2023 Kiwi-NRL Power Rankings
Penrith Panthers (1st last year)
New Zealand Warriors (7th)
Brisbane Broncos (9th)
Sydney Roosters (2nd)
Melbourne Storm (3rd)
Cronulla Sharks (5th)
Newcastle Knights (14th)
Parramatta Eels (4th)
Canberra Raiders (6th)
Gold Coast Titans (11th)
Redcliffe Dolphins
North Queensland Cowboys (8th)
Canterbury-Bankston Bulldogs (13th)
Wests Tigers (15th)
Manly Sea Eagles (12th)
South Sydney Rabbitohs (10th)
St George Illawara Dragons (16th)
Penrith Panthers
Another NRL championship with the best prop duo in the world leading their middle mahi obviously means Panthers stay at the top of the Kiwi-NRL Power Rankings. James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota not only double-down on their dominance, they continue to offer the friendship that we all need as the notorious Bash Bros. Scott Sorenson didn't feature for Aotearoa Kiwis this year but he is still one of the better edge forwards in the game and Panthers have enough Aotearoa juice in their pipeline to ensure their stats as the Kiwi-NRL leaders. Preston Riki is building towards an NRL debut alongside his Hokianga homie Fisher-Harris, Daeon Amituanai offers wing depth and while he didn't play much in 2023, Panthers still have Francis Manuleleua in their junior system as a skillful utility back.
New Zealand Warriors
Don't fall for the lazy ideas about NZ Warriors representing all of Aotearoa rugby league. Aotearoa Kiwis smacked up Australia with just one player from NZ Warriors while every NRL team loves Kiwi-NRL juniors and 1st 15 talent. With that in mind, NZ Warriors make a big leap up the Kiwi-NRL Power Rankings after a fantastic season at the highest level. Their spot in second is built on strong foundations though with their NRL depth mainly coming from Aotearoa and this depth bolstered one of the best NSW Cup teams. Investment from ownership has also seen NZ Warriors set up more junior teams for 2024 and given the immense talent already in their pipeline, NZ Warriors have earned this ranking of second through a club-wide approach to development.
Brisbane Broncos
Even though their Grand Final mahi only featured one lad from Aotearoa in Jordan Riki, Broncos combine elite NRL antics with top-tier Kiwi-NRL recruitment from all across Aotearoa. Riki is from Christchurch which sets the tone for the Broncos Kiwi-NRL vibe and he is joined by Deine Mariner from Auckland and Xavier Willison from Waikato, two emerging talents who made nifty development leaps this season.
The mana of Broncos is evident in their Kiwi-NRL junior ranks as they are brewing Nathaniel Tangimataiti nicely, plus they added Kylem Vunipola from Dannevirke. Vunipola is one of the sneaky best Kiwi-NRL juniors to learn about for 2024 as he has quickly made an impact in the Broncos system, similar to the swift rise of Mariner and Willison. Broncos apparently snapped up Josiah Karapani as well, which would give them three of the best Kiwi-NRL centre/backs yet to play NRL alongside Vunipola and Mariner.
Sydney Roosters
Roosters are ranked highly again thanks to a junior pipeline full of Kiwi-NRL talent to go with a hearty collection of Aotearoa's best players in their NRL team. 2023 was niggly for Roosters at the NRL level with underwhelming performances and lot of injuries, or in Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' case suspensions. Joseph Manu, Brandon Smith and Sitili Tupouniua didn't have their best seasons which was more about availability rather than form but Naufahu Whyte emerged to earn Aotearoa Kiwis selection and Siua Wong enjoyed a consistent stint in the Roosters top-17, adding Tonga to his international honours having already represented Fiji.
As usual, Roosters salary cap sombrero is a myth as their financial power is most evident in their Kiwi-NRL junior system. Roosters featured heavily in the Kiwi-NRL Juniors Who Helped Australian Teams Make Finals and among the many Kiwi-NRL juniors in their system, Roosters made a significant addition with Tavita Henare-Schuster leaving rugby union in Manawatu to join Roosters Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup. Whether it's Salesi Foketi, Benaiah Ioelu or Cassius Tia; Roosters have the next Whyte or Wong rising up their ranks along with Kiwi-NRL juniors in every grade.
