2022/23 Kiwi-NRL Train and Trial Breakdown
Train and trial information dropped last week which included a bunch of notable Kiwi-NRL youngsters shifting teams. While these train and trial contracts do not guarantee any future opportunities, they highlight players on the fringes of NRL footy and serve as a guide for player movements that sneak beneath mediocre NRL media coverage.
Panthers have promoted Whiti Te Ra junior Daeon Amituanai to their NRL mixer after the young winger had an impressive season in Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup. Amituanai first appeared with Aotearoa Warriors SG Ball and then shifted to Warriors/Redcliffe during the pandemic. Panthers love Warriors talent and snared Amituanai, William Fakatoumafi and Preston Riki from Warriors/Redcliffe with all three commanding fresh opportunities.
Amituanai started in Flegg this season, playing 14 games as well as 11 games of NSW Cup. Now Amituanai will spend the summer training with the Panthers NRL squad before he is likely to settle in NSW Cup next year. Panthers have a strong development system and Amituanai has a chance to offer immense value as he pushes for NRL opportunities without a notable salary cap hit.
Otahuhu junior Fakatoumafi on the other hand has shifted to Roosters along with Glenora’s Junior Pauga. Fakatoumafi spent most of the season at centre for Panthers Flegg and played one game of NSW Cup at centre. Like the Panthers trio, Pauga started with Warriors before moving to Wynnum to play Queensland Cup. Pauga was then recruited by Tigers as part of Michael Maguire's Kiwi-NRL takeover and his best position seems like centre, but he can play wing - Fakatoumafi also dabbled in fullback mahi this season.
Roosters have a delightful wave of Kiwi-NRL juniors who they pour resouces into, yet they have bolstered their depth with more experienced Kiwi-NRL talent. Fakatoumafi and Pauga could both feature for Roosters next season depending on this summer training block, plus they are likely to receive a Roosters development bump.
Sea Eagles have gone for the injured Kiwi-NRL lads with Nathaniel Roache and Jackson Ferris getting opportunities at an interesting juncture for Sea Eagles. Richmond junior Roache left Warriors for Eels and was unable to shake off injuries, now he gets an opportunity in a Sea Eagles outfit who lack speed out of dummy half.
Ferris is from Palmerston North and is a Kia Ora Warriors junior who was recruited by Sharks. Ferris went through the Sharks system and made his NRL debut in 2020 but has battled injuries recently. Now Ferris joins Sea Eagles where he will be eager to embed himself at centre for Sea Eagles NSW Cup.
After playing premier blokes footy in Auckland for a few years, Caleb Hamlin-Uele (Glenora) left Aotearoa to join older brother Braden in Sydney. Caleb worked his way through local footy to play 16 games of NSW Cup this season and he is now on the fringe of NRL footy with Sharks, sealing a train and trial deal. Newtown Jets were the best team during the NSW Cup regular season (16-2-4) and Caleb played 30+ minutes in all but one of his 16 games.
Toni Tupouniua (Marist) also left Auckland to link up with older brother Sitili in Sydney. Toni first popped up on the radar with Warriors Jersey Flegg and spent time with Wynnum in Queensland before featuring in Panthers NSW Cup squad this year. Now Toni joins Knigths where he could find a steady gig in reserve grade with room to develop.
Setu Tu (Otahuhu) spend all season with Redcliffe Dolphins in Queensland Cup and is now promoted to a train and trial deal with Dolphins. Tu spent a few years with Warriors NSW Cup before shifting to Redcliffe outside of the Warriors/Redcliffe connection. Tu played 19 games for Redcliffe this season with 13 tries.
Titans have promoted Vaka Sikahele (Manurewa) and Immanuel Kalekale (Glenora) from within their system, while Emry Pere (Taniwharau) returns to Gold Coast after a few years with Cowboys.
Sikahele played SG Ball for Warriors before being recruited by Titans and his second year of U21s footy with Burleigh led to a Q Cup debut with Burleigh this year. Sikahele is one of the best low key juniors from Aotearoa and there is a clear development path laid out for him as a Titans dummy half.
Kalekale came through Kelston Boys High School where he played 1st 15 during a dominant pocket of KBHS rugby, then shifting to Gold Coast where he entered Keebra Park High School. Kalekale appears to have earned this train and trial deal without any U21s footy, entering Titans NRL training fresh out of school and two years dabbling in Mal Meninga Cup (U18s) footy. Kalekale plays as a middle forward and his development could help absorb the loss of Isaac Matalavea-Booth (Manurewa) who departed Titans for Bulldogs.
Ali Leiataua (Papatoetoe), Jacob Laban (Randwick), Demitric Sifakula (Otahuhu) and Zyon Maiu'u (Te Atatu) have been promoted through the Warriors pipeline. This is an intriguing crop of Warriors juniors as they played considerable roles in Redcliffe/Warriors U21s having a 13-3 record and making the final of Queensland's Hastings Deering Colts competition.
Laban started this year in U18s before being promoted to U21s and primarily operates as an edge forward. Maiu'u also dabbled in edge forward mahi but his power and speed could lead to more middle forward opportunities. Leiataua played most of the year at centre and Sifakula is brewing as a funky prospect as he played in the midfield for De La Salle College's 1st 15, then transitioned to middle forward for Redcliffe/Warriors U21s.
Summer training with Warriors NRL squad will probably result in these lads playing NSW Cup. Let this be a reminder that the pandemic snatched away all Warriors teams below NRL and being able to roll out a NSW Cup team that only features Warriors players puts Warriors back on even foundations as Australian teams.
Join the Niche Cache Patreon whanau to support our kiwi sports content straight up, get a karma boost and find extra podcasts.
Every Monday and Friday we fire off an email newsletter with bonus content. Sign up here!
Peace and love.