Tagged with: Kiwi-NRL
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.
NRL Pre-Season Challenge starts this weekend along with trials for Broncos and Dolphins, as well as Under 19 footy in Queensland where there is an impressive group of youngsters from Aotearoa named in both the men's and women's teams for Burleigh.
Under 19 SG Ball/Tasha Gale Cup footy kicks off this weekend and while New Zealand Warriors have an SG Ball game vs Manly Sea Eagles in Sydney, there are a bunch of young men and women from Aotearoa named for Australian teams.
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.
The Kiwi-NRL Summer Guide moves into New South Wales to cover Newcastle Knights, Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters.
This Kiwi-NRL guide rolls through the Queensland NRL teams with fringe/development nuggets about North Queensland Cowboys, Redcliffe Dolphins, Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans
The annual check in with Kiwi-NRL Juniors Who Helped Australian Teams Make Finals is slightly different this year as there was no Under 21 Hastings Deering Colts competition in Queensland.