Another Phew
NZ U20s football, Warriors vs Sharks preview plus wider Kiwi-NRL updates, Isaac Fotu & Zico Coronel win in Japan, Blackcaps coaching, Nottingham Forest's kiwis & more
Scotty’s Word
NZ Warriors vs Sharks preview notes…
Post Contact Metres
Despite Addin Fonua-Blake switching teams, NZW average more post contact metres per game than Sharks this season.
Post Contact Metres
Warriors: 3rd - 576.5 per game
Sharks: 6th - 555.08 per game
Warriors
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad: 62.6
Erin Clark: 59.5
Jackson Ford: 56.2
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck: 55.3
Mitchell Barnett: 52.2
Sharks
Addin Fonua-Blake: 81.33
Jesse Ramien: 46.1
KL Iro: 46.1
Take out Barnett and NZW still have two middle forwards over that 50 PCM/game mark. Nicoll-Klokstad and Tuivasa-Sheck are crucial to NZW rolling down field before the forwards get busy. Both offer more oomph than the Sharks outside backs.
The Barometers
Nicoll-Klokstad leads NZW for runs, run metres, kick return metres, tackle breaks and is second behind Clark for total post contact metres. This is his second year averaging 200+ metres per game and they are the last two seasons with 205m/game this season being the highest of his career. Nicoll-Klokstad averaged below 180m/game in all four seasons at Raiders.
Wayde Egan is still first for dummy half runs in the NRL (73 total - 6 per game). Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey is second (61 - 5). Egan averages 70m/game though which is far more than Brailey's 34m/game. Egan averages 49+ metres per game in his last four seasons and Brailey is below that mark in his seven seasons.
James Fisher-Harris
In similar game time to his four NRL championships with Panthers, Fisher-Harris is averaging less run metres and more tackles. Somehow he is averaging a similar number of missed tackles despite making roughly five more per game...
(per games)
2021: 52.6mins, 164.3m, 29 tackles/1.9 missed
2022: 51mins, 145.1m, 30.6 tackles/1.4 missed
2023: 47.8mins, 126.3m, 28.2 tackles/1.9 missed
2024: 46.6mins, 127.2m, 26.8 tackles/1.7 missed
2025: 46.6mins, 99.3m, 35.6 tackles/1.6 missed
My favourite thing about Fisher-Harris’ first few months as a Warrior is his defence. Contact, ruck control, speed and stamina. NZW are led through defence - crazy times.
The Bench
There is an option for coach Andrew Webster to put Kurt Capewell back at edge forward and either nudge Marata Niukore into the middle or Leka Halasima to the bench. Either way, NZW will have three young forwards on the bench alongside Te Maire Martin with Demitric Vaimauga joined by Jacob Laban and Tanner Stowers-Smith.
If all three stay on the bench for this game, it will be a funky gauge of NZW depth. Everyone was stressing about losing Fonua-Blake, Tohu Harris, Zyon Maiu'u and Dylan Walker yet here we are with three local youngsters named on the bench together ... while the youngest of the local juniors in Halasima is starting at edge forward.
This also reflects Aotearoa rugby league as Vaimauga is from Auckland (Otahuhu), Laban is from Wellington (Te Aroha) and Stowers-Smith is from Christchurch (Halswell). All three played 1st 15 rugby as well via De La Salle College, St Bernard's College/Kelston Boys High School and St Bede's College.
Halves Balance (in NZW)
Most tries: Luke Metcalf (8)
Most try assists: Chanel Harris-Tavita (10)
Most linebreaks: Luke Metcalf (7)
Most support runs: Chanel Harris-Tavita (68)
Kick Metres (in NRL)
Luke Metcalf: 7th - 4,396
Chanel Harris-Tavita: 17th - 2,756
I have more NZ Warriors junior notes for paid subscribers and the Patreon whanau.
Elijah Salesa-Leaumona is named to make his debut for Knights vs Sea Eagles tonight. Eighth Kiwi-NRL debutant of 2025...
