The 2018 NRL season has finished for eight teams and while the focus now switches to Finals footy, this week's #KiwiNRL Notebook is all about those who are now chillin'. I'm going to roll through the eight teams who didn't make the Finals and suss out their #KiwiNRL players, as well as how they sit as #KiwiNRL clubs.

9th - Wests Tigers

#KiwiNRL Players

Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Tuimoala Lolohea, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Elijah Taylor, Michael Chee Kam, Josh Aloiai, Pita Godinet, Matt McIlwrick.

#KiwiNRL Status

Boasting the biggest #KiwiNRL crew, Wests Tigers are one of the premier #KiwiNRL clubs and even a few mid-season signings couldn't dampen their hearty #KiwiNRL presence. The arrivals of Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah made Tuimoala Lolohea, Matt McIlwrick and Pita Godinet surplus of requirement - McIlwrick made a mid-season shift to South Sydney Rabbitohs - but they were still able to regularly roll out Esan Marsters, Benji Marshall, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Michael Chee Kam and Josh Aloiai in their team of 17.

Marsters had a fantastic season at centre and Chee Kam also deserves a special mention as he developed from a fringe NRL player, to a starting edge forward. The Tigers also have lovely variety in where their #KiwiNRL players are from and where they are at in their respective careers.

10th - Canberra Raiders

#KiwiNRL Players

Brad Abbey, Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola, Joseph Tapine, Siliva Havili, Ata Hingano.

#KiwiNRL Status

Canberra Raiders enjoyed the work of their top-tier #KiwiNRL talent in Jordan Rapana and Joseph Tapine, the second half of the season though was headlined by Brad Abbey getting fullback minutes and Siliva Havili getting middle forward minutes. Abbey benefited from Jack Wighton's off-field dramas, while Havili's form earlier in the season made him impossible to drop when Josh Hodgson returned from injury.

Ata Hingano shared some hooking duties with Havili before getting injured. With Havili, Hingano and Abbey all linking up with the Raiders in the past 18 months, 2018 was the year in which Canberra low key established themselves as a growing #KiwiNRL club.

11th - Newcastle Knights

#KiwiNRL Players

Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Herman Ese'ese, Slade Griffin, Danny Levi.

#KiwiNRL Status

Slade Griffin's knee injury was a huge bummer for Newcastle Knights and their #KiwiNRL crew after Griffin earned a Kiwis call up with slick form to start the season. Herman Ese'ese also cracked the Kiwis squad for the Denver Test, both Ese'ese and Griffin flourished after moving from Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm respectively.

The arrival of Griffin pushed Danny Levi out of the team and Levi only returned to the bench mid-way through the season. This was a bit of a step back for Levi as he was impressive at the World Cup last year for Aotearoa, Levi stuck at it though and eventually saw things fall in his favour when Griffin was ruled out for the season. Newcastle's all #KiwiNRL hooking rotation is locked in for next season, reason to stay tuned to how the Knights build into 2019.

12th - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

#KiwiNRL Players

Jeremy Marshall-King, Greg Eastwood, Ofahiki Ogden, Reimis Smith, Francis Tualau, Renouf To'omaga, Fa'amanu Brown.

#KiwiNRL Status

This season saw Reimis Smith blossom into a certified NRL winger and with the Morris twins leaving Belmore, Smith will enjoy consistent opportunities next season. Ofahiki Ogden and Jeremy Marshall-King were also impressive with this trio all enjoying their first decent run of regular NRL footy.

The Bulldogs have solid #KiwiNRL numbers, however they lack the top-tier talent and most of the #KiwiNRL lads were in and out of the NRL this season. By the end of the season, Smith, Marshall-King, Ogden and Greg Eastwood were regulars and hopefully we can see the others push for consistent selection as the Bulldogs re-fresh their roster.

13th - North Queensland Cowboys

#KiwiNRL Players

Te Maire Martin, Jason Taumalolo, Antonio Winterstein.

#KiwiNRL Status

This was a very strange season for the Cowboys, nicely summed up by Te Maire Martin playing off the bench, fullback and in the halves. Jason Taumalolo was his status-quo and after Antonio Winterstein retired, it was just Taumalolo and Martin holding it down for the Cowboys.

14th - Gold Coast Titans

#KiwiNRL Players

Kevin Proctor, Moeaki Fotuiaka.

#KiwiNRL Status

The emergence of Moeaki Fotuaika is a huge highlight for the Titans this season as the Tongan middle forward, who grew up in Gisborne immediately looked at ease with NRL footy. The Titans made up for their lack of #KiwiNRL numbers with Fotuaika demanding attention as one of the best #KiwiNRL forward prospects; a wee bit more interesting than Kevin Proctor's solid week to week play on an edge.

15th - Manly Sea Eagles

#KiwiNRL Players

Martin Taupau, Manase Fainu, Addin Fonua-Blake, Toafofoa Sipley, Lewis Brown, Moses Suli.

#KiwiNRL Status

Even though Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake were emphatic in their work up the guts, they didn't do much to help Manly win footy games. They laid a platform and that's for certain, yet their oomph didn't translate into wins and that's always an issue. The stars aligned for Manase Fainu to get his NRL debut and his dynamic running ability caught the eye, while Toafofoa Sipley got a few opportunities off the bench as well.

I've included Moses Suli in this after Suli was named in the Junior Kiwis wider squad. I'm uncertain as to whether Suli's kiwi credentials are legit, so we'll keep that fluid.

15th - Parramatta Eels

#KiwiNRL Players

Peni Terepo, Brad Takairangi, Marata Niukore, Josh Hoffman, Suaia Matagi, Oregon Kaufusi, Manu Ma'u.

#KiwiNRL Status

The best way to suss out Parramatta's #KiwiNRL crew is to solely focus on Peni Terepo and Marata Niukore. Niukore made his debut this season and then featured consistently through the middle and on an edge, with his development near the top of the list as a positive for Parramatta this season. Peni Terepo also made an impact when he was graced with regular minutes and Terepo remains slept on with his powerful, agile running that was combined with a delightful passing game. 

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Peace and love 27.