Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The First Stanza Re-Up
11 rounds of Kiwi-NRL footy are tucked away and this means that 11 weeks of Kiwi-NRL spotlights have been served up. Before cracking into the winter grind, let's take a moment to re-up with the Kiwi-NRL spotlights to see how these lads have progressed since chillin' in the spotlight.
Leo Thompson
(Leo Thompson Debut For Knights)
Leo Thompson has settled into a selection groove with Newcastle Knights since making his debut. Knights have stumbled their way to a 3-8 record and Thompson has played every game, even snaring three starts as Knights battled the dark arts. Thompson played 25+ minutes in his first 10 games, 30+ minutes in eight of those games and then came a dip last round against Broncos with Thompson getting 18mins off the bench. Thompson is an aggressive runner, capable of a slick pass and offload while also making 230 tackles with 95 percent efficiency. May the mahi continue.
Isaiah Papali'i
(Forecasting 2022 For Isaiah Papali’i)
One of my Kiwi-NRL favourites is Isaiah Papali'i and I dropped the spotlight on Papali'i after a monster performance in round tahi. The vibe of that spotlight was forecasting the future with Papali'i and he continues to elevate his mahi. The first re-up nugget is updating his 2022 season after being saluted as the best edge forward last season. Papali'i has taken his 150m/game from last year up to 155m/game this year and he now has 5 tries, chasing his tally of 7 tries for last season.
Papali'i is churning out similar Post Contact Metres, Tackle Busts and Offloads stats as last season. I haven't seen Papali'i showcase his passing game like he is now and this falls in tune with Eels player development. On top of his rugged mahi, Papali'i played a Junior Paulo type of passing role for one Eels try vs Sea Eagles as well as flashy hands down his right edge...
Deine Mariner
(Simmering Deine Mariner Buzz)
Marist Saints junior Deine Mariner commanded a Kiwi-NRL spotlight with 4 tries on debut in Queensland reserve grade with Wynnum. Mariner then scored a try in his second game and played the first three games for Wynnum at centre before his fourth start was on the wing. Mariner hasn't played since round four and is likely out injured.
Griffin Neame
(Griffin Neame The Low Key Cowboy)
In a hot Cowboys outfit, Griffin Neame continues to play a low key role off the bench in lovely Greymouth styles. Neame has played nine games this season and has played the last five games which were all wins for Cowboys. This winning run saw Neame get fewer minutes (20-27mins) and Neame then got more game time over the weekend with 37mins in the win over Storm. Neame always catches my Kiwi-NRL antenna via his powerful running and an easy development jump can be found in sharpening up his defensive mahi; Neame has zero missed tackles in three games and 2+ missed tackles in six games.
Neame doesn't have an offload either. Neame is however doing his job and playing his role in a winning team which is impressive. The low key vibe is most important here as everyone is buzzing about other Cowboys youngsters while the Neame factor continues to be a funky Kiwi-NRL wrinkle.
Dylan Brown
(Dylan Brown’s Steady Development)
Another Kiwi-NRL Eel and another player development nod as Dylan Brown continues to flourish. Brown already has more try assists this season (7) than his three seasons prior and as he had 12 try assists in the three previous seasons combined, Brown may hit that mark this season as well. Brown hasn't had a try assist since round six but has scored 2 tries since then, as well as 120+ running metres in each of his last five games.
Brown has 4 tries already this season which is level with each of his three seasons prior, while also registering 7 offloads which is level with his previous best in 2020. Brown is averaging 129m/game this season and that is better than his three seasons prior. This means that Brown is in his best try scoring, try assisting, offloading and running season. Brown is a 21-years-old NRL half who is tackling at 94.4 percent efficiency.
Josh Aloiai
(Josh Aloiai Finds The Nek Level)
It's tricky to get a read on Josh Aloiai and anything Sea Eagles right now. Aloiai was fantastic in his first appearance of the season back in round four and after getting that Kiwi-NRL spotlight, Aloiai has had a confusing campaign. Aloiai played 40+ minutes with 120+ running metres in his first three games before missing a couple games and coming back to play less than 40mins with less than 100m in the last three games.
Aloiai may have had his workload cut by an injury niggle and this coincides with Sea Eagles mediocrity. Aloiai isn't a Sea Eagles barometer but he is a key member of their forward pack and in their last two losses, Sea Eagles have been kept to zero with Aloiai having his fewest touches of the season. How Aloiai grinds through this phase will be interesting.
