Tucked away in the Australian media, there have been a few funky #KiwiNRL yarns that caught my eye over the past few weeks. As the NRL pre-season goes on, there will be more hype yarns like these about players who are impressing in training sessions, or generally have something noteworthy about them; street mathematics suggest that the number #KiwiNRL players merely partaking in pre-season training will result in a nice flow of pre-season #KiwiNRL hype.

The first yarn I scoped was Gold Coast Titans re-signing Moeaki Fotuaika for four years. Fotuaika came off the bench for Junior Kiwis this year and is a middle forward who will be part of the Titans development player group, before sliding into their top-30 for the next three years of his deal.

What's slightly crazy here is that Fotuaika is only 18-years-old, meaning that he cracked the Junior Kiwis (under 20s) as a youngster and is impressed new coach Garth Brennan enough to seal a deal. 

To the best of my knowledge, Fotuaika is from Gisborne and moved to Australia with his family when big brother Mosese was snapped up by Keebra Park High School. Unfortunately Mosese took his own life a few years back while with Wests Tigers and Moeaki then went through Keebra Park, going to on play 22 games for the Titans' Under 20s team last year as a 17-year-old.

Gold Coast aren't stacked with robust middle forwards, so there could be an opportunity for Fotuaika at some stage this season. Jarrod Wallace, Leilani Latu, Jai Arrow and Morgan Boyle are likely to get most of the game time with Ryan James possibly moving to play on an edge and below that, there's two or three bench spots up for grabs. Brennan won't have any issues bringing through youth and I wouldn't be surprised if Fotuaika is given a crack.

Also from Keebra Park is Connelly Lemuelu, who was recently profiled by Wests Tigers. 

Straight out of Papatoetoe RFC, Lemuelu went from rugby union to Keebra Park having played Roller Mills union for Counties Manukau back in 2010 for Counties Manukau. Lemuelu then went on to be a gun fullback for Keebra Park and is currently training with Wests Tigers' NRL squad.

With James Tedesco moving to the Roosters, there's a long-term fullback spot open - depending on Tuimoala Lolohea's form there - and Lemuelu's development will be interesting to watch. He'll mostly play in Sydney's Jersey Flegg (U20s) competition this season, although I'll be intrigued to see if/when he gets a run in reserve grade.

Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has been talking up Sione Katoa as a contender for one of their wing spots this season. Katoa was named on the wing for the 2017 Under 20s Team of the Year (along with Sharks comrade Briton Nikora and Eels winger Greg Leleisiuao) and despite not earning a starting Junior Kiwis spot, he was named in the squad.

Gerard Beale has left his wing spot up for grabs and Katoa will be competing with Edrick Lee and Aaron Gray to start in round one. Flanagan may opt to go with the more experienced options, but for Katoa to be in the mix to start this early is a great sign that he is making all the right moves over summer. Opportunities will come via injury or suspension and if Katoa can level-up with Newtown Jets in reserve grade, he'll be putting the others under pressure.

Finally, edge forward Reuben Porter has earned a promotion to the Roosters' NRL squad after being a steady presence for their U20s team. Porter is a Te Atatu junior and went to Mt Albert Grammar, having been signed by the Roosters early on and playing SG Ball while he was still at school in Auckland.

Peace and love 27.