Dragons vs Eels

Dragons

Starting: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Jason Nightingale, Leeson Ah Mau/Patrick Herbert.

Eels

Starting: Marata Niukore, Brad Takairangi.

Bench/Extended Bench: Peni Terepo/Kirisome Auva'a, Suaia Matagi.

Doc's Word

Jason Nightingale once infamously played as a middle forward under Wayne Bennett and with Kurt Mann starting on the wing for the Dragons and Nightingale shifting to the bench, we could be treated to more funk from Gypsy. There's plenty of outside back depth at the Dragons as well, with #KiwiNRL prospect Patrick Herbert now sniffing around the extended bench which will only put a wee bit more pressure on Gypsy.

Leeson Ah Mau is backing up for the Dragons and I'm sure Kiwis coach Michael Maguire will be interested in how his Kiwis go in backing up, especially given the travel. Ah Mau was one of the better Kiwis forwards in Denver and his Kiwis stocks will receive a boost if he can slot back into the Dragons pack and offer the same punch.

In general, there's not much doing with Parramatta Eels other than the dramas but they will roll out two #KiwiNRL edge forwards in their starting 13. Marata Niukore has been the major benefactor of Kenny Edwards' drama and release from the Eels, Beau Scott's knee injury and now with Manu Ma'u suffering an injury for Tonga, the stars are aligning for Niukore. Brad Takairangi slots in on the other edge and while Takairangi's presence as an edge forward is nice, this is all about Niukore emerging as a bright light in Parramatta's crappy season.

Warriors vs Sharks

Warriors

Starting: All but Blake Green.

Bench/Extended Bench: All but Blake Ayshford.

Sharks

Starting: Sione Katoa.

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

Doc's Word

Sione Katoa looks to have settled back into Cronulla's starting side on the wing and with Edrick Lee appearing to sign with Newcastle Knights prior to the June 30 deadline, this could open the door for Sosaia Feki to get a look in again. I'm not sure why Feki has fallen out of favour with the Sharks, but it's a bummer; at least we've got Katoa holding things down.

The Sharks have also signed Aaron Woods, which isn't great news for our Sharks #KiwiNRL forwards. Ava Seumanufagai has now been replaced by Woods, after Seumanufagai and Woods were Tigers team mates last year. They are very similar in their middle forward work and as Joseph Paulo and Jayson Bukuya offer more unique skillsets, Seumanufagai is going to be the bloke to miss out if the Sharks are at full-strength in their forward pack.

Roosters vs Storm

Roosters

Starting: Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu.

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

Storm

Starting: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Kenny Bromwich.

Bench/Extended Bench: Brandon Smith, Jahrome Hughes.

Doc's Word

Another Kiwi to watch out for backing up this weekend is Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who emerged as a leader in the Kiwis forward pack and as Jesse Bromwich is again out injured and that the Storm are without Sam Kasiano, Asofa-Solomona could be out to make a point against a strong Roosters pack. 

Asofa-Solomona and Kenny Bromwich vs Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Isaac Liu will be a heck of a battle up the guts. There's plenty of footwork, power and skill there and I suspect Bromwich will be eager to make an impression after missing out on Kiwis selection.

Melbourne also have both Brandon Smith and Jahrome Hughes on their bench. That could change for kick-off, but I'll be intrigued to see how Hughes features for the Storm as he was excellent filling in at fullback with Billy Slater out and deserves to be in the Storm 17. Smith has hooker covered and has been playing as a middle forward, Cameron Smith can slide into more of halves role and that only leaves a funky role for Hughes.

Panthers vs Sea Eagles

Panthers

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

Bench/Extended Bench: /Jarome Luai, Nick Lui-Toso, Caleb Aekins. Paea Pua?

Sea Eagles

Starting: Addin Fonua-Blake, Manase Fainu, Martin Taupau.

Bench/Extended Bench: /Toafofoa Sipley.

Doc's Word

#KiwiNRL middle forward prospect Nick Lui-Toso has re-signed with Penrith Panthers until the end of 2020, after the Glenora Bears junior has featured fairly consistently on the Panthers extended bench this season. Also on the Panthers extended bench is Caleb Aekins, a fullback/utility from Northland who is part of the Panthers Northland crew alongside James Fisher-Harris and Corey Harawira-Naera.

We've been waiting for Manase Fainu's debut with Manly Sea Eagles and he's again been named at hooker this week, although we won't know for sure until he runs out as the NRL have to approve his debut etc. Manly have officially released Jackson Hastings and don't have any other hooker options in their squad of 21 that they have named.

