Panthers vs Rabbitohs

Panthers

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

Rabbitohs

Nada.

Doc's Word

Where applicable, I'm going to switch the focus on Aotearoa's NRL centres and offer some stats for those lads as well as any thoughts around their standing in the Kiwis depth chart. We've been graced with an influx of centre candidates, which has kinda seen Dean Whare fall down the depth chart as he always seemed to be battling injury and missing game time. This season, Whare has played all six games though and is putting his hand up for Kiwis selection assuming he stats fit and healthy. Here are some stats for Whare that I'm going to serve up to help gauge the centres involved,...

Offloads per game: 1.33.

Tackle busts per game: 0.33.

Metres per run: 8.38m.

Tackles per miss: 4.91.

Storm vs Warriors

Storm

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

Warriors

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

Doc's Word

A couple #KiwiNRL halves fell off the wagon recently and while Benji Marshall is still out of the Wests Tigers top-17, Jahrome Hughes is straight back in the halves for Melbourne Storm after missing time via injury. Prior to that injury, Hughes wasn't playing his best footy and Hughes' touches of the footy steadily decreased throughout the first four games of the season; 43, 33, 35, 26.

The Storm are a weird ol' footy team as their halfback tends to do very little considering the involvement of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith. In the last two games, Ryley Jacks (Hughes' replacement) had the fewest touches of the play-making quartet and this sets up a simple re-introduction for Hughes to gain confidence. From that basic platform, Hughes has the ability to build with his various weapons.

Peta Hiku’s a centre, who sniffs around Kiwis selection…

Offloads per game: 1.

Tackle busts per game: 1.

Metres per run: 8.76m.

Tackles per miss: 3.58.

Roosters vs Dragons

Roosters

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

Dragons

Nada.

Doc's Word

As I highlighted earlier in the week, the Roosters are all about managing workload and after missing last week, Lindsay Collins comes back on the bench to bump Sitili Tupouniua out of the top-17. Of course, Tupouniua could get a late call up, however this is merely an example of Roosters forwards consistently being in and out of the playing team to gather experience.

Joseph Manu is perhaps the best Kiwis centre, who is also playing for what I consider to be the best NRL team. Compared to Whare, Manu (and others) are error-prone with Manu having 5 errors already this season to Whare's 1 error, considering the skill of Manu and the attacking intent of the Roosters, I'd view his errors as a case of the Chooks always searching for a bit of extra funk.

Offloads per game: 1.16.

Tackle busts per game: 1.83.

Metres per run: 9.34m.

Tackles per miss: 6.92.

Cowboys vs Knights

Cowboys

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

Knights

Herman Ese'ese.

Doc's Word

It's pretty niggly to assess Esan Marsters at this stage as he is one of the Cowboys players who offers plenty of attacking threat in a team that has limited attacking funk and I thought there were be more of a reflection of the Cowboys greater fortunes this season (bit meh) in Marsters work. Marsters has been a key figure though and could possibly be the best #KiwiNRL centre right now if you're not keen on factoring in team performances. This game could offer Marsters more opportunities to be a notable factor as I think he'll line up against Gehamat Shibasaki which is a match up nicely suited to Marsters' variety of threats.

Here's how Marsters ranks statistically...

Offloads per game: 2.66.

Tackle busts per game: 2.66.

Metres per run: 8.41m.

Tackles per miss: 5.85.

Broncos vs Titans

Broncos

Issac Luke, Alex Glenn, Jamayne Isaako.

Titans

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

Doc's Word

More tinkering from Broncos coach Anthony Seibold as he shifts Jamayne Isaako to the bench, bringing in Tesi Niu to the fullback spot. I've got no idea what type of role Isaako may play off the bench - obviously he'll cover backline positions and could be a vibrant option in the forward pack if the Broncos want to speed things up. From a #KiwiNRL perspective, this is a bit annoying as Isaako isn't being given a clear role to build into, then again Isaako was present in the string of losses for the Broncos and something needed to change.

Issac Luke on the other hand has been graced with open passage to the starting hooker position, having been neglected by Aotearoa Warriors and barely featuring for the Dragons. Luke played 48mins last week vs the Knights and had 4 dummy half runs for 37m while also making 32 tackles @ 88.9% - reasonably good.

Also a bummer of a change for Gold Coast Titans as Erin Clark is dropped, Mitch Rein coming in to start and Tanah Boyd holding on to his bench spot. A Luke vs Clark #KiwiNRL hooker battle would have been great; they were at the Warriors together for a few years.

Eels vs Raiders

Eels

Dylan Brown, Marata Niukore, Brad Takairangi.

Raiders

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

Doc's Word

Slight curveball here as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the Canberra Raiders fullback and is coming off a Kiwis stint where he played centre last year. Kiwis coach Michael Maguire did a great job of easing Nicoll-Klokstad into that role, starting with the Nines where Nicoll-Klokstad played in a centre position despite the Nines format and then that flowed into the Spring International window. I reckon the best duo is still Marsters and Manu, although Nicoll-Klokstad should be a part of any Kiwis squad and his versatility is nothing but an asset.

Here are Nicoll-Klokstad's stats, keep in mind that they come from his fullback role with the Raiders though, well other than the offloads they're all in tune with the other centres...

Offloads per game: 0.5.

Tackle busts per game: 2.16.

Metres per run: 9.02m.

Tackles per miss: 5.

Sea Eagles vs Sharks

Sea Eagles

Danny Levi, Martin Taupau, Toafofoa Sipley.

Sharks

Sione Katoa, Bryson Goodwin, Shaun Johnson, Briton Nikora, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jackson Ferris.

Doc's Word

In replacing Manase Fainu, Danny Levi has already done a great job ensuring that the Sea Eagles have a spark around the ruck. Now Levi isn't just replacing Fainu as he has to step up to play a greater role in a Manly outfit that is without Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker. Coach Des Hasler has aready showcased his ability to bring a group together and extract the best out of everyone in the Sea Eagles squad, which when combined with Levi's arc with the Sea Eagles (coming in for Fainu, then needing to step up further) could see Levi impress even further.

Last week in the rather epic win over Canberra Raiders, Levi played the full 80 minutes and had 5 dummy half runs for 39m. Chuck in 42 tackles @ 95.5% and a cheeky kick to set the scene for the scope in which Levi can grow his game; doubt he'll play 80mins again though as Cade Cust is an option on the bench. The Sea Eagles are 14th in dummy half runs, averaging 8 per game and with Martin Taupau back, I expect Levi to have more than 5 scoots this weekend.

Bulldogs vs Tigers

Bulldogs

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

Tigers

Josh Aloiai, Elijah Taylor, Michael Chee-Kam, Benji Marshall.

Doc's Word

The loss of Aidan Tolman has been low key great for Renouf To'omaga for the Bulldogs as he started in the middle last week and is again named to start this week. A start resulted the most minutes To'omaga has played this season (36mins), although the output and impact from his bench role wasn't quite there. That's perhaps due to To'omaga also making the most tackles he has this season, along with the most missed tackles (24-3) and this sets the scene for an intriguing encounter vs Tigers; Tigers have a mobile, young forward pack and To'omaga should be better second time around.

Also, Raymond Faitala-Mariner appears to be on an edge for the Bulldogs permanently as he has played 80mins in his last three games and the last two saw Faitala-Mariner stick to the edge role. I was thinking about Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the centre convo as well, but he is named on the wing for the Doggies this week and I reckon his best position is on the wing.

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