Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Penrith Panthers Mid-Season Breakdown
Penrith Panthers made some sneaky Kiwi-NRL recruitment moves over the past month to double their Aotearoa flavour in NSW Cup. Asu Kepaoa was snapped up from Tigers and Austin Dias made an undercover move to Panthers from Sea Eagles, joining Preston Riki and Daeon Amituanai in NSW Cup.
Kepaoa played junior league for a few clubs in Auckland while at Sacred Heart College and is part of a growing list of Kiwi-NRL juniors who were initially recruited by Roosters. Dias is a Taniwharau junior who wiggled through a few systems in Sydney before debuting with Tigers, then moving to Sea Eagles.
Both are experienced reserve graders who can settle into the Panthers style while plugging holes in the NRL team. Kepaoa can cover wing, centre and edge forward. Dias is a big bopper who will form a funky combo with Riki through the middle and more opportunities should arise for these two over the next year if they continue to develop in the Panthers system.
James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota continue to hold things down for Panthers as starting props, especially during State of Origin. Panthers have wins over Sea Eagles and Knights in their last two games, with Fisher-Harris playing 43mins then 54mins and Leota playing 33mins then 46mins. Scott Sorenson also got 80mins in those two wins as an edge forward; Fisher-Harris, Leota and Sorenson have started four consecutive games together for three wins.
Amituanai is a Whiti Te Ra junior who is slowing gathering his NSW Cup mana and this slow brew development plan is a staple of Panthers. Kepaoa has been named on the wing ahead of Amituanai in NSW Cup this week and despite Amituanai getting 10 consecutive games on the wing, Panthers are coming off seven straight losses.
Reserve grade teams always have late changes but regardless of how they line up in NSW Cup this week, Panthers have added to solid Kiwi-NRL pros to their wider playing group just as they churn out consecutive losses. Next season they welcome Isaiah Papali'i (Te Atatu) as another example of their appreciation for Aotearoa and they have two intriguing young edge forwards to learn about as well.
Francis Manuleleua was one of the best footy youngsters while playing 1st 15 for Kings College and cracking all sorts of rugby league representative teams as a Papatoetoe junior. Panthers lured Manuleleua to Penrith where he is working through their pipeline, currently playing as an edge forward for Panthers Under 21s.
The Vaha'akoloa-Fifita brohters are noteworthy Kiwi-NRL juniors at Panthers as well. They are from Otara and Josiah appears to be an Otahuhu junior who got a few games at edge forward for Panthers Under 19s earlier this year. Jodeci is the younger brother who played Under 17s at the start of the year, mainly coming off the bench.
Panthers Kiwi-NRL Stable
James Fisher-Harris: Kohukohu (Hokianga)
Moses Leota: Mt Albert
Scott Sorenson: Sydney
Preston Riki: Rawene (Hokianga)
Daeon Amituanai: Whiti Te Ra
Austin Dias: Taniwharau
Asu Kepaoa: Sacred Heart College
Francis Manuleleua: Papatoetoe
Josiah & Jodeci Vaha'akolo-Fitita: Otahuhu/Otara
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