The hearty performances of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have consistently slid under the radar this season for NZ Warriors and the City Newton junior is now finals bound in his home city. No Warriors are overlooked more than Nicoll-Klokstad and Tohu Harris (stay tuned), which was amplified by a period of play early in the second half against Dragons last weekend.

As Luke Metcalf suffered his hamstring injury, Nicoll-Klokstad chopped down Moses Suli with support from a trailing Marcelo Montoya. Suli knocked the ball on in this tackle and cameras quickly panned to a disappointed Metcalf as Nicoll-Klokstad took a moment to battle his own niggle from that tackle. Another crucial defensive play from Nicoll-Klokstad was brushed aside.

What followed, was more excellent mopping up mahi from Nicoll-Klokstad. In the first 20 minutes of the second half, Warriors made three errors and conceded six penalties as they struggled for control of the game. Suli made his linebreak and Dragons gathered momentum, yet Nicoll-Klokstad snuffed out a grubber, made a crucial effort in stopping Jacob Liddle's try and generally buzzed around helping everyone out.

Zac Lomax eventually scored for Dragons in the 61st minute, but this 20-minute period of Nicoll-Klostad mahi helped limit the damage. Warriors absorbed the momentum swing and after a dose of Shaun Johnson leadership mana, they tried to regain control of the game. Warriors kicked off, tackled hard and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak epitomised the defensive effort in the next set as he made a crucial tackle as Dragons shifted to their left edge.

Watene-Zelezniak was at marker, Ben Hunt kicked long and guess who was there to swallow that kick? Nicoll-Klokstad ... and he didn't chill after a decent run. Nicoll-Klokstad followed up the play to take the fourth run as well, both runs earning quick play-the-balls and boom, Warriors are back in Dragons territory to build pressure.

Nicoll-Klokstad often takes two runs in a set before moving to the right edge where he scored his try against Dragons. If Nicoll-Klokstad isn't running himself in attacking shape, then he is laying on a pass for Watene-Zelezniak or offering the same intensity for a decoy run. All of that is reinforced by his defensive mahi which involves good tackling, catching most high kicks and trailing behind the defensive line to pounce on grubbers.

There are similarities between Nicoll-Klokstad and Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards. This is aligned with the general similarities between Panthers and Warriors, although comparing both still leaves Edwards and Panthers ahead of the Mt Smart brethren.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

• 6 tries, 6 try assists, 7 linebreaks, 182m/game, 107 tackles @ 87%

Dylan Edwards

• 11 tries, 4 try assists, 11 linebreaks, 208m/game, 119 tackles @ 81.5%

Nicoll-Klokstad has a couple more try assists and slightly better tackling efficiency. The Edwards/Nicoll-Klokstad style differs to that of Reece Walsh.. Nicoll-Klokstad and Edwards both average 0.7 errors per game while Walsh averages 2.4 errors and is tackling at 68% efficiency. Walsh makes up for those areas in his attacking flair and vocal organisation in defence as part of fabulous Broncos team.

On top of this season's excellence, Nicoll-Klokstad as finals mana from his time with Raiders. In his first season with Raiders after leaving Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad made the 2019 Grand Final and backed it up with a semi-final in 2020. Here's how his mahi this season stacks up with those two years for Raiders

• Raiders 2019: 11 tries, 3 try assists, 8 linebreaks 175m/game, 80.7% tackling

• Raiders 2020: 7 tries, 3 try assists, 7 linebreaks, 179m/game, 78% tackling

• Warriors 2023: 6 tries, 6 try assists, 7 linebreaks, 182m/game, 86.9% tackling

Twice as many try assists, more metres per game and a decent improvement in tackling efficiency. There could be a carer-best tally of linebreaks as well if Nicoll-Klokstad shines in finals footy. What does Nicoll-Klokstad do in Grand Finals?

• 21 runs - 237m @ 11.28m/run, 8 tackle breaks, 8 tackles @ 89%.

All of that was in just 69mins as Nicoll-Klokstad left the field injured with 10mins to go, with scores tied at 8-8. Roosters scored after Nicoll-Klokstad's departure and without their fullback, Raiders couldn't pounce on their limited opportunities. Nicoll-Klokstad had the most running metres and tackle breaks for Raiders in the 2019 GF despite missing 10mins, which now flows into this finals campaign with Warriors.

Nicoll-Klokstad is already an Aotearoa Kiwis international and is in a funky spot, sharing a fullback/centre slot with Tokoroa's Joseph Manu. Nicoll-Klokstad plays fullback every week in the NRL and has performed well at centre for Aotearoa. Manu plays centre most weeks in the NRL and has been fantastic at fullback for Aotearoa. It's personal preference as to how these two line up in a full-strength Aotearoa team and in keeping the rise of rugby league in Aotearoa, there is ample depth on offer.

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