Broncos vs Eels

Broncos

Starting: Jordan Kahu, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima.

Bench/Extended Bench: Sam Tagataese.

Eels

Starting: Brad Takairangi, Manu Ma'u, Peni Terepo.

Bench/Extended Bench: Suaia Matagi, Marata Niukore/Josh Hoffman.

Doc's Word

Welcome back to Jordan Kahu, who immediately slots in at centre for Brisbane Broncos. This could set up an enticing battle with Brad Takairangi - depending which side he and James Roberts play on - and Kahu's return is also timely with new Kiwis coach Michael Maguire sussing out his first Kiwis squad. 

In terms of pure footy talent, Kahu should always be considered for Aotearoa but as a centre, he's now fallen a few spots down the pecking order behind Dean Whare and Esan Marsters, putting him in the same bracket as Peta Hiku and Takairangi. Kahu now has a couple of games to show his class and even if he's not up against Takairangi here, a battle against Michael Jennings is equally as funky.

Peni Terepo continues to be the best Eels forward and had 13runs/127m last week, as well as this delightful try assist:

Also impressive against the Warriors was Marata Niukore on debut and how Niukore is used in this game will be of interest, after he played through the middle on debut. Beau Scott is out long-term with a knee injury and while Manu Ma'u moves back to an edge, coach Brad Arthur could give Niukore more minutes as an edge forward with Scott unavailable. Niukore does offer a bit as a middle forward as well; he's big, nimble, good footwork and could offload.

Raiders vs Sea Eagles

Raiders

Starting: Jordan Rapana, Siliva Havili, Iosia Soliola.

Bench/Extended Bench: Ata Hingano, Charlie Gubb.

Sea Eagles

Starting: Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau, Lewis Brown.

Bench/Extended Bench: Toafofoa Sipley.

Doc's Word

No Joseph Tapine this week for Canberra, which could result in more minutes for Charlie Gubb who started last week, but only had a 20-minute stint. Gubb has been very solid in his last two games and will come up against the Manly middle duo of Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau, who continue to lay an impressive platform.

Fonua-Blake has been especially impressive as he continues to level-up in his development. 15runs/154m last week in 58 minutes and his form this season warrants a spot on the Kiwis bench, meaning that there's another funky selection conundrum for Maguire as he's got no shortage of dynamic middle forwards to select from, even without Jason Taumalolo. Expect Fonua-Blake and Taupau to be at their best this week and I'm struggling to see how Canberra can counter their punch through the middle ... and Taupau's offloads.

Toafofoa Sipley got a brief stint on the field for Manly last week and gets a bench spot again this week. The starting middles play big minutes for Manly, but hopefully we get to see Sipley's minutes gradually increase and get more opportunities to see what he can offer.

Cowboys vs Storm

Cowboys

Starting: Antonio Winterstein, Te Maire Martin, Jason Taumalolo.

Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.

Storm

Starting: Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Bench/Extended Bench: Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Sam Kasiano, Jahrome Hughes.

Doc's Word

North Queensland's crappy form has gifted us the chance to see Te Maire Martin in the halves alongside Jonathan Thurston, while Michael Morgan and Lachlan Coote are available for selection via Morgan shifting to fullback. I'm not convinced that this will help the Cowboys in any great way as they have greater stylistic problems (lack of offloads, dummy half runs, creative plays, defence, speed through the middle) and I'm also cautious of celebrating this as an opportunity for Martin to impress; maybe stake his claim for a Kiwis halves spot?

That's because Martin plays a limited role in that spine and is the third option behind Thurston and Morgan. If he does his job against the Storm, then great but the scope of his influence isn't enough to really excite me.

Melbourne Storm welcome back Jesse Bromwich and he's another classy Kiwi returning just in time to showcase his talents to coach Maguire. Bromwich has been fantastic for Melboure post-coco drama and his return will give them a massive boost, perhaps almost as much as Cameron Smith's return. 

Roosters vs Titans

Roosters

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

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

Titans

Starting: Kevin Proctor.

Bench/Extended Bench: /Moeaki Fotuaika.

Doc's Word

I want to see Moeaki Fotuaika play every week for Gold Coast Titans and while he might slide on to the bench late, it's a bummer that he's been named on an extended bench. Hopefully something does happen for him to be selected, because I'd love to see him go up against Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac Liu in the middle as they all share a power/footwork combo through the middle.

Taukeiaho was at his rampaging best vs Broncos last week with 14runs/152m in just 47 minutes and if he is anywhere near that, with over 10 runs and a 10m/run average, the Roosters will win. The speed Taukeiaho's runs generate for the Roosters is crucial for their play-makers and his ability to step behind the ruck, make big metres and earn quick play-the-balls opens things up for his halves.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also had 14 runs last week, but for just 94m. This is the inconsistency that I've continued to highlight about Waerea-Hargreaves and you only need to look at his last four games, to know that you've got no idea what he'll dish up each week; 139m, 75m, 171m, 93m.

