Kiwi NRL Stocks: Round Four
Shaun Kenny-Dowall, the tuatara.
Stocks Up
Curtis Rona: The big kiwi winger is back at it, scoring a try and running for 105m along with 2 tackle busts and an offload. Rona didn't score last week but with the Bulldogs running riot over the Rabbitohs it was the perfect occasion for Rona to get in on the act.
Chase Stanley: I haven't been too excited about Stanley as an NRL centre, however Bulldogs' coach Des Hasler has consistently picked Stanley and the former Kiwis international enjoyed the best game I've seen him play. Stanley was heavily involved with 24 touches and averaged 9m per-carry thanks to 6 tackle busts, plus he scored a powerful try.
Sam Perrett: A strong night for Perrett (and all the Bulldogs) as the dynamic winger ran for 103m and filled the stat-sheet with a try assist, 2 tackle busts, an offload and a line break.
Sam Kasiano: As I said last week, Kasiano is up and down each week, so when the Bulldogs are going well you can expect Kasiano to play a strong hand. Kasiano only played 29 minutes but averaged 10.7m per-carry and got 2 offloads out in another example of what the huge forward from Otahuhu can do.
Jason Taumalolo: There aren't too many forwards who can do what Taumalolo does and do it as easily as Taumalolo. He ran for 211m and broke 2 tackles, however that came thanks to a very high work-rate in which the big fella took 20 hit ups. When you're taking that many carries, you'll make a few metres, what makes Taumalolo a beast is that he averaged 10.55m with each run.
Jordan Rapana: Every week Rapana finds himself in 'Stocks Up' as he's either taking the most hit ups of any player on the field, or he's making the most metres. This week against Gold Coast, Rapana had the most carries and metres of any back with 141m off 16 carries and 3 tackle busts, plus Rapana instigated some second-phase footy with 3 offloads - no one had more offloads than Rapana in this game.
Joseph Tapine: Ricky Stuart has brough Tapine off the bench to play in the middle of the park and it's been interesting to see Tapien adjust, which he's done very well. Tapine only played 26 minutes but made 51m off just 4 carries and I suspect we'll gradually see more and more of Tapine as the season goes on.
Leivaha Pulu: He didn't quite have the same impact as Ryan James off the bench for Gold Coast, Pulu was however very solid in his work and always looked dangerous when carrying the footy. Pulu put in a big shift of 51 minutes - no Raiders bench forward played more than 46 minutes - while also being a threat with offloads as he had 2.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall: Probably the performance of the round here for SKD as he scored a double, ran for 200m off only 17 carries (averaged 11.76m per-carry) and broke 10 tackles. His metres and tackle busts were a game high in a losing effort as Kenny-Dowall continues to have a strong season after his off-field dramas. All this in his 200th NRL game as well, big shout to Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho: Another standard game for Taukeiaho in which he ran for 137m in 73m with 3 tackle busts and an offload. Taukeiaho has ran for over 100m in every game this season, just sayin'.
Lewis Brown: New club, same job for Brown as he fills in where ever he is needed and against the Roosters he was called on to play centre. Brown did a fine job, running for 120m off only 8 carries.
Peta Hiku: I'd make an argument that Hiku is one of the best centres in the NRL, especially after seamlessly slotting in at Penrith. Hiku scored a try against the Dragons and ran for 161m with 7 tackle busts and an offload as well.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: Watch DWZ closely and you'll notice how hard he runs and how aggressive he is in defence which is a great asset for a young outside back to have. DWZ ran for 140m and broke 3 tackles in another strong game for the kiwi winger.
Jason Nightingale: You wouldn't associate Nightingale with razzle dazzle, however no other Dragon had more offloads than Nightingale against Penrith. When you throw in 4 tackle busts and 106m running the footy, it's hard not to appreciate the work of the ever-solid Nightingale.
