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.

Turangawaewae junior Aublix Tawha added himself to the list of 2025 Kiwi-NRL debutants with a hearty stint coming off the bench for Dolphins in their loss to Knights.

Kiwi-NRL juniors from Aotearoa continue to simmer their way through reserve grade footy in Queensland and New South Wales with a bunch of them on the cusp of NRL debuts.

Tukimihia Simpkins made his return to NRL footy with Gold Coast Titans in their win vs Manly Sea Eagles and the hearty Pikiao junior from Rotorua seems like the type of forward that coach Des Hasler would love.

Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana became the eighth Kiwi-NRL debutant of 2025 after coming off the bench for Newcastle Knights in their win over Manly Sea Eagles.

Otara's Benaiah Ioelu became the seventh Kiwi-NRL debut of 2025 as he started at hooker for Sydney Roosters in their win vs Cronulla Sharks.

Tanner Stowers-Smith became the sixth Kiwi-NRL debutant in the 2025 NRL season after the Halswell junior from Christchurch got 25 minutes of action for New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins.

Xavier Willison has played 30+ minutes in all eight games for Brisbane Broncos this season under coach Michael Maguire but the last two weeks have offered the most intrigue with the Whatuwhata junior playing more minutes at edge forward.

New Plymouth's Mawene Hiroti is been patiently waiting for a decent opportunity at Cronulla Sharks and with an unfortunate injury lay off for Arorangi junior Kayal Iro, that opportunity has come at left centre this season.

Tyrone Thompson joined twin brother Leo as the starting props for Newcastle Knights in their loss to Wests Tigers which means there have been five Kiwi-NRL debuts in six rounds this season.

Sean Mullany came off the bench for Gold Coast Titans in their loss vs Dolphins to make his NRL debut and become the fourth Kiwi-NRL debutant in 2025 after five rounds of footy.

Moses Leo added himself to the Kiwi-NRL debut list with his late call up to the Melbourne Storm team who defeated Manly Sea Eagles.

Bayleigh Bentley-Hape made his NRL debut for South Sydney Rabbitohs in their win over St George Illawara Dragons, which makes the Moerewa junior the second Kiwi-NRL debutant in two rounds of footy this season.

Salesi Foketi is the first Kiwi-NRL debutant of the 2025 NRL season after coming off the bench for Sydney Roosters in their round one loss vs Brisbane Broncos.

There are a few notable Kiwi-NRL selections to check in with as pre-season winds down such as Te Hurinui Twidle getting a crack in the halves for Parramatta Eels and former New Zealand Schools rugby union player Tevita Naufahu sticking around the Dolphins squad.

Plenty more NRL Pre-Season Challenge games are being played over the next few days and this means more Kiwi-NRL deep cuts like Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Esom Ioka, Nazareth Taua, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and the return of Taniela Otukolo.

The Kiwi-NRL Summer Guide finishes with Cronulla Sharks, St George Illawara Dragons, Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm to check in with lads from Aotearoa who are hunting more NRL footy in 2025

The Kiwi-NRL Summer Guide wanders around around Sydney to cover the emerging talent from Aotearoa with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers.