International New Zealand Kiwis

[Zaggo]

Who do you remove from the pack to fit him in the 17?

Would need to be Papali'i I imagine, Sorensen and Nikora are both 80 minute players and you've already got guys to cover lock.

I'd still pick Papa or Willison over NAS but that could happen.

 

[ROCCO]

Would need to be Papali'i I imagine, Sorensen and Nikora are both 80 minute players and you've already got guys to cover lock.

I'd still pick Papa or Willison over NAS but that could happen.

Papali'i has been one of the most damaging forwards for the Panthers this season and one of the best interchange forwards in the entire NRL. Willison is an up and coming star out of the champion Broncos. He interchanges Payne Haas and is at times is just as damaging as Payne. NAS is not even on the bench at storm. He is a liability in defence and penalty magnet when he does play... I would be shocked if Stacey picks NAS over those boys...

 

[jonesy101]

The one thing about Nelson is that he is so committed to the Kiwi jersey. I remember a few years back he said something like Kiwis for life. It remains to be seen how much game time he gets, but he will be good for the squad.

 

[ROCCO]

I would have preferred Leo Thompson or Griffin Neame

 

[El Chuckie]

Who do you remove from the pack to fit him in the 17?

Maybe they'll 'manage' him. i.e. save him for the Tonga game and play Papali'i v Samoa.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Who do you remove from the pack to fit him in the 17?

I can see them going a few ways tbh. Maybe Stacey just doesn’t pick him, I don’t see him not picking NAS.

I can see them picking Willison at left edge, where Madge played him a lot this year. (With mixed results really)

Really… it’s JFH, NAS and CNK that are the “odd” selections. I can actually live with JFH starting, despite his form not being too good. And a man NAS’ size will certainly be handy against these Polynesian teams.

8. JFH
9. JMK
10. NAS
11. Sorenson
12. Nikora
13. Tapine

14. Clark/Crossland
15. Leota
16. Whyte
17. Willison

The real question is what does Stacey do with CNK…… you just know he’s gonna pick him somewhere. At this stage I just hope it’s not in the halves.

Brown and Foran are a better combo than SJ and CNK. And frankly they have a better squad than last year.

 

[ROCCO]

CNK = Injury cover I reckon. Too slow...

 

[Horriors2013]

I get the NAS hate. But I can't help but imagine having Willison, NAS and Tapine in the same 17. It's a lot to handle. I'd go:

13 Clarke
12 Nikora
11 Papalii
10 JFH
9 Marshall-King
8 Tapine

14 NAS
15 Willison
16 Leota
17 Whyte

That's a lot of power and size off the bench.

 

[Kaos A.D.]

I get the NAS hate. But I can't help but imagine having Willison, NAS and Tapine in the same 17. It's a lot to handle. I'd go:

13 Clarke
12 Nikora
11 Papalii
10 JFH
9 Marshall-King
8 Tapine

14 NAS
15 Willison
16 Leota
17 Whyte

That's a lot of power and size off the bench.

I like it and that's a lot of power, almost unstoppable, but my only worry is if a back went down... It's so hard when you have so many devastating players up front to choose from

 

[VB89]

I would like to see NAS on the bench, he bleeds for the Kiwis. But Im having a headache figuring out who to take off (would have to be Papalli but hes been so good). I also agree that they haven't selected NAS to sit outside the 17 for the whole series.

Funny enough on form only JFH is probably the weakest link which feels like blasphemy. Regardless he is the captain and he will be different in a Kiwis jersey.

I also agree that Stacey is going to try put CNK in there somewhere, but left to me he doesn't make the 17. I would be super pissed if he got in over a fit Kini.

Man this team would be epic with Hughes, Joey Manu, RTS and a non-retarded Brandon Smith

 

[Horriors2013]

I like it and that's a lot of power, almost unstoppable, but my only worry is if a back went down... It's so hard when you have so many devastating players up front to choose from

Yeah. We're really light for backs most years now. Especially halves.

 

[selector]

One of the more pleasing aspects about the Kiwis squad that won the Pacific Cup is the ages of some of the players. Most of the players envolved will potentially not only be around for next years world cup, but also in 5 years time for the 2030 RLWC.

List of players who could potenially still be around in 2030 and thier ages listed below that were envovled in the Pacfic Cup this year. ( I have used 34 years of age as the cutoff for those who could sitll be around in 2030).