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana: Mangere East - Knights
There is a funky Southern Cross Campus connection in Salesa-Leaumoana's debut. This post is from July 2022 when Salesa-Leaumoana, Halasima and Jarome Falemoe played a junior game for NZW while all being at Southern Cross Campus together. Falemoe was at Knights with Salesa-Leaumoana for a couple years before returning to Auckland earlier this year where he played a few games for NZW in Jersey Flegg Cup.
Kiwi Fern and Broncos centre Mele Hufanga went to SCC, as did Lavinia Tauhalaliku who made her NRLW debut with Cowboys last season before returning to Auckland to join the Warriors Women squad.
I need to update my 2025 NRLW preview again because Tigers signed Terina Te Tamaki from rugby union in Aotearoa. Te Tamaki mainly played Black Ferns Sevens and continues the growing wave of rugby union wahine taking up NRLW opportunities. Te Tamaki joins Kiwi Fern Brooke Talataina as the only NRLWahine with Tigers.
The Kiwi-NRL presence in the NRLQ competition grows as I learned about Lukji Yloi who is from Waikato and at edge forward for Titans. I can't find much more information about Yloi aside from him also being known as 'Lukji Raihe' and 'Lukji John Whakapirkiteao Yloi' but this post highlighted him while playing for the Waikato men's team and now he's with the Titans U20s.
Dunedin's Torino Jackson is also on the extended bench for Titans having come through Zingari-Richmond rugby and the thriving South Island Scorpions rugby league system.
Broncos: Disharne Tonihi (Shirley), Marley Igasan (Otumoetai), Kylem Vunipola (Kia Ora)
Titans: Meihana Pauling (Halswell), Lukji Yloi (Waikato) - Torino Jackson (Zingari-Richmond)
Cowboys: Sitaleki Mafileo (Rotorua Boys High School)
Dolphins: Patrick Kailahi (Hamilton Boys High School)
I have more paragraphs about the state of New Zealand Cricket after the coaching and contract news this week beyond the paywall. We love the young talent in kiwi cricket and talked through some of this in our big ol' Tuesday podcast. I haven't experienced so much impressive young talent in Aotearoa cricket during my time tracking these matters ... which is the same for all sports we cover.
T20 Blast Stats (ranked by how impressive I think they are)
Suzie Bates: 114 runs @ 57avg/144sr
Jimmy Neesham: 42 runs @ 42avg/150sr | 5w @ 13avg/8.1rpo
Logan van Beek: 50 runs @ 50avg/93sr | 5w @ 18.4avg/7.6rpo
Matt Henry: 4w @ 12.2avg/6.1rpo
Jacob Duffy: 3w @ 19.3avg/8.9rpo
Nathan Smith: 11 runs @ 157sr | 2w @ 23.5avg/6.7rpo
Zak Foulkes: 4 runs @ 133sr | 2w @ 20avg/5rpo
Maddy Green: 13w @ 13avg/162sr
Will O'Rourke: 5 runs @ 167sr | 1w @ 107avg/13.3rpo
Kane Williamson: 39 runs @ 19.5avg/114sr
Tom Latham: 7 runs @ 3.5avg/64sr
Musical jam…
Wildcard’s Notebook
The NZ U20 Men faced Chile in Chile this morning in a friendly, preparing for when they’ll face Chile in Chile during the U20 World Cup later in the year. These games were announced about six weeks ago and about ten days later the draw was conducted, putting the two nations in the same group. Which, for New Zealand, is pretty choice because Chile only got a top seed by virtue of being hosts. They’re the weakest team we could have drawn in that spot (the others: Italy, USA, South Korea, Brazil, and Colombia), albeit the home advantage will be significant. And, thanks to our consistent qualification and a few knockout appearances, the kiwi youngsters found themselves as second seeds so as to dodge France, Ukraine, Argentina, Nigeria, and Mexico. Another “phew” right there.
