#KiwiNRL Encyclopedia: Round Tekau Ma Iwa
Jack who?
Eels vs Bulldogs
Eels
Starting: Marata Niukore, Brad Takairangi.
Bench/Extended Bench: Peni Terepo/Suaia Matagi.
Bulldogs
Starting: Reimis Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King.
Bench/Extended Bench: Fa'amanu Brown, Ofahiki Ogden/Greg Eastwood, Francis Tualau.
Doc's Word
Nothing would make me happier than Jeremy Marshall-King out-playing Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses, with the help of Lachlan Lewis. The Bulldogs have the forward pack to be able to provide the platform for their young halves and with such a classy fullback as Will Hopoate chiming in, Marshall-King won't have to over play his hand.
Sharks vs Raiders
Sharks
Starting: Sione Katoa.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Ava Seumanufagai, Sosaia Feki.
Raiders
Starting: Brad Abbey, Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola.
Bench/Extended Bench: Siliva Havili
Doc's Word
Jarrod Croker's season-ending knee injury works in Brad Abbey's favour as the former Junior Warrior can slot back into fullback, with Nick Cotric moving to wing and Michael Oldfield into centre. I was weary of Cotric getting a crack at fullback and he was impressive in the win over North Queensland Cowboys, although the cookie has crumbled in Abbey's favour - as it has for the past month.
Last week also saw the return of Jordan Rapana and he was immense, always coming off his wing to look for work and offering all sorts of slick touches. Look for Rapana's creeping on the left side of the field, whether that's through a set play for Rapana or Rapana just hovering around the footy, as well as Rapana getting plenty of footy around the ruck area to target Cronulla's forwards; Rapana could make them look very slow and cumbersome.
Broncos vs Panthers
Broncos
Starting: Jordan Kahu, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima, Alex Glenn.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Sam Tagataese.
Panthers
Starting: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, James Fisher-Harris.
Bench/Extended Bench: Corey Harawira-Naera/Jarome Luai.
Doc's Word
Just one game for Caleb Aekins with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak getting the starting fullback role again, which is a bummer. I was hyped to see Aekins get to play alongside James Maloney and Nathan Cleary, for the Panthers though, having Watene-Zelezniak at fullback allows them to lean on a combination that already has plenty of reps together this season.
Jordan Kahu and Dean Whare are unlikely to face off against each other as they are both left centres, but this will be a lovely battle between two Kiwis centre candidates. I still have Whare as the best Kiwis centre and the emergence of Esan Marsters has put Kahu down the ladder a wee bit. If they aren't marking each other, they'll have funky battles against James Roberts and Waqa Blake; Roberts will test Whare's reads and agility, Blake will test Kahu's physicality.
I don't think we've see the best of Kahu this season, largely because of the inconsistent work inside him from the Broncos halves. Regular readers know that this is always a point of intrigue for me and the Antony Milford/Kodi Nikorima combo has plateaued in recent weeks, with what is now a typically meh performance against the Warriors. This week their combo comes up against Maloney and Cleary, which could highlight all sorts of weaknesses in the Broncos halves.
Also eager to see James Fisher-Harris come up against Josh McGuire and Mathew Lodge. Fisher-Harris has the ability to dominate games purely through his energy and intensity and as the Broncos were rolled last week, they'll be out to bounce back. Fisher-Harris is not the guy you want to try bounce back against.
Knights vs Titans
Knights
Starting: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Danny Levi, Herman Ese'ese.
Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.
Titans
Starting: Kevin Proctor.
Bench/Extended Bench: Moeaki Fotuaika.
Doc's Word
Shaun Kenny-Dowall gets a run at centre after playing on the wing for much of this season. Centre is probably his better position and he'll offer a splash of creativity out on an edge, especially as the Knights could dominate the middle and speed things up for Mitchell Pearce. 50 minutes from Herman Ese'ese plays a huge role in that, with Ese'ese leading the Knights middle forwards for post-contact metres in their win over Parramatta (13runs/102m, 50pcm).
Also key to this is Danny Levi, who got through the full 80 minutes vs Eels and had 6 dummy half runs for 75m, along with the fastest play-the-ball speed of any Knights played (2.44s). Such running from Levi gives the Knights a boost and I reckon we could see Levi given the mission of more scoots to target the Titans ruck defence.
