There have been 10 Kiwi-NRL debutants in 18 rounds of NRL footy and Temple Kalepo is the latest addition after playing 41 minutes for North Queensland Cowboys in their loss to Melbourne Storm. Ellerslie junior Kalepo entered the game late in the second half and finished with 4 runs - 53m @ 13.2m/run, 1 linebreak, 2 tackle breaks, 25 tackles @ 86.2%.

Kiwi-NRL juniors like Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (Moerewa) and Sean Mullany (Glenora) had long journeys before cracking NRL footy which is similar to 24-year-old Kalepo. While playing 1st 15 rugby at Kings College, Kalepo was in the NZ Warriors system and was playing Jersey Flegg Cup then NSW Cup while still at school.

Kalepo was a winger and midfielder in 1st 15 but quickly climbed through the NZ Warriors pipeline as a dummy half. While he would eventually be one of many casualties of the pandemic phase for NZ Warriors, Kalepo was one of the first wave of local juniors who were forced to move to Australia under the Redcliffe-Warriors umbrella where he battled Otahuhu junior Taniela Otukolo for the best emerging dummy half in the organisation.

Having played the only round of NSW Cup in 2020 as a bench hooker for NZ Warriors vs Knights, Kalepo then moved to Knights for the 2023 season. He had two years in the Knights system playing NSW Cup and while he seems to have battled injuries as well as pandemic niggle, Kalepo has flashed an explosive running style and classy play-making at every opportunity.

Kalelpo departed Knights to move north with Mackay Cutters where he picked up a train and trial contract with Cowboys. This was his fourth season of playing reserve grade but after one game in each of his two seasons with NZ Warriors and eight games in each of his two seasons with Knights, Kalepo settled into a consistent role in Queensland Cup this year with 11 games prior to his NRL debut.

Of those 11 games, Kalepo has started at hooker in six of then and come off the bench in three. He has also started as a middle forward in two games, while playing 50+ minutes in seven of his games for Mackay this year. Kalepo hasn't churned out massive stats in Queensland Cup but he must have made an impression on coach Todd Payten who, along with Cowboys squad builders, has promoted Kalepo swiftly through the Cowboys system.

Kalepo offers hooker/small forward versatility that is crucial in the NRL right now. Cowboys don't have small forwards like Kalepo but they do have players like Harrison Edwards and Sam McIntyre who can play a variety of roles in the forward pack, which could help and hinder Kalepo's progress this season.

A funky comparison for Kalepo is Otukolo who has settled in the Bulldogs system after dipping out of NZ Warriors soon after Kalepo departed. Otukolo is the same size as Kalepo and of his 13 games for Bulldogs in NSW Cup, Otukolo has started five games at hooker with five games as a middle forward and three games coming off the bench.

Mullany played alongside Kalepo in the 2020 NSW Cup season opener for NZ Warriors and he has also split his time between hooker and middle forward for Tweed in Queensland Cup this season. The two 2025 Kiwi-NRL debutants have a funky crossover as Mullany departed Mackay to take up an opportunity in the Titans system and Kalepo has basically filled the hole left by Mullany; both as a Mackay player and Cowboys train/trial squad member.

There may be an opportunity for Kalepo to add speed to the Cowboys middle when Reece Robson returns from State of Origin duty. Edwards and McIntyre usually cover the back up dummy half duties but the NRL needs faster forwards so Kalepo can add value if he's given another crack.

Robson will depart for Roosters at the end of this season but Cowboys are apparently going to sign Reed Mahoney to replace him. The Kiwi-NRL tentacles continue to pop up as Brandon Smith departed Roosters and will play his first game for Rabbitohs in the same hooker/small forward role, while another 2025 Kiwi-NRL debutant Benaiah Ioelu has snapped up his opportunity this season.

The long term vision for Kalepo is unclear but he has done enough to warrant another opportunity. He is also brewing as a Tonga hooker and could form an enticing combo with another Kiwi-NRL junior and hooker/small forward in Manurewa's Siliva Havili. While Kalepo was a decorated NZRL junior and was part of the 2019 Junior Kiwis, his history with Tonga's junior teams and selection for Tonga A in 2023 suggest he will pursue representing Tonga.

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