Knights vs Broncos

Knights

Herman Ese'ese, Starford To'a.

Broncos

Jamayne Isaako, Alex Glenn.

Doc's Word

The arrival of new Knights coach Adam O'Brien hasn't been favourable to Mason Lino, but for Herman Ese'ese there is far more stability in his role compared to last season under Nathan Brown. Averaging 40 minutes per game, Ese'ese has played all five games this season and is forming an intriguing starting trio alongside Daniel Saifiti and David Klemmer. Ese'ese's mobility and footwork is an asset through the middle, especially given that in last week's loss he had 38 tackles without a miss and is averaging 25 tackles, 1 missed tackle per game. There's also a low key inclusion of Starford To'a for Newcastle and while he's unlikely to get game time this weekend or any time soon, I'm keeping a close eye on To'a and am eager to see him develop.

Rabbitohs vs Warriors

Rabbitohs

Tom Amone.

Warriors

All but Blake Green, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Wayde Egan, Lachlan Burr, Karl Lawton, Jack Murchie.

Doc's Word

The Warriors have more Australians in their squad of 21 than the Rabbitohs have #KiwiNRL lads. Weird huh?

Panthers vs Storm

Panthers

Dean Whare, James Fisher-Harris, Zane Tetevano, Moses Leota.

Storm

Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Brandon Smith, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jahrome Hughes.

Doc's Word

Dylan Edwards is at fullback for the Panthers and that unfortunately means the end of Caleb Aekins starting there. This was always a possibility as Aekins got his crack through injury to Edwards and as both are competing for that spot, I'm interested in how coach Ivan Cleary uses Aekins moving forward - Aekins is named on an extended bench this week and is a versatile outside back.

Jesse Bromwich doesn't jack up the biggest numbers, although I still have him as a starting Kiwis forward in a strongest Aotearoa Kiwis team. When sussing Bromwich's stats, I could point to the fact that Melbourne Storm have a forward pack who all put up lovely numbers as well as outside backs such as Justin Olam, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Josh Addo-Carr and Cameron Munster who all contribute to rolling down field with metres, post-contact-metres and tackle busts.

The key for Bromwich is his consistency and everyone involved knowing that what Bromwich is going to serve up every week. Here are what the stats tell us about Bromwich's weekly delivery: 51mins, 16.2 runs for 9.55m/run and 3.53pcm/run, 1 offload per game, 15.12 tackles per miss.

Titans vs Dragons

Titans

Moeaki Fotaika, Erin Clark, Sam Lisone, Kevin Proctor.

Dragons

Jordan Pereira.

Doc's Word

Moeaki Fotuiaka is undeniably the Titans best forward and with my #KiwiNRL bias packed, I reckon Fotuaika is more important than Jai Arrow this season. Here are how their stats compare from the loss to the Rabbitohs...

Fotuaika: 62mins, 16 runs for 154m @ 9.62m/run, 43 tackles @ 95.6 percent.

Arrow: 65mins, 15 runs for 120m @ 8m/run, 35 tackles @ 85.4 percent.

Fotuaika has played 100 minutes fewer than Arrow and yet Fotuaika has more run metres total from fewer runs, than Arrow...

Fotuaika: 211 mins (52mins per game), 56 runs for 574m @ 10.25m/run.

Arrow: 311 mins (62.2mins per game), 61 runs for 543m @ 8.90m/run.

Tigers vs Cowboys

Tigers

Josh Aloiai, Zane Musgrove, Michael Chee-Kam, Benji Marshall.

Cowboys

Esan Marsters, Connelly Lemuelu, Jason Taumalolo, Peter Hola, Emry Pere.

Doc's Word

Gold Coast Titans have a #KiwiNRL middle forward duo in Moeaki Fotuaika (Gisborne) and Sam Lisone (Otara Scorpions), Roosters also have this with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Rotorua) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (Otara Scorpions) and now recent developments at the Tigers have seen coach Michael Maguire pair Josh Aloiai (Glenora Bears) with Zane Musgrove (Mangere East Hawks).

