The third edition of Kiwi-NRL Juniors Who Helped Australian Teams Win is here to highlight the youngsters from Aotearoa who played Grand Finals in Queensland's Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings Deering Colts as well as New South Wales' SG Ball and Jersey Flegg.
Aotearoa Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has named his first team since the World Cup headlined by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad sealing the fullback role and Fa'amanu Brown starting at hooker in his Kiwis debut.
Aotearoa's Kiwi Ferns were down 4-16 at half-time against Australia on Saturday night and the dark tinge of last year's World Cup final drubbing started to emerge.
The strength of rugby league in Aotearoa will be on display when Aotearoa A take on Tonga A with both squads full of Kiwi-NRL juniors.
A new wave of wahine enter the Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns mixer with every NRLW season and the latest squad features more youngsters from New Zealand as well as the players from Australia tapping into Aotearoa mana.
The 2023 Aotearoa Kiwis squad has been named by coach Michael Maguire with rugby league's rise in Aotearoa on display in the depth of talent and where these players come from.
Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans will play the 2023 NRLW Grand Final with five Kiwi Ferns involved, plus Niall Williams-Guthrie who could crack Kiwi Ferns months after changing codes.
The 2023 NRL Grand Final between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos will feature a Kiwi-NRL presence that stretches from the Hokianga down to Christchurch.
The return of NZ Warriors to Aotearoa resulted in a season-long celebration of rugby league with the two Andys establishing foundations for the future.
Next up in the 2023 NZ Warriors NRL season is a trip to Brisbane to face Broncos and the dirty secret of Warriors bolstering crowds for Aussie teams will again be on display.
Regardless of how the finals run ends for NZ Warriors this season, the win over Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart serves as a celebration of the 2023 NRL campaign.
Defending NRLW champions Newcastle Knights have sealed the top spot in this season's NRLW after defeating Tigers on Thursday night.
More NRL Finals means more Kiwi-NRL juniors shining under the bright lights with Leo Thompson and Greg Marzhew returning to Aotearoa, while Storm vs Roosters is flush with funky Kiwi-NRL talent.
NZ Warriors host Newcastle Knights on Saturday evening and after being brushed aside by Panthers, Warriors will receive a mana boost from the Mt Smart faithful as well as the hopeful return of Shaun Johnson.
The latest round of NRLW action is already underway with Sharks defeating Dragons 16-8 last night as Otara's Annessa Biddle once again led her team for post contact metres.
NZ Warriors give NRL Finals footy a big ol' haere mai with their trip to Penrith Panthers on Saturday.
The first round of NRL Finals features the best players competing for Aotearoa Kiwis selection and a range of Kiwi-NRL juniors who have impressed this season.
One of the pleasures in tracking NZ Warriors this season has been hearty troopers enjoying wins and playing their best footy. Tamatea's Tohu Harris is the epitome of this vibe.
The full moon was clearly not working in favour of NZ Warriors for their loss to Dolphins and yet many sprouts were illuminated, none more so that Northland's Kalani Going.
The hearty performances of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have consistently slid under the radar this season for NZ Warriors and the City Newton junior is now finals bound in his home city.