Meet The 2018 Junior Kiwis
Every year, with every Junior Kiwis squad that takes on the Junior Kangaroos, it's my duty to scour the interwebs and introduce you to those who are worthy of selection in an Aotearoa Under 20s team. This year things are a little bit different as the Junior Kiwis vs Junior Kangaroos fixture has moved to the spring internationals window, instead of being part of the Anzac window and regardless of what happens against a stacked Junior Kangaroos team, this is a fun time for rugby league fans to get a glimpse at young talent that has been tucked away in reserve grade or various Under 20s teams around the NRL.
As always, I cast my scope back to 2017 to suss out which players from the 2017 Junior Kiwis graduated into NRL footy. Reimis Smith (Bulldogs) and Isaiah Papali'i (Warriors) played in their second JK campaign (2016/17), both going on to establish themselves in the NRL this year and last year's JK captain Jarome Luai flourished with limited opportunities at Penrith Panthers. Manase Fainu (Sea Eagles) and Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans) came off the bench for JK last year and were also impressive since making their NRL debuts earlier this season; Fotuaika earned selection in Tonga's squad that played vs Samoa after only a couple NRL games.
Then we have the players that were in the JK team last year and are again selected this year; Steven Marsters (Dragons), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors) and Emry Pere (Cowboys). Papali'i is again eligible and could have done the triple-run of JK selection three years in a row, which would have been low key crazy as most only do the double, but Papali'i has been promoted to the Kiwis squad so probably won't feature for JKs. Maybe he will though?
I also like to take a geeze at the various Taurahere (kiwi eligible based in Australia) teams of recent years, most notably the Taurahere merit team which combines the best players from the New South Wales and Queensland Taurahere teams. Players from the 2017 Taurahere team that took on the Aotearoa Residents U18s are; Peter Hola and Sean Mullany (Cowboys), Mawene Hiroti (Rabbitohs), Steven Marsters (Dragons), Kelma Tuilagi (Storm).
The Residents U18 team featured Hayze Perham (Upper Central), Jordan Riki (Canterbury/Southern) and Paul Turner (Northland) who are now in the Junior Kiwis squad. Perham and Turner are with the Warriors, while Riki moved to the Bronco this year.
U18 Residents and Taurahere combined for the Aotearoa U18 team. Players from that Aotearoa U18 team who are now in the 2018 JK squad; Perham, Hiroti, Turner, Mullany, Tuilagi, Riki, Hola and Marsters.
One thing that intrigues me is where these lads will play as coach Ezra Howe has an abundance of play-makers at his disposal. The Aotearoa U18 team had Perham playing at fullback and Marsters was 18th man, with Perham spending the whole season at fullback for Aotearoa Warriors reserve grade and Marsters also getting plenty of game time at fullback, as well as centre for the Dragons reserves.
There are four legit halves in the squad; Turner, Harris-Tavita, Dean Blore and Paul Roache. Harris-Tavita is the senior half and should win selection, then it's a battle between Turner who was a consistent half in the Warriors Jersey Flegg team and Roache who was the same with Canberra Raiders. Blore has been a half for Penrith Panthers Jersey Flegg and reserve grade, so I have no idea how coach Howe is going to wiggle all this talent into the same team.
Mullany was the hooker for Aotearoa U18s last year and should get the JK gig this year, which will allow for one of those play-makers to possibly play off the bench. Based solely on a bit of research, I've shuffled the JK squad into a possible team of 17, although I have no real idea on how they could line up;
Fullback: Hayze Perham (Warriors)
Wings: Mawene Hiroti (Rabbitohs), Steven Marsters (Dragons)
Centres: Morgan Harper (Bulldogs), Jackson Ferris (Sharks)
Halves: Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Dean Blore (Panthers)
Hooker: Sean Mullany (Cowboys)
Middles: Emry Pere (Cowboys), Kelma Tuilagi (Storm), Lucky Ta'avale (Rabbitohs)
Edges: Jordan Riki (Broncos), Kayleb Milne (Storm)
Bench: Paul Roache (Raiders), Tom Ale (Warriors), Joe Vuna (Warriors), Peter Hola (Cowboys)
18th Man: Paul Turner (Warriors).
Now all that's left is to suss out the lads selected in a hard and fast style...
Emry Pere
Hailing from the Taniwharau Rugby League club in Huntly, Waikato. Pere was named in the Queensland Emergin Origin group for 2017 after playing rubgy union for the Southport School and Mal Meninga Cup for Gold Coast. Played 24 games for Northern Pride in Queensland's Intrust Super Cup.
Peter Hola
Not too much information about Hola floating around, other than him graduating to play a reserve grade game for Northern Pride late in the season as an interchange forward.
Sean Mullany
Looks to be from Auckland initially having played for Akarana Falcons U17s back in 2016, didn't crack reserve grade this season and spent the year playing Hastings Deering Colts (U20s) for Townsville Blackhawks.
250 Likes, 6 Comments - Sean Mullany (@sean.mullany) on Instagram: "Footy, I miss you ⏱"
Joseph Vuna
From Otahuhu Leopards, Vuna made his NRL debut this season and is off on a two-year Mormon mission after this game.