Tigers vs Rabbitohs
Tigers
Starting: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Josh Aloiai, Michael Chee Kam.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.
Rabbitohs
Starting: Haters.
Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.
Doc's Word
With Michael Chee Kam replacing Chris Lawrence, the Tigers will start with an all #KiwiNRL forward pack other than Robbie Farah at hooker. Not only that, but the Tigers are coming up against one of, if not the best forward pack in the NRL and this is a massive test for the Tigers to try and slow down the Rabbitohs through the middle.
Chee Kam and Josh Aloiai will have plenty of work to do on the edges as well. With the footy they are both impressive - Aloiai's powerful runs and general funk from Chee Kam - it's their defence that will be put under the pump by the Rabbits, with Aloiai likely to be tasked with defending the potent Rabbitohs left edge.
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Then we have Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor coming up against the Burgess brothers. This game will be decided by how this #KiwiNRL middle trio handle the Burgess boys and while they won't have to dominate their opponents, maintaining some level of parity will at least allow for their play-makers to get busy. We've seen Packer and Matulino have moments this season, now it's time for them to step up to the Rabbitohs level and perhaps show some Finals credentials.
Cowboys vs Dragons
Cowboys
Starting: Te Maire Martin, Jason Taumalolo.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Antonio Winterstein.
Dragons
Starting: Jason Nightingale.
Bench/Extended Bench: Leeson Ah Mau/Patrick Herbert.
Doc's Word
Antonio Winterstein has been cut after Cowboys coach Paul Green hinted at changes with an eye towards next season. The Cowboys are the most depressing team in the NRL right now and I get the feeling that their hopes against a Dragons team who have hit a lull in recent weeks, fall on Jason Taumalolo's work through the middle.
Warriors vs Storm
Warriors
Starting: All but Blake Green.
Bench/Extended Bench: All but Karl Lawton.
Storm
Starting: Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Kenny Bromwich.
Bench/Extended Bench: Brandon Smith/Jahrome Hughes.
Doc's Word
Unfortunately it is Jahrome Hughes who makes way with Billy Slater and Cameron Munster coming back into the Storm side. With Dale Finucane named on an extended bench, I'm interested in Craig Bellamy's selections if Finucane does return from injury for this game as Brandon Smith could be the bloke to make way.
Finucane's return would also see Kenny Bromwich eventually give up his starting spot, although that's unlikely for this week as Finucane will probably get eased back in. This would come down to Smith's agility and energy vs Tui Kamikamica's size, with Finucane to replace one of them. Smith is from Waiheke Island, so it would be rude to not play him when he could have plenty of whanau make the trip to Mt Smart.
Sea Eagles vs Roosters
Sea Eagles
Starting: Addin Fonua-Blake, Manase Fainu, Martin Taupau.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Toafofoa Sipley.
Roosters
Starting: Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu.
Bench/Extended Bench: Zane Tetevano.
Doc's Word
Another juicy battle through the middle here as two Kiwis and two Tongan middles face off against each other. The footwork and mobility of Sio Siua Taukeiaho tickles my fancy the most here, especially in conjunction with Isaac Liu's late footwork and if they can get through plenty of carries, their running style could put Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau under fatigue, thus limiting their impact.
Watch for Liu sneaking out to the right edge as well. Victor Radley gets freedom via his energy and aggression, both of which will be crucial in slowing Manly's middles down, this then allows for Liu to drift wider where his line-running and footwork is a huge threat near the try-line.
Jahtearoa Premiers
Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: David Fusitu'a, Ken Maumalo.
Centres: Esan Marsters, Dean Whare.
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Benji Marshall.
Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Martin Taupau, Jason Taumalolo, Issac Luke.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Simon Mannering.
Bench: Kodi Nikorima, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, James Fisher-Harris, Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
Jahtearoa Reserves
Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Wings: Jamayne Isaako, Sione Katoa.
Centres: Jordan Kahu, Gerard Beale.
Halves: Te Maire Martin, Jeremy Marshall-King.
Middles: Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Kenny Bromwich, Danny Levi.
Edges: Corey Harawira-Naera, Michael Chee Kam.
Bench: Brandon Smith, Leeson Ah Mau, Herman Ese'ese, Elijah Taylor.
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Peace and love 27.