10 Funky Kiwi-NRL Youngsters For 2023
Griffin Neame - Cowboys
21-years-old | Suburbs Rugby League Greymouth
The Greymouth geezer Griffin Neame approaches his third NRL season and is likely to showcase his development with fresh wrinkles this season. Last season Neame flexed in his role for Cowboys which was all about efficient mahi in limited minutes and both Kiwi-NRL Spotlight yarns on Neame last season highlighted his low key efficiency. Neame hasn't done much offloading and wasn't the passer in Cowboys middle-forward shape, simplifying his role. This season Neame could be busier with his hands but powerful runs and rugged hits in defence will be his main mahi once again.
Neame usually got his minutes rotating with South Auckland legend Jason Taumalolo, now Cowboys have added Jason Tamou to their forward pack. Along with a nice crop of young forwards, Neame will need to earn his minutes and confidence from last season should see Neame double down as a physical presence through the middle.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Griffin Neame The Low Key Cowboy
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Greymouth Mahi With Griffin Neame
Starford To'a - Tigers
22-years-old | Mt Wellington Warriors
The best footy from Tigers last season featured Starford To'a at centre and covering fullback mid-game. To'a flashed the all-round skills that made him an illustrious Kiwi-NRL junior in Aotearoa and while he didn't settle with Knights, there were signs that To'a may have found a steady role with Tigers. To'a has played four seasons now and registered 21 games in his first season with Tigers, giving him sneaky experience as a 22-year-old that could be boosted by funky attacking structures from Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall.
The best position for To'a is centre, but his versatility will help Tigers cover multiple positions during a game. Tigers recruited Charlie Staines as an outside back and along with Daine Laurie, they are likely to compete for starting fullback game time. The versatility of To'a could be his most important asset this season although consistent game time at centre would be lovely.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Starford To’a Flourish
Simi Sasagi - Knights
21-years-old | Ellerslie Eagles
Along with To'a, Simi Sasagi was recruited by Knights while in Auckland and he is chillin' as the most notable product of the Knights' Kiwi-NRL pipeline. Sasagi also flashed his best footy at centre like To'a but struggled to settle in one role for Knights last season as he plugged holes at centre, middle forward and as a bench utility. While Sasagi has the size and mana to play middle forward, his best position seems to be out wider and it will be interesting to track how coach Adam O'Brien deploys Sasagi this season.
Deine Mariner - Broncos
19-years-old | Marist Saints
The theme through many of these funky youngsters is their low key presence compared to more favoured Australian juniors. Deine Mariner fits snug into this theme as Broncos have plenty of talent and while Mariner may have the most upside of young Broncos, the headline buzz is focussed elsewhere. Part of that is due to Mariner not snapping up his opportunity in two games last season and while injury may have been a factor, Mariner didn't feature in Broncos best footy like Te Maire Martin.
Mariner is likely to start in Queensland Cup where he he dominated with 8 tries, 6 linebreaks, 37 tackle busts and 135m/game in 8 games last season. If Mariner starts in reserve grade, he will probably put up similar mahi and command an opportunity in NRL.
Leo Thompson - Knights
22-years-old | Napier Boys High School
Knights had a hearty Kiwi-NRL recruitment drive prior to the pandemic and have continued that mahi in their junior ranks, although snaring Leo Thompson from Raiders was a nifty Kiwi-NRL signing. Thompson played 16 games last season and was part of a Knights forward pack that under-performed throughout the season, making it tricky to assess Thompson's development.
Thompson played midfield in 1st 15 rugby and that role requires players to pass over 10m in both directions, giving Thompson a rare skillset for middle forwards. How Thompson juggles that funky ability with the basic duties of a middle forward will be interesting this season.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Leo Thompson Debut For Knights
Jirah Momoisea - Eels
24-years-old | St Paul's College
After a few years in the Knights system, Jirah Momoisea has moved to Eels where Kiwi-NRL youngsters tend to flourish. The key for Momoisea will be availability as he has battled plenty of injuries early in his career. Then he will be hunting an opportunity in the Eels forward pack, probably through the middle in limited minutes.