Melbourne Storm
One of the funkiest Kiwi-NRL nuggets to ponder is how Storm have some of Aotearoa's best talent but no players from Auckland in their NRL mixer. Wellington is a sneaky farm for top-tier Kiwi-NRL talent with Jahrome Hughes and Nelson Asofa-Solomona leading the way, plus the emergence of Will Warbrick from Kawerau adds another joker from regional Aotearoa into the equation. Warbrick is a fabulous example of Storm development as he spent 2022 in reserve grade before settling as consistent top-17 player for Storm this year and Storm will roll out similar development mahi for Christchurch's K-Ci Newton-Whare and Caius Fa'atili. Storm also have lads like former 1st 15 talent Dickie Terepo (from Auckland) and Matthew Logopath (Christchurch), all of which forms a new wave of Storm's Kiwi-NRL mana.
Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks Kiwi-NRL vibe is all about massive forwards from Aotearoa as the lads from the shire have an impressive collection of big boppers throughout their system. That starts with Braden Hamlin-Uele in the NRL team and he is joined in the big bopper ranks by Salesi Ata'ata, Felix Fa'atili and Toataua Porima. Sharks could also unleash a trio of big boppers who have been recruited from 1st 15 rugby in Wellington and Christchurch; Pharrrell Gray, Sione Latu and Richie Tupuailei.
This is the best concentration of big boppers from Aotearoa in the NRL and Sharks have clearly identified a need that Aotearoa can fill. Ronaldo Mulitalo and Briton Nikora were key players in Aotearoa Kiwis success as well, adding upper echelon mana to the Sharks ranking. Sharks were a wee bit disappointing in the NRL this season but they are still a top-eight outfit with notable Aotearoa Kiwis and a development pipeline flush with talent from Aotearoa.
Newcastle Knights
Knights don't have a lot of Kiwi-NRL talent in their NRL mixer and they continue to build out a comprehensive Kiwi-NRL pipeline which boosts their ranking. The top-tier lads that Knights do have delivered their best mahi this season with Leo Thompson thriving in Newcastle and earning an Aotearoa Kiwis call up, in which he showcased his mana through haka and footy. Mangere East's Greg Marzhew has also tapped into his potential with Knights with both these lads moving to Knights from other NRL teams in nifty bits of recruitment.
How the younger lads from Aotearoa in the Knights pipeline develop will be fascinating given how the previous wave of Kiwi-NRL juniors in Newcastle have departed for other teams. Starford To'a went to Tigers a few seasons ago and Chris Ve'aila went to Sharks mid-way through 2023 as the most notable examples, but there are plenty more rising up the ranks in Newcastle. Sebastian Su'a is on the cusp on NRL footy as a middle forward, plus Knights have snapped up Toni Tupouniua after he was slow-grinding in various reserve grade teams. Below this fringe-NRL tier are Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana, Jarome Falemoe, Jayden Harris, Bailey Carmichael, Tamakaimoana Whareaorere and Haami Loza scattered throughout their junior teams. This cluster features a lovely mix of regions with Salesa-Leaumoana and Falemoe both coming from Southern Cross Campus in Mangere, Harris is from Kohukohu up north, plus Carimichael and Whareaorere are from Te Puke.
Parramatta Eels
Eels are the only team from outside the NRL's top-eight who slide up into the top-half of the Kiwi-NRL Power Rankings. Dylan Brown's absence for Eels impacted their campaign but he finished the year as a starting half for Aotearoa Kiwis where he was joined by fellow Northlander Wiremu Greig who was part of the squad. Makahesi Makatoa and Ofahiki Ogden should play more footy for Eels but the way Greig and many other Kiwi-NRL lads improve with Eels, suggests that Eels know what they are doing with more scope for development from those two forwards.
