Quick trip on the ferry from Waiheke Island for the Smith whanau.

Raiders vs Bulldogs

Raiders

Starters: Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola, Siliva Havili, Joseph Tapine.

Bench/Extended Bench: Ata Hingano.

Bulldogs

Starters: Jeremy Marshall-King, Kieran Foran, Raymond Faitala-Mariner.

Bench/Extended Bench: Fa'manu Brown, Francis Tualau/Greg Eastwood.

Doc's Word

Ata Hingano has waltzed into an absolutely shit storm at the Raiders, which could ultimately work out in his favour if he can be a shining light. Peep the similarities between Hingano and Fa'amanu Brown in this game as the are both on the bench, both have left footed kicking games and are both highly talented halves/utilities who are yet to truly flex at the NRL level.

Joseph Tapine holds on to his edge forward spot despite all of the shuffling in the Raiders squad and he is likely to line up against Raymond Faitala-Mariner who has been impressive for the Bulldogs to start the season. It's either a battle of the #KiwiNRL young edge forwards, or Tapine will line up against Josh Jackson and face an even stiffer challenge.

Sharks vs Roosters

Sharks

Starters: Sosaia Feki.

Bench/Extended Bench: Ava Seumanufagai.

Congrats to the bro 150 NRL games what an achievement and to get a win how good!

449 Likes, 8 Comments - Ava Seumanufagai (@ava_seumanufagai) on Instagram: "Congrats to the bro 150 NRL games what an achievement and to get a win how good!"

Roosters

Starters: Joseph Manu, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu.

Bench/Extended Bench: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Zane Tetevano.

Doc's Word

The Roosters forwards were blown away by the Warriors and their nimble starters Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac Liu were especially quiet. Taukeiaho had just 4runs, Liu had 3 and while their usage was impacted by a lack of possession, such low involvement is always going to leave the Chooks in a spot of bother.

Expect far better outings for these two against Cronulla as their speed and footwork will be crucial in gaining the upper hand in the middle.

Dragons vs Rabbitohs

Dragons

Starters: Jason Nightingale.

Bench/Extended Bench: Leeson Ah Mau.

Rabbitohs

Starters: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.

Doc's Word

Leeson Ah Mau was dominant off the bench in the Dragons win over the Knights and I suspect we will see the Dragons forwards expose the Rabbitohs with their mobility. Ah Mau is important in this as he continues the high tempo off the bench, after the likes of Paul Vaughan and Jack De Belin have played their role as starters. With 14runs/136m last week, expect Ah Mau to have similar numbers this week.

Tigers vs Storm

Tigers

Starters: Tuimoala Lolohea, Esan Marsters, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Pita Godinet, Ben Matulino.

Bench/Extended Bench: Michael Chee Kam, Josh Aloiai.

Storm

Starters: Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Kenny Bromwich.

Bench/Extended Bench: Brandon Smith, Sam Kasiano.

Doc's Word

A couple weeks in and we've already got a juicy Tigers vs Storm rematch. The #KiwiNRL match ups are in the middle of the park where Russell Packer, Pita Godinet, Ben Matulino and also Michael Chee Kam and Josh Aloiai coming off the bench, will be up against Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Kenny Bromwich - Sam Kasiano coming off the bench.

With Dale Finucane out injured, Kenny moves into lock and this will make the opening 20 minutes especially, mandatory viewing for #KiwiNRL fans as the kiwi middles battle it out. Kenny's promotion to the starting side also opens the door for Brandon Smith to snap up a bench spot and Smith will predominantly play as a middle forward, alongside Cameron Smith. I love this from Craig Bellamy as Brandon offers a smaller, mobile presence mixed in with the big boppers and while I expect Brandon to get injected into the game just before half-time, I'll be interested to see how Bellamy uses him.

I reckon Brandon will be low key crucial as the Tigers don't have a massive forward pack, it's all about mobility in the NRL now. Having Brandon and Kenny on at the same time, along with Cameron Smith could give Melbourne a funky twist.

Esan Marsters has been the pick of the #KiwiNRL young guns so far this season and he'll line up against Curtis Scott. Melbourne would have done all sorts of homework on Marsters as they've already played against him and how Marsters responds will be a great intrigue. Last week he had 5 offloads, 16runs/166m and 3 try assists, he's also 2nd in offloads with Martin Taupau 1st.

Warriors vs Cowboys

Warriors

Starters: All but Blake Green.

Bench/Extended Bench: All the boys.

Cowboys

Starters: Antonio Winterstein, Jason Taumalolo.

Bench/Extended Bench: Te Maire Martin.

Doc's Word

Look for Michael Morgan to slide back to fullback at some stage during the game, allowing Te Maire Martin to play in the halves. Also keep an eye on Jason Taumalolo in his return to Auckland as Taumalolo hasn't had an offload in his last two games and the Cowboys forwards have only had 5 offloads in their last two games. They are coming up against a Warriors team that leads the NRL in offloads and I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys try to get out of their slump with an intention to offload.

