Kiwi-NRL Encyclopedia: Round Tekau Ma Waru
Tigers vs Rabbitohs
Tigers
Asu Kepaoa, Benji Marshall, Josh Aloiai, Elijah Taylor, Russell Packer.
Rabbitohs
Steven Marsters, Jaxson Paulo.
Doc's Word
Ever since Michael Maguire took over Wests Tigers and Aotearoa Kiwis, I've kept a close eye on Tigers matters with regards to a few Kiwis jokers. Benji Marshall is the most notable and while I don't believe there are any issues between Marshall and Maguire (they were not only in Kiwis camp together, they held training sessions in local communities for NZRL), the whole Benji/Tigers situation does throw up some funk. I do believe Marshall has plenty of offer the Kiwis and should be in squads to help establish team culture etc and he's by no means washed up.
The other player of great interest is Josh Aloiai and he's exploded from being a handy contributor, to starting every damn game this season for coach Maguire. Aloiai has played 40+ mins in all but one game (38mins vs Knights) and as we've heard a lot about coach Maguire and defence, Aloiai has 94.5 percent tackle efficiency; Aloiai has missed 2+ tackles in just three games this season. I reckon Aloiai and Marata Niukore are likely to earn Kiwis squad selection later this year and Aloiai seems to be in complete alignment with coach Maguire.
This game will also feature Asu Kepaoa on the Tigers wing and Rabbitohs centre Steven Marsters, although Jaxson Paulo has made way for Dane Gagai's return. All three made their Kiwi-NRL debuts this season.
Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles
Bulldogs
Reimis Smith, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ofahiki Ogden, Jeremy Marshall-King, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Renouf To'omaga.
Sea Eagles
Morgan Harper, Danny Levi, Martin Taupau, Taniela Paseka.
Doc's Word
Rather suddenly, Aotearoa has immense depth at centre as we have seen Steven Marsters earn the confidence of coach Wayne Bennett for the Rabbitohs, while fresh Sea Eagles signing Morgan Harper has grabbed a centre spot after moving mid-season from the Bulldogs. Harper made his debut for the Bulldogs last season after making the 2018 Junior Kiwis and the Ngaruawahia junior has been in the NZRL pipeline since at least 2016 when he made a bunch of NZRL Under 18 squads.
Harper scored two tries starting at centre last weekend, with 6 tackle busts and he may face off against 2016 and 2017 Junior Kiwis centre Reimis Smith. Smith has been at the mercy of Bulldogs shenanigans and played a variety of positions this season, now he's named to start at centre and already in this Kiwi-NRL Encyclopedia there are three young centres to keep an eye on; Marsters, Harper and Smith.
The Bulldogs do have more Kiwi-NRL funk that continued to impress as Ofahiki Ogden has started the last six games in the middle, playing 40+ mins in five of those games. A Mangere East junior, Ogden could bolster Tonga's forward depth depending on his eligibility vibe and then there is Porirua's Renouf To'omaga who flirted with a starting role but has found a groove on the Bulldogs bench. Averaging 26 minutes per game this season, To'omaga has four games with 100+ running metres and two of those were in his last two outings.
Panthers vs Eels
Panthers
Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Zane Tetevano.
Eels
Haze Dunster.
Doc's Word
Both Dylan Brown and Marata Niukore are out for the Eels, meaning all Kiwi-NRL funk sits with the Panthers. Jarome Luai is third in try assists and the former Junior Kiwis skipper is one of four Kiwi-NRL halves in the top-10 for try assists (Shaun Johnson, Luai, Benji Marshall, Kieran Foran) and that doesn't include Kodi Nikorima or Jahrome Hughes who are 11th and 13th. The thing about Luai is where his representative future sits as he is a Samoan international who could have a serious impact on Samoan footy, while also having an Aotearoa connection despite being born and raised in Sydney.
Standard James Fisher-Harris business...
Played all 17 games, averaging 60 minutes and 188m per game, while tackling at 91.2 percent efficiency. Fisher-Harris is 3rd in total runs, 4th in total run metres, 7th in Post Contact Metres and if he's not doing all the running, he is 2nd in decoy runs to make things easier for his Panthers homies. Chuck in being 21st in tackles and Fisher-Harris is a busy ol' middle forward.
Dragons vs Raiders
Dragons
Jordan Pereira.
Raiders
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Siliva Havili, Corey Harawira-Naera, Matthew Timoko, Iosia Soliola.
Doc's Word
Somehow, the Raiders have three weird Aotearoa Kiwis centre situations in their squad. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad played centre for the Kiwis last year with Esan Marsters missing out, now there is Jordan Rapana starting at centre and I don't think that means anything for Kiwis centre depth. Then Matthew Timoko is lurking on the fringes and while it's understandable for the more experienced Rapana to start at centre, I'm eager to see Timoko develop.