However, we did get Japan for the third seed, with Egypt rounding out the group. So it’ll still be a very tough experience for Chris Greenacre’s side. But there are 4/6 third-placed qualifiers who advance and that’s been a path that’s worked out nicely for Aotearoa in the past. The tournament is being held in late September to mid October. Then at the start of November will arrive the U17 World Cup in Qatar which, unlike the U20s, is going to use the 48-team format that the next senior men’s World Cup is indulging in.
Having 48 teams blatantly waters things down in terms of the quality of each group and that worked out nicely for New Zealand when that draw was also held recently. It’ll be Mali, Austria, and Saudi Arabia for the lads there. With 8/12 third-placers advancing, only 16/48 teams will fail to advance to the extended knockouts and it’s hard to see how that improves the Men’s World Cup at all... but then we all know it wasn’t for competitive reasons that they changed it. Anyway, compare this group to the previous U17 World Cup where New Zealand drew Germany, Mexico, and Venezuela... and lost all three games conceding ten goals and scoring just once (from the penalty spot).
But wait there’s more because FIFA want both U17 World Cups to be held annually so there’s also a Women’s U17 World Cup happening in October in Morocco. That draw took place this morning and New Zealand were delivered opponents: Japan, Zambia, and Paraguay. This one will use the same 24-team format as the Men’s U20s so it’s a tougher task (although again we were a second-seeded nation). Aotearoa will be hoping to do a lot better than what the two women’s youth sides managed last year. The 2024 Women’s U17s drew 1-1 with hosts Dominican Republic but lost 4-1 to Nigeria and 4-0 to Ecuador, while the 2024 Women’s U20s lost 7-0 to Japan, 3-1 to Austria, and 3-1 to Ghana. Also, spare a thought for Samoa who got Oceania’s other U17 WWC spot and were drawn against Canada, France, and Nigeria. Yikes.
Back to the Men’s U20s, that game against Chile was a behind closed doors affair. Understandable given the tournament implications... but disappointing nonetheless. The second game will be broadcast on local telly which may or may not be available to us (this was Chile’s decision, not ours... they did something similar when the Football Ferns went there recently). Therefore I can’t say much about this morning’s match, which New Zealand lost 3-1, but they did reveal the starting line-up which I’d imagine was set-up something like this:
Joe Wallis (GK)
Adama Coulibaly (RB), James Bulkeley (CB), Noah Dupont (CB), Codey Phoenix (LB)
Finn McKenlay (CM), Fergus Gillion (CM), Oliver Middleton (CM)
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues (FW), Keegan Kelly (CF), Troy Putt (FW)
Finn McKenlay wore the captain’s armband, by the looks of it. Coulibaly plays centre-back for Auckland FC Reserves but was a right-back during qualification. Not sure who scored NZ’s goal but one of Chile’s was an own goal. It was 1-0 at half-time. The other game will kick off at 7.30am on Sunday and I’d imagine Chris Greenacre wants to give everybody a run, plus I certainly don’t think that was the first eleven that he picked in game one. Looking at the rest of the squad, you can pretty easily arrange the leftovers like this...
Henry Gray (GK)
Xuan Loke (RB), Jayden Smith (CB), Luka Coveny (CB), Lukas Kelly-Heald (LB)
James Mitchell (CM), [Somebody Else], Harry Casci (CM)
Luke Brooke-Smith (FW), Luke Supyk (CF), Stipe Ukich (FW)
It’s a 21-man squad so somebody, probably Finn McKenlay, would have to do double duty. But, like, that second unit would beat that first unit. It’s got more senior experience and higher level pros. Plus there are some pretty good players who didn’t make this squad at all who’ll still be in contention (probably not expecting Tyler Bindon to kit up but he’d be the best player eligible, while Alby Kelly-Heald will be there if he recovers his fitness in time).
