Penrith Panthers continue to elevate their Kiwi-NRL mana with Francis Manuleleua (Papatoetoe) named in their Jersey Flegg squad, along with a bunch of Kiwi-NRL juniors. Panthers are the best NRL organisation right now. Whether it's their Aotearoa props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota leading the forward pack in back to back NRL championships, or Kiwi-NRL juniors featuring in Panthers SG Ball and Jersey Flegg championships this year; Panthers combine elite performance with Aotearoa appreciation.

There is plenty of Kiwi-NRL Panthers content to digest...

This yarn broke down the Panthers Kiwi-NRL flavour ahead of their grand final against Parramatta Eels.

This yarn touched on Daeon Amituanai (Whiti Te Ra) being promoted to a 'train and trial' deal with Panthers NRL squad, as well as William Fakatoumafi's move from Panthers to Roosters.

This yarn is all about Kiwi-NRL juniors who played in U18 and U21 finals in Queensland, plus U19 and U21 finals in New South Wales. Panthers made both NSW finals, so there is plenty of information about the Kiwi-NRL lads who featured in a dominant year of Panthers footy.

Now Panthers have snared Manuleleua and he completes his ascension from Papatoetoe Panthers to Penrith Panthers. Manuleleua has been among Aotearoa's best footy youngsters for a few years now, which is headlined by his presence in the midfield for King's College 1st 15. Manuleleua seems to have started his 1st 15 career in year 10 (2019) and he was a key figure in the King's College backline in the next three years.

Aotearoa's footy abundance ensures that there is immense crossover between rugby league and rugby union. Manuleleua has a background in rugby league and grew up playing footy for Papatoetoe Panthers (round a few corners from King's College). Manuleleua features in this Under 15 final below where he plays in the halves alongside Ali Leiataua (NZ Warriors), Ben Peni (NZ Warriors) and Navajo Doyle (Dragons) - Leiataua and Doyle also played 1st 15 for King's College.

Manuleleua's direct opponent in this final is Broncos centre Deine Mariner, while Marist also has Stanley Iongi (Raiders), Caleb Laiman (Bulldogs) and Sebastyan Jack (been with Warriors, not sure where he'll start 2023).

While playing 1st 15 union, Manuleleua made consecutive NZRL Under 16 Residents teams in 2019 and 2020. Both teams feature lots of Kiwi-NRL prospects and this, along with a note about Manuleleua being two years behind Leiataua in school but playing in the same U15 team, this helps to establish wrinkles of Manuleleua's talent.

Manuleleua played #6 in league and this seems like his best position moving forward, perhaps forecasting as a centre as well. Pondering how Manuleleua transitions from a 1st 15 midfielder to Panthers U21s is tricky based on other notable Kiwi-NRL juniors who played 1st 15 midfield. Demitric Sifakula went from 1st 15 midfield with De La Salle College to middle forward with Warriors-Redcliffe for example.

Presley Seumanu-Tigafua (NZ Warriors/St Peter's College), Shaye Faa'aoga (Bulldogs/Kelston Boys) and Dickie Terepo (Storm/St Kent's College) are other notable 1st 15 midfielders from Auckland who could pop up in any position as they embark on their league careers.

Another layer to this whole yarn is the NZ Warriors connection. Manuleleua captained a Future Warriors team while playing #6 back in 2019 against an Auckland Vulcans team (both teams had ample Kiwi-NRL juniors) and after this game, Brian Smith said...

“It was hard to single out one player among some great performers but Francis showed his class. It is extra special considering he is still only 14 years of age"

A few months later, Manulelua played in the Future Warriors win over Newcastle Knights - who had just won the SG Ball championship. Early in 2020 Manuleleua was part of the Future Warriors group again and then finished that year by training with the Warriors NRL squad. Manuleleua is fairly big for a half and could shine in a bunch of different roles, yet all these notes about his junior mahi have him playing in the halves.

Panthers need some young halves. Isaiya Katoa (Wellington) started the SG Ball and Jersey Flegg finals, now he's departed to Dolphins. Niwhai Puru started alongside Katoa in the Flegg final and Puru just sealed a deal with Sharks. Both starting halves from the Flegg final have departed Panthers and they got busy in recruiting Manuleleua.

Also named in the Panthers Flegg squad for 2023 are Ilai Tuia (Randwick) and Kyson Kingi (Kerikeri) who played Flegg this year. Lleyton Finau (Marist) has shifted from Warriors-Redcliffe to Panthers Flegg as well. Panthers also flexed their funky Kiwi-NRL recruitment by grabbing Taani Fangupo (St Paul's College) from Otago to join their Flegg squad.

Fangupo played league in Auckland and then shifted south to study, where he embedded himself in the local league scene. Fangupo played for South Island in the NZRL Under 20s competition earlier this year and he started most games at centre, including the final against Akarana. This is another example of the many Kiwi-NRL routes on offer to young folks in Aotearoa and for Panthers, this is an example of their hearty Kiwi-NRL recruitment process.

Manuelelua, Kingi, Amituanai and Finau are joined by Preston Riki (Hokianga) in moving from NZ Warriors to Panthers. Tuia and Fangupo came from Aotearoa footy, while Fakatoumafi went from Warriors to Panthers to Roosters. Amituanai, Finau and Riki all played in the niggly Warriors-Redcliffe collaboration after climbing up the Warriors system, while Kingi played in some of the Future Warriors fixtures with Manuleleua.

Manuleleua probably came to the end of his junior contract with Warriors and made the same decision most folks would make in joining an illustrious Panthers outfit. Rugby league in Aotearoa goes far beyond NZ Warriors and every team loves junior talent from Aotearoa, which comes from a bloke who juggles both Kiwi-NRL and Diary Of An Aotearoa Warriors Fan angles.

Despite sharing junior teams and a reserve grade team with Redcliffe during the pandemic, NZ Warriors will be fine. They have an SG Ball squad full of local talent and for the first time since round one 2020, NZ Warriors will field a NSW Cup team solely made up of their own players. As someone who covers all Kiwi-NRL junior stuff, I have no issues with the current crop of Warriors juniors - many of whom played in Queensland’s U21s final this year.

Some NRL clubs only recruit Kiwi-NRL talent from other NRL teams, some invest their ample financial resource into Kiwi-NRL youngsters, some focus on 1st 15 talent and some get busy in the depths of Aotearoa's grassroots footy. Panthers dabble in all facets of Kiwi-NRL recruitment and Manuleleua now joins a group of Kiwi-NRL Panthers from Northland, Auckland, Wellington, even a lad who moved to Otago for his studies. Such a comprehensive spread of Aotearoa talent gives Panthers a bump in mana, after a fabulous year of Kiwi-NRL footy.

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