Haze Dunster didn't play much footy for Eels either this year and he could find a consistent role next year, while Bailey Simonsson thrived in a regular centre role. Daejarn Asi is unlikely to gain a consistent gig with Eels as they have their starting halves sussed, yet Asi performed admirably in the halves when Brown or Mitchell Moses were absent and showcased his utility value in reserve grade. Asi joined Eels from NZ Warriors and Jirah Momoisea left Knights for Eels where he also gain experienced in a variety of roles in reserve grade. How these two develop in an Eels system that has numerous examples of improvement will be interesting, which also applies for new recruits Morgan Harper and Kelma Tuilagi who join Eels from Sea Eagles.
All these Kiwi-NRL lads are why Eels are ranked nicely. They also have an impressive youngster in Te Hurinui Apanui Twidle from Turangawaewae who started at fullback in SG Ball and then demanded a promotion to Jersey Flegg. Eels don't have as many Kiwi-NRL juniors in their pipeline as other teams but Twidle has had a hefty impact in his first season with Eels.
Canberra Raiders
The Raiders Kiwi-NRL flavour is led by Joseph Tapine and Matthew Timoko, both of whom were impressive for Aotearoa Kiwis this year. Tapine's mana is evident in how he led Aotearoa Maori and Kiwis alongside Fisher-Harris this year, adding that Wellington wrinkle of excellence with Hughes and Asofa-Solomona. Unfortunately Corey Harawira-Naera may be ruled out of footy which is a bummer for such a hearty competitor from Northland.
Raiders also have Jordan Rapana, Sebastian Kris and Danny Levi in their mix. Their crop of youngsters features Ata Mariota from Manurewa and Simi Sasagi is an intriguing addition from Knights who could thrive with a change of scenery. Raiders lack depth of Kiwi-NRL junior talent throughout their pipeline but Jack Sandford and Siamani Leuluai are two notable youngsters to track as outside backs.
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans system is still one of the busiest for Kiwi-NRL recruitment but their Aotearoa mana starts with the legend Kieran Foran. Somehow Foran was an influential figure for Aotearoa Kiwis at hooker after a rugged NRL campaign and he is joined by Isaac Liu, Erin Clark, Keano Kini and Ken Maumalo (who is signed but hasn't played for Titans). This is a solid Kiwi-NRL crew which features the electric Kini who was an enticing selection in the Aotearoa Kiwis squad this year.
Titans made an impressive signing in recruiting Caelys Putoko from 1st 15 rugby and they also have Ryder Williams as a young half. Putoko played for Hamilton Boys High School before being selected in the NZ Schools team and along with Tevita Naufahu (see below for Dolphins), they gained NRL gigs a few months after representing Aotearoa in schoolboy rugby union. Williams is the youngest player for Titans with a development contract which is fantastic for a play-maker from Aotearoa and Titans also have Vaka Sikahele as hooker/small forward who could climb into a fringe-NRL spot next year.
Redcliffe Dolphins
The freshest NRL team has already made Kiwi-NRL waves and the state of Aotearoa rugby league is evident how the expansion team Dolphins love Kiwi-NRL talent. Dolphins have the Bromwich brothers, Jamayne Isaako, Jeremy Marshall-King, Kodi Nikorima as well as a double-dose of Tangaroa College funk in Connelly Lemuelu and Valynce Te Whare. Even young half Isaiya Katoa is from Wellington.
Below NRL is where the Dolphins intrigue sits as Peter O'Sullivan loves to recruit from Aotearoa, especially from 1st 15 rugby in Aotearoa. Te Whare is an example of that but Dolphins also picked up Tevita Naufahu from St Kentigern College and NZ Schools, while Elijah Rasmussen and John Fineanganofo also played 1st 15 rugby for Westlake Boys High School and Auckland Grammar School respectively.
North Queensland Cowboys
Griffin Neame elevated into an Aotearoa Kiwis squad this season and the Greymouth junior leads the Cowboys Kiwi-NRL recruitment of middle forwards. Along with Papakura/Otahuhu junior Jason Taumalolo, Cowboys have D'Jazirhae Pua'Avase in their wider NRL squad and he could make his debut this season after a few years brewing in the Cowboys system.