James Fisher-Harris: A late call up, Northland's Fisher-Harris once again showed a high work ethic and impact off the bench for Penrith. He ran for 51m off only 5 carries in 27 minutes and it's easy to spot Fisher-Harris as he's always running around like a mad-man looking for involvement on attack or defence, which gave him a try assist as he followed the play and threw a final pass to fellow kiwi Hiku to score.
Suaia Matagi: After moving from the Roosters to Penrith, Matagi has found a niche off the bench offering impact for the Panthers who lack a dynamic ball-runner. Matagi averaged 13.66 with 6 carries, adding plenty of oomph to a skilled Panthers pack.
Manu Vatuvei: Our Niche Cache favourite Manu Vatuvei returned to start on the wing and showed his value to the Warriors as he ran for 107m off 12 carries with 5 tackle busts.
Ben Matulino: Another strong performance from Matulino as he led the Warriors through the middle with 119m and also managed an offload and a tackle bust as well. Oh and throw in a meat pie against some horrible defence as well.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck: Another 200m game for Mr 200. Tuivasa-Sheck ran for 203m off 21 carries thanks to his standard collection of tackle busts and eve managed a try assist. More importantly though, Tuivasa-Sheck contributed to a high Warriors offload count with 3 which helped the Warriors string some second-phase footy going.
Sauaso Sue & Ava Seumanufagai: West Tigers have some electric play-makers and they have one of the best props in the game in Aaron Woods, however we love the work of Sue and Seumanufagai who dominate the middle of the field and rarely get the praise they deserve. Sue ran for 142m with 3 tackle busts and 2 offloads and Seumanufagai ran for 140m, both made 25 tackles, doing a great job in countering an aggressive Eels forward pack.
Manu Ma'u: Despite staring at another suspension, Ma'u showed his value in his return ... from suspension as he ran for 133m in 80 minutes and made 30 tackles. Junior Paulo was the only other starting forward for the Eels to run for over 100m. It's a bummer that Ma'u does have loading points stacked up so anything that goes on report will likely see him miss a game or two.
Kenny Edwards: Levin's finest continues to enjoy a strong start to the season as he once again ran for over 100m and made a few tackle busts (3). Edwards is very similar to Ma'u with regards to how mobile he is and he's enjoying consistent game time in a team that has made big improvements defensively and kept the Tigers to 0.
Sosaia Feki: Cronulla enjoyed plenty of impact from their outside backs as Feki ran for 132m and was one of four Sharks outside backs to run for more than 100m against Melbourne.
Tohu Harris: The shaggy lad from Hastings was immense for Melbourne against Cronulla as he took a game high 20 carries with an offload and made 23 tackles. Harris ran for 173m in a busy night in which he played mostly as an edge forward after being name to start at centre, he's one versatile player this bloke.
Jesse Bromwich: Melbourne weren't overly good against Cronulla with a misfiring attack their downfall, although it wasn't because of Bromwich's efforts up the guts. Bromwich ran for 145m and squeezed out the most offloads of any player on the park with 4.
Stocks Down
Jordan Kahu: It was a rough night for Kahu. He started at centre and could only manage 70m off 9 carries and missed a game high 9 tackles, easily Kahu's worst effort in the past season and a bit.
Frank-Paul Nuuasuala: Ah, well Frank gave away the silliest penalty you will ever see and basically handed the win to Gold Coast late in the game.
Jeff Lima: The veteran forward came off after only 11 minutes on the field thanks to a fractured hand that will see him out for at least a month.
Russell Packer: After a lean patch, Packer had a decent game but it was tarnished by a silly penalty for a late shot on Jamie Soward, 2 penalties and an error to his name see his stocks drop further.
Manaia Cherrington: Trying to figure out what's doing with Cherrington is very difficult as he warmed the bench for much of the game against Parramatta with Robbie Farah making his return. Cherrington and Farah were both on the bench at a period of time and it looks as though Cherrington won't feature too often when Farah is named in the 17.