Eels vs Storm

Eels

Dylan Brown, Marata Niukore, Haze Dunster, Brad Takairangi.

Storm

Brandon Smith, Kenny Bromwich, Albert Vete, Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Doc's Word

Plugged in behind the starting middle forward trio of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo and Nathan Brown has been Marata Niukore coming off the bench for Parramatta Eels. Niukore has started four games in the middle while Brown was absent, also starting two games on an edge and having done so in a top-four team, Niukore has already showcased his class; high quality versatility in a good team. Here are how Niukore's averages compare to those three starters as per Fox Sports...

Niukore: 42mins, 11 runs for 111m @ 10.09m/run, 26.27 tackles per miss.

Paulo: 54mins, 16 runs for 148m @ 9.25m/run, 23.42 tackles per miss.

Campbell-Gillard: 57mins, 17 runs for 168m @ 9.88m/run, 17.13 tackles per miss.

Brown: 61mins, 15 runs for 134m @ 8.92m/run, 13.80 tackles per miss.

Switch over to NRL.com's stats and Niukore is tackling at 94.6 percent efficiency and despite his versatility, Niukore has eight of his 14 games with 50+ post contact metres. Chuck in Niukore playing every single game for the Eels this year and Niukore is a prime example of development over three seasons, to the point where I consider Niukore to be a strong chance of Kiwis squad selection this year.

Panthers vs Sharks

Panthers

Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Zane Tetevano.

Sharks

Sione Katoa, Shaun Johnson, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Siosifa Talakai, Briton Nikora.

Doc's Word

Two immense battles in this game, neither of which requires stats to back up the funk. Jarome Luai has played a lovely second fiddle to Nathan Cleary and kiwi footy fans should be tapped in to see where Luai's international eligibility is going to settle considering Luai's a former Junior Kiwis captain, who has represented Samoa and was born and raised in Sydney. Now Luai comes up against Shaun Johnson, who definitely hasn't been playing second fiddle and led the Sharks to a 4-1 record in their last five games.

Much of that #KiwiNRL halves contest will depend on the work of James Fisher-Harris and Braden Hamlin-Uele in the middle. While Fisher-Harris graduated to a starting role long ago, both he and Hamlin-Uele have thrived in starting roles and the prospect of a Kiwis forward pack featuring these two, along with the immense Kiwis depth is rather exciting.

Fun fact: James Fisher-Harris, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Marata Niukore and Jazz Tevaga were all in the 2015 Junior Kiwis forward pack.

How about some SJ6 insights though...

Chad Townsend's last game was round 11 vs Dragons in which he suffered an injury late in the contest. Prior to Townsend's injury and including that Dragons game, the Sharks were 5-1 in that six game stretch and since then the Sharks are 2-1 with that narrow loss to Eels messing things up. The Sharks are at their best with Townsend and Johnson in the halves together and alongside Townsend, Johnson jacked up a try assist in 9 of those 11 games; same ol' shit for SJ6.

Townsend did miss the round four game vs Cowboys and that's notable because Johnson has had 60+ touches in three games this season: round four, then round 12 and 13. Last week Johnson only played 63mins, so his touches of the footy chilled at 46.

In the four games without Townsend this year, Johnson has 7 try assists and 5 forced drop-outs. The only niggle here is that the Sharks faced Cowboys, Broncos and Titans in three of those four games making the task a wee bit easier for Johnson. Either way, with Townsend the Sharks were winning and then without Townsend, Johnson's leading the Sharks to more wins.

This is the second best season for Johnson's winning percentage - 57 percent. In 2018, Johnson won 63 percent of his games and Johnson has two other seasons winning 50+ percent of his games. This is the best running season of Johnson's career, to go with his best try-assisting season thus far as Johnson's averaging 80m per game and next best was 2014 averaging 78m per game.

Broncos vs Dragons

Broncos

Jordan Kahu, Issac Luke, Jordan Riki, Pride Petterson-Robati, Jesse Arhtars.

Dragons

Jordan Pereira.

Doc's Word

Jordan Riki's debut last week came on the left edge with Ben Te'o playing 55mins and then replaced by Riki. Unfortunately, Canberra Raiders scored three tries in the 25mins that Riki played which primarily came through an explosion up the middle from the Raiders forwards and Riki only missed 1 tackle in his debut. Now it's a more even match up with the Dragons and there is plenty to keep an eye on with Riki in this game; does he replace Te'o again for a brief stint at the end of the game or does Riki get chucked in the middle?

Titans vs Raiders

Titans

Moeaki Fotuaika, Sam Lisone, Erin Clark.

Raiders

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Siliva Havili, Joseph Tapine, Corey Harawira-Naera.

Doc's Word

Moeaki Fotuaika is the cornerstone of the Titans forward pack and now that the Raiders have boosted their impact off the bench by combining Joseph Tapine and Corey Harawira-Naera, Fotuaika's move to the #13 jersey in place of Jai Arrow could see him hit a nek level. Fotuaika has played 13 of the 14 games, playing 50+ minutes in all but his first game this season and leads the Titans team for post contact metres, while also ranked 29th overall. Fotuaika also has tackle busts in all but one game and with offloads in three of his last four games, there is a fresh wrinkle to his game emerging.

