Aotearoa Warriors have updated the Redcliffe Dolphin Under 21s squad with fresh juniors from Aotearoa in Benjamin Kosi and Tome Poona. Late last summer the Warriors announced a crop of local juniors who would slide over to Redcliffe and despite Redcliffe struggling to announce their squads to make this process easy, 18thMan.com is a fabulous resource for Kiwi-NRL fans to suss out squads and learn more about Kiwi-NRL juniors in Australia.

18thMan tracks the Jersey Flegg (NSW) and Hasting Deering Colts (Queensland) squads, so like all Niche Cache sources of information this is available for every joker to learn from. Mal Meninga Cup footy starts this weekend but Redcliffe have a bye and there is no word on the MMC squad yet.

Kina and Lingi Kepu are both named in the Redcliffe U21s squad, although both will likely spend most of the season in reserve grade. Both started in U21s last year before moving into Q-Cup and it's still low key impressive how quickly the Kepu twins moved through the Redcliffe system along with Viliami Vailea and Taniela Otukolo. Remember Otukolo only played U21s and NRL last season.

Lleyton Finau is another who sits at the top end of the U21 crew and he is also likely move up to reserve grade this season. Eric Va'aufusaga played U21 after starting the season at the tier below with Sebastyan Jack who has now moved up to U21s.

The fresh crew who moved to Redcliffe over the summer are Zyon Maiu'u, Jacob Laban, Ali Leiataua, Kosi and Poona. We knew Maiu'u, Laban and Leiataua were making the move as they were part of the Warriors announcement along with the likes of Demetric Sifakula and Tamakaimoana Whareaorere who are not named in the U21s squad. My best guess is that they will feature for the U18 team and that's the next checkpoint in laying out the Warriors junior landscape.

Kosi and Poona are the new additions.

Kosi is the younger brother of Edward and has earned various representative nods throughout his junior career. Last year provides the best insight though as Kosi started at centre for Auckland Blue in their NZRL Under 20s final loss to Central Districts alongside Leiataua (fullback), Maiu'u (edge) Caleb Laiman (Bulldogs), Carlos Tarawhiti (Sharks), Stanley Iongi (Raiders), Salesei Ataata (Sharks).

Then Kosi spent the year with Richmond Premier blokes where he started at centre in most games. This is a minor trend that highlights Kiwi-NRL talent as Ataata was starting at centre for Otahuhu last year and is now starting as a middle forward for Sharks SG Ball. Strength of competition doesn't matter here as it's all about experience and Kosi has already spent a season battling blokes in Auckland, now he'll settle back into his age-group with Redcliffe.

Poona on the other hand has been dominating while juggling 1st 15 rugby for Rotorua Boys High School and rugby league with Upper Central. RBHS do the best job in Aotearoa of juggling league and union commitments, plus there is already a lovely relationship between RBHS and Aotearoa Warriors. That started with Hayze Perham, Selestino Ravutaumada and Tom Ale which was around the time when Poona, Cassius Cowley (now starting half for Wynnum U18s) and Ngakohu Walker were highlighted as Pikiao youngsters linked to Warriors.

The link to Rotorua also saw Tamiro Armstrong play Warriors SG Ball. Poona, Amstrong, Walker and Cowley all played Future Warriors footy in 2019, along with Leiataua, Beniah Ioelu (Roosters), Tarawhiti, Francis Manuleleua (funkiest junior to track), Laban, Kyson Kingi (Panthers), Ataata, Sebastyan Jack, Iongi, Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro (Storm) and Maiu'u.

You can either trip over how many of these lads have moved to other clubs, or understand that opportunities dried up with Warriors losing all their teams except NRL - including NRLW. Many have moved on due to Kiwi-NRL abundance and many have stuck with Aotearoa Warriors, now filling Warriors junior teams in a different country.

Poona has been in the Warriors system for a while, but dipped off the radar for a year or so. This year Poona was starting at first-five in 1st 15 and then started at halfback for Upper Central Under 18s late last year, leading Upper Central to the NZRL Under 18 Youth Competition final win. Poona was named Player of the Final as well as being named Under 18 Youth Competition Player of the Year. Poona also featured in the Waikato Chiefs Under 18 Development Camp last year.

This points to a wrinkle of intrigue as Poona impressed in play-making roles while at school and last year I highlighted a lack of halves in the Warriors junior system. Jack played halves for Redcliffe U18s last year and now Poona joins the U21 squad, which could provide a Warriors halves duo for Redcliffe U21s. Otherwise both Jack and Poona both seem versatile ballers capable of playing anywhere in the backline.

Next step is sussing out this Warriors MMC squad.

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