Marata Niukore has only played seven Kiwi-NRL games this season and those seven games have seen the Mangere East junior start in five different positions. This is not new for Niukore as he swapped between centre and edge forward while with Aotearoa Warriors Under 20s before shifting to Parramatta Eels where his ascension is just as notable as development seen in Aotearoa's Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali'i and Makahesi Makatoa.

That ascension resulted in Niukore making his Aotearoa Kiwis debut at centre and playing his role perfectly. Niukore registered 11 runs for 108m @ 9.81m/run in 72 minutes before leaving the field injured with win over Tonga already sealed, also making 10 tackles @ 100 percent efficiency.

Niukore was joined by his Eels homie Brown on the Kiwis left edge and Brown made 27 tackles @ 100 percent, which formed a low key intriguing left edge for Aotearoa; Kenny Bromwich, Brown, Niukore, Ronaldo Mulitalo. That edge combination could only get better if Papali'i joined his Eels homies, but Bromwich owns his left edge role with Melbourne Storm and his skillset should never be underrated.

This forms a stretch of five consecutive games (including Test debut) in which Niukore started a different position. Niukore started as an edge forward in round 14, then an interchange player in round 15 before starting at centre for Aotearoa. Back in NRL footy, Niukore started at lock in round 16 and then prop in this round's win over Tigers.

Many players offer versatility and there is basic crossover between centre/edge forward or prop/lock. Not many players are plugging holes at this level like Niukore though and while this isn't conducive with consistent performances, Niukore's mana is seen in his willingness to play any role Eels or Aotearoa require.

Starting at prop vs Tigers, Niukore played 48mins with 8 runs for 69m @ 8.62m/run and 37 tackles @ 88 percent. Niukore wasn't as effective running the footy as he usually is and this could fall under the nuance of different positions, even nuance between Eels roles as 'prop' and 'lock'. Reed Mahoney was the only Eels player with more tackles than Niukore though and Niukore embraced that mahi, as well as a late shift to edge forward to cover the absence of Papali'i.

This season marks the end of a funky Kiwi-NRL phase as Niukore returns to Warriors and Papali'i will join Tigers. Eels have ample Kiwi-NRL wrinkles to re-up as a notable Kiwi-NRL team next season and Niukore will be fizzing to finish his Eels tenure with his best mahi. Unless there are injuries to Eels backs or edge forwards, Niukore is likely to settle into a bench role where he can provide cover for multiple positions mid-game.

Eels fans will be eager to enjoy Niukore's footy, while Warriors fans should also be tapped in checking what Niukore can offer next season. Niukore is also building towards a World Cup and he adds immense value to an Aotearoa Kiwis squad that will require versatility while on tour. Don't let the versatile tag diminish Niukore's mahi as no other NRL player is doing what he does and being able to do whatever the team needs is precisely how mana is elevated.

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