While all of Aotearoa wanted a 1-outs with anyone who disregards Tokoroa's Joseph Manu, Sydney Roosters dished out the 18th Kiwi-NRL debut as Moala Graham-Taufa was graced with a couple minutes of NRL footy. Graham-Taufa was named in the 18th-man reserve slot for the loss to Rabbitohs and the stars aligned for the Marist Saints junior to play 2 minutes.

Big ups to Brad Abbey as well who played his first game for the Roosters having made his NRL debut back in 2017 with the Bulldogs. Abbey serves as a reminder of the grind that many NRL prospects must endure and that while many Kiwi-NRL youngsters flourish immediately, others have to grow into their careers. As a decorated NZ Warriors junior, Abbey felt destined for a swift rise and was snapped up by the Bulldogs before a move to Canberra Raiders where he played a few games in 2018.

Abbey's had a few seasons rubbed out due to injury and popped up with Wests Tigers on a train and trial deal for the 2019/20 summer. This was and is part of the Tigers trend under Michael Maguire where they are collecting Kiwi-NRL youngsters from other clubs to bolster their depth, only for Abbey to take up an opportunity with the Roosters last summer. Abbey joined a Roosters Kiwi-NRL whanau that is stacked with talent and this as seen the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargeaves, Isaac Liu, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu lead the club through retirements of various senior players.

The beautiful thing about Roosters Kiwi-NRL stocks though is that those retirements and injuries have paved the way for the Roosters younger Kiwi-NRL lads to get greater opportunities. Another Marist Saints junior Sitili Tupouniua has played 21 of 23 games this season and been instrumental in the Roosters absorbing the loss of Boyd Cordner. Waerea-Hargreaves has also played 21 games, Taukeiaho has played 19 games and Liu has played all 23 games.

A couple weeks ago we had Waitemata Seagulls junior Naufahu Whyte make his debut and now we have Graham-Taufa sneaking into the Roosters line up. Moala has a twin brother Lani who is also part of the wider Roosters squad, with both recruited by the Roosters and as was the case with Manu being flown over for SG Ball games, the Graham-Taufa twins were joined by Whyte in being notable Roosters juniors while living in Auckland.

Any time you hear someone whinge about the Roosters salary cap sombrero, zone out. The financial aspect of the Roosters that gives them the biggest advantage over other NRL clubs is the resource to recruit Kiwi-NRL prospects and keep them in Aotearoa, while flying them in and out for junior Roosters footy. Manu would cruise from Tokoroa to Auckland for a flight to Sydney on a Friday and then make the return trip to be back in Tokoroa for Monday - same thing with Adam Pompey while he was at Wesley College.

This is also why the yarn about Warriors having Aotearoa as their backyard for talent is false. The best Kiwi-NRL recruitment clubs scout and sign kids at a young age, placing them under contract and invest in these juniors. The Warriors do their own scouting and are doing a solid job under former Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan, yet the Warriors can't sign teenagers who are already under contract with another club.

All of which is important in understanding how funky the Roosters are as a Kiwi-NRL club. First and foremost is the mana in that veteran group and how they have led the club through adversity. Then we have the younger bracket who are snapping up opportunities and are hearty Roosters considering they have all come through the Chooks ranks. The Roosters aren't lacking in Kiwi-NRL depth and from what I've gathered, here are some key names to remember from the Roosters Jersey Flegg squad...

Lani Graham-Taufa (Auckland), Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (Northland), Aso Fretton (Auckland), Kani Manu (Tokoroa), Petelo Kepaoa (Auckland), Keanan Abbey (Auckland).

There are some funky brotherly connections here as we have the Graham-Taufa twins, while Kani is the younger brother of Joseph, Petelo is the younger brother of Tigers wing Asu and Keanan is the younger brother of Brad.

These trends run deep. The Chooks had Marist Saints junior and Mt Albert Grammar School product Cassius Tia in their Harold Mathews team earlier this year. Tia played as a half for the Roosters and is in Sydney playing for The Hills Sports High School.

Alternatively, the Roosters had Benaiah Ioelu in their other Harold Mathews team (two U16 teams is another example of greater resource). Ioelu though was able to return to Aotearoa after that competition to do his schooling at home with Tangaroa College where he is a standout in their 1st 15 team.

Both Tia and Ioelu were part of the 2020 Aotearoa Residents U16 team. Manurewa Marlins junior Salesi Foketi was also part of that team and guess what - Foketi was also in the Roosters Harold Mathews squad this year. Similar to Ioelu, Foketi returned to St Paul's College where he helped St Paul's win the Auckland College Premier Rugby League competition this year and is a Board of Trustees student rep.

Given how the Roosters develop Kiwi-NRL talent as seen in the NRL team right now and in their junior ranks, I've got the Roosters as the best Kiwi-NRL club right now. This is always a tight battle between the Roosters and Melbourne Storm, although the only notable Kiwi-NRL prospect with the Storm right now is Judda Turahui. The Roosters have every Kiwi-NRL level covered, combining quality and quantity to hold the crown as the best Kiwi-NRL club as we near the end of the 2021 NRL season.

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