Add three more Kiwi-NRL debutants to the tally for 2021 now that Naufahu Whyte, Griffin Neame and Makahesi Makatoa all made their debuts over the weekend. Whyte was the only one to grab a win, although Neame and Makatoa were among their team's best in losing efforts which isn't exactly new but is still bonkers considering most of these lads didn't play much reserve grade footy last year, plus the reserve grade competitions have been paused for a few weeks in Queensland and New South Wales.

Here are the basics for all 16 of the Kiwi-NRL debutants...

Rocco Berry: NZ Warriors/Wellington/St Pat's Silverstream 1st 15.

Edward Kosi: NZ Warriors/Auckland/Mangere East Hawks.

Taniela Otukolo: NZ Warriors/Auckland/Otahuhu Leopards.

Viliami Vailea: NZ Warriors/Auckland/Aorere College 1st 15.

Greg Marzhew: Gold Coast Titans/Auckland/Mangere East Hawks.

Junior Pauga: Wests Tigers/Auckland/Glenora Bears.

Kelma Tuilagi: Wests Tigers/Auckland/Glenora Bears.

Tukimihia Simpkins: Wests Tigers/Rotorua/Rotorua Boys High School.

Simi Sasagi: Newcastle Knights/Auckland/Ellerslie Eagles.

Wiremu Greig: Parramatta Eels/Whangarei/Northern Swords.

Makahesi Makatoa: Parramatta Eels/New Plymouth/Marist Dragons.

Falakiko Manu: Bulldogs/Auckland/Mangere East Hawks.

Naufahu Whyte: Sydney Roosters/Auckland/Waitemata Seagulls.

TC Robati: Brisbane Broncos/Wellington/Porirua Vikings.

Xavier Willison: Brisbane Broncos/Hamilton/Wai Coa Bay.

Griffin Neame: North Queensland Cowboys/Greymouth/Suburbs Rugby League.

Last year we had 13 Kiwi-NRL debutants, so we've already hit that mark and are one debutant away from a team of 17 Kiwi-NRL debutants. It's tricky to see through the mangroves and suss out who the next Kiwi-NRL debutant will be, but if I were to highlight one lad it would be Jirah Momoisea with Newcastle Knights as he's been on many extended benches for the Knights throughout the season.

Also cluttering the debutant angle is how the 13 Kiwi-NRL debutants from last year have been scattered around the NRL fringes this season. Take the Cowboys trio of Daejarn Asi (Christchurch), Connelly Lemuelu (Auckland) and Emry Pere (Waikato) who haven't been graced with swift passage into consistent NRL footy under coach Todd Payten. Pere is yet to play this season, Asi has played three games and Lemuelu has played 13. Marist Saints junior Peter Hola made his debut in 2019 and has played three games this season, plus the Cowboys handed Tuki Simpkins over to the Tigers to start this season.

Look elsewhere and you'll find Christian Tuipulotu has played one game this season for Manly Sea Eagles after making his debut last season. Tuipulotu was a decorated NZRL junior and there was plenty of noise about him when the Roosters lured him away from the Warriors, while Ngaruawahia's Morgan Harper is enjoying his time as a consistent right centre (Harper's my favourite Kiwi-NRL player right now).

Paul Turner (Northland/Warriors) and Asu Kepaoa (Auckland/Tigers) have had their seasons halted by long-term injuries after debuting last season. Steven Marsters and Haze Dunster are depth outside backs at Rabbitohs and Eels respectively, while Matthew Timoko is probably the low key bloke from last year's crop to keep tabs on in these last few weeks as he's earning selection at centre for Canberra Raiders. Timoko's powerful running saw him command a crack in the team and this saw him take up a bench role for a few games before starting the last two games at centre.

Jordan Riki (Christchurch/Broncos) and Eliesa Katoa (Tonga/Warriors) haven't been automatic selections this season, yet they have fought through the grind to be top-17 players for their respective clubs. These two open the door to some trends that I've spotted with specific clubs in their Kiwi-NRL clusters...

Brisbane Broncos

Best crop of young Kiwi-NRL forwards. Riki, Robati and Willison are all big, mobile forwards. None of them are from Auckland either and Christchurch's Fa'atili brothers will be eager to follow that path.

NZ Warriors

Kiwi-NRL youngsters being developed despite the club being stretched between Australia and Aotearoa. Scouting and development is on point as Berry, Vailea and Otukolo have minimal reserve grade experience. Berry and Vailea are two examples of Peter O'Sullivan hunting fine 1st 15 athletes.

North Queensland Cowboys

All about the Aotearoa regions here. Cowboys had Greymouth's Neame and Rotorua's Simpkins in their squad before Simpkins' departure, plus they have a few more in the system. Cowboys don't quite have the mana of Broncos and Roosters Aotearoa academies/pipelines, but they fill their stocks by hitting Aotearoa's regions.

Gold Coast Titans

The most undercover powerhouse of Kiwi-NRL recruitment, led by NZRL junior coach and Titans Recruitment Manager Ezra Howe. Expect multiple Kiwi-NRL debuts next year and more in the next few years.

Wests Tigers

Let the other clubs scout, recruit and develop then pounce. All the Tigers Kiwi-NRL debutants this year came to them from other clubs; Simpkins from Cowboys, Kelma Tuilagi from Storm and Junior Pauga from Wynnum Manly.

Sydney Roosters

Big donnie Kiwi-NRL recruitment status. Forget the salary sombrero, the Roosters shine as their 'extra resources' allow them to invest in a greater Aoteaora presence and moving kids between Aotearoa and Australia. Joseph Manu and Adam Pompey are solid 'fly in for a weekend game' examples, while Naufahu Whyte has been in the Roosters system for a few years while still at Kelston Boys High School and is simply following the Sitili Tupouniua path.

The Roosters have plenty more Kiwi-NRL youngsters coming through starting with a crop of brothers. The Graham-Taufa brothers are outside backs who have been with the Roosters alongside Whyte since the lower grades, while Joey Manu's younger bro Kani, Christian Tuipulotu's younger bro Sione and Asu Kepaoa's younger bro Petelo have all recently been in the system. Deeper down the ranks and the Roosters flew Benaiah Ioelu over for junior Roosters footy this year before sending him back to Tangaroa College, plus young half Cassius Tia was a consistent presence in the junior Roosters footy this year.

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