Internationals The Kiwi Origin Thread

[Vodafone Warriors]

Elijah Taylor and Manu Vatuvei ... Vodafone Warriors club-mates but in opposition camps for teams in a possible Kiwi 'origin' concept. Photo: Photosport.

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If New Zealand is to have a counter to Australia’s State of Origin concept – and surely it shouldn’t be a case of if but when – the most logical suggestion is to make it Auckland against everyone else.​

As long as there’s no carrot other than Test football for New Zealand-eligible players, and as long as New South Wales and Queensland are prepared to dilute the Origin formula by using outsiders like James Tamou, international football is in jeopardy. Certainly the Kiwis will be threatened.​

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Assuming then that a New Zealand product is created – urgently – then pitting Aucklanders against all-comers appeals and offers mouth-watering possibilities, not least in the halves where Auckland’s Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson could steer the team around with Benji Marshall and Nathan Fien lining up for the opposition; and it would be major headache sorting out the choices in the front row and the back row for both sides.​

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For the Auckland line-up, the qualification is obvious … strictly NRL players born in Auckland. The opposition (please find something far more creative and inspiring than the oft-used ‘The Rest) should therefore be built around not just players born elsewhere in New Zealand but also those born outside New Zealand who have already played for the Kiwis or are known to be eligible like Jason Nightingale, Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Fuifui Moimoi and Frank Pritchard.​

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The Auckland side would be a little slim on options at hooker right now but Thomas Leuluai re-joins the Vodafone Warriors next year so he has been included for this exercise. Both sides, while having clear quality in the halves, wouldn’t have real depth in the key playmaking positions.​

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This isn’t an exhaustive list but it covers the vast majority of contenders for the teams (James Tamou and Ben Te’o not considered due to pledging their allegiance to New South Wales and Queensland):​

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Auckland:​

Fullbacks: Kevin Locke, Glen Fisiiahi​

Wingers: Manu Vatuvei, Matt Duffie, Sam Perrett, Matt Utai, Bill Tupou, Antonio Winterstein, Matthew Wright, Adam Henry, Drury Low, Junior Tia Kilifi, Fetuli Talanoa, Tim Simona​

Centres: Steve Matai, Jerome Ropati, Krisnan Inu, Ben Henry, Junior Sa’u​

Halves: Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Liam Foran​

Back rowers: Alex Glenn, Bronson Harrison, Josh Papalii, Jason Taumalolo, Frank-Paul Nuuausala​

Props: Sam Kasiano, Jesse Bromwich, Sione Lousi, Greg Eastwood, Lama Tasi, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Roy Asotasi, Martin Taupau, Joe Galuvao, Evarn Tuimavave​

Hookers: Thomas Leuluai, Nafe Seluini​

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All-comers:​

Fullbacks: Josh Hoffman, Omar Slaimankhel​

Wingers: Jason Nightingale, Gerard Beale, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Bryson Goodwin, Sandor Earl​

Centres: Konrad Hurrell, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dean Whare​

Halves: Benji Marshall, Nathan Fien, Pita Godinet, Ben Roberts​

Back rowers: Simon Mannering, Adam Blair, Elijah Taylor, Jeremy Smith, Lewis Brown, Frank Pritchard, Sika Manu, Kevin Proctor, Dene Halatau, Mose Masoe, Sam Mataora, Sam Tagataese, Tinirau Arona, Eddy Pettybourne, Matt Robinson, Bodene Thompson, Justin Horo, Zane Tetevano, Zeb Taia​

Props: Sam McKendry, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Russell Packer, Fuifui Moimoi, Steve Rapira, Ricky Thorby​

Hookers: Issac Luke, Alehana Mara, Matt McIlwrick​

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[Jah]

some pretty even squads there would be a good game and everyone likes to see auckland loose so plenty of passion for this game IMO

 

[fanrrior]

Would be great imo

 

[warriors8]

Im thinking about this after reading story on warriors website. Auckland Vs Everyone Else. What name would the series be........

Kiwi Version

"Born To Play"
Auckland Vs Them Other Kiwis

Thats my idea, thinking of marketing for that name

 

[Bouncy Meatballs]

eh. Doesn't really have that 'State of Origin' ring to it. For example 'Did you watch Born to Play last night?'. Maybe it's just me.

 

[Magic Stick]

Call of Duty

 

[Danpatmac]

call it Steve.

 

[fanrrior]

Poly Palooza

 

[Magic Stick]

Husband's Heroes

And Dale can tell us all there junior clubs etc.

 

[wallacenz]

NZRL Bankruptcy Championship

 

[fanrrior]

Justice against Jafa

 

[warriors8]

eh. Doesn't really have that 'State of Origin' ring to it. For example 'Did you watch Born to Play last night?'. Maybe it's just me.

Is that a movie? I was watching Franklin & Bash. Good TV series

 

[Inruin]

KiwiO, or The City vs the rest of the Country. how it normallly is

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Auckland vs the Real New Zealand

 

[fanrrior]

The City vs the rest of the Country

I think City V Country has been taken.

 

[Inruin]

I think City V Country has been taken.

yes but THE City vs the rest of the country...

 

[Inruin]

Justice against Jafa

wouldnt that be jafa vs snifter?

 

[Sir Bluey]

District Of Origin...DOO

 

[iago]

 

[Moz]

design a trophy, name it after a league great and name the series after the cup= eg. the 'KT Cup' after kevin tamati, 'Nikau cup' , avoid the word origin all together I reckon