Spring Internationals: Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos Preview
After a quick squizz at the Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns team named by coach Kelvin Wright, I was left pondering how so much premier kiwi rugby league talent was squeezed into a team of 17.
After a quick squizz at the Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns team named by coach Kelvin Wright, I was left pondering how so much premier kiwi rugby league talent was squeezed into a team of 17.
Mad respect to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and the Watene whanau for nod to captain Aotearoa, however when you look past the captaincy funk and suss out the Aotearoa Kiwis team, as well as how they match up against Australia, there's many low key reasons to be optimistic as a Kiwis fan.
After Aotearoa Warriors ran through their best NRL season in a while, it's time for my annual geeze at how the Warriors are going about their recruitment and development antics.
Having named a Tonga wider squad last month, coach Kristian Woolf has cut it down to a squad of 19 for their Test against Australia.
Two of the less funky yarns from the past week with Aotearoa Warriors were Isaiah Papali'i extending his contract and Joseph Vuna apparently making it known that he's off on his Mormon mission next year.
Melbourne Storm were already in a position to maintain their status as a top-tier #KiwiNRL club and now, having locked Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jahrome Hughes and Kayleb Milne, the Storm have boosted their long-term #KiwiNRL stocks.
Every year, with every Junior Kiwis squad that takes on the Junior Kangaroos, it's my duty to scour the interwebs and introduce you to those who are worthy of selection in an Aotearoa Under 20s team.
Among an abundance of good Aotearoa Warriors news - from Nathan Cayless joining the coaching staff to Jazz Tevaga re-signing along with Isaiah Papali'i and Bunty Afoa extending their existing deals - Issac Luke has opted to stay at Mt Smart for another year.
If anyone out there thought that the player movement between Tonga and Aotearoa was a one-way street, the decision of Agnatius Paasi to slide into Aotearoa Kiwis camp instead of Tonga is an example of individuals making their own footy decisions.
Every time I take a moment to sit back and appreciate the vast changes that have taken place on the field and off the field at Mt Smart for Aotearoa Warriors, there's another piece of recruitment that tickles my fancy.
Having named a rather aggressive Junior Kiwis wider squad, the actual Junior Kiwis squad named by coach Ezra Howe resembles a far more realistic Junior Kiwis group.
Welcome to the new era; the first Kiwi Ferns squad named after the NRL Women's competition.
Fresh off of an NRL Grand Final featuring a gang of kiwi lads, Aotearoa Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has named his squad for the spring international window.
With their season on the field finished for 2018, Aotearoa Warriors had a fantastic week off the field as they followed up a delightful evening at the Dally M awards with news of Bunty Afoa and Jazz Tevaga re-signing with the club.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho was on fire for the Roosters last week and in the Grand Final, he’ll come up against a Melbourne Storm #KiwiNRL crew who ooze funk. There are plenty of #KiwiNRL wahine in the NRL Women’s Grand Final as well, making it a glorious #KiwiNRL Sunday.
Newcastle Knights have officially snared their big signing off Aotearoa Warriors. Yup, that's right; the Knights lured Mason Lino across the ditch.
As I went deep into the Issac Luke contract situation, it became clear that Luke's bung shoulder wouldn't just have an impact on his NRL career.
This week the #KiwiNRL Notebook turns the focus on the reserve grade grand finals in Queensland and New South Wales, both of which featured an abundance of #KiwiNRL funk.
As of early Monday morning, Issac Luke is still a free agent and appears to be stuck between Aotearoa Warriors and Newcastle Knights
After rocking through the Aotearoa Warriors player debriefs for the backs, we now move into the forwards.