Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Pre-Season Challenge Breakdown
Kiwi-NRL jokers are scattered throughout the NRL Pre-Season Challenge team lists with an enticing crop of youngers getting opportunities in second tier squads. The NZ Warriors squad to face Tigers is broken down here and the same vibes roll through the Kiwi-NRL mixer as there is a glorious regional presence as well as a few surprises in the first team list offering of 2024.
For all their Kiwi-NRL junior recruitment mahi, Bulldogs only have Poasa Fa'amausili (Glenora) as a funky lad from Aotearoa in their squad. They take on Storm though who always have a few high quality Kiwi-NRL prospects and this year their funky crew is led by Caius Fa'atili (Hornby) who is part of a long bench. Fa'atili earned a train and trial gig with Storm and was one of our best young big boppers to watch out for this season, now he is getting a crack to offer much needed size/mobility to the Storm forward pack.
Storm also have Northcote junior Karauria Stokes-Mahara in their squad. Stokes-Mahara played fullback for Burleigh Under 18s in 2022 and then slotted in at fullback for the Storm SG Ball (U19) team last year. Now Stokes-Mahara is one of the notable young outside backs selected for the Storm's first trial game and while he could dip down to Storm Jersey Flegg U21s after this pre-season stanza, Stokes-Mahara could also join Fa'atili in one of the Storm's Queensland Cup teams.
Knights have named Sebastian Su'a (Mt Albert) in their squad to play Sharks. Su'a is another young big bopper from Aotearoa and he could make an impression in these trials to command an NRL debut this season. Su'a will probably get minutes against Sharks big bopper Salesi Ata'ata (Otahuhu) who has quietly wiggled through the Sharks pipeline in recent years and he could also play his way into a fringe NRL spot.
Sharks have Kayal Iro (Arorangi) and Mawene Hiroti (Western Suburbs) as starting centres. Chris Vea'ila (Waitemata) left Knights for Sharks mid-way through last season and he is primarily centre, so Sharks have three Kiwi-NRL centres in their squad. All three can cover other backline positions and Hiroti does this the best of these three, which is why he has gathered game time with Sharks in recent seasons.
Roosters have their regular dose of Kiwi-NRL lads with Naufahu Whyte (Bay Roskill) the lad to watch out for after a fantastic end to 2023. Whyte is named at starting prop and he is joined by Sitili Tupouniua (Marist), Joseph Manu (Tokoroa), Siua Wong (Burnham/Manurewa) and Fetalaiga Pauga (Glenora).
Coming up against Roosters will be two Kiwi-NRL wingers for Sea Eagles in Jaxson Paulo (Northcote) and Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega (Marist). Mangere East junior Aitasi James moved from Tigers to Sea Eagles and joins Toafofoa Sipley (City Newton) as middle forwards for Sea Eagles. Former Sea Eagle (and Rooster) Christian Tuipulotu (Otahuhu) has made a late switch to Dragons and he is part of the Dragons squad. Fellow Otahuhu junior and fresh Dragon Raymond Faitala-Mariner isn't in the mix just yet though.
The Eels squad features a the biggest group of Kiwi-NRL lads. Haze Dunster (Rotorua), Baily Simonsson (Tauranga) and Daejarn Asi (Aranui) are named in the backline along with new recruit Morgan Harper (Ngaruawahia) who partners Simonsson in the centres. Eels also have Ofahiki Ogden (Mangere East), Kelma Tuilagi (Glenora), Wiremu Greig (Whangarei) and Makahesi Makatoa (Bell Block) all named as forwards with Tuilagi joining Harper in moving to Eels from Sea Eagles.
Simi Sasagi (Ellerslie) made a sneaky move from Knights to Raiders and he is named for Raiders against Eels. Sasagi is named as an edge forward in an interesting move considering how Sasagi wasn't graced with regular game time in one role at Knights. Raiders also have Manurewa's Ata Mariota and Randwick junior Danny Levi in their squad.
The Tigers team to play in Christchurch against NZ Warriors has Kiwi-NRL regulars Junior Tupou (Auckland), Isaiah Papali'i (Te Atatu) and Asu Kepaoa (Sacred Heart College). Tigers have also named Nick Lui-Toso (Glenora) and Sione Vaihu (Waitemata) in their wider squad. Lui-Toso joined Tigers after grinding in reserve grade and Vaihu is the best Kiwi-NRL junior in the Tigers system as a robust young forward.
Cowboys offer plenty of funk in the selection of Sean Mullany (Glenora) at hooker after a long grind in reserve grade. Mullany is mainly a dummy half and is named to start in that slot vs Broncos but he has gained more experience at lock forward in recent years which could prepare him for NRL minutes at hooker.
D'Jazirhae Pua'avase (Manurewa) is named for Cowboys and he is a young big bopper who could sneak into an NRL debut this season if the stars align. Henry Teutau (Marist) has had a quick rise through the Cowboys pathway since leaving Aotearoa and he is named in their squad as a middle forward who can cover edge. Jenson Taumoepeau (Western Suburbs) made a switch from Sharks to Cowboys this summer and he will be eager to make an impression as a centre/winger.
Broncos have Deine Mariner (Marist) on the wing for the second pre-season game in a row. There is a Kiwi-NRL winger in all three south east Queensland teams with Jamayne Isaako (Aranui) in his regular spot for Dolphins, who also have Jeremy Marshall-King (Whakatane), Valynce Te Whare and Connelly Lemuelu (Tangaroa College) in their squad to face Titans.
Titans have Ken Maumalo (Papatoetoe) on the wing after he played last season in Queensland Cup. The real funk for Titans is in the selection of Vaka Sikahele (Manurewa) at hooker and Caelys Putoko (Forestland) on the bench. Sikahele has emerged as a intriguing small forward for Titans who usually plays hooker but could earn minutes off the bench with those rugged small forward duties.
Putoko is one of the funkiest Kiwi-NRL youngsters for 2024 after leaving Hamilton Boys High School 1st 15 and his summer mahi has seen him earn an opportunity in the first trial. Putoko did play league last year while at HBHS and helped Forestland win the Bay of Plenty championship, forecasting as a centre for the Titans who is likely to settle in Q Cup to start the season.
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