Warriors vs Rabbitohs

Warriors

Starting: All but Blake Green.

Bench/Extended Bench: All but Karl Lawton.

Rabbitohs

Starting: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.

Doc's Word

Not much to say here as I'll go deep into the Warriors for my Diary Of A Warriors Fan.

Panthers vs Dragons

Panthers

Starting: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, James Fisher-Harris, Sione Katoa, Corey Harawira-Naera.

Bench/Extended Bench: /Jarome Luai.

Dragons

Starting: Jason Nightingale.

Bench/Extended Bench: Leeson Ah Mau.

Doc's Word

A low key gun for Penrith Panthers over the last few weeks has been Sione Katoa, starting at hooker in place of Peter Wallace. Katoa had 4 dummy half runs for 41m in the win over Wests Tigers and after averaging 10m/dh-run, Katoa then averaged a 2 second play-the-ball, which is lightning fast. With the skill and play-making ability around him, that sort of dummy half running is going to cause all sorts of ruckus and I'll be keeping a close eye on Katoa in this game as he could challenge the Dragons forwards around the ruck.

And it goes without saying that James Fisher-Harris will be eager to stamp his mark all over the Dragons forwards, who have been the dominant forward pack to start the season. The energy and aggression Fisher-Harris plays with could ruffle a few feathers and knock the Dragons out of their groove.

Knights vs Sharks

Knights

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

Bench/Extended Bench: Danny Levi.

Sharks

Starting: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Ava Seumanufagai/Sosaia Feki, Braden Uele.

Doc's Word

I reckon the task of chopping down Andrew Fifita and Matt Prior will fall to Knights hooker and Greymouth geezer Slade Griffin, who could play more minutes as a defensive middle forward alongside Danny Levi. Griffin is a great defender and his style of play could be used to great effect, especially as Cronulla rely so heavily on their big boppers. 

Tigers vs Bulldogs

Tigers

Starting: Tuimoala Lolohea, Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Michael Chee-Kam, Elijah Taylor.

Bench/Extended Bench: Josh Aloiai.

Bulldogs

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

Bench/Extended Bench: Renouf To'omaga/Greg Eastwood.

Doc's Word 

The return of Tuimoala Lolohea. Lolohea slots back into fullback and the Tigers have plateaued a wee bit in recent weeks, with Lolohea battling away in reserve grade. This is a great opportunity for Lolohea to show his impact and add his pizzazz to the Tigers attack and Lolohea will benefit from coming into a very settled, steady halves combination that has been established this season.

Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has injected more speed and skill into his squad, not only selecting Lolohea at fullback, but also starting Jacob Liddle at hooker and welcoming Josh Reynolds back on to the bench. This means Elijah Taylor can also get back to his best position at lock, where he's a fantastic ball-player and the combination of the running dummy halves, Taylor spending a lot of time at first-receiver and Lolohea lurking either around the ruck, or out on an edge, has me super intrigued as to how the Tigers perform.

In keeping with that yarn, Michael Chee Kam starts on an edge and he's a dynamic edge forward who has all sorts of footwork and skill. I think Chee Kam will start on the right edge as well, same edge as Esan Marsters and that combination has me frothing as a #KiwiNRL scribe. Overall, the Tigers look faster, more skillful and better equipped to score points.

Jahtearoa Premiers

Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Wings: David Fusitu'a (T), Jamayne Isaako.
Centres: Esan Marsters, Dean Whare.
Halves: Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Martin Taupau, Adam Blair, Jason Taumalolo (T), Issac Luke.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Corey Harawira-Naera.
Bench: Kodi Nikoraima, Addin Fonua-Blake, James Fisher-Harris, Sio Siua Taukeiaho (T).

In: Jamayne Isaako, Issac Luke, Corey Harawira-Naera, James Fisher-Harris, Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

Out: Jordan Rapana, Slade Griffin, Joseph Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Ben Matulino.

Jahtearoa Reserves

Fullback: Peta Hiku.
Wings: Jordan Rapana, Jason Nightingale.
Centres: Brad Takairangi, Joseph Manu.
Halves: Te Maire Martin, Ata Hingano (T).
Middles: Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Slade Griffin.
Edges: Simon Mannering, Joseph Tapine.
Bench: Siliva Havili, Bunty Afoa (S), Kenny Bromwich, Peni Terepo (T).

In: Jordan Rapana, Ben Matulino, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Slade Griffin, Joseph Tapine, Peni Terepo.

Out: Alex Glenn, Agnatius Paasi, Ava Seumanufagai.

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Peace and love 27.