Despite losing a couple games in the 2024 Pacific Championships, Aotearoa Kiwis have built out a strong pool of players who have international rugby league experience and have more than enough depth to cover any eligibility quirks. We have covered New Zealand's performances and squad building in depth throughout this period and the debrief from last year's international window provides a comprehensive break down of all the basics.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Keano Kini have both played for Aotearoa at fullback. Nicoll-Klokstad has also played centre and in the halves, showcasing a level of versatility that is perfect for international rugby league when depth is always challenged. This versatility is aligned with Kini brewing as a starting fullback and even then, Kini has gathered experience coming off the bench for Gold Coast Titans.

Will Warbrick added himself to the top-tier last year and his presence gives Aotearoa three fabulous wingers leading the battle for selection. Jamayne Isaako is a Kiwis veteran and Ronaldo Mulitalo has played in winning Kiwis footy. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak also deserves to be mentioned as a elite Aotearoa winger but he starts the year ranked behind these three lads and could pursue Tonga representation.

Casey McLean was a massive eligibility win last year as he is one of the best young talents in the NRL who was born and raised in Sydney but chose to represent Aotearoa ahead of New South Wales/Australia. McLean made his debut on the wing and appears likely to be a centre for Penrith Panthers, although his versatility here is perfect for an international squad.

Matthew Timoko has settled as the lead centre after playing alongside Joseph Manu (now in rugby union) and Peta Hiku. Aotearoa Kiwis will probably shift younger in this position with McLean offering a high calibre presence along with Kayal Iro and Ali Leiataua, both of whom have strong cases for Aotearoa squad selection and share funky eligibility situations.

Given that Iro was raised in the Cook Islands and only spent a few years in Auckland with Mt Albert, it would be rude to assume that he will represent Aotearoa Kiwis. There is a whanau connection with Aotearoa rugby league for Iro and these whanau ties have seen the likes of Scott Sorenson thrive despite being born and raised in Australia. There aren't many NRL players with the hearty Cook Islands mana as Iro though and while he's definitely in the mix, don't bank on Iro chosing to play for Aotearoa Kiwis.

Leiataua (Papatoetoe) has the talent to earn Aotearoa Kiwis selection with consistent footy as a starting centre for New Zealand Warriors. Leiataua has previously represented NZ-A and can cover multiple positions in a squad, but is also eligible for Samoa and his first dose of international experience could be in the blue shirt. This mixer does not include Marist junior Deine Mariner because he has already represented Samoa and appears highly likely to stick with Samoa moving forward.

Having traditionally lacked halves depth, Aotearoa Kiwis have a bunch of experienced lads offering plenty of options in these key positions. Wellington's Jahrome Hughes and Northland's Dylan Brown are the best halves combo, while Ellerslie junior Kieran Foran can plug a hole if required but is more likely to be a coaching staff member than a player at the moment.

Te Maire Martin (Turangawaewae) and Kodi Nikorima (Burnham) provide more depth, then there is Melbourne's Trent Toelau who was a surprise selection in last year's squad. Aotearoa Kiwis were competitive in the Pacific Championships despite their halves depth being ravaged by injuries and Toelau earned selection as a deep cut who wasn't required to play.

Now Toelau is getting more opportunities for Panthers and his development will help balance Chanel Harris-Tavita's (Mt Wellington) likely decision to keep representing Samoa. Below the top-tier group is a development/depth tier and along with Martin's Taharoa homie Taine Tuaupiki being a notable emerging fullback to keep track of with NZ Warriors, Aotearoa is producing more young halves who could enter the mix in the next two years.

Zach Dockar-Clay (Bell Block) offers an experienced presence in the development tier, then there is another Turangawaewae junior in Te Hurinui Twidle who is getting pre-season opportunities for Parramatta Eels.

Marist juniors Cassius Tia (Bulldogs) and Ryder Williams (Titans) are both eligible for Samoa, bolstering their future play-making depth. Mangere East/Otara junior Haami Loza is a notable talent with immense potential on the rise for Knights but he is yet to play NSW Cup or pre-season footy, unlike the rest of these young halves. These lads are unlikely to be in the international mix this year but there presence shows that Aotearoa is producing more halves than recent decades.

With Phoenix Crossland stepping up as the Aotearoa Kiwis hooker last year, suddenly there are three high quality dummy halves competing for selection. Whakatane's Jeremy Marshall-King will be eager to get back into Aotearoa Kiwis footy and Waiheke Ram Brandon Smith is out injured for Sydney Roosters, which could open up an opportunity for Otara's Benaiah Ioelu at Roosters.

Ioelu (Tangaroa College) is another talented prospect on the rise who deserves to be listed in the development tier, although there is a strong chance that he opts to represent Samoa. Danny Levi has represented Aotearoa and Samoa, offering an experienced presence at dummy half for either nation. Levi is ranked ahead of Ioelu but is still behind Crossland and like the halves mixer, Aotearoa Kiwis have various options who have already played international rugby league.

