Cowboys

The funkiest benefactor of Todd Payten's arrival has coach has been Connelly Lemuelu who enjoyed a decent stint at centre before suffering a recent injury. Lemuelu is a Papatoetoe Rugby junior and was graced with consistent selection along with Otahuhu Rugby junior Murray Taulagi who has impressed on the wing. Taulagi has opted to move through the Queensland Maroons system instead of Aotearoa, while both could be decent outside back options for Samoa.

Payten seems to have promoted youth within the Cowboys although this hasn't applied to the likes of Emry Pere, Daejarn Asi, Peter Hola and Griffin Neame. Wiremu Greig might have scoped something as he quickly shuffled on down to Eels despite being a quality Cowboys prospect.

Broncos

Jamayne Isaako has dropped out of the Broncos team, while Jordan Riki's last game was in round 10. These two are where all my intrigue sits as Isaako has already been reported as meeting with Aotearoa Kiwis and Tigers coach Michael Maguire, while Riki can't seem to settle into a role. Porirua Vikings junior TC Robati has played three games off the bench and these have all come since Riki's last sighting in round 10.

Those three and Jesse Arthars could all push for a wider Aotearoa Kiwis squad; Isaako has the mana with Maguire and Kiwis.

Titans

Greg Marzhew has finally cracked NRL footy and the Mangere East Hawks junior, offering powerful carries and slick finishing. Last week vs Roosters Marzhew had 22 runs - 213m, 7 tackle busts and 2 offloads. Otahuhu Leopards junior Joseph Vuna has also crept into recent Titans teams after leaving NZ Warriors to do his mission and this brings us to Titans Kiwi-NRL greenhouse status.

With NZRL coach Ezra Howe as their recruitment manager, Titans have been extremely busy signing juniors from Aotearoa. I'll stick to NRL here and with Howe in this role, Titans have signed Sam Lisone, Erin Clark, Marzhew (back from Eels), Patrick Herbert, Vuna, Esan Marsters and Paul Turner. All of those lads played Junior Kiwis at some stage where Howe was an assistant or head coach.

Knights

Kiwi-NRL Knights business is all about the NRL fringes and to really dive into this Kiwi-NRL pool, the Knights will need a breakdown of some sort to open the passage. Ellerslie Eagles Simi Sasagi made his debut and looked crisp at centre while his Ellerslie homie Starford To'a did grab 11 games on the wing before suffering an injury; To'a spent time in Aotearoa Kiwis camp back in 2019.

NSW Cup is where the Knights juice sits. Jirah Momoisea has returned from a major injury, Sasagi starts consistently in reserve grade, Daniel Ticehurst looks like a monster at this level and the Knights also have Chris Veaila and Christian Ma'anaima hunting for game time. The Knights recruited Wellington's Ticehurst via his time in Brisbane, while the rest were all recruited from Auckland and developed by the Knights so they have that investment backing them.

Sea Eagles

Morgan Harper is one of my favourite players - the perfect Des Hasler/Sea Eagles centre. Ngaruawahia junior Harper didn't start until round five and whether it's Harper or Tom Trbojevic; Harper has played nine games with seven wins. Harper has tackle busts in every game, at least one offload in all but his first game and he has bumped up his tackle efficiency from 80.88 percent to 88.76 percent.

This is also City Newton Dragons junior Toafofoa Sipley's best season since his debut with NZ Warriors in 2016. Sipley is averaging a career-best 93m/game, tackling with 95.8 percent efficiency and he has played 10 of 13 games.

Rabbitohs

The Benji Marshall show! Not named this week, Marshall is playing whatever role is required and doing it with no fuss. Marshall has played 12 of 13 games with 3 tries, 5 try assists and 8 linebreak assists while also tackling at 91.3 efficiency. Not too shabby considering Marshall tends to play a different position each game and has adjusted to the tempo of this season.

Roosters

Roosters are one of two teams that require and outline of Kiwi-NRL contributions. These lads all have their own wrinkles of excellence, although that general excellence is best laid out by highlighting their consistent presence in a top-tier NRL team. The specific thing about the Roosters is that they have lost a bunch of leadership this season with Jake Friend, Brett Morris and Boyd Cordner all retiring. How have the Roosters absorbed those losses? Consistency from their Kiwi-NRL clubmen...

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: 13 of 13 games.

Isaac Liu: 13 games.

Joseph Manu: 13 games.

Sitili Tupouniua: 12 games.

