Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Deine Mariner's Flashy & Tough Start To 2024
Deine Mariner has started the first two games of the 2024 NRL season on the wing for Broncos and if Mariner's playing consistently, tries will be scored. Having already whipped up a Kiwi-NRL Spotlight for Taharoa's Xavier Willison only for him to drop out of the top-17 just prior to their first game vs Roosters and miss out in the win vs Rabbitohs, hopefully the Kiwi-NRL Spotlight treatment doesn't deliver bad juju for Mariner's role as a starting winger.
Ever since Mariner was recruited by Broncos and moved to Australia, he has been one of the best Kiwi-NRL juniors rising through Aussie pipelines. The Manurewa/Marist junior has commanded lots of Kiwi-NRL buzz and he has had to embrace patience in a strong Broncos squad, but now that patience appears to be paying off.
Mariner played two games in 2022 and doubled that with four games last season. Now he has started both games this season and has eight tries in eight career games, with three try assists thrown in for giggles. Mariner has averaged 100+ metres per game in all three seasons and he has played five NRL games on the wing, two at centre and one appearance off the bench.
That flips to 19 games at centre in Queensland Cup and three games on the wing. Mariner is unlikely to dip back down to Q Cup any time soon as his speed/power/instincts combo feels too good for reserve grade. More importantly, Broncos have more opportunities for Mariner this season as Herbie Farnworth departed and Selwyn Cobbo shifted to centre.
Mariner joins East Coast Bays junior Jesse Arthars as the Broncos wingers to start this season. Both offer speed and footwork, which is a different package to veteran Corey Oates. This is also evident in East Tamaki Rugby junior Josiah Karapani who joined the wider Broncos mixer from Rabbitohs this summer (while on the topic of Broncos Kiwi-NRL recruitment, they also have Kia Toa junior Tevita Henare-Schuster at fullback for Burleigh after he left Roosters this summer).
Considering how swiftly Mariner dominated junior footy in Australia and his progress through the Broncos system, he was obviously impressing coaching staff with Broncos. Mariner has a few tries (including him pouncing on a grubber vs NZ Warriors last year) in the NRL that highlight his skill and his chip/chase vs Rabbitohs is the latest example.
Mariner isn't just fast, he's balanced and seems to be able to track where the ball will be. After a couple years in the Broncos' NRL squad, Mariner has matured into his body and this growth helps Mariner handle the rugged mahi of NRL wingers in 2024. Speed helps him dart back behind the ruck when there is a bit of space and he has no issues running into big bodies, where that speed becomes power.
The chip/chase try vs Rabbitohs was nice but this passage below highlights Mariner's effort for his team...
Mariner did make a mistake with his defensive read and fixed it through effort, quickly turning to chase Alex Johnston. Mariner made that tackle and while his comrades worked hard to reset their defensive line, Rabbitohs turned the ball over. Arthars took a tough run, got driven back and no one else was ready to take the next run. Suddenly Mariner appears to take the next run and set up the Broncos to get them out away from their end of the field.
These plays will keep Mariner in the top-17. Broncos have ample play-making to set up tries for Mariner and he has already shown that he can spark up individual moments of brilliance as well. Tough mahi like crucial tackles and helping out his team with niggly runs are winning plays, which for a team like Broncos who are chasing NRL glory this season, is likely to see him settle in a consistent role this season.
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