a slight shortage of true-blue centres available for the Kiwis and Kahu is more than capable of slotting in there, plus there's plenty of wing depth. Kahu is super duper class on the wing for Brisbane though, so it's a case of whether it's best for Kahu to step into centre or to keep him in the position he does a fabulous job in each week.

Kodi Nikorima

All these lads have a lot to player for in a Kiwis RLWC context, although you'd struggle to find someone with more to play for than Nikorima. While the minimum for Nikorima is a bench spot - the same bench utility role he's been excellent in previously for Aotearoa - there's a sniff for Nikorima to impress in the halves, putting pressure on a mediocre Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson who is returning from injury. With a dominant performance at halfback, Nikorima could give Kidwell a few headaches given that Foran's work this season is in rather stark contrast to Nikorima's.

Alex Glenn

Tohu Harris, Manu Ma'u and Simon Mannering lead the Kiwis depth for edge forwards, which leaves Glenn on the outer. That's no knock on Glenn as he's been awesome for Brisbane in doing whatever job is required and after settling into a left edge position, Glenn has offered dynamic carries and a high work rate. Glenn could nudge himself into a Kiwis bench spot this week with some irresistible form, with his mobility/footwork a low key asset in a similar fashion to Kenny Bromwich if they play alongside Asofa-Solomona and Martin Taupau.

Benji Marshall

You could argue that Marshall is in the shop window for a bench utility spot, however it's highly unlikely given that Aotearoa has lively hookers like Nikorima or Danny Levi available. That and they also have many block-busting forwards available, that could see Kenny Bromwich and/or Alex Glenn picked in that No.14 jersey. Marshall is instead auditioning for a Kiwis squad spot and I maintain that it would be highly beneficial to select Marshall in the Kiwis squad given his experience, leadership and his team-first attitude. A splash of x-factor off the bench against Melbourne will add some weight in favour of Marshall.

Sydney Roosters

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

Aotearoa needs a senior prop to partner Adam Blair and apart from moving Martin Taupau from the bench to starting, Waerea-Hargreaves should be next in line. The Roosters prop has been immense all season, averaging 9.9m/carry through 14 carries/game while also offering an offload/game. I don't see much wrong with what Waerea-Hargreaves provides, especially with Jesse Bromwich unavailable and a strong performance against the Cowboys could seal his RLWC spot.

Isaac Liu

An undercover brother for the Roosters, Liu has settled in gloriously at lock and has been a consistent force all season. Liu had chopped and changed with Sio Siua Taukeiaho between lock and bench, through injury to Taukeiaho though, Liu has been given the job and his footwork at the line is nothing but righteous. Liu's development and consistency could see him earn a Kiwis squad spot, with a small possibility that he cracks a bench spot. He'll need to roll out his best performance of the season to ensure Kiwis selection though.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho

I'm still holding out hope that we see a Kiwis middle forward trio of Taumalolo, Taupau and Taukeiaho, not only because of the TTT funk, but also because they are three of the most dynamic forwards in the game. Taukeiaho is slightly better suited to a bench spot than Liu and he's been doing it when healthy for the Chooks this season, so if Taukeiaho can add a serious dose of x-factor to the Roosters this weekend off the bench, we might get treated to some TTT Kiwis action.

North Queensland Cowboys

Te Maire Martin

How cool is it that the Kiwis squad is likely to feature a young, second string halves combo in Nikorima and Martin? Hopefully Marshall is there to guide the two youngsters as well, but while Nikorima has experience at the bench utility role at this level, Martin's strictly a half and is unlikely to see much RLWC game time. He has been solid for the Cowboys in their Finals resurgence, without being spectacular, so he's not a certainty for squad selection. If Martin can find a way to influence the game against the Roosters, he'll put himself in the frame and should offer depth.

Peace and love 27.

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