With Issac Luke in vintage form, we are back with a #KiwiNRL presence near the top of the best dummy half rankings. It's not quite as sexy to be known as an excellent bench utility and given the nuances in the bench utility roles that various teams have, to rank bench utilities or suss out who is the best ain't easy. We do however have some funky #KiwiNRL synchronicity in the bench utility position as multiple NRL teams having young #KiwiNRL hookers/halves on their bench.

Before going on this little exploration of bench utilities, I want to highlight Slade Griffin as a starting hooker for Newcastle Knights. Luke and Griffin are the two best #KiwiNRL hookers in the NRL, while Canberra Raiders' Siliva Havili is in the mix as well given how he is stacking up consistent NRL minutes.

Remember that last year, Danny Levi featured in the Kiwis World Cup campaign and now, thanks to Griffin's arrival and form, Levi can't even get a gig in the Knights team. The Greymouth geezer Griffin has made that starting hooker spot his own and while he doesn't have the running or kicking game of Luke, Griffin does offer crisp distribution and strong defence. It's crystal clear for me after the first stanza of NRL footy; Luke is top dawg, Griffin's next best.

So that's what it feels like.. Too good boys. Till next time

639 Likes, 14 Comments - Slade Griffin (@sladegriffin) on Instagram: "So that's what it feels like.. Too good boys. Till next time"

But if we are building an Aotearoa Kiwis team, Griffin would have to make way for Kodi Nikorima on the bench. Should the starting hooker spot be up for grabs, then Griffin gets that, but the bench utility role is all about adding x-factor to the team's performance and Nikorima has slid back into this role for Brisbane Broncos. I view this as Nikorima's best position not only for the attacking impetus he injects into a game, but this is after all, about bench utilities and Nikorima also offers utility value.

This whole idea was sparked by Te Maire Martin vs Ata Hingano in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders game. Both came off the bench to play at hooker, despite predominantly being halves and with their attack stuttering, the Cowboys switched Martin into the halves, moving Michael Morgan to fullback to try and spark something late in the game.

I'm not a huge fan of Martin at dummy half, but he's getting game time so whatever. This is not long-term as he'll move into the halves after Jonathan Thurston retires and while Martin does allow the Cowboys to switch up their spine, this is more a case of making the most of what they have; not exactly using Martin in the best possible way.

Thinking back to last season when Hingano was playing a similar role with the Warriors, Hingano was pretty lucky that he was given a decent taste of playing dummy half as it opened the door to the same role in Canberra. Hingano gained experienced playing in the middle and bumped his value up as he showed he's not just a half, which has worked out well for him with the Raiders - shout outs Stephen Kearney.

Hingano laid on a delightful pass for Aidan Sezer to score and this gave Hingano a try assist, while Havili barged over for a try as well. These tries snatched the game away from the Cowboys, sealing the win and this felt like the best combined performace of the Tongan-kiwi hooking rotation this season. Keep in mind that Havili was only signed after Josh Hodgson was was injured in the World Cup and had to fight for the starting spot, while Hingano was a late arrival; now they are playing key roles in Canberra victories.

Tongan fans will be chuffed as the Manurewa Marlins junior Havili and Pakuranga Jaguars junior Hingano will lace up for Tonga again this year. Hingano will do a job in the halves again, while Havili will likely be joined by Wellingtonian Sione Katoa in Tonga's hooking rotation.

Katoa has worked his way into Penrith Panthers hooking rotation in recent weeks and started at hooker in their win over the Bulldogs. Peter Wallace owns that starting hooker spot and Penrith have a slick youngster in Wayde Egan (came off the bench for Katoa) in the mix as well, but Katoa offers defensive starch and a better all-round game than Egan. Katoa can also play multiple positions and has played as a middle forward and edge forward previously, which I hope gives him that bench spot moving forward.

Depending on how long Wallace is out for, we will get to enjoy Katoa starting and then when Wallace returns, it will be a battle between he and Egan for that bench utility spot.

Proud big brother moments ✊🏽

984 Likes, 8 Comments - Brandon Smith (@drsmithers) on Instagram: "Proud big brother moments ✊🏽"

The stars also aligned down in Melbourne, with Brandon Smith rocking the #14 jersey in the Storm's win over the Warriors. Smith is a hooker, yet he has spent much of his game time this season playing as a middle forward, adding a serious dose of energy and enthusiasm to the Storm's middle. This has been a fluid situation as injuries to Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane opened up spots in the Storm middle crew, Smith is claiming every opportunity he gets to make an impact and we're approaching Origin time; he'll be starting hooker.

Luke got injured early in that Anzac Day game and the Warriors put Jazz Tevaga into hooker, which is just another example of a #KiwiNRL bench utility. Tevaga is more in the Katoa/Smith mould as opposed to Nikorima/Hingano and while Tevaga is capable of playing dummy half, he has mainly been used as a straight up middle forward this season and has earned big minutes in that role.

My favourite #KiwiNRL bench utility is Nikorima, because of the attacking x-factor he offers. In saying that, I love the variety in what the other lads offer and it's definitely worth noting that depth is evident in how all the the hookers/bench utilities named above, offer something slightly different.

My least favourite #KiwiNRL bench utility right now is Martin, which is probably more so because of the Cowboys lack of dummy half running and offloading; Cowboys are 15th in both offloads and dummy half runs.

The beauty in this is that Luke, Griffin, Nikorima, Smith and Martin will be in the Kiwis mix, Hingano, Havili and Katoa are Tongan certainties and Tevaga is likely to be one of the first names in a Samoa team as well. Everyone's happy and all three nations have talented hookers/bench utilities available to them. For those wondering, I put the #KiwiNRL focus on players who played their junior footy in Aotearoa.

Most of these lads are young and also offer plenty in the halves, which is again an example of the play-making depth of the #KiwiNRL.

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Peace and love 27.