Jeremiah Matautia and Henry Teutau are two forwards who have played consistently in Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings Deering Colts before dabbling in Queensland Cup mahi last season. While Neame is a high-point of Cowboys recruitment from regional Aotearoa, this has flipped as Pua'Avase is a Manurewa junior, Matautia is an Otara junior and Teutau is a Marist junior. All three of the young forwards in the Cowboys system are from Auckland and if they follow Neame's lead, they could all add to the NRL squad in the next few seasons.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Bulldogs are a tricky group to rank as they have invested heavily in Kiwi-NRL juniors to bolster their junior system and also had a rough year with their Kiwi-NRL talent. Hayze Perham was the best Kiwi-NRL player for Bulldogs and while he did a serviceable job at fullback for a team that clearly stunk, everyone seemed to dislike Perham's mahi at fullback. How Perham fits in next season will be interesting as he can cover all backline positions which is the same as most of the new recruits for Bulldogs.
Let alone Raymond Faitala-Mariner who was celebrated by Bulldogs as a leader before the season and then brushed aside after the season. Apparently everything is all good there, while there is no clarity in the status of Northcote junior Jackson Topine. Bulldogs are messy, there is plenty of chat and little bite, yet they have two halves from Aotearoa in their system and are clearly stockpiling Kiwi-NRL juniors.
Wests Tigers
Having Benji Marshall as coach doesn't help the Tigers Kiwi-NRL Power Ranking as they are one of the most dysfunctional NRL teams which flows into their Kiwi-NRL mahi. Tigers have got Kiwi-NRL lads in their top-tier with Isaiah Papali'i, Starford To'a, Asu Kepaoa and Junior Tupou leading the way. Papali'i was impressive for Aotearoa Kiwis and Kepaoa made a sneaky appearance for Aotearoa A, while To'a and Tupou both represented Tonga this year.
Tigers also have Oliver Lawry as a young half in their system and he was recently joined by Solomon Alaimalo, both of these lads played 1st 15 in Christchurch. There have been lots of Kiwi-NRL juniors who have departed Tigers though and there is little evidence to suggest that Tigers are a strong development organisation. This could change in 2024 but we'll believe it when we see it.
Manly Sea Eagles
Sea Eagles have a sprinkle of Kiwi-NRL lads in their wider NRL mixer but lack a genuine Kiwi-NRL recruitment plan in their lower grades. Josh Aloiai and Toafofoa Sipley have both proven themselves to be decent middle forwards, with Sipley's development at Sea Eagles a boost for their Kiwi-NRL stocks. Sea Eagles have also invested in Raymond Tuaimalo-Vaega and like Sipley, Tuaimalo-Vaega has steadily improved to pounce on any opportunity available. With Christian Tuipulotu offering a powerful wing presence and Jaxson Paulo joining Sea Eagles, they have plenty of Kiwi-NRL depth at winger and all players mentioned so far are from Auckland.
Devanti Mihinui is the most notable Sea Eagles junior as a middle forward and he is again in their Jersey Flegg squad. There aren't many other lads in the Sea Eagles junior grades though and without top-notch talent from Aotearoa or a concentrated recruitment drive, Sea Eagles don't have much Kiwi-NRL mana.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Respect to Rabbitohs for their mana in the indigenous Australian community as they are leaders in his aspect. That doesn't leave much room for Kiwi-NRL mahi though with Siliva Havili and Michael Chee Kam. Havili offers immense value as a leader and versatile hooker/small forward for Rabbitohs with the Manurewa junior finding a genuine home at Redfern. Rabbitohs also have Nazareth Taua who is a Glenora junior and Rabbitohs picked him up from Norths Devils in Queensland. Despite still being SG Ball (U19) eligible, Taua earned a train/trial gig with Rabbitohs and the young forward was the only player below Jersey Flegg listed by Rabbitohs in their train/trial group.
St George Illawara Dragons
Dragons are at the bottom of the Kiwi-NRL ladder once again. This includes a lack of players from Aotearoa in their NRL team and minimal Kiwi-NRL recruitment, which is a bit strange considering how Dragons sign players from other NRL teams. Dragons do have Paul Turner in their squad although he isn't graced with much opportunity, plus Te Umuariki Heremia-Tukere from Turangawaewae is in their system who played wing for their SG Ball and Jersey Flegg teams this year. That's about it though and a new regime may help Dragons increase their Kiwi-NRL scouting.
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