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Another round of NRL footy and another Kiwi-NRL debut is all but locked in for tonight as Wellington's TC Robati has been named on the bench for Brisbane Broncos against Melbourne Storm. The Porirua Vikings junior is 19-years-old and after leaving Wellington to come through the Marsden State High School system, Robati has played 80 minutes in all six of his games this season for Wynnum-Manly Seagulls - all six games were Wynnum wins.

Robati is set to become the fifth Kiwi-NRL debutant this year joining...

Wiremu Greig - Parramatta Eels/Whangarei Boys/Northern Swords.

Rocco Berry - NZ Warriors/St Pat's Silverstream.

Edward Kosi - NZ Warriors/Mangere East Hawks.

Simi Sasagi - Newcastle Knights/Ellerslie Eages.

Wellington's Kiwi-NRL stocks are on the rise with Joseph Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Danny Levi and Berry leading the charge out of the capital. Levi has enjoyed a slight resurgence with the Broncos this season and there is a growing group of Kiwi-NRL Broncos to keep tabs on. Christchurch's Jordan Riki is currently out suspended, Jesse Arthars and Jamayne Isaako are grinding through the Broncos season and then we have the real funk here as there are plenty of Kiwi-NRL jokers sniffing around the fringes of NRL footy.

Take Xavier Willison as another example of sneaky Broncos Kiwi-NRL business which differs to what happened with Riki who stayed in Christchurch until he finished school. Robati was recruited and put through Marsden State, while Waikato's Willison left Aotearoa for Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Willison is now playing for Norths Devils in the Intrut Super Cup where he's come off the bench in four games.

Auckland's Deine Mariner is also in the Broncos system and the Marist Saints junior left Auckland to follow Willison's path with Palm Beach. Mariner helped Tweed Heads Under 18s win the Mal Meninga Cup and Tweed is under the Gold Coast Titans, but Mariner's on the Broncos books. The Broncos Kiwi-NRL recruitment trend is all about quality and they are specific in who they target, while showing versatility in catering their development journey to the individual.

From that, let's take our own journey through Kiwi-NRL rookie business...

I wrote about Newcastle Knights on Monday and that needs an update as Jirah Momoisea has returned from injury to be named in their NSW Cup team this week. Momoisea joins Chris Veaila, Simi Sasagi and Christian Ma'anaima as Knights recruited from Auckland, as well as Wellington's Daniel Ticehurst. Sasagi is the only one who has played NRL and unless you're a hearty Knights fan, the Kiwi-NRL vibe here is that we want opportunities to open up at the Knights and further implosion would help that.

Hmmm, further implosion and Canberra Raiders. Poor ol' Caleb Aekins (Whangarei) has been doing a solid job at fullback for the Raiders in the absence of Auckland's Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, while Joseph Tapine is all up in the Raiders drama. As the Raiders have one of the deepest Kiwi-NRL groups, drama is good here and the Raiders NSW Cup team this week features Matthew Timoko, Leo Thompson and Ata Mariota.

Timoko made his debut last season at centre and the Auckland product would be the key benefactor from further dramas as he has been a consistent extended bench selection. Napier's Leo Thompson is the most notable here as his rise through the Raiders has been rapid, starting alongside Manurewa Marlins junior Mariota in the middle this week. Brigham Moeakiola has also featured heavily at wing or centre for the Raiders NSW Cup team via St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton.

Any further struggles for Wests Tigers could see Aotearoa Kiwis coach Michael Maguire start to promote his Kiwi-NRL talent that has been stockpiled in NSW Cup. All of the Tigers Kiwi-NRL rookies were signed from other NRL clubs as opposed to recruiting them straight from Aotearoa and they made a recent addition to this crew in signing Junior Pauga (former NZ Warriors) from Wynnum mid-season. Pauga played the first four games for Wynnum in Queensland's Intrust Super Cup and has now played two games for Western Suburbs Magpies at centre.

Rotorua's Tukimihia Simpkins would be the key lad to benefit from an opening in the NRL Tigers as he has been a consistent presence in the middle for the Magpies after leaving North Queensland Cowboys. Simpkins is playing prop or lock and the 19-year-old has played eight games of NSW Cup, forecasting forward as a Tohu Harris type. Other notable Kiwi-NRL Tigers: Kelma Tuilagi, Israel Ogden (Auckland), Joseph Taipari (Christchurch), Etu Lui (Auckland).

Below is a list of other notable Kiwi-NRL rookies who have either made their NRL debuts or I've got as likely to debut this year (those who have debuted are in bold)...

Rabbitohs: Steven Marsters, Jaxson Paulo.

Sea Eagles: Christian Tuipulotu.

Eels: Hayze Perham, Nathaniel Roache, Wiremu Greig.

Sharks: Jensen Taumoepeau.

Cowboys: Griffin Neame (Townsville), Keanu Wainohu-Kemp (Mackay).

Roosters: Naufahu Whyte.

Titans: Darius Farmer.

And some funky notes...

Sydney Roosters have Auckland twins Moala and Lani Graham-Taufa in their system. This week Moala is named to start at wing in NSW Cup for North Sydney Bears and Lani is named to start on the wing for Roosters Jersey Flegg (U21).

Melbourne Storm have put Judda Turahui in their Victoria Thunderbolts Jersey Flegg team. Turahui went straight from Kings College 1st 15 to Melbourne Storm Nines to start 2020 and I reckon that a lack of non-NRL footy last year slowed things down so the Storm have stored him in Flegg to get his edge forward reps in.

2020 started with Josaiah Karapani playing NZ Warriors SG Ball. It finished with Karapani playing in the NZRL Under 18 Schools vs Clubs game. Then came 2021 and the Pakuranga College product joined South Sydney Rabbitohs where he played SG Ball and was then promoted up to Jersey Flegg where he's played four games at centre.

Otahuhu Leopards junior Semisi Sikei has also enjoyed a swift promotion through Cronulla Sharks. Last year Sikei played on the wing in the Counties Manukau NZRL National Premiership team and he then went from playing against men in Aotearoa to starting at prop in the Sharks SG Ball team this year. Same as Karapani here with Sikei then moving straight into Jersey Flegg where he has been playing as an edge forward.

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