Aotearoa Kiwis Top-Tier Mixer

• Fullback: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Keano Kini

• Wingers: Jamayne Isaako, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Will Warbrick, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Tonga)

• Centres: Matthew Timoko, Casey McLean, Kayal Iro (Cook Islands), Ali Leiataua (Samoa)

• Halves: Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, Te Maire Martin, Kodi Nikorima, Trent Toelau, Chanel Harris-Tavita (Samoa)

• Hookers: Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King, Phoenix Crossland

• Middles: James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Moses Leota, Naufahu Whyte, Leo Thompson, Griffin Neame, Erin Clark

• Edges: Isaiah Papali'i, Briton Nikora, Scott Sorenson, Marata Niukore, Jordan Riki

The forward pack depth is flush with international experience. There isn't much space in the top-tier for emerging forwards but there will be players who are unavailable and this was the case last year, presenting opportunities for lads like Whyte to step up. Whangarei's Wiremu Greig has already been in an Aotearoa Kiwis squad during the 2023 Pacific Championships but dipped down the depth chart last year, with Xavier Willison (Whatawhata) emerging as the best young big bopper.

Willison has already represented Cook Islands and could stick with that. There is a small chance that Aotearoa Kiwis have a squad with Martin, Tuaupiki and Willison which would provide a magical Taharoa connection as well. There are lots of funky eligibility pockets in the forward depth led by Benjamin Te Kura who was part of the 2023 NZ-A squad and NZRL specifically shared this yarn about his NRL debut, although Te Kura has consistently represented Queensland in junior footy and was born/raised in Australia.

Demitric Vaimauga is an Otahuhu junior from Otara who is eligible for Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga and Niue. Fellow NZ Warriors forward Leka Halasima is destined for international rugby league but that will probably be for Tonga, given that Halasima comes from the Mangere in Auckland which is the heartiest Tongan area outside of Tonga.

Melbourne Storm have the sneaky kiwi Alec MacDonald and NZ-A representative Joe Chan, who is another player who has the whanau connection with Aotearoa Kiwis through his father Alex. The Chan whanau is also related to the McLean whanau so there is a possibility that Casey and Jesse McLean (possible outside back contender) play for Aotearoa Kiwis alongside their cousin Joe.

The most notable edge forward on the rise is Te Aroha junior Jacob Laban who recently represented Aotearoa Maori. Laban is also eligible for Samoa and could wind up in their squad this year, but there is a decent chance he pursues Aotearoa Kiwis selection and as the next best edge forward behind the top-tier lads, Laban would be a wise squad selection in a development role.

Other players listed in the second tier below include Sebastian Kris who has already played for Aotearoa Kiwis, Bailey Simonsson who has played Nines for Aotearoa, East Coast Bays junior Jesse Arthars, Mt Wellington junior and Tongan international Starford To'a, and NZ Warriors duo Rocco Berry (Greytown) and Adam Pompey (Tuakau). Berry has the potential to push for international footy but is often injured, while Pompey's ability to cover wing/centre could see him step up to cover unavailabilities.

The young halves are listed below, along with forwards like Tyrone Thompson (Maraenui) and Trey Mooney. Thompson could have a quicker rise than twin bro Leo and that could see him command an opportunity, while Mooney played for NZ-A and is another aggressive big bopper who has NSW/Australia eligibility.

• Outside Backs: Taine Tuaupiki, Bailey Simonsson, Sebastian Kris, Jesse Arthars, Starford To'a (Tonga), Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey

• Halves: Zach Dockar-Clay, Te Hurinui Twidle, Cassius Tia (Samoa), Ryder Williams (Samoa), Haami Loza

• Hookers: Danny Levi (Samoa), Benaiah Ioelu (Samoa)

• Middles: Xavier Willison (Cook Islands), Toafofoa Sipley (Samoa), Alec MacDonald, Joe Chan, Benjamin Te Kura (QLD/Aus), Demitric Vaimauga (Samoa/Tonga), Wiremu Greig, Trey Mooney (NSW/Aus), Tyrone Thompson

• Edges: Jacob Laban (Samoa)

The best thing about the Aotearoa Kiwis mixer is that new players appear out of nowhere to chase Aotearoa Kiwis selection. Give the cultural diversity in Aotearoa, there will always be players who have eligibility choices to make and this diversity in rugby league means it is fabulous for lads who played junior footy in Aotearoa to represent Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands.

Grassroots rugby league in Aotearoa is built upon this diversity and it is celebrated through the abundance of cultural tournaments. The beauty right now is that the 'losses' of Kiwi-NRL juniosr choosing to represent Samoa, Tonga or Cook Islands has been balanced by surprise inclusions like McLean or Toelau. This surprise factor means that new lads will emerge throughout the season and we won't know about some contenders until an Aotearoa Kiwis squad is announced.

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