Aloiai's 45min effort vs Raiders last week was once again solid despite the loss; 10 runs for 111m @ 11.1m/run, 4.6pcm/run 3 tackle busts and 39 tackles @ 97 percent. Most interesting is that with Maguire wanting to toughen up the Tigers defence, Aloiai is averaging a damn impressive 32.75 tackles per missed tackle this season.

The Cowboys are moving a bit younger with their line up and that's great news for Connelly Lemuelu who is named to make his debut on the wing. It's been a windy ol' journey for Lemuelu to get to this point as moved from Tangaroa College in Auckland to Keebra Park High School (Gold Coast) which put him in the Tigers system up until 2019, when he moved to the Bulldog and then moved up to the Cowboys over the summer where he is obviously making a mark. Lemuelu can play all backline positions and has a history as a #10 in rugby union as well as playing in the halves for various league teams, so there is interesting scope for him to graduate away from the wing role.

Also included by the Cowboys is Marist Saints junior Peter Hola, who I believe will help the Cowboys through the middle immensely via his power and mobility. Waikato's Emry Pere is on the extended bench as well and we are being graced with looksie at the simmering young #KiwiNRL talent in the Cowboys system - there's plenty more coming through.

Roosters vs Eels

Roosters

Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu, Sitili Tupouniua.

Eels

Dyan Brown, Marata Niukore, Peni Terepo, Brad Takairangi.

Doc's Word

Thinking about this game put in me in a minor spin as there are talking points everywhere and taking off my #KiwiNRL goggles has me fizzing to see these forward packs go at each other. They are built in similar ways as well when comparing Victor Radley and Nathan Brown who are both mobile middles who ooze aggression, then the big bodies with skill out on the edges; Boyd Cordner and Angus Crichton vs Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Takeiaho vs Reagan Campell-Gillard and Junior Paulo speaks for itself, then there are two Queensland hookers in Jake Friend vs Reed Mahoney.

Obviously, I'm eager to see Waerea-Hargreaves and Taukeiaho showcase their class against the Eels middles. Watching Joseph Manu line up against Michael Jennings will be fun and seeing Dylan Brown creep beneath the radar to perhaps have the greatest impact on the game off all the halves could also be funky. Low key though, I'm all about Isaac Liu vs Marata Niukore in the bench forward roles as everyone overlooks the value both lads offer.

Raiders vs Sea Eagles

Raiders

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Iosia Soliola, Joseph Tapine, Siliva Havili, Bailey Simonsson.

Sea Eagles

Danny Levi, Taniela Paseka, Toafofoa Sipley.

Doc's Word

Iosia Soliola moves into a starting role in the middle for the Raiders and this presents Soliola with a rare chance to impact the game early on; usually his energy is infectious late in the second half coming off the bench. I'll be keeping a close eye on Joseph Tapine who has been playing on the right edge for Raiders this season as A) he'll have a defensive job to do on Dylan Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic when they come down that edge and B) is Tapine an option on an edge for Aotearoa Kiwis? I prefer Tapine on a Kiwis bench with fellow monsters Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Braden Hamlin-Uele, but edge is also an option for Tapine.

Sharks vs Bulldogs

Sharks

Mawene Hiroti, Shaun Johnson, Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Siosifa Talakai, Bryson Goodwin.

Bulldogs

Reimis Smith, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kieran Foran, Renouf To'omaga, Jeremy Marshall-King, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Ofahiki Ogden, Sione Katoa, Morgan Harper.

Doc's Word

How about these #KiwiNRL numbers!? Sharks have six in their squad of 21 and the Bulldogs are going bonkers with nine in their 21.

Last week was a shambles for the Bulldogs, both in terms of getting a team on the pitch and the end result, although in that mess was another solid game from Renouf To'omaga who is now named to start as his 2020 keeps on getting better. In just 32mins, To'omaga had 11 runs for 108m @ 9.81m/run and none of the Bulldogs forwards who had more runs than To'omaga provided the efficiency of To'omaga.

This flows into Ofahiki Ogden, who got 22mins off the bench for the Dogs and rolled out 5 runs for 53m @ 10.6m/run. I said a few weeks ago that the Bulldogs should go all in on the power/mobility of To'omaga, Ogden and Raymond Faitala-Mariner and we're not quite getting that yet, but it feels like it's coming.

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