Sick of all the silly Australian State of Origin stuff? Never fear, the second annual #KiwiNRL Battle of Aotearoa is here to offer the ruthless territorial rugby league fix that kiwis are frothing for. The basic premise is a Tamaki Makaurau consisting of players from the general Auckland region taking on an Aotearoa team, of players from around Aotearoa and while this is all a bit of fun right now, as the #KiwiNRL takeover continues, it will happen in the future.

In keeping with the #KiwiNRL vibes, this isn't based on Aotearoa Kiwis and instead centres around my #KiwiNRL perspective. Unlike the Aussies, I welcome those who were born or grew up playing their junior footy in Tamaki Makaurau or around Aotearoa, but have opted to represent Tonga or Samoa. As long as they fall under the #KiwiNRL umbrella, all good and there is no requirement for players to pledge allegiance to the Kiwis for the epic Battle of Aotearoa.

This is the Battle of Aotearoa's second year, so I have included the teams from 2017 as well as ins and outs from last year to this year. In a way, this paints a general picture of which players were hot last season and who has burst on to the scene this season and I will endeavour to maintain that structure as a historical document.

Tamaki Makaurau

Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: David Fusitu'a, Ken Maumalo.
Centres: Esan Marsters, Solomone Kata.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Martin Taupau, Jason Taumalolo, Siliva Havili.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Manu Ma'u.
Bench: Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Leeson Ah Mau.
18th/19th: Agnatius Paasi, Peta Hiku.

Notes

Went with Solomone Kata at centre ahead of Peta Hiku. Kata came to Auckland to play 1st XV rugby at Sacred Heart College, putting him in the mix and I want that extra bit of power in the brutal Battle of Aotearoa.

Siliva Havili thoroughly deserves his call up at hooker and I've got Waiheke Island as being part of Auckland, hence Brandon Smith gets a bench spot. Both have played as middle forwards this season.

Ken Maumalo and Leeson Ah Mau both started at Papatoetoe Panthers, before Maumalo moved to Mangere East Hawks and Ah Mau to Otahuhu Leopards. Maumalo is joined by Aganatius Paasi as a Mangere East rep, Ah Mau is joined by Jason Taumalolo as an Otahuhu junior. Manurewa Marlins have the biggest crew with the Bromwich bros, Havili and Hiku all coming through Manurewa.

Hiku is a stretch here as he qualifies for both Aotearoa (born and raised in Gisborne) and Tamaki Makaurau (came through Manurewa Marlins). I could go either way and went the Tamaki Makurau route.

2017

Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: Sosaia Feki, David Fusitu'a.
Centres: Konrad Hurrell, Solomone Kata.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.
Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Martin Taupau, Jason Taumalolo, Kenny Bromwich.
Edges: Greg Eastwood, Manu Ma'u.
Bench: Suaia Matagi, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Alex Glenn, Sam Kasiano.

Ins/Outs

In: Ken Maumalo, Esan Marsters, Siliva Havili, Brandon Smith, Leeson Ah Mau.

Out: Sosaia Feki, Konrda Hurrell, Greg Eastwood, Suaia Matagi, Sam Kasiano.

Aotearoa

Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Wings: Jordan Rapana, Jamayne Isaako.
Centres: Jordan Kahu, Dean Whare.
Halves: Benji Marshall, Te Maire Martin.
Middles: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Adam Blair, Russell Packer, Issac Luke.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Joseph Tapine.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Simon Mannering, James Fisher-Harris, Ben Matulino.
18th/19th: Slade Griffin, Corey Harawira-Naera.

Notes

Northland: Adam Blair (Hokianga - Panguru), James Fisher-Harris (Hokianga - Kohukohu, Corey Harawira-Naera (Hokianga - Waumamaku).

Central North Island: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Waikato), Dean Whare (Rotorua), Benji Marshall (Whakatane), Te Maire Martin (Waikato), Tohu Harris (Hastings).

Manawatu/Wellington: Jordan Rapana (Wellington), Jordan Kahu (Wellington), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Wellington), Russell Packer (Levin), Joseph Tapine (Wellington), Kodi Nikorima (Palmerston North), Ben Matulino (Wellington).

South Island: Jamayne Isaako (Canterbury), Simon Mannering (Nelson), Kodi Nikorima (Canterbury), Slade Griffin (Greymouth).

2017

Fullback: Jordan Kahu.
Wings: Jordan Rapana, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Centres: Dean Whare, Joseph Manu.
Halves: Fa'amanu Brown, Benji Marshall.
Middles: Adam Blair, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Simon Mannering, Issac Luke.
Edges: Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Joseph Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Russell Packer.

Ins/Outs

Ins: Jamayne Isaako, Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris, Ben Matulino.

Outs: Joseph Manu, Fa'amanu Brown, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kevin Proctor.

As far as a result goes, well, that's the joy in all of this as these two teams are evenly matched and who knows who would win. That's a mark of how widespread the #KiwiNRL funk is in Aotearoa and the feature of Team Aotearoa this year is the growing South Island presence with the emergence of Jamayne Isaako and Slade Griffin. Combine that with the Northland trio and we've got righteous rugby league talent in the NRL from the Hokianga down to Greymouth.

The standard Battle of Aotearoa schedule is game one in Auckland, game two in Wellington and game three down in Dunedin during University time (not in holidays). All that's left now is to take a moment, spark up the buckie and imagine this contest, imagine the Battle of Aotearoa actually going down and how awesome the footy would be. If you like the sound of this, spread the Battle of Aotearoa word and we'll steadily increase the buzz around it as a rugby league community.

Hit an ad to support the #KiwiNRL Battle of Aotearoa.

Or jump on Patreon and support the Niche Cache directly, we drop bonus stuff for the Patrons and take care of the homies.

Peace and love 27.