Monday Morning Dummy Half: Aotearoa Kiwis Halves and Fullbacks
Two Aotearoa Kiwis legends, two different decisions made as Benji Marshall joins South Sydney Rabbitohs and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck heads off to rugby union after this season. For NZ Warriors fans, this presents one more year to bask in Tuivasa-Sheck's mana and although Marshall will be settling into a back up/role-player job; another year of Benji is pretty sweet.
Especially when viewing this decisions through the Aotearoa Kiwis lens. Marshall is the kaumatua of the deepest collection of Kiwis halves I've experienced and he doesn't need to play to be of value, while Tuivasa-Sheck's departure opens up a fullback spot for someone to hunt this season. Let's start with some of the fullback contenders to keep an eye on...
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a leading contender as he plays fullback for Canberra Raiders, plus he is effectively RTS junior in how he plays. While playing fullback in the Raiders 2019 Grand Final run, Nicoll-Klokstad was then used as a centre for the Kiwis and this is where the funk steps in as Nicoll-Klokstad benefited from a dip in form from Esan Marsters. Joseph Manu has right centre locked down (and he's looked lovely at fullback for the Rooster) and while a Manu/Marsters centre pair could be an exciting option, first we have to see where Marsters is at this season.
Wests Tigers and Kiwis coach Michael Maguire oversaw Marsters' departure from the Tigers, joining North Queensland Cowboys. Marsters could only manage 12 games last season and struggled in a team that wasn't overly competitive, now the Cowboys have new coach Todd Payten at the helm and Marsters has plenty to play for.
Another with the comeback vibes is Brisbane Broncos' Jamayne Isaako. Starting the first six games last season at fullback, Isaako played in another struggling team before he had to deal with the passing of his father. Understandably, Isaako wasn't sighted after round 10 and the Christchurch product will be eager to move forward into 2021 after a rough period. Like Nicoll-Klokstad, Isaako is a genuine fullback option and he will battle the likes of Fanitesi Niu to start at fullback but he has shown steady signs while at fullback.
Wingers like Dallin Watene-Zelezniak can play fullback, plus Watene-Zelezniak's Kiwis mana was heavily boosted when he was made captain of Aotearoa. Rabbitohs centre Steven Marsters played fullback for the 2017 Junior Kiwis, but he's likely to forecast forward as a centre and he is part of a young wave that will be factors for Aotearoa. Between Marsters, Bailey Simonsson, Matthew Timoko, Jaxson Paulo, Jesse Arthars, Patrick Herbert, Reimis Smith, Morgan Harper, Christian Tuipulotu, Starford To'a, Asu Kepaoa and Hayze Perham there is a good cluster on the rise.
At the experienced end of the Kiwis halves depth are Marshall, Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran. Foran's back at Manly Sea Eagles and that's exciting from an Aotearoa perspective, then Dylan Brown and Jahrome Hughes are the key lads to keep an eye on. Most of Hughes' footy has been played at fullback and he was only given the Storm's halfback duties in recent seasons, perhaps making him a contender for the Kiwis fullback role.
Brown and Hughes are right there with the older three in terms of footy talent. Brown has quietly settled into NRL footy with ease at Parramatta Eels and Hughes does a fine job within the Storm's system as a halfback. Having Marshall in Aotearoa Kiwis squads will be fantastic for Brown as he comes into the equation (and any other youngsters), while Hughes has mainly featured in a bench utility role for Aotearoa.
Kodi Nikorima is a tier below the aforementioned, also offering utility value. Aotearoa is a bit light on hooking options behind Brandon Smith and with capable depth elsewhere, the likes of Nikorima could get his Kiwis game time in that utility role. NZ Warriors have Paul Turner and Chanel Harris-Tavita coming through as younger halves options, although it will be a few years before the depth is tested to that extent.
One last bit of housekeeping as I recently saw that Ezra Howe was working with Gold Coast Titans as a recruitment manager. Apparently Howe started that back in January 2019 and while Mal Meninga holds weight in luring players to the Titans, obviously new coach Justin Holbrook as well, Howe has a couple wrinkles of funk to explore.
I first saw Howe's name when exploring the NZRL Taurahere Pathway initiative that started in 2013 and ran up until 2018. This was a good idea, but go weird as NZRL cast their eligibility net far and wide across Australia (hence many Junior Kiwis have since played State of Origin or for other nations). It was Howe's duty to find Aotearoa eligible players in Australia and bring them into the NZRL pipeline via the Taurahere system.
Since 2013, Howe has coached the Aotearoa Under 18s, Junior Kiwis and worked as an Aotearoa Kiwis assistant coach. Now Howe has played his role in getting David Fifita, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Herman Ese'ese and others to the Titans. Noted Auckland and Aotearoa junior representative player Vaka Sikahele (St Paul's College) was recently recruited to Burleigh Bears under the Titans umbrella and there are a couple more talented prospects in the wider Titans system who were recruited in the last few years.
Now, I'm keeping a close eye on which #KiwiNRL juniors come through the Titans system. Erin Clark and Darius Farmer are two younger Titans to keep tabs on this year, with Farmer one of a few #KiwiNRL lads who will likely make their debuts this season. Clark went from playing for Manurewa Marlins to joining the Titans on a train and trial deal to then playing NRL for the Titans in the space of 12 months, around the time Howe joined the Titans.
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Peace and love.