Will Warbrick
(Will Warbrick’s Storm Development)
When I wrote about Will Warbrick a few weeks ago he had scored a try in each of his first three games with linebreaks and plenty of tackle busts. Then Warbrick scored 3 tries in his next game and another try in his last outing for Sunshine Coast which takes him to 7 tries, 8 linebreaks and 21 tackle busts in his five games. Warbrick didn't play over the weekend so he may be out injured and as Storm are juggling outside back combinations, I reckon Warbrick can't be far off a debut.
Jordan Riki
(Finding A Groove With Jordan Riki)
See below for how the Broncos vibe has changed and their winning ways have been highly evident in Jordan Riki's mahi. Riki has played 10 games this season and his season can be split in half. Riki had 2 tackle busts and 13 missed tackles across his first five games, as well as less than 25pcm and 65m in each of those games. The next five games have seen Riki grab a try assist, a try, 10 tackle busts, 2 offloads and 8 missed tackles. Riki has at least 30pcm and 70+ metres in four of these five games.
Broncos bullying Knights over the weekend was Riki's best game of the season; 1 try, 4 tackle busts, 60pcm, 1 offload, 35 tackles with 1 miss and 114m. This is the type of footy that made Riki such a high quality prospect in Aotearoa and then progressing through the Broncos system. All of which feels sustainable as Riki plays with fabulous energy and has solid leaders around him.
Te Maire Martin
(Te Maire Martin Returns From Waikato Hyperbolic Time Chamber)
The real reason why Broncos are winning is Te Maire Martin at fullback. This started with an impressive effort in his comeback game against Bulldogs and that now sits as his best game of the season as his stats have slowly decreased during this five-game stint. Martin hasn't cracked 100m since his first outing nor has he come close to the 3 tackle busts from that first game, however the fullback mahi is most important here. Martin is chiming in with extra play-making all over the Broncos attack shapes and has maintained high involvements during this stretch as Broncos keep on winning.
Starford To'a
Fresh off two Tigers wins, Starford To'a commanded a Kiwi-NRL spotlight as he was slick at centre and fullback. Since that spotlight To'a has started four games at fullback with three losses before last round's win over Bulldogs and while I reckon To'a is best suited to centre for Tigers, he is doing a fine job at fullback in place of Daine Laurie. In his four starts at fullback To'a has a try, 2 try assists, 21 tackle busts, a forced drop out and 3 offloads.
This well-rounded style of play is what makes To'a rather valuable to Tigers right now. Under Kiwis coach Michael Maguire we can expect To'a to keep developing and I'm curious to see how To'a settles into the grind of an NRL season in the coming weeks.
Christian Tuipulotu
(Christian Tuipulotu Emerges With Sea Eagles)
Trying to catch the Josh Aloiai/Sea Eagles vibe is tricky, but everything is crystal clear with Christian Tuipulotu on the wing. Sea Eagles have lost two games since the Tuipulotu Kiwi-NRL spotlight, however Tuipulotu has maintained his powerful mahi. Tuipulotu had 212m with a try in last round's loss to Eels and he now has 100+ running metres with at least 40pcm in all seven of his games played.
Joseph Tapine
(The Steady Development Of Joseph Tapine)
Raiders have now won three games in a row and Joseph Tapine continues to be a dominant force in their forward pack. Tapine had 132m/74pcm in round 10 vs Sharks after getting the Kiwi-NRL spotlight and this went up a notch over the weekend as Tapine registered 19 runs for 189m @ 9.94m/run, 94pcm, 4 tackle busts, 1 offload and 33 tackles @ 97 percent in 62mins against Rabbitohs.
Hayze Perham
(Rotorua Mana With Hayze Perham)
I whipped up the Hayze Perham Kiwi-NRL spotlight after a tough loss to Roosters and that highlighted how Perham isn't a specialist winger but he's doing what the Eels need him to do. Then Perham bagged 2 tries against Sea Eagles and while Perham doesn't offer the same power as Tuipulotu (funky Kiwi-NRL match up), Perham continues to make the most his opportunity.
Matthew Timoko
(The Matthew Timoko Scouting Report)
Raiders centre Matthew Timoko also enjoyed a lovely outing against Rabbitohs, fresh of last week's Kiwi-NRL spotlight. Timoko scored a try and had 12 runs for 120m @ 10m/run with 4 tackle busts. Timoko has now started all 11 games at centre for Raiders and is quietly churning out consistent footy for Raiders.
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Peace and love.