#KiwiNRL Encyclopedia: Round Iwa
Nothing's changed g.
Broncos vs Bulldogs
Broncos
Starting: Jamayne Isaako, Alex Glenn.
Bench/Extended Bench: Kodi Nikorima/Sam Tagataese.
Bulldogs
Starting: Jeremy Marshall-King, Kieran Foran, Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Renouf To'omaga.
Doc's Word
Word on the street is that Michael Lichaa has been dropped, with Jeremy Marshall-King moving from the halves to hooker. I've liked Marshall-King's work in the halves as he has put in solid shifts consistently, without doing anything spectacular and as he made his NRL debut at hooker for Wests Tigers, as well as getting his opportunities earlier this season off the bench, Marshall-King is more than capable of slotting in there.
This could set up an enticing contest when Kodi Nikorima enters the game as Nikorima showed how his spark off the bench can help the Broncos. Whether Nikorima still plays some minutes at hooker with the possible return of Andrew McCullough will obviously dictate matters, yet after highlighting how many NRL teams are operating with a #KiwiNRL hooker/bench utility, it looks as though we'll get another #KiwiNRL match up this week in this position.
Knights vs Rabbitohs
Knights
Starting: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese'ese, Slade Griffin.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Danny Levi.
Rabbitohs
Starting: Haters.
Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.
Doc's Word
Newcastle Knights have enjoyed fantastic service from Herman Ese'ese this season after the Samoan international and Mangere East junior made the move down from Brisbane Broncos. This week he'll come up against the Burgess bros and Ese'ese will once again lead the Knights pack; Ese'ese has the most runs/metres of the Knights forwards and is the only Knights forward with over 100runs/900m this season.
1,187 Likes, 24 Comments - Herman Ese'ese 🇼🇸🇳🇿 (@herman_eseese) on Instagram: "What a feeling!! Awesome to come away with the win last night with the brothers 🙌🏽 thanks to all..."
Ese'ese is also the only Knights middle forward who has played over 400 minutes, which basically means that Ese'ese is the cornerstone of the Knights forward pack. The way he goes about his work is also crucial to how the Knights play as he's a dynamic runner of the footy, his mobility gets him in-between defenders and allows him to win the tackle, speeding up the tempo for the Knights.
Panthers vs Cowboys
Panthers
Starting: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Corey Harawira-Naera, James Fisher-Harris.
Bench/Extended Bench: Sione Katoa/Nick Lui-Toso.
Cowboys
Starting: Antonio Winterstein, Jason Taumalolo.
Bench/Extended Bench: Te Maire Martin.
Doc's Word
A constant wave of injuries for Penrith Panthers means more reshuffling for their team and the versatile group of #KiwiNRL Panthers. Dylan Edwards' season-ending shoulder injury opens up a chance for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to show what he can do at fullback and even though I've been hyped to watch the Panthers play each week, how Watene-Zelezniak contributes from fullback is a super low key #KiwiNRL narrative I will follow closely.
Watene-Zelezniak has played fullback before, just as he's played centre before and we know that Watene-Zelezniak is a gifted athlete. I'm not sure about his subtle skills and play-making ability though, even the footy nous to always buzz around the footy as Edwards has done so well. We're going to learn a fair bit about Watene-Zelezniak in the coming weeks.
1,728 Likes, 55 Comments - Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (@dallinzelezniak) on Instagram: "I had an awesome time representing my club back in New Zealand @collegeoldboys76 at training on..."
James Fisher-Harris vs Jason Taumalolo? Shit the bed.
Taumalolo hasn't been quite at his best this season, despite still leading the Cowboys in runs/metres and that's juxtaposed against Fisher-Harris' rampant form in 2018. Fisher-Harris has stepped into a consistent starting role at lock for Penrith and statistics can't really capture his impact as it's the energy, enthusiasm and aggression he plays with that is so influential.
Fisher-Harris and Reagan Campbell-Gillard will be out to shut down Taumalolo and Matt Scott, making this an almighty clash.
Raiders vs Titans
Raiders
Starting: Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola, Siliva Havili, Joseph Tapine.
Bench/Extended Bench: Ata Hingano/Brad Abbey.
Titans
Starting: Kevin Proctor.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Moeaki Fotuaika.
Doc's Word
Canberra Raiders have rolled out minimal #KiwiNRL numbers in the past two seasons and here they are with the inclusions of Siliva Havili and Ata Hingano rolling out a far stronger #KiwiNRL contingent. And winning footy games. Canberra have four #KiwiNRL starters and Hingano on the bench making it five in total, plus they've got a healthy #KiwiNRL crew in reserve grade; led by Brad Abbey starting in the halves for Mounties this week.
I doubt we'll see him this week, but Moeaki Fotuaika's presence on the extended bench for Gold Coast Titans deserves attention. Fotuaika was a Junior Kiwi last year and is the most exciting Titans forward prospect, he's nearing a debut.
Warriors vs Tigers
Warriors
Starting: All but Blake Green.