Quick Kiwis centre depth check: Steven Marsters, Morgan Harper, Reimis Smith, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Matthew Timoko, Peta Hiku, Hayze Perham, Jordan Kahu, Dean Whare, Joseph Manu, Esan Marsters.
Siliva Havili has slid back to the Raiders bench, despite the Raiders going 5-1 with Havili starting at hooker after Josh Hodgson was ruled out for the season. Tom Starling has picked up the starting role and I wonder if Raiders coach Ricky Stuart wants Havili's mobility and low key power through the middle, especially now that it can be packaged with Corey Harawira-Naera who has impressed coming off the bench through the middle.
Titans vs Broncos
Titans
Moeaki Fotuaika, Erin Clark, Sam Lisone, Darius Farmer.
Broncos
Issac Luke, Alex Glenn, Jesse Arthars, Pride Petterson-Robati.
Doc's Word
The yarn about Titans utility Erin Clark is still fairly amazing as he was knocking around with Manurewa Marlins last year, then picked up a train and trial deal with the Titans, then he's flourished to be a permanent fixture on the Gold Coast. Clark has played nine games, starting five of them at hooker and four off the bench, sometimes playing the Brandon Smith/Siliva Havili (Havili's also a Manurewa junior) middle forward role.
Last week Moeaki Fotuaika played 70mins vs Bulldogs for the Titans, jacking up hefty running stats and not missing a single tackle. Fotuaika is tackling at 92 percent and has made 41 tackles, 50 then 45 tackles in the last three games, missing 1 tackle across those three games. That was the second time this season Fotuaika has played 70+ minutes and of his 15 games this season, Fotuaika has played less than 50mins just twice.
Roosters vs Knights
Roosters
Joseph Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Sitili Tupouniua, Isaac Liu, Sonny Bill Williams, Poasa Fa'amausili.
Knights
Starford To'a, Mason Lino, Herman Ese'ese.
Doc's Word
The Knights and Mason Lino were much better in defeating the Sharks than they were a week prior losing to the Warriors, although Lino's involvement was similar. Mitchell Pearce is the dominant play-maker, grabbing 70 touches to Lino's 35, while Lino did take on more kicking duties with 10 kicks to Pearce's 12. The next step for Lino as he finds a way to contribute alongside Pearce and Kalyn Ponga will be offering more than his 5 runs from last week - I'm interested in how Knights coach Adam O'Brien moves Lino through the remainder of the season as he's likely to be the primary halves partner for Pearce for the finals.
I mentioned Luai before and a possible Samoa halves pair could be Luai and Lino. Danny Levi played for Samoa last year, but may return to the Kiwis mix as there isn't much hooking depth for Aotearoa, while Erin Clark has also previously represented Samoa. Tonga has never-ending forward depth, while Samoa may have superior play-making depth.
Storm vs Cowboys
Storm
Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Kenny Bromwich, Albert Vete.
Cowboys
Esan Marsters, Daejarn Asi, Peter Hola.
Doc's Word
Jesse Bromwich appears to be in his zone as the season rolls into finals footy, backing up his 64min/176m/no missed tackles effort vs Sea Eagles with another hearty outing vs Rabbitohs; 58mins, 15 runs for 141m @ 9.4m, 28 tackles @ 96.6 percent.
Now Bromwich has Nelson Asofa-Solomona back in action and all that's missing now is Brandon Smith's return. Jahrome Hughes hasn't had a try assist in two games, notable because he had a mid-season stretch of nine games with 9 try assists and 5 tries. The Storm generally hit a nek level late in the season and after a season in which Hughes has shaken off the utility tag to establish himself as a starting halfback, I'm eager to see how this looks as the season hit a climax.
Sharks vs Warriors
Sharks
Sione Katoa, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Briton Nikora, Siosifa Talakai, Bryson Goodwin.
Warriors
All but George Jennings, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Isaiah Papali'i, Jack Murchie, Wayde Egan, Daniel Alvaro, Lachlan Burr, Josh Curran.
Doc's Word
After a 1-4 start, the Sharks enjoyed 7-2 stretch that saw Shaun Johnson explode to the top of the try-assist rankings and his 20 try assist is still enough for Johnson to lead the NRL by a hefty margin despite missing the last three games. Without Johnson in these last three games, the Sharks lost to Panthers and Knights, defeating the Cowboys. Now Johnson is back and we will be graced with a better assessment of the 2020 version of Johnson as the Sharks chase a top-eight spot and need some nifty performances to seal that, then make a push deeper into the finals.
Keep an eye on Braden Hamlin-Uele as Sharks wins, usually come with the Glenora Bears junior doing his best work and losses see a considerable dip in his production. For example, in the Panthers loss, Hamlin-Uele had 26pcm and 76m, then the Knights loss saw him earn 20pcm and 48m; Hamlin-Uele averages 97m per game this season. Hamlin-Uele also had 7 missed tackles vs Knights and that's the most in a game he's had this season.
Here’s a full banger bonus Aotearoa Kiwis depth check…
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Peace and love.