Two teams have dominated the NRL for the past decade and while lots of flashy blokes have snapped up the headlines throughout this period, Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have two hearty Aotearoa troopers leading their success in Jesse Bromwich and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Manurewa Marlins junior Bromwich and Rotorua's Waerea-Hargreaves haven't merely set the cultural tone of their respective organisations, they have rolled through changing styles of footy over a decade to sustain their impact while other middle forwards come and go.

Of the 11 grand finals played during this period, the Roosters and Storm have won three championships each. Bromwich has played 269 games of NRL footy with 200 wins and 68 losses, for a win percentage of 74.35 percent and this gives Bromwich a slight advantage over Waerea-Hargreaves who has played 258 games with 161 wins and 96 losses (62.40%). These two have been cornerstones of winning teams and organisations, which is currently on full display in 2021.

Bromwich falls behind Waerea-Hargreaves in their current output, which is likely a product of the Storm's forward depth compared to the Roosters. Bromwich is averaging 102m/game and this is his lowest since 2012 and while that suggests Bromwich is in career-worst form, the Storm are enjoying a massive win-streak and Bromwich has played in all but one game this season.

In the middle of his 12th NRL season, Bromwich has played 20+ games in 10 seasons. His first season in 2010 saw Bromwich play seven games, while last season had Bromwich playing 19 games and falling just short of that 20-game mark. This is the ninth season in a row where Bromwich has averaged over 100m per game, while registering less than 50 total missed tackles. To go with his 102m per game this season, Bromwich is tackling with 92.9 percent efficiency.

Pin-pointing Bromwich's excellence is tricky as his stats aren't overly dominant, nor does he jack up big tackle-busting runs to command attention. Hence those longevity stats are crucial in telling this story as Bromwich has been the most consistent player for the best footy club, who have led the way with team culture and funky tactics such as controlling ruck speed via wrestling. Bromwich is at the forefront of that and there are plenty of yarns floating around about Bromwich dominating wrestling sessions, leading the team culture etc.

Bromwich isn't overly fast or dynamic either. His late footwork is good enough to get between defenders and he has maintained his role despite the speed of the NRL increasing. If that 74.35 percent winning percentage doesn't catch your eye (winning footy starts in the middle), ponder the changing style of NRL footy over Bromwich's career and how he has played 21 of 22 games in his 12th season ... for the best team.

Waerea-Hargreaves on the other hand who is averaging the most metres per game of his career - in his 13th season. While Bromwich's output has decreased in a strong Storm team, Waerea-Hargreaves has churned out three of his top-four most productive seasons in the last three years. Here are Waerae-Hargreaves four highest average run metre seasons...

2013: 138.08m/game.

2019: 141m/game.

2020: 135m/game.

2021: 145m/game.

Take all that stuff about Bromwich maintaining an excellent standard despite the change in speed and style of middle forwards, then consider that Waerea-Hargreaves has adapted to be in career-best form. Tackling with 92.5 percent efficiency, Waerea-Hargreaves is in the same defensive pocket as Bromwich and the key difference here is that Waerea-Hargreaves and his Kiwi-NRL homies such as Isaac Liu, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Joseph Manu have absorbed the losses of senior Roosters to lead their team forward into finals footy.

This is why Waerea-Hargreaves is averaging the most run metres of his career and why he's played 80 minutes twice this season. With seven games playing 60+ minutes compared to Bromwich's two games playing 60+ minutes, Waerea-Hargreaves is the key bloke setting things up for the Chooks through the middle.

Like Bromwich, Waerea-Hargreaves has played 21 of 22 games so far this season.

The difference in minutes played due to Storm being flush with middle forwards and Roosters lacking veteran leadership results in Waerea-Hargreaves being ranked higher in most stats. Bromwich doesn't feature in the NRL's top-50 for these stats, while Waerea-Hargreaves is 37th in total tackles made, 8th in Post Contact Metres and 17th in total run metres.

Neither Bromwich nor Waerea-Hargreaves appears to be slowing down either and hopefully we get to see them play a bunch more games for Aotearoa Kiwis with the postponed World Cup looming next year. Based on their Kiwis mana and winning vibes in the NRL, I've got these two as mandatory selections in a top-17 for Aotearoa and I'd go as far as having both of them start with the super deep crop of young forwards around them...

Middles: Jesse Bromwich, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Fisher-Harris.

Edges: Kenny Bromwich, Briton Nikora.

Hooker: Brandon Smith.

Bench: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Joseph Tapine, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Isaac Liu.

Depth: Isaiah Papali'i, Josh Aloiai (Samoa), Marata Niukore, Jordan Riki, Sitili Tupouniua (Tonga), Corey Harawira-Naera, Bunty Afoa (Samoa), Jazz Tevaga (Samoa), Toafofoa Sipley.

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