#KiwiNRL Encyclopedia: Round Rua Tekau Ma Wha
That us?
Wests Tigers vs Sea Eagles
Wests Tigers
Starting: Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Michael Chee Kam.
Bench/Extended Bench: Josh Aloiai/Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.
722 Likes, 14 Comments - Josh Aloiai (@joshaloiai) on Instagram: "Coming to the end of a short injury stint on the sideline I'm absolutely blessed to be kitted up..."
Sea Eagles
Starting: Addin Fonua-Blake, Manase Fainu, Martin Taupau.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Toafofoa Sipley.
Doc's Word
An almighty #KiwiNRL battle up the guts with the Tigers veterans going up against the powerful Sea Eagles duo of Addin Fonua-Blake and Martin Taupau. Having Elijah Taylor starting in the middle will help defensively in shutting down the Manly big boppers, the physicality and energy however will be led by Russell Packer and Ben Matulino. These two will be eager to stamp their authority on the middle and with guys like Michael Chee Kam and Benji Marshall ready to pounce, the #KiwiNRL Tigers could have a bit of fun.
Warriors vs Panthers
Warriors
Starting: All the lads.
Bench/Extended Bench: All but Karl Lawton.
Panthers
Starting: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, James Fisher-Harris.
Bench/Extended Bench: Corey Harawira-Naera/Sione Katoa.
Doc's Word
No Blake Green is a bummer for the Warriors, yet it does give the Warriors a team of 17 that is purely #KiwiNRL joy. Karl Lawton is on an extended bench, so there is only one Aussie in the squad of 21; pretty awesome for a Warriors team to have no Aussies named.
Panthers coach Cameron Ciraldo has shifted Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to fullback, in a move that results in Tyrone Peachey shifting to the halves. This is great news for Watene-Zelezniak as he gets another opportunity at fullback and especially at this time of year. Ciraldo's changes also feature Sione Katoa dropping to the extended bench, in a fairly drastic move from the caretaker coach. Katoa has been solid all season and unless there is an injury, Katoa has been hooked and may not be able to regain his spot come Finals time.
Cowboys vs Eels
Cowboys
Starting: Te Maire Martin, Jason Taumalolo.
Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.
Eels
Starting: Marata Niukore, Peni Terepo.
Bench/Extended Bench: Brad Takairangi.
Doc's Word
Tongan fans should be frothing at the prospect of Jason Taumalolo and Peni Terepo lining each other up, with Terepo getting a starting role via Nathan Brown's season ending injury. Terepo has been low key one of the Eels best this season and now he gets a chance to test himself against the #KiwiNRL toko Taumalolo; Taumalolo may have the edge in running the footy, but keep an eye on Terepo's passing.
Raiders vs Rabbitohs
Raiders
Starting: Brad Abbey, Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola.
Bench/Extended Bench: Siliva Havili/Makahesi Makatoa.
Rabbitohs
Starting: Haters.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Mawene Hiroti.
Doc's Word
Bummer for Joseph Tapine as he has been ruled out for the season and Iosia Soliola takes his place starting on an edge. Last week I wrote about Brad Abbey getting the fullback gig ahead of Nick Cotric and I wondered if this was based around Abbey's ball-playing, which I hadn't seen too much of. Abbey answered and rather emphatically with this delightful pass for Jordan Rapana, standard fullback business:
Titans vs Storm
Titans
Starting: Kevin Proctor.
Bench/Extended Bench: Moeaki Fotuaika.
Storm
Starting: Jesse Bromwich.
Bench/Extended Bench: Kenny Bromwich/Sam Kasiano, Albert Vete, Jahrome Hughes.
Doc's Word
All hands on deck for Melbourne Storm with a bunch of injuries that impact our #KiwiNRL Stormers. Jahrome Hughes has been named on the extended bench via injury, so he is a chance to play, while Brandon Smith is out injured and that means that Smith won't be able to snap up an opportunity for more minutes if Cameron Smith's back injury impacts his involvement.
988 Likes, 9 Comments - Sam Kasiano (@sammyboii21) on Instagram: "What a place👌🏽👌🏽 #mtbuller #letitsnow #❄️❄️❄️⛄️⛄️ #schoolholidaysfun"
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is also out injured. There is the timely return of Sam Kasiano into the wider squad, along with Albert Vete and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kasiano get promoted to the bench and earn a few minutes. Coach Craig Bellamy is a slick operator and brings players like Kasiano into the mix wisely, so expect a 15-20 minute stint from Kasiano if he does play.