That could set up Fainu vs Sione Katoa, two Junior Kiwi hookers who are also eligible for Tonga. Katoa has flourished with Panthers in a starting role and has taken that into the Tongan team and if Fainu does make his debut, Tonga could be looking at having three very slick, young hookers to chose from.

Knights vs Bulldogs

Knights

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

Bench/Extended Bench: Danny Levi.

Bulldogs

Starting: Reimis Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King.

Bench/Extended Bench: Fa'amanu Brown, Ofahiki Ogden, Greg Eastwood.

Doc's Word

Reimis Smith made his long awaited return to NRL foot before the rep round on the wing for the Bulldogs as a late call up and the predicament that the Doggies are in now is fantastic from a #KiwiNRL perspective. Moses Mbye is now a Tiger, meaning that Will Hopoate moves to fullback and opens an outside backs spot for Smith, then the absence of Kieran Foran ensures that Jeremy Marshall-King continues to get a chance in the halves.

The action is all on the bench though for the Bulldogs with Fa'amanu Brown coming in as the utility, Greg Eastwood settling back into the forward mix and Ofahiki Ogden set to make his NRL debut. Ogden has followed a near-identical path as Raymond Faitala-Mariner, moving from the Warriors to the Dogs and the are both big, nimble edge forwards; don't be surprised to see Ogden play through the middle though.

Broncos vs Raiders

Broncos

Starting: Jordan Kahu, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi NIkorima.

Bench/Extended Bench: Alex Glenn/Sam Tagataese.

Raiders

Starting: Iosia Soliola, Joseph Tapine.

Bench/Extended Bench: Siliva Havili/Charlie Gubb, Brad Abbey.

Doc's Word

I'll be keeping a close eye on Alex Glenn in this game and where he is injected. Glenn is named on the bench with Tevita Pangai Junior and Jaydn Su'a starting on the edges, meaning that Glenn could come on to play edge or be used as a middle forward. Glenn has low key power and his footwork could be an issue for the Raiders middles.

Tigers vs Titans

Tigers

Starting: Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Esan Marsters, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Josh Aloiai, Elijah Taylor.

Bench/Extended Bench: Michael Chee Kam.

Titans

Starting: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Moeaki Fotuaika.

Doc's Word

In one swoop, Wests Tigers have swiftly upgraded their roster by adding Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah. That isn't good news for Tuimoala Lolohea and the hooking duo of Matt McIlwrick and Pita Godinet, but it does give the Tigers far more skill and play-making. 

The Tigers can still roll out an immense #KiwiNRL group though, with Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Josh Aloiai and Elijah Taylor all in the starting forward pack. Aloiai debuted for Samoa last weekend and now gets a chance to start on an edge which I reckon is his best position and Michael Chee Kam also played for Samoa after a strong start to the season. Chee Kam will come off the bench and will probably give Aloiai a rest at some stage.

Esan Marsters is backing up from Kiwis duty and he has been one of the Tigers best players up to this point, he was also impressive with the footy for Aotearoa. With that splash of confidence, Marsters could level-up slight;y in the NRL and he's in must-watch territory this weekend.

Rabbitohs vs Cowboys

Rabbitohs

Starting: Haters.

Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.

Cowboys

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

Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.

Doc's Word

Te Maire Martin hasn't been overly good for the Cowboys this season and the Cowboys in general have been crappy. Martin wasn't a standout for the Kiwis either and I'm very interested in how Martin responds to a solid, average 2018 season thus far. There's not too many opportunities playing alongside Jonathan Thurston and this is more about Martin simply doing his job, but executing that role to perfection.

Jahtearoa Premiers

(Players selected from this round)

Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, David Fusitua.
Centres: Dean Whare, Esan Marsters.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Kodi Nikorima.
Middles: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jason Taumalolo, Martin Taupau, Slade Griffin.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Joseph Tapine.
Bench: Slade Griffin, Kenny Bromwich, James Fisher-Harris, Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

Jahtearoa Reserves

Fullback: Jahrome Hughes.
Wings: Jamayne Isaako, Ken Maumalo.
Centres: Jordan Kahu, Peta Hiku.
Halves: Te Maire Martin, Jeremy Marshall-King.
Middles: Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Siliva Havili, Simon Mannering.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Josh Aloiai.
Bench: Brandon Smith, Isaac Liu, Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa.

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Peace and love 27.