Isaiah Papali'i and Marata Niukore both received development boosts at Eels, which is most evident in their new deals at Tigers and Warriors respectively. Eels folk will be eager to see which forwards fill those holes and Momoisea is in that mix, especially as he has the same middle/edge profile as Papali'i and Niukore. Momoisea is probably behind Makahesi Makatoa (Marist Dragons), Wiremu Greig (Northern Swords) and Ofahiku Ogden (Mangere East) in chasing game time. All three of those lads have received or are in line to enjoy the Eels development boost which will enhance competition for opportunities. Momoisea has to pursue that standard and this could bring the best out of him.
Paul Turner - Titans
22-years-old | Hikurangi Stags
Most of these funky Kiwi-NRL youngsters will need Papatuanuku and Ranginui working in their favour to serve up opportunities, with Paul Turner at the top of that list. Turner is a natural baller who can play in the halves, fullback and he has even plugged holes at centre. Titans recruited Kieran Foran who joins halves Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton, while AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell are leading their fullback ranks. This leaves Turner well down the pecking order and given how Turner has performed in reserve grade, specifically Queensland Cup with Tweed Heads last season, Turner is likely to dominant Q Cup to complicate matters for Titans.
Turner played 10 games for Tweed last year with just one game in the halves. Turner played six games at fullback, two at centre and was even listed as a winger for their last game of the season. Titans don't have the same development mana as other NRL teams and are not a winning outfit, so Turner's trajectory this season will be intriguing to track.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Paul Turner’s Titans Foundations
Tukimihia Simpkins - Tigers
21-years-old | Rotorua Boys High School
After moving from Cowboys to Tigers, Tukimihia Simpkins played five games in 2021 before sliding backwards last season. Simpkins played Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup for Tigers last year with both teams struggling at the bottom of the ladder. This was especially weird considering how Michael Maguire recruited Simpkins and other Kiwi-NRL lads, only for Simpkins to dip down the depth chart. Hopefully Simpkins has made the improvements that Tigers need from him and he will need to command an NRL opportunity as a bench forward.
Matthew Timoko - Raiders
23-years-old | Otahuhu Leopards
Matthew Timoko joins Neame in having two Kiwi-NRL Spotlight yarns from last season and this led to a climax as Timoko delivered a monster run/fend late in the season. That moment against Storm was epic, although Timoko's powerful running has been a stable of his footy going back to 1st 15 with Auckland Grammar School, various NZRL representative teams and junior footy with Raiders. This sets up an intriguing battle for Timoko as he will be up against defences that have more footage and plans to limit his running mahi.
The low key thing with Timoko is how Raiders coach Ricky Stuart gave the Otahuhu junior a full season at right centre, allowing him to learn the craft. Raiders were out of the top-eight as late as round 23 last season and played their best footy in their finals push, which is aligned with Timoko’s season. Timoko maintained decent tackling efficiency from 2021 to 2022 (88.96% - 87.94%) despite doubling his tackling mahi and how he defends attacking shape will be a fun wrinkle to learn with this season.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: The Matthew Timoko Scouting Report
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Matthew Timoko Blossoms
Hayze Perham - Bulldogs
23-years-old | Pikiao Rugby League Club
Ever since Hayze Perham was playing 1st 15 and league for Rotorua Boy High School, he has been an intriguing Kiwi-NRL talent. Perham climbed up the Warriors ranks and shifted to Eels last season where he wasn't graced with his ideal opportunities, but did whatever a winning Eels team required. Now Perham is with Bulldogs and news of Perham starting as fullback for Bulldogs this season was a bit surprising, but it makes plenty of sense.
Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Rotorua Mana With Hayze Perham
Perham has experience at fullback through his junior career in Aotearoa, which when combined with his 1st 15 experience provides a lovely skillset for an NRL fullback. Perham was among Aotearoa's best 1st 15 players late in his tenure with RBHS and that come after Perham linked up with Panthers while Phil Gould was working there. Perham's junior deal with Panthers didn't quite work out and Perham doubled-down on his Rotorua mana, now Gould has overseen the recruitment of Perham to Bulldogs.
For those with limited knowledge about Perham, the starting fullback thing was a shock. Gould knows plenty about Perham though and along with hearty Kiwi-NRL fans who have tracked Perham's journey, this smells like a perfect recipe for Perham to tap into his potential.
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