Roosters vs Broncos
Roosters
Starting: Joseph Manu, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu.
Bench/Extended Bench: Zane Tetevano/Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Broncos
Starting: Jordan Kahu, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima, Alex Glenn.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Sam Tagataese.
Doc's Word
The battle in the centres is perhaps my favourite match up in the NRL as it ticks all the boxes for my viewing pleasure. There is Latrell Mitchell vs James Roberts, which is itself is mandatory viewing but then sprinkle some #KiwiNRL seasoning on it with Joseph Manu vs Jordan Kahu and I'm fizzing.
4,972 Likes, 48 Comments - Jordan Kahu (@jordan.kahu) on Instagram: "Too good of a photo to not post, what a game! 😀📸 #jflay23"
We are also likely to be treated to an equally enticing match up in the edge forward department as Boyd Cordner and Tevita Pangai Junior will line up against each other. For us #KiwiNRL folk, that means that Isaac Liu and Alex Glenn will do battle on the other edge. All four #KiwiNRL players involved in these edge battles are on the cusp of the Kiwis, not quite in the top-tier but sniffing around and to have such match ups is a #KiwiNRL treat.
Sharks vs Knights
Sharks
Starting: Sosaia Feki.
Bench/Extended Bench: /Ava Seumanufagai, Sione Katoa.
Knights
Starting: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese'ese, Danny Levi.
Bench/Extended Bench: Haters.
Doc's Word
Can Sosaia Feki hold down his wing spot for Finals footy? That's all I care about for Cronulla Sharks and speaking of match ups, if my footy calculations are correct, we'll be gifted Feki vs Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
Feki's future is still uncertain as Jesse Ramie is out injured, meaning Josh Dugan moves to centre and Edrick Lee pops on to the wing. I'm still unsure whether Feki fits into a Sharks top-17, but he's got an opportunity to demand further selection.
Dragons vs Bulldogs
Dragons
Starting: Jason Nightingale, Leeson Ah Mau.
Bench/Extended Bench: Jordan Pereira.
Bulldogs
Starting: Reimis Smith.
Bench/Extended Bench: Jeremy Marshall-King, Ofahiki Ogden, Greg Eastwood/Francis Tualau, Fa'amanu Brown, Renouf To'omaga.
Doc's Word
Jason Nightingale returns for the Dragons, bumping Jordan Pereira down to the bench. I'm actually excited to see Pereira in this bench role as he's shown that he is a powerful runner of the footy and his speed/footwork/power combination could offer impact off the bench.
Paul Vaughan has been ruled out for the season, which is good news for Leeson Ah Mau. Ah Mau had been starting in Vaughan's absence, but dropped to the bench last week with Tyson Frizell moving to the middle. Now Ah Mau starts and Frizell's on the edge, so expect Ah Mau to get more than the 41mins (still a lot) that he got off the bench last week.
Jeremy Marshall-King slides to the bench for the Bulldogs, bumping Fa'amanu Brown out of the top-17. This is a glimpse into the future as these two will likely be competing for the bench utility spot when Kieran Foran returns, given the slick work of Lachlan Lewis who has proven himself to be the best candidate to partner Foran next year.
This is also an interesting example of two teams using different tactics with their bench utilities, both of whom are #KiwiNRL players. Dragons have gone with Pereira, who is a winger and the Dogs have gone with Marshall-King who has played hooker and halves this year. I prefer the Dragons method as I reckon that it's all about impact and if given a decent crack, Pereira could be a nightmare scampering around the ruck.
Jahtearoa Premiers
Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Wings: Jordan Rapana, David Fusitu'a.
Centres: Esan Marsters, Dean Whare.
Halves: Te Maire Martin, Benji Marshall.
Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Martin Taupau, Jason Taumalolo, Issac Luke.
Edges: Alex Glenn, Isaac Liu.
Bench: Danny Levi, Leeson Ah Mau, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Simon Mannering.
Jahtearoa Reserves
Fullback: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Wings: Jamayne Isaako, Ken Maumalo.
Centres: Jordan Kahu, Joseph Manu.
Halves: Kodi Nikorima, Jeremy Marshall-King.
Middles: Ben Matulino, James Fisher-Harris, Kenny Bromwich, Siliva Havili.
Edges: Corey Harawira-Naera, Kevin Proctor.
Bench: Elijah Taylor, Iosia Soliola, Moeaki Fotuaika, Marata Niukore.
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Peace and love 27.