Tigers vs Roosters

Tigers

Benji Marshall, Josh Aloiai, Russell Packer, Elijah Taylor, Asu Kepaoa.

Roosters

Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Sitili Tupouniua, Isaac Liu, Poasa Fa'amausili.

Doc's Word

Last week's desperate Tigers win over Bulldogs saw Josh Aloiai and Russell Packer lay down efficient foundations through the middle. Aloiai continues to push for Kiwis selection and churned out 18 runs for 209m @ 11.61m/run, while Packer's 9 runs for 92m @ 10.22m/run is exactly what Tigers coach Michael Maguire wants alongside Aloiai. The difference between the two? Aloiai made 36 tackles with no misses and Packer made 29 tackles with 5 misses.

Elijah Taylor's grinding away with the Tigers, unable to string more than three games together this season. Taylor returned to the Tigers team after missing three games and is also coming off-contract, I'm also not sure what role's he is nailing down at the Tigers. Meanwhile there is the full #KiwiNRL Roosters forward pack on deck for this game.

Rabbitohs vs Sea Eagles

Rabbitohs

Jaxson Paulo.

Sea Eagles

Taniela Paseka, Danny Levi, Martin Taupau.

Doc's Word

Danny Levi has a rather clear path to being Brandon Smith's Aotearoa Kiwis back up and that involves being the Sea Eagles starting hooker. Keep in mind that this version of the Sea Eagles isn't close to their best, however Levi's averaging 35m per game and that's the lowest of his past four seasons…

2017 - 46.81m.

2018 - 37m.

2019 - 48.

2020 - 35.

As far as offering Manly funk out of dummy half to compliment their robust forward pack, Levi isn't quite hitting the mark; Levi has 7 tackle busts and 6 offloads in 14 games. At least Levi has started every game and played 50+ minutes in 13 of those games, meaning there is a clear nek level available for Levi which is attainable if he lets the funk flow within Des Hasler's game plan.

Bulldogs vs Warriors

Bulldogs

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

Warriors

All but George Jennings, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Lachlan Burr, Wayde Egan, Daniel Alvaro, Jack Murchie, Josh Curran.

Doc's Word

Ofahiki Ogden and Raymond Faitala-Mariner lace up against their former club, with this time being a wee bit different considering they have both settled into starting roles. If you're a hearty Warriors human, watch out for Ogden playing through the middle and Faitala-Mariner on the left edge as it'll either warm your heart to see them comfortable, or make you sad.

#KiwiNRL Try Assists

Shaun Johnson - 1st.

Jarome Luai - 3rd.

Jahrome Hughes - 5th.

Kieran Foran - 7th.

The Bulldogs are 16th in total tries scored with 32 and Kiwis legend Foran has 10 try assists; roughly a third of the Doggies tries come via Foran. Starting slow with 1 try assist in his first five games, Foran has since enjoyed six games in a row with a try assist, three of those games he's had 2 try assists. Everything about the Bulldogs is a bit rough, although when chucking on the #KiwiNRL goggles to see Ogden develop, Faitala-Mariner find a steady role and Foran now re-emerging as a play-maker; #KiwiNRL Bulldogs matters are nicely poised.

Knights vs Cowboys

Knights

Starford To'a, Herman Ese'ese, Jirah Momoisea.

Cowboys

Connelly Lemuelu, Jason Taumalolo, Emry Pere.

Doc's Word

Weirdness for Emry Pere after he was graced with 10mins in his debut, then no game time last week vs Rabbitohs. I'm kinda fascinated in how young #KiwiNRL forwards are being eased into NRL footy and as I've explored above, lads like Fisher-Harris, Hamlin-Uele and Niukore have all been given time to find their niche in the NRL. Now that's paying off and they are all operating at a high level, leading me to wonder about Riki's development with Broncos and Pere with Cowboys. Merely a matter to observe and while I want to see Pere unleashed, same with Riki, I'm kicking back in 'watch and learn' mode.

Four young #KiwiNRL players involved in this game/wider squads and two different routes to the NRL. Knights winger Starford To'a has been a part of the NZRL pipeline since he was a youngster at St Paul's College and while Pere moved to Australia at a young age, he was a two-time Junior Kiwi rep. Connelly Lemuelu and Jirah Momoisea on the flipside, by-passed the NZRL pipeline.

Lemuelu went from Papatoetoe Rugby Union/Tangaroa College 1st 15 to Keebra Park High School and didn't crack any NZRL development stuff while at Keebra, or once he graduated into the Tigers system. I'm low key awaiting Momoisea's debut as he's featured on the Knights extended bench a few times and despite being at St Paul's College, Momoisea only dabbled in league late in his time at St Paul's before being picked up by Melbourne Storm. Like Lemuelu, Momoisea barely featured in any NZRL junior development stuff and the beauty is that for youngins from Aotearoa, there are various routes to NRL footy.

Hit an ad to support the Niche Cache, or jump on Patreon and run it straight.

Peace and love.