Siosiua Taukeiaho: 11 games.

Tigers

Another Kiwi-NRL greenhouse team and while it takes a bit of digging to see the Aotearoa connection at the Titans, coach Maguire makes this an obvious greenhouse. Like the Titans and then a club like the Knights, a lot of this is depth below the NRL level and Ken Maumalo is named as the only Kiwi-NRL player in the Tigers team this week vs Storm; Michael Chee-Kam, Kelma Tuilagi and Fetalaiga Pauga are on the extended bench.

One interesting thing about Maumalo and Tigers...

NZ Warriors are 13th in kick return metres. Tigers are 12th. Maumalo didn't help the Warriors gather those KRM and was instead deployed to hit the ball up either near the ruck or out in a wider channel. This has me curious how coach Maguire uses Maumalo as the Tigers are coming from the same pocket of KRM as Warriors and they've signed a powerful winger who should in theory help that. Best three teams for KRM? Panthers, Eels, Storm.

Eels

Nathaniel Roache is back! Named on the bench for Eels vs Bulldogs, Roache has quietly been going about his work in reserve grade where he has played all 12 games with 30+ minutes in every game. Roache has also started three games at hooker with those starts resulting in 60+ minutes. Roache has 2 tries, 4 try assists and is tackling with 93.8 percent efficiency.

A key thing about the Eels has been player development. Dylan Brown and Marata Niukore have steadily improved over the last three years, while Isaiah Papali'i has enjoyed his switch to the Eels. Roache is the next example and along with Jeremy Marshall-King for the Bulldogs; there is a lack of Aotearoa Kiwis hooking depth behind Brandon Smith.

Bulldogs

First game back for Marshall-King last round and he played 80 minutes at hooker with a try. Marshall-King had 86 running metres and has averaged below 60m/game in every season he's played, so here's hoping he stays busy running the footy. Reminder: Bulldogs spent money on outside backs while letting Morgan Harper and Reimis Smith depart.

Panthers

James Fisher-Harris is all sorts of nek levels. Starting with him playing all 14 games for 2nd placed Panthers...

174m/game, 28 tackle busts, 19 offloads, 380 tackles @ 96%

Dragons

Glenora Bears junior Poasa Fa'amausili and Gerard Beale are the only Kiwi-NRL folks at Dragons. Hopefully Fa'amausili gets more footy as his speed and agility should be beneficial but he's not getting much of a crack.

Sharks

What will happen with Shaun Johnson?

This looks like it will be the first season of SJ7's career with less than 10 try assists as Johnson has battled injury and a weird ol' season for the Sharks. Johnson has not run for more than 50m in his last three games and has zero tackle busts in these three games, which sets up an idea moving forward as I'm curious to see how effective Johnson can be as a half without his dynamic running.

Maybe that running game comes back with health and confidence. Johnson's moving into a different phase of his career though where other skills being more important and Johnson has the nous to adjust. Call this 'shop window' Johnson as he definitely won't be staying at the Sharks and he has to showcase either his running prowess and/or footy nous to earn a fresh deal elsewhere.

Raiders

Fit and healthy Joseph Tapine is fantastic for Aotearoa Kiwis, which we got a glimpse of vs Broncos (9 runs - 105m @ 11.66m/run). Bailey Simonsson has taken over from Caleb Aekins at fullback and the Raiders have low key rolled through three Kiwi-NRL fullbacks this year as Aekins took over from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Simonsson will be hunting for a starting Aotearoa Kiwis wing spot with this opportunity to start at fullback.

Not a bad first outing for Ellerslie Eagles junior Matthew Timoko this season: 10 runs - 120m @ 12m/run, 1 try assist, 5 tackle busts, 32 tackles @ 91.4%. If Timoko can get consistent game time, he will enter an Aotearoa Kiwis centre group featuring Joseph Manu, Morgan Harper, Reimis Smith.

Storm

Melbourne Storm are tied for 1st with Panthers and that's like the Roosters, Storm Kiwi-NRL excellence is all about the consistency of top-tier Kiwis. Like the Roosters, these lads don't get as much of the attention as the Australian stars but they are holding it down every week while State of Origin, injuries and suspension have an impact.

Jesse Bromwich: 14 of 14 games.

Reimis Smith: 14 games.

Brandon Smith: 13 games.

Jahrome Hughes: 13 games.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona: 12 games.

Kenny Bromwich: 11 games.

Hit an ad if you enjoyed the yarn. Peace and love.