2021 Aotearoa Kiwis ft. No Aotearoa Warriors
No offence or kaka thrown towards Aotearoa Warriors here, this is merely an exercise to help understand the Kiwi-NRL takeover with a squad of Aotearoa Kiwis featuring no Warriors. In building this squad, early season form is relevant and another important factor is being realistic with player eligibility choices with all the players named previously playing for Aotearoa or likely to when there time come. This is an Aotearoa Kiwis team, not a Kiwi-NRL team; Kiwi-NRL consistent of all NRL players who played their junior footy in Aotearoa and then opt to represent Samoa, Cook Islands or Tonga.
Fullback: Jamayne Isaako.
Wings: Bailey Simonsson, Starford To'a.
Centres: Joseph Manu, Morgan Harper.
Halves: Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown.
Hooker: Brandon Smith.
Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Fisher-Harris.
Edges: Kenny Bromwich, Isaiah Papalii.
Bench: Benji Marshall, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Isaac Liu, Marata Niukore.
Jamayne Isaako gets the fullback job through his work at fullback with Brisbane Broncos and while Isaako hasn't been as slick as other fullbacks, he's been all good at a weaker club. Isaako is playing alongside two strong distributors in the halves with Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown getting the nod. These three are all strong runners for their positions and with Brandon Smith at hooker there is more than enough running ability to keep defenders honest while shifting wide. Smith is the only player in this spine that Auckland could claim, with Isaako hailing from Christchurch, Hughes is from Wellington and Brown is from Whangarei. Whether Smith wants to be from Auckland or not is up to him.
Joseph Manu is as much a locked in selection as the Waiheke Ram and Morgan Harper's form this season warrants his selection in the other centre slot. Both centres are from the Waikato region and that's lovely for Waikato rugby league; Manu is from Tokoroa and Harper is from Ngaruawahia.
Harper comes from decent footy stock huh?
Joining them in the outside backs are Raiders wing Bailey Simonsson and Knights wing Starford To'a. Both are nimble wingers, big enough to handle the run it straight duties of wingers today. I like the speed and agility of these wingers though, which will look lovely playing off the skill of Manu and Harper in the centres. Simonsson was born and raised in Sydney, moving to Aotearoa to play All Blacks Sevens prior to linking up with the Raiders and To'a joined the Knights via St Paul's College in Auckland.
I view Jesse Bromwich and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as being instrumental to the current Aotearoa Kiwis culture under Michael Maguire, along with Benji Marshall. There's a big ol' wave of Kiwi-NRL youngsters coming into the NRL now and that means more Kiwis contenders, which then requires Kiwis mana and leadership. Marshall's work with the Rabbitohs makes it easy to promote him from a kaumatua squad role to a bench utility spot, while Bromwich and Waerea-Hargreaves start in the middle.
Selecting the veteran props is also easier when chucking James Fisher-Harris into that middle trio. The product of Hokianga in Northland is one of the best forwards in the NRL and has steadily been building to this peak. His mobility, aggression and skill compliments what the veterans do well, plus there is a splash of defensive oomph to make things fun.
Kenny Bromwich does a fabulous job on an edge for Melbourne Storm each week earning the Manurewa Marlins junior one edge spot here, while Isaiah Papalii's form with Parramatta Eels makes him an undeniable selection. The rise of Papalii has come at the cost of his former NZ Warriors Under 20s and Junior Kiwis homie Marata Niukore who offered forward depth prior to the arrival of Papalii, although this quickly became a positive as Niukore shifted to right centre and has since showcased his class as a baller.
The best option for Niukore is coming off the bench as he can cover centre at a stretch, while also covering middle and edge. Alongside the Mangere East Hawk, I've got Otahuhu Leopards junior Isaac Liu on the bench and while this may not be the sexy option for many folk, Liu does an excellent job at one of the best clubs in the Roosters every week. Liu has played 8 games for Aotearoa since 2017 and it's no coincidence that he is consistently selected for Aotearoa under coach Maguire.
Nelson Aosfa-Solomona selects himself and I'm always caught off guard as to how good the Upper Hutt Tigers junior plays with the Storm. Asofa-Solomona has laid out his passion for Aotearoa Kiwis and the prospect of him teaming up with Fisher-Harris, along with some of these other forwards is enough to get a fizz on for Kiwis footy.
Squad Backs: Caleb Aekins, Reimis Smith, Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran.
Squad Forwards: Joseph Tapine, Josh Aloiai, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Briton Nikora, Jordan RIki, Corey Harawira-Naera.
The squad selections provide depth and serve as a nod to players who are either out of form in the NRL, or are on the rise and haven't quite got to top-tier Kiwis level. I'd love to have Joseph Tapine in that ruthlessly fun forward pack, but the Raiders are in a weird spot and there are better blokes available. Otherwise there is adequate cover and players who will step into Aotearoa Kiwis business as the veterans move on.
Peace and love.