Bench/Extended Bench: All the boys.
Tigers
Starting: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Pita Godinet, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor.
Bench/Extended Bench: Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee-Kam/Matt McIlwrick, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.
Doc's Word
Wests Tigers will unleash their #KiwiNRL army against the Warriors, with Pita Godinet, Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor returning to Mt Smart. Esan Marsters, Josh Aloiai and Michael Chee-Kam are also from Auckland, making this a home game of sorts for them.
Marsters is the one to watch as he has been the Tigers best player all season and will be out to put on a show for friends and whanau in Auckland. Marsters is coming off a 11run/137m, 6 tackle bust and 2 offload game against Parramatta Eels, which the Tigers lost.
Sharks vs Eels
Sharks
Starters: Sosaia Feki.
Bench/Extended Bench: Ava Seumanufagai/Braden Uele.
Eels
Starters: Brad Takairangi, Suaia Matagi, Manu Ma'u, Peni Terepo.
Bench/Extended Bench: Kenny Edwards/Josh Hoffman, Marata Niukore.
Doc's Word
Parramatta's resurgent form has come in part thanks to minor tweaks to their #KiwiNRL crew. Brad Takairangi has returned at centre, while Suaia Matagi has returned to the top-17 after spending a few weeks out of the NRL and is started against the Tigers. There is also Peni Terepo settling in a lock role and the tweaks in the forwards especially, has given the Eels a better balance of mobility and graft through the middle.
Sosaia Feki is back for Cronulla Sharks and Sione Katoa has also recently returned to reserve grade footy. Josh Dugan's footy injury opened the door for Feki's return and with Edrick Lee doing a fine job on the wing in place of Feki, I was interested to see how or when Feki would return. That issue is sussed for now and Feki is back.
Dragons vs Storm
Dragons
Starting: Jason Nightingale.
Bench/Extended Bench: Leeson Ah Mau.
Storm
Starting: Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Bench/Extended Bench: Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Sam Kasiano.
Doc's Word
One look at this Melbourne Storm bench has me frothing with excitement and that is because of the variety and impact that these lads offer. As I've repeatedly said this season, Brandon Smith is playing alongside Cameron Smith, as a middle forward and the speed, energy and power he offers is unique. Then you have the funk of Kenny Bromwich, who provides a slick pair of hands and footwork to the Storm's middle and Sam Kasiano, well he's a massive unit.
The Warriors used their mobility to trouble the Dragons and the Storm have a similar vibe, as well as the intent and execution to shift the footy. Brandon Smith and Bromwich could give the Dragons issues through the middle and I wouldn't be surprised to see Brandon get more minutes this week, matching up against a bigger Dragons pack.
Roosters vs Sea Eagles
Roosters
Starters: Joseph Manu, Zane Tetevano, Isaac Liu.
Bench/Extended Bench: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sio Siua Taukeiaho/Sitili Tupouniua, Frank-Paul Nuuausala.
Sea Eagles
Starters: Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau.
Bench/Extended Bench: Lewis Brown/Toafofoa Sipley.
Doc's Word
Despite the Sea Eagles being knee deep in woes, Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau are still making huge contributions. Fonua-Blake had 121m from just 11runs last week, without any tackle busts which means he makes contact and plows on through the tackle and Taupau put up 22runs/229m with 3 offloads and 10 tackle busts (3 errors as well).
What I'm really interested in, is what happens when the Roosters roll on their second unit of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukeiaho. Taupau plays big minutes so we will likely get some crossover there, the mobility of Taukeiaho will be especially threatening if Taupau and Jake Trbojevic have to do plenty of work in the opening 25 minutes.
I'm going to switch up the Jahtearoa Premiers Squad thingy-ma-jig that I do each week and instead drop a 1st Team All #KiwiNRL and a 2nd Team All #KiwiNRL, style thing. It's the same premise, with an idea on highlighting the best #KiwiNRL players and the #KiwiNRL depth.
The #KiwiNRL idea includes all players who were born, raised and/or played junior footy in Aotearoa. That means I include Samoan and Tongan internationals, if they fit the #KiwiNRL criteria. As this is the first week, there are no ins/outs and players need to have played the previous week to be eligible.
Jahtearoa Premiers
Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: David Fusitu'a (T), Jordan Rapana.
Centres: Esan Marsters, Dean Whare.
Halves: Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Ben Matulino, Martin Taupau, Adam Blair, Issac Luke.
Edges: Corey Harawira-Naera, Manu Ma'u (T).
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jason Taumalolo, James Fisher-Harris (T).
Jahtearoa Reserves
Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Wings: Jason Nightingale, Ken Maumalo (S)
Centres: Peta Hiku, Brad Takairangi
Halves: Jeremy Marshall-King, Te Maire Martin
Middles: Bunty Afoa (S), Herman Ese'ese (S), Peni Terepo (T), Slade Griffin.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Joseph Tapine.
Bench: Siliva Havili (T), Josh Aloiai, Ava Seumanufagai, Agnatius Paasi (T).
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Peace and love 27.