Keano Kini - 26 years old
Jamayne Isaako - 34 years old
Matthew Timoko - 30 years old
Casey Mclean - 24 years old
Dylan Brown - 30 years old
James Fisher Harris - 34 years old
Phoenix Crossland - 30 years old
Briton Nikora - 32 years old
Isaiah Papali'i - 32 years old
Naufahu Whyte - 28 years old
Erin Clark - 33 years old
Xavier Willison - 28 years old
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 34 years old
Jeremy Marshall-King - 33 years old
Sebastian Kris - 31 years old
Ronaldo Mulitalo - 30/31 years old
josiah karapani - 28 years old


The most notable position missing though is halfback. Jahrome Hughes will be 36 years of age in 2030 so won't be around. It will be interesting to see who the next long term half back will be for the Kiwis is after Jahrome Hughes finishes up. There is no one currently who stands out as the nexxt long term Kiwis half back which is concerning.

 

[j_p]

One of the more pleasing aspects about the Kiwis squad that won the Pacific Cup is the ages of some of the players. Most of the players envolved will potentially not only be around for next years world cup, but also in 5 years time for the 2030 RLWC.

List of players who could potenially still be around in 2030 and thier ages listed below that were envovled in the Pacfic Cup this year. ( I have used 34 years of age as the cutoff for those who could sitll be around in 2030).

Keano Kini - 26 years old
Jamayne Isaako - 34 years old
Matthew Timoko - 30 years old
Casey Mclean - 24 years old
Dylan Brown - 30 years old
James Fisher Harris - 34 years old
Phoenix Crossland - 30 years old
Briton Nikora - 32 years old
Isaiah Papali'i - 32 years old
Naufahu Whyte - 28 years old
Erin Clark - 33 years old
Xavier Willison - 28 years old
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 34 years old
Jeremy Marshall-King - 33 years old
Sebastian Kris - 31 years old
Ronaldo Mulitalo - 30/31 years old
josiah karapani - 28 years old


The most notable position missing though is halfback. Jahrome Hughes will be 36 years of age in 2030 so won't be around. It will be interesting to see who the next long term half back will be for the Kiwis is after Jahrome Hughes finishes up. There is no one currently who stands out as the nexxt long term Kiwis half back which is concerning.

Jett cleary

 

[tyrael]

Jett cleary

It's probably Luke Metcalf at this rate. He'll never get a shot in the Aussie jersey.

 

[Kaos A.D.]

One of the more pleasing aspects about the Kiwis squad that won the Pacific Cup is the ages of some of the players. Most of the players envolved will potentially not only be around for next years world cup, but also in 5 years time for the 2030 RLWC.

List of players who could potenially still be around in 2030 and thier ages listed below that were envovled in the Pacfic Cup this year. ( I have used 34 years of age as the cutoff for those who could sitll be around in 2030).

Keano Kini - 26 years old
Jamayne Isaako - 34 years old
Matthew Timoko - 30 years old
Casey Mclean - 24 years old
Dylan Brown - 30 years old
James Fisher Harris - 34 years old
Phoenix Crossland - 30 years old
Briton Nikora - 32 years old
Isaiah Papali'i - 32 years old
Naufahu Whyte - 28 years old
Erin Clark - 33 years old
Xavier Willison - 28 years old
Nelson Asofa-Solomona - 34 years old
Jeremy Marshall-King - 33 years old
Sebastian Kris - 31 years old
Ronaldo Mulitalo - 30/31 years old
josiah karapani - 28 years old


The most notable position missing though is halfback. Jahrome Hughes will be 36 years of age in 2030 so won't be around. It will be interesting to see who the next long term half back will be for the Kiwis is after Jahrome Hughes finishes up. There is no one currently who stands out as the nexxt long term Kiwis half back which is concerning.

That's a concern going forward, I know the Niche went through some possible halves coming through in one of his shows but hard to know if they'll make it in NRL... But so good having a strong Kiwi team for the foreseeable future.... Woop Woop

 

[SBW1]

Really like where the Kiwis are heading going forward. Tournaments are their bread and butter, bring on the World Cup. We have the nucleus of a really great team. Hopefully we can get a few jumping on board. Pretty sure Dylan Walker may now be eligible.

 

[Cces]

Pretty sure Dylan Walker may now be eligible.

On what grounds? When he attempted to switch previously he was denied despite no Tests in 9 years

 

[SBW1]

I thought he had a standown, which I would have thought was up by now.

 

[Damo]

I thought he had a standown, which I would have thought was up by now.

No stand down for Tier 1

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

It would be so cool if Metcalf repped the Kiwis. Might have to put him at the back of the haka, though.