The Kiwi-NRL umbrella includes all those who played junior footy in Aotearoa and many of them are eligible for Samoa or Tonga, so here are the best emerging players who come from Aotearoa but seem likely to represent Samoa or Tonga in international rugby league. Forecasting eligibility choices is tricky so these are educated guesses and the Aotearoa Kiwis top-tier is pretty settled ahead of the 2025 Pacific Championship, there are more opportunities for game time with Samoa or Tonga.

Starford To'a (Mt Wellington), Simi Sasagi (Ellerslie) and Connelly Lemuelu (Tangaroa College) are in the middle of their best NRL seasons and they have only played one Test of international rugby league. To'a has settled at centre for Tigers and he could be a regular centre for Tonga, but there is also potential for To'a to cover a bunch of backline positions.

Sasagi and Lemuelu are both edge forwards but Sasagi has shown his versatility by shining as a centre for Raiders when required. Sasagi could play nearly every position depending on who is available for Samoa and this makes him a fantastic bench player for Test footy, while Lemuelu has also had stints through the middle for Dolphins.

Lemuelu could be joined by Benaiah Ioelu in the Samoa squad which would offer a fabulous Tangaroa College wrinkle. Lemuelu was mentioned as a 'talented young first-five' in this yarn about Tangaroa College's 1st 15 team back in 2014 before departing for Keebra Park High School where he was a fullback. Ioelu played 1st 15 for Tangaroa College while linked to the Roosters and featured in the 'Blue Wall' series about TC's 1st 15 mahi.

Ioelu offers depth for Samoa at dummy half and along with Temple Kalepo (Ellerslie) making his NRL debut this year for Cowboys while seeming likely to represent Tonga, both nations have added a young hooker to their depth charts. There aren't any halves in this break down but Samoa and Tonga are already well stocked with experienced halves, now they have crafty dummy halves in the mix as well.

Deine Mariner (Marist) has played two Tests for Samoa and will stay with them. Christian Tuipulotu (Otahuhu) has played one Test for Tonga and is likely to stay aligned with Tonga but he's only played six games this year so he needs game time to make his case for selection.

Mariner has been in and out of the Broncos top-17 this season, with Josiah Karapani (Otahuhu) taking his opportunity before dipping out of the team more recently with Mariner coming back. This could continue for Samoa with Karapani's form on the wing for Broncos likely to result in a promotion to Test footy. Mariner's best position seems to be centre so Samoa can roll with that and Karapani on the wing.

Samoa also have Ata Mariota (Manurewa), Ativalu Lisati (Glenora) and Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana (Mangere East) adding to their forward pack depth. Mariota is building nicely as a middle forward for Raiders and Lisati has made the most of being in excellent NRL systems, first with Panthers then Storm, to found a steady role as a middle forward in Melbourne.

Salesa-Leaumoana was mainly playing as an edge forward for Knights in NSW Cup, often alongside another Samoan prospect Francis Manuleleua (Papatoetoe). Since playing through the middle in his NRL debut, Salesa-Leaumoana has been getting more game time as a middle forward in reserve grade. Salesa-Leaumoana probably won't get a call up for Samoa from NSW Cup but he is part of their forward pack depth and like many others, he has versatility to boost his case for selection.

There are NZ Warriors youngsters who could feature for Samoa as well. Demitric Vaimauga (Otahuhu) is eligible for Samoa, Tonga, Niue and Aotearoa which makes it impossible to predict what choice he will make. Perhaps the name from change from Sifakula to Vaimauga could suggest that he will chose to represent Samoa and his cultural background encapsulates Aotearoa's multi-cultural society so he may pursue Aotearoa Kiwis selection.

Game time may also be a factor as Vaimauga is more likely to play minutes for Samoa right now. Vaimauga and Xavier Willison (Whatawhata - Cook Islands) are the next best middle forwards in the NZ Kiwis top-tier, but they are behind other emerging forwards such as Naufahu Whyte (Bay Roskill), Leo Thompson (Napier Marist), Griffin Neame (Suburbs Greymouth) and Erin Clark (Manurewa) who made his Test debut last year.

Maybe it would be wise for NZ Kiwis to select Vaimauga and Willison in their next squad to provide them with a development pathway. Otherwise both could opt to represent other nations with Vaimauga likely to chose Samoa and Willison could stick with Cook Islands.

Tanner Stowers-Smith (Halswell), Jacob Laban (Te Aroha) and Ali Leiataua (Papatoetoe) are also in the mix for Samoa. Stowers-Smith has a hearty whanau connection to NZ Kiwis and Laban's consistent involvement in Aotearoa Maori rugby league suggests that they will both align themselves with Aotearoa. Leiataua is unlikely to play Test rugby league this year either due to injury or dipping out of the NRL tier for NZ Warriors.

Stowers Smith, Laban and Leiataua played for NZ-A in 2023 which could clarify matters. Leiataua is more likely to get game time for Samoa so that could be his choice for the next few years but he would need to stack up consistent NRL mahi to propel his way into the Test mixer.

Leka Halasima (Mangere East) will play for Tonga.

There are a bunch of 2025 Kiwi-NRL debutants who are likely to add to Tonga's depth along with Kalepo. Tevita Naufahu (St Kents College) and Chris Vea'ila (Waitemata) are in the outside back bracket, while Salesi Foketi (Manurewa) has looked comfy in his first season of NRL footy playing as an edge and middle forward.

Halasima, Foketi and Kalepo all played for Tonga A in 2023 and they are the most likely lads to debut for Tonga this year. With Haumole Olakau'atu out injured, Halasima is the ideal player to take that edge forward role and Foketi's edge/middle versatility should see him take a bench spot at least. A lack of dummy half depth will boost Kalepo's case for selection.

Queensland Cup/NSW Cup deep cuts...

Samoa

Francis Manuleleua: Papatoetoe | Knights | edge forward
Jaxson Paulo: Northcote | Cowboys | wing
Cassius Tia: Marist | Bulldogs | half/centre
Zyon Maiu'u: Te Atatu | Bulldogs | middle forward
Makaia Tafua: Linwood | Warriors | hooker
Bunty Afoa: Pt Chevalier | Warriors | middle forward

Tonga

Sio Kali: Pt Chevalier | Warriors | wing
Moala Graham-Taufa: Marist | Warriors | centre
Tom Ale: Mt Albert | Warriors | middle/edge forward
Taniela Otukolo: Otahuhu | Bulldogs | hooker/small forward
Jenson Taumoepeau: Western Suburbs - New Plymouth | Raiders | wing
Salesi Ataata: Otahuhu | Rabbitohs | mide forward

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