Chanel Harris-Tavita
A Mount Wellington, Howick Hornets and Pakuranga Jaguars junior, Harris-Tavita spent most, if not all of the 2018 season play in the New South Wales Intrust Super Cup for the Warriors.
Hayze Perham
Signed out of Rotorua Boys High School, Perham slotted straight in at fullback for the Warriors ISP team.
Tom Ale
Another youngster signed out of Rotorua Boys High School, Ale also played both union and league for Rotorua BHS before linking up wiht the Warriors. Ale is a bit of an enigma having moved from Mount Roskill Grammar to Wesley College, then Rotorua and also in the sense that he can play any position; named at hooker for NZSST team last year having played flanker for RBHS 1st XV and everything in between this year for the Warriors Jersey Flegg and ISP teams.
Paul Turner
From Northland, Paul and brother Lee spent time in Sydney with the Rabbitohs before coming back to Aotearoa where he's settled into the Warriors system. Played in the halves for Warriors Jersey Flegg for most of this season.
Lucky Ta'avale
Other than Ta'avale being named on the bench for the 2016 Taurahere Merit team, there's not much to link Ta'avale back to Aotearoa. He grew up in Logan, just south of Brisbane and has been in the Rabbitohs system for a few years now, playing four games for North Sydney Bears in reserve grade this season.
188 Likes, 22 Comments - LUCKY_OCHOCINCO_TAAVALE (@luckytaavale) on Instagram: "Use to pray for times like this #yearofthebunnie"
Mawene Hiroti
Made his NRL debut this season for the Rabbitohs and hails from New Plymouth, Taranaki where he played for Western Suburbs Tigers. Older bro Haimona initially made the move over the ditch to link up with the Rabbitohs, he's now with Wentworhville Magpies and Mawene has thrived as an outside back in the Rabbitohs system. Played 19 games for North Sydney Bears this season, mainly playing wing and centre.
Steven Marsters
Anyone who knows their #KiwiNRL footy will know that along with many of this Junior Kiwis squad, Marsters is an exceptional prospect and may be the best prospect of the group. Marsters is the cousin of Esan Marsters and hails from Auckland, moving to Australia and joining the Dragons system where he started with Illawara Steelers SG Ball. He played 14 reserve grade games this season, primarily playing centre and wing but also dabbling in some fullback duties.
375 Likes, 4 Comments - steven marsters (@steven_marsters) on Instagram: "Carve up brother ! ⚫⚪⚫"
Morgan Harper
The low key prospect to keep an eye on is Harper, who got scouted by the Bulldogs after impressive work in the Waikato premier men's competition as a 17-year-old for Ngaruawahia Panthers. Harper started in Jersey Flegg, then burst into reserve grade to play 17 games after round 11, all of which were at centre and included the Bulldogs winning the ISP competition and inter-state final the following week.
Kelma Tuilagi
Coming through the Victoria Rugby League system, Tuilagi has worked his way through the Taurahere production line and cracked Aotearoa U18s last year. Then came a few games for Easts Tigers in reserve grade up in Queensland.
313 Likes, 4 Comments - ♔ (@kelma_tuilagi) on Instagram: ""Don't waste any opportunity you get given" It was good playing against this bad boy..."
Kayleb Milne
A Mangere East Hawks junior, Milne was recruited by the Storm out of St Kentigern College 1st 15 and has recently been signed for another two seasons by Melbourne Storm.
376 Likes, 14 Comments - Kayleb Milne (@kaylebmilne) on Instagram: "Short and sweet trip back to the mainland 🇳🇿👍🏾"
Dean Blore
Another with unknown ties to Aotearoa, Dean is in a weird spot where he will line up against younger brother Shawn who was named on an edge for the Junior Kangaroos. Both have come through the Panthers system and consistently featured for various NSW rep teams, with Dean playing three games at halfback for the Panthers ISP team. To the best of my knowledge, Dean hasn't been involved in any Taurahere stuff, but Shawn made the Taurahere squad last year.
Paul Roache
Younger brother of Nathaniel, Paul was swiftly snapped up by Canberra Raiders after impressing with Mt Albert Grammar's 1st 15 rugby team. Roache played two games off the bench for Mounties (Raiders reserve grade) this season.
Jordan Riki
Signed by Brisbane Broncos out of St Thomas of Canterbury school down in Christchurch, Riki made one appearance for Norths Devils (Broncos reserve grade) this season off the bench. Riki was a consistent presence in the Devils U20s team though and has a long history of making various Aotearoa rep teams along with the likes of Perham, Turner and Marters.
704 Likes, 0 Comments - Jordan Riki (@jordanriki) on Instagram: "Lad ✊🏽❤️ Christchurch Repping in the big city @jamaynisaako"
808 Likes, 4 Comments - Jordan Riki (@jordanriki) on Instagram: "My why ❤️"
Jackson Ferris
Recently locked down for two more years by Cronulla Sharks, Ferris was recruited out of Palmerston North Boys High School back in 2015. Ferris has worked through the Sharks SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams, which should see him in a good spot as he spends more time with the Sharks NRL team this summer.
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Peace and love 27.