Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Alfred Smalley's Sea Eagles Debut
Whether it was the alignment of stars over Aotearoa or an open minded god offering divine intervention, Otahuhu's Alfred Smalley was graced with a Kiwi-NRL debut for Manly Sea Eagles. Starting on the wing for Sea Eagles, Smalley scored a try and was steady throughout the game which offers plenty of funky Kiwi-NRL wrinkles to explore.
Sea Eagles have strong depth in their outside back stocks and there are no certainties that Smalley's debut will lead to more NRL footy this season. Opportunities work in mysterious ways and Smalley pounced on this opportunity, which when combined with Smalley's Kiwi-NRL pedigree could generate some momentum in his favour.
Fun fact: Smalley had 27 tackle busts in his last two NSW Cup games prior to his Sea Eagles debut.
That pedigree starts with the Smalley whanau as older sister Aieshaleigh has played NRLW and for Aotearoa Kiwis Ferns. Smalley was apparently playing 1st 13 rugby league for Otahuhu College while in his first year of high school and the following year (2014) saw Smalley snare 'College Rugby League Player of the Year' honours. In 2015, Smalley was a key figure in Otahuhu College winning the National Secondary Schools Tournament.
If all of that wasn't impressive enough, how about noting that the only other time Otahuhu College has won the NSST was in 2011 with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck playing. Smalley apparently made his international debut with Niue when he was 16-years-old and while still at school, Smalley played NZ Warriors Under 20s footy in 2016.
Then Smalley joined Sea Eagles and his mana was elevated further as Smalley played on the wing for Sea Eagles Under 20s in their 2017 championship run. Sea Eagles defeated Eels in the U20s final and Eels had Dylan Brown starting at halfback, after Brown had featured in the Eels SG Ball championship a few months earlier. In Otahuhu's run to the 2015 NSST championship they defeated a Whanagarei Boys High School team featuring Brown and Wiremu Greig.
Sea Eagles seem to look after their Kiwi-NRL juniors as Smalley has popped between Sydney and Aotearoa, always returning to his Sea Eagles whanau. Smalley slid back to Aotearoa once the pandemic snatched away all non-NRL footy and Smalley was back playing for Otahuhu, also playing for Counties Manukau in the NZRL National Premiership. Smalley repeated that dose last year which means that Smalley went from Otahuhu/Counties Manukau footy to his Sea Eagles debut in the space of a year.
That's a fabulous salute to grassroots footy in Aotearoa and everyone can find inspiration for their mahi in Smalley's journey. Otahuhu also plays a major role here and Otahuhu Rugby League continues to churn out Kiwi-NRL juniors. Smalley played alongside Semisi Sikei for Otahuhu and Counties Manukau in 2020, then alongside Salesi Ataata for the same teams in 2021 and they both joined Sharks afterwards.
Unfortunately Sikei hasn't played for Sharks this year, while Ataata played in the Sharks SG Ball team. Demetric Sifakula was taken over to Brisbane with NZ Warriors but he's been absent all season, likely due to injury. William Fakatoumafi has been playing U21s for Panthers, swapping between centre and fullback. Braydon Sau-Easthorpe is playing for Wynnum U21s. Fahmy Toilalo is playing U21s for Bulldogs. Azariah Toko-Mautairi played for Redcliffe U16s earlier this year. AJ Jones is in the Tigers system.
That's definitely not all Otahuhu juniors hunting Kiwi-NRL opportunities, just some that are on the radar and we're all here to learn so chime in with any more Otahuhu junior mahi. Smalley has been a hearty trooper for Otahuhu, Counties Manukau and Sea Eagles which might not result in consistent NRL footy in the short-term, but Smalley knows all about Sea Eagles mana and that will lead to more opportunities.
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