After eight rounds of NRL footy, it’s time for a Kiwi-NRL Takeover Update and that’s extra juicy as Benji Marshall became the most capped NRL player from Aotearoa while the Kiwi-NRL debuts keep on coming.

The Benji resurgence kicked into gear when he played four Tests for Aotearoa in 2019 and to start a Rugby League World Cup year, Marshall bounced back from being shown the door at Wests Tigers to doors opening at South Sydney Rabbitohs. Given that Marshall was working with Wayne Bennett who helped Aoteaoa Kiwis win the 2008 RLWC, the good vibes were flowing and Marshall started this season thriving as a bench utility used in funky ways.

Then Latrell Mitchell is rubbed out for a few games and Marshall moves into the halves with Cody Walker sliding to fullback. Now Adam Reynolds is out for a bunch of weeks and the stars are aligning for Marshall to have a greater impact on the Rabbitohs than we initially thought he might. Marshall has played eight games, playing 80 minutes in three of those games and here's how Marshall's returns look in the 80min games...

3 tries, 2 try assists, 3 linebreaks, 5 linebreak assists, 2 offloads, 6 missed tackles.

Reynolds has been the perfect halves partner for Marshall, now chucking up a doosra as Marshall won't have Reynolds doing the basic duties at halfback. This is low key exciting though as we will be graced with seeing Marshall take on more responsibility and as Marshall has impressed with every level-up since joining Rabbioths, the stars may continue to align and shine for Marshall.

Edward Kosi is the third Kiwi-NRL debutant of 2021. Kosi started on the wing for NZ Warriors in their win over North Queensland Cowboys and the Mangere East Hawks junior joins Rocco Berry and Wiremu Greig in making their debuts this season. Kosi is from Auckland, Greig is from Whangarei and Berry is from Wellington; good spread across the North Island.

Here's my list of Kiwi-NRL debutants from last year...

Eliesa Katoa - Tonga/Tamaki College.

Paul Turner - Whangarei.

Christian Tuipulotu - St Paul's College/Otahuhu Leopards/Auckland.

Jordan Riki - Hornby Panthers/Christchurch.

Haze Dunster - Rotorua.

Asu Kepaoa - Sacred Heart College/Auckland.

Jaxson Paulo - Northcote Tigers/Auckland.

Steven Marsters - Mt Wellington Warriors/Aucklad.

Morgan Harper - Ngaruawahia Panthers/Waikato.

Connelly Lemuelu - Papatoetoe Rugby/Auckland.

Emry Pere - Taniwharau/Waikato.

Daejarn Asi - Aranui Eagles/Christchurch.

Starford To'a - Mt Wellington Warriors/Auckland.

These lads all have different recruitment stories with some moving to Australia at a younger age (Dunster, Pere, Asi) and the rest with Australian clubs were recruited by an Aussie club from Aotearoa. That's 13 Kiwi-NRL debutants from last year, plus three more this year and 16 all up in less than two seasons.

Dive deeper and Canberra Raiders won the New South Wales SG Ball competition with Jack Sandford at fullback and Sione Moala in the halves. Up in Queensland, Tweed Heads Seagulls won the Mal Meninga Cup with Deine Mariner in the centres and they defeated a Townsville Blackhawks team with D'Jazirhae Pua'avase starting on an edge. In theory these are the best Under 18/19 teams in Queensland and New South Wales, with players specifically recruited from Aotearoa playing in the finals.

Jack Sandford - Christchurch Boys High School 1st 15.

Sione Moala - Manurewa Marlins (played NZ Warriors SG Ball last year).

Deine Mariner - Marist Saints.

D'jazirhae Pua'avase - Manurewa Marlins.

Fun pockets of Kiwi-NRL funk in New South Wales...

Canberra Raiders NSW Cup (reserve grade) played with Mathew Timoko, Brigham Moeakiola, Leo Thompson and Silafano Tituiti in their team this weekend. All four played 1st 15 rugby in Aotearoa prior to joining Raiders, plus Temple Beauchamp is in the Raiders system and he fits this mould.

Western Suburbs Magpires (Tigers reserve grade) had Joseph Taipari, Zane Musgrove, Kelma Tuilagi and Tukimihia Simpkins in their team this round. They recruited Jarney Proctor-Harwood, Tray Lolesio and Tamehana Paruru from NZ Warriors SG Ball this year, plus Israel Ogden from the Warriors.

Parramatta Eels NSW Cup team had Hayze Perham, Haze Dunster, Wiremu Greig, Makahesi Makatoa, Nathaniel Roache and Charbel Tasipale this round.

North Sydney Bears (Roosters reserve grade) had Brad Abbey, Moala Graham-Taufa, Naufahu Whyte.

Newcastle Knights NSW Cup had Christopher Veaila and Christian Ma'anaima. Usually they also have Simi Sasagi and Daniel Ticehurst in the mix as well, while Jirah Momoisea suffered a season-ending injury earlier this year.

More Kiwi-NRL debuts will come from the hefty numbers playing reserve grade in New South Wales and there are lads like Xavier Willison (Hamilton) who is on the fringe of the Brisbane Broncos squad now playing Intrust Super Cup for Norths Devils. All three Queensland teams have players from Aotearoa coming through their system, although the real funk up in Queensland is the Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings-Deering Colts (U21) level which I'll break down as they season rolls on.

Expect Gold Coast Titans to amp up their Kiwi-NRL stocks in the coming years. Deine Mariner won the MMC with Tweed Heads and they are a Gold Coast aligned club, while the Titans are also aligned with Burleigh Bears who have Vaka Sikahle and Isaac Matalavea-Booth (both Manurewa Marlins) in their U21 team. The Fa'atili (Caius and Felix) brothers from Christchurch? They are both in the Broncos system with Norths Devils and Wynnum Manly respectively.

Peace and love.