News of Simon Mannering's retirement from professional rugby league struck like a taiaha to the heart, although to go out on top, on his own terms and having played his role in the winds of change through Mt Smart, is the perfect scenario for Lord Mannering.
Wests Tigers have a full #KiwiNRL forward pack, but can they stop the Rabbitohs? Brad Abbey is back for Canberra Raiders, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is back for Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm’s Aucklanders return home.
Despite apparent interest from Australian NRL clubs, Tevita Satae has re-signed with Aotearoa Warriors for three more years and we now wait to see whether Simon Mannering and Issac Luke want to keep riding the Warriors waka.
We haven't seen Jesse Bromwich play for Aotearoa for over a year, we've barely seen the older Bromwich bro play NRL footy for Melbourne Storm this season.
In recent weeks, I have settled into the position as Aotearoa Warriors spiritual guru and an impressive win over Brisbane Broncos, in Brisbane only reinforces the need for such a perspective.
As LeBron James swung his sword of power and slid into Los Angeles Lakers folklore, Cameron Smith was kicking back during State of Origin, enjoying a couple days free time and playing games for Melbourne Storm during the Origin window for the first time in 15 years
The 2018 Aotearoa Warriors season has featured many weeks in which I approach the weekend's footy with great excitement, this week it's all nerves as the Warriors take on Brisbane Broncos.
Caleb Aekins will make his NRL debut at fullback for Penrith Panthers and he joins fellow Northlanders James Fisher-Harris and Corey Harawira-Naera in the Panthers team to face Cronulla Sharks. Plus, Jesse Bromwich is back for Melbourne Storm and Jordan Rapana is back for Canberra Raiders.
Sick of all the silly Australian State of Origin stuff? Never fear, the second annual #KiwiNRL Battle of Aotearoa is here to offer the ruthless territorial rugby league fix that kiwis are frothing for.
Leeson Ah Mau's return to Mt Smart and Aotearoa Warriors is now official, a three-year deal that will see Ah Mau leave St George Illawara Dragons after this season.
Unfortunately this week's notes start off the field, with Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu finding himself in a spot of legal bother. At the other end of the spectrum, Fainu's 2017 Junior Kiwis captain Jarome Luai was on fire for Penrith Panthers in their win over Aotearoa Warriors.
Remember when Aotearoa Warriors won their first five games of the season? It was a long time ago and I don't bring that up as an example of how the Warriors have dramatically fallen away.
In one swoop, Brisbane Broncos snapped up five more #KiwiNRL wahine and filled their marquee signing quota for the Women's NRL .
Right now, this round, this weekend is probably the best time to play Penrith Panthers of any round of the NRL season.
Kodi Nikorima was a passenger to the Antony Milford show last week, Silivia Havili is now a middle forward for Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers Northland crew is back together.
Round 16 in the NRL saw a gang of different stars align to provide us with an incredibly funky weekend of #KiwiNRL footy.
The June 30 NRL transfer deadline saw Aotearoa Warriors make a couple of moves in the transfer market, all of which were bidding players haere ra on their next rugby league adventures.
Had Aotearoa Warriors won that game vs Cronulla Sharks, most likely by a single point, we could have chucked it in the gritty 'find a way to win' bucket.
One of the narratives that I've continuously rolled out in my Diary Of An Aotearoa Warriors Fan this season has been how greater depth has allowed the Warriors to absorb the ins and outs, mandatory ins and outs of an NRL season.
Will the Aotearoa Kiwis be in action this week? Penrith Panthers re-signed Nick Lui-Toso, Marata Niukore continues to be a positive for Parramatta Eels, we might finally see Manase Fainu get a crack for Manly Sea Eagles and Ofahiki Ogden is set to make his NRL debut for the Doggies.