Aotearoa Kiwis coach Michael Maguire may be sniffing around various NRL head coaching jobs, he's still got a major focus on Kiwis rugby league and injuries to top-tier Kiwis Joseph Tapine and Dean Whare will be testing that focus over the coming weeks. I'll also touch on a rampant Bulldogs #KiwiNRL crew as well as Leeson Ah Mau's low key steadiness as the Dragons lose the plot, but let's start with the Kiwis.

Maguire was on Sunday Night with Matty Johns in a rather interesting interview. Interesting, strictly from my #KiwiNRL perch as Johns, being an Aussie and all, was only interested in asking Maguire about NRL coaching jobs and how Maguire would fit into the various openings at different clubs. 

Having been mentioned as a contender for Broncos, Sea Eagles and Panthers roles, Maguire has always stated that he'd like to get back into NRL coaching. As Kiwi rugby league fans, this is a bit niggly as we'd like our coach to really suss out what is going on with Aotearoa Kiwis, pour all their energy into the betterment of rugby league in Aotearoa. NZRL would have had to have aligned with Maguire's NRL ambitions when hiring him and while it is niggly, at least there appears to be clarity from both sides.

Apparently Maguire can do both and if he thinks he can, then all good. It was pleasing to hear that Maguire had spent a lot of time recently going around NRL clubs to catch up with Kiwis players and he also said that he's had a lot to do with the Warriors. That sort of investment time-wise, is crucial to the Kiwis right now and Maguire not only needs to touch base with Kiwis players to ensure that they are truckin' along towards the end of year fixtures, Maguire has to touch base with players to help build a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all.

Right now, that's the important thing here. This is a weird period for the Kiwis, having lost the Denver Test after the disaster of the World Cup and Maguire is on a rebuilding mission. Right now though, it's a time when players have to put their hands up for selection by playing Finals footy. Right now Maguire is working through drafts of his Kiwis squad and there should be a lot of thinking and planning being done ahead of an excessively important bunch of fixtures after the NRL season; Maguire should have far more players available to him.

Whether that includes Joseph Tapine or Dean Whare, remains to be seen. 

Tapine is for sure one of the two best Kiwis edges forwards this season and if healthy, I've got Tapine partnering Tohu Harris on the edges for Aotearoa. A broken thumb has ruled Tapine out for the last few NRL games and it may heal in time for Tapine to be selected in the Kiwis squad; Tapine is good enough to earn selection without playing the last two NRL games.

Aotearoa does have edge forward depth though and need we remind ourselves of the monumental mess of the World Cup squad where no specialist edge forward was selected other than Tapine - who had played a lot of last season through the middle for Canberra. Maguire could look at what the Warriors are doing with Adam Blair playing the last two months on an edge, which would work nicely with the abundance of middle forwards who will put themselves in the selection mixer.

Corey Harawira-Naera is a young buck who is a strong possibility to be selected in a Kiwis squad, I'd lean towards Alex Glenn getting the nod ahead of Harawira-Naera though. Both should be in the squad, while it will be interesting to see if Kevin Proctor can get a look in as he hasn't been a factor for Aotearoa since moving to Gold Coast Titans. 

Remember that Maguire selected Raymond Faitala-Mariner to start on an edge for the Denver Test. This was deserved, yet I also think it was influenced by unavailabilities to some extent and I'd have Faitala-Mariner ranked level with Harawira-Naera, below Glenn and then Harris/Tapine. With Faitala-Mariner out injured, missing the second half of the season for the Bulldogs, Maguire could be without his starting edge forward crew from the Denver Test depending on Tapine's fitness.

Dean Whare is Aotearoa's best centre and suffered a broken arm in Penrith Panthers' loss to Aotearoa Warriors. Up to this point, I had Whare partnering Esan Marsters in the centres for Aotearoa and now without Whare, the door is open for Joseph Manu, Peta Hiku, Gerard Beale and Jordan Kahu to earn selection.

Manu has played some wing for the Roosters this year, but I view Manu as a specialist centre, especially at international level. I say that becasue Hiku, Beale and Kahu are all fantastic blokes to have in a touring squad given their backline versatility, which should work in their favour for squad selection. 

We will be given a delightful insight into Maguire's thinking around building a Kiwis squad here as he could promote the youngster Manu, who is demanding selection through fine form in a strong Roosters team. Or, Maguire could roll with the more solid options of Kahu and Beale, guys who have international experience. With Aotearoa in need of impressive performances against Australia and England, as well a need to rebuild the culture, I'd prefer to go with the experience, carrying Manu in the squad and easing him into life as a Kiwis rep.

That last idea there is what intrigues me most about Maguire's squad for end of season footy as I feel like there needs to be some mana, or true honour established in the Kiwis jersey. I don't know how to explain it ... the combination of players leaving to represent Tonga and Kiwis jerseys being handed out willy-nilly, just makes me feel like there needs to be some structure, or levels established. 

Youngsters need to be eased in, given time to acquaint themselves with the culture and history of the Kiwis. They have to earn selection ahead of players who have done the job at the international level before. Respect for senior players and respect for the honour of representing Aotearoa needs to be there.

One uso who is keeping himself in the frame after a debut in the Denver Test is Leeson Ah Mau. Ah Mau was the Dragons best forward in their horrible loss to the Doggies, arguably their best player on the park; 13runs/141m, 66 post contact metres, 7 tackle busts, 1 offload. No other Dragons forward had over 105 running metres, let alone averaging well over 10m/run and Ah Mau put the likes of James Graham, Tyson Frizell and Jack de Belin in the shade.

This has been the case all season long for Ah Mau, as he's among the Dragons best in all relevant stats. Ah Mau has the most running metres of any Dragons forward this season (2,333m), he's the 2nd-best forward for tackle busts (46), he's 2nd-best forward in offloads (19) and then Ah Mau only has 10 missed tackles, 4 errors and 5 penalties conceded all season; Ah Mau averages 0.5 missed tackles, 0.2 errors and 0.2 penalties conceded per game.

Ah Mau is the Dragons best forward with the footy and without the footy, Ah Mau is perhaps the most disciplined, safest Dragons player. Playing 22 games this season, Ah Mau has been the foundation of the Dragons forward pack despite not getting the headlines and without Paul Vaughan, Ah Mau will need to level up if the Dragons are to do anything of note in the Finals.

The capitulation of the Dragons was funny to watch, especially as much of the damage from the Bulldogs came from Reimis Smith. Smith is one of a few players who have played Junior Kiwis two years in a row, starting on the wing in 2016 and at centre in 2017 - Smith is joined by Greg Leleisiuao and Patrick Herbert as outside backs who played both 2016 and 2017.

Smith's old man Tyran is a former Kiwis rep and apparently Smith's mum is the sister of Anthony Mundine, giving Reimis some nek level genetics. That also gives Reimis options in his representative future, especially as he grew up in Sydney as a Mascot Jets junior. One would assume however, that with two JK years to his name, Smith has aligned himself with Aotearoa Kiwis and he's truly starting to blossom on the wing for the Bulldogs.

Look at these tries he scored vs Dragons, bruh:

Also scoring a try for the Bulldogs was Ofahiki Ogden, his first NRL try.  Bulldogs players were super excited for Ogden, a sign of his mana within the Bulldogs team and this capped off yet another fine performance from Ogden; 30mins, 11runs/102m, 29 post contact metres, 3 tackle busts.

30mins is the most minutes Ogden has played in a game this season and he's now played 8 NRL games. With Ogden in the team, the Bulldogs are 5-3 and they are 4-1 in their last 5 games.

Hit an ad to support #KiwiNRL Notebook.

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.