Knights vs Broncos

Knights

Starters: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese'ese, Slade Griffin.

Bench/Extended Bench: /Danny Levi.

Broncos

Starters: Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima, Alex Glenn.

Bench/Extended Bench: Nada.

Doc's Word

A faltering Broncos team means all sorts of pressure on their halves and for us #KiwiNRL folk that means all sorts of pressure on Kodi Nikorima. I don't find this overly surprising as I consistently thought that Nikorima was far too similar to Anthony Milford and neither is an organising half. If their woes continue against Newcastle, it will be Nikorima who feels the heat the most as the Broncos are unlikely to shift Milford.

Jamayne Isaako had 3 errors last week and is 1st equal in errors with 8.

Titans vs Sea Eagles

Titans

Starters: Kevin Proctor.

Bench/Extended Bench: Nada.

Sea Eagles

Starters: Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau.

Bench/Extended Bench: /Lewis Brown, Toafofoa Sipley.

Doc's Word

Toafofoa Sipley sneaks on to Manly's extended bench and news of Kelepi Tanginoa suffering a season-ending injury, things are falling in favour of Sipley.

Eels vs Panthers

Eels

Starters: Kirisome Auva'a, Josh Hoffman, Manu Ma'u.

Bench/Extended Bench: Peni Terepo/Suaia Matagi.

Panthers

Starters: Dean Whare, James Fisher-Harris.

Bench/Extended Bench: Corey Harawira-Naera/Jarome Luai, Nick Lui-Toso, Sione Katoa.

Doc's Word

Wayde Egan got Penrith's bench spot last week ahead of Jarome Luai which was a bummer and Egan has quickly jumped ahead of Sione Katoa as well. James Fisher-Harris has forced himself into being named in the starting side - not that where he has been named has mattered too much. He did make 51 tackles last week though and there is another nice match up waiting for him here as his energy, mobility and aggression could prolong Parramatta's woes.

Jahtearoa Premiers

OG Coaches: Benji Marshall (GOAT), Jason Nightingale (Gypsy)

Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: David Fusitu'a (T), Sosaia Feki (T)
Centres: Esan Marsters (Cook Islands), Peta Hiku.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Issac Luke, Jesse Bromwich, Adam Blair, Jason Taumalolo.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Martin Taupau, James Fisher-Harris.

In: Sosaia Feki, Kevin Proctor, James Fisher-Harris.

Out: Jordan Rapana, Alex Glenn, Kenny Bromwich.

Canberra Raiders are struggling at the moment and Jordan Rapana isn't demanding selection in the Jahtearoa Premiers, opening the door for Sosaia Feki. Rapana conceded two penalties, had an error and ran for just 75m from 10 runs last week, while Feki is rewarded for his typically solid performances this season.

I also gave a points decision win to Kevin Proctor over Alex Glenn, as the Titans rolled over the Broncos. Proctor wasn't perfect, yet he was heavily involved in a great Titans performance and Glenn's left edge had a horrible night. Kenny Bromwich didn't play last week so he drops out and his spot on the bench is filled by James Fisher-Harris.

Jahtearoa Premiers Training Squad

Jordan Rapana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Antonio Winterstein, Ken Maumalo, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.

Pita Godinet, Slade Griffin, Jeremy Marshall-King.

Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Alex Glenn, Addin Fonua-Blake, Ava Seumanufagai, Bunty Afoa, Joseph Tapine.

In: Jordan Rapana, Ken Maumalo, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Jeremy Marshall-King, Ava Seumanufagai, Bunty Afoa.

Out: Joseph Manu, Jamayne Isaako, Te Maire Martin, James Gavet, Kevin Proctor, Isaac Liu, Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

Jordan Rapana and Kevin Proctor drop down from the Prems. The Warriors are rewarded for their form with Ken Maumalo earning an outside backs spot ahead of Jamayne Isaako and Bunty Afoa's impressive effort in starting against the Roosters has him taking James Gavet's spot as Gavet seems to be out injured at the moment.

The Tigers are also getting rewarded with Malakai Watene-Zelezniak taking an outside back spot over Joseph Manu and I have loved Pita Godinet's work at hooker for the Tigers this season. He comes in ahead of a middle forward, while Jeremy Marshall-King's solid outings in the halves for the Bulldogs see him jump ahead of Te Maire Martin. Not only is Marshall-King starting, he's doing his job nicely.

The Roosters duo of Taukeiaho and Liu have been overtaken by Ava Seumanufagai and Joseph Tapine. Although Tapine is back in a mediocre Raiders team, we know what he can do and with we need another edge forward in the squad.

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Peace and love 27.