There’s some more football stuff beyond the paywall, including the fascinating hiring of NZ National League legend Stephen Hoyle to coach the Newcastle Jets ALW squad. Plus if you’re buzzing on the footy yarns then here are a few more (and I’ll try finish my Footy Ferns vs Venezuela reaction tomorrow)…
Reactions From Auckland FC’s Semi-Final Exit vs Melbourne Victory
All Whites at the Canadian Shield Tournament: Squad Yarns & Preview
There’s been lots in these newsletters about kiwi footballers winning stuff overseas. Gotta throw it up for the basketballers too after Utsunomiya Brex finished with the top seed in the Japan B-Legaue (B is for basketball, this is their top division) and then won through three best-of-three playoff series including beating Ryukyu Golden Kings 2-1 in the finals to claim the championship.
That squad features Tall Blacks legend Isaac Fotu who averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists through the regular season in around 20 mins per game. This was Fotu’s second B-League title having also won with the same team back in 2022. U-Brex also, by the way, features former Breakers import DJ Newbill who was their best player throughout the playoff run (Finals MVP and all).
Even more pertinently, this was the team that was being coached by Kevin Braswell until his untimely passing, and it was kiwi Zico Coronel who stepped up in the interim... and led them to a title. Fellow kiwi Jackson Stubbins is also on the coaching staff. Lifting the trophy is both a lovely tribute to Braswell’s legacy plus also a reminder of the coachign talent that Zico Coronel possesses. ZC did his post-game address while clutching a portrait of his friend and mentor Braswell, and the first two people he acknowledged, after congratulating the opponents, were Braswell’s two children Harlow And Hendrix (whose mother is a kiwi). That portrait remained prominent throughout the celebrations, just as it had throughout the playoffs upon a reserved seat on their bench. You can watch Zico’s full speech here (if you don’t mind shedding a flood of tears).
Meanwhile, Tai Webster’s got a chance to do something similar over in France. Possibly not because his Bourg-en-Bresse side were fifth seeds heading into the playoffs and while they did win their quarter-final series... they’re now facing top-seeded Paris in the semis. This is best-of-three stuff and Paris won 100-89 in game one this morning, although Tai Webster did serve up a tidy 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists in 19 minutes off the bench.
If there’s one nationality that Nottingham Forest Football Club loves more than New Zealanders, it’s Brazilians. They had three players from Brazil get minutes this past Premier League season, including centre-back Murillo who was one of their standout players. They picked up Murillo on the cheap from Corinthians two years ago and could now probably sell him for five times the value if they were willing thus they’ve understandably gone back to the well by agreeing terms with Igor Jesus (striker), Cuiabano (centre-back), and Jair Cunha (left-back)... all from Botafogo. A rare triple transfer. These are the types of low-risk, high-reward international signings that NFFC love and you can count Tyler Bindon and Marko Stamenic in that same category.
Forest are preparing for a season in which they’ll potentially have a bunch of midweek Europa Conference League matches on top of their Premier League efforts and they already ran out of a bit of gas towards the end of the Prem stuff last season. They’ve got to expand their squad so we can safely expect more moves where these came from. That includes a striker to challenge Chris Wood’s status (or at least provide enough cover that they don’t have to rush him back from injury like last term).
How does that affect Bindon and Stamenic’s chances of staying with the first team? Chances are they both get loaned out since the jump from where they were to the Premier League is quite steep. But not necessarily. Murillo was only a little bit older than Bindon when he joined two years ago, having never played outside of his homeland, and he promptly became a first eleven dude. Bindon and Stamanic are both due to report to NFFC preseason before anything else is decided.
Forest are expected to lose players in both their relevant positions (for starters, Willy Boly (CB) is off contract while Danilo (CM) is expected to move to France). Plus midfielder Nicolas Dominguez will probably miss all of preseason with the knee injury he suffered in the last game of the season. So there will be room for Bindon and Stamenic to make their cases during preseason. Bindon’s contract is until 2027-28 and Stamenic’s until 2028-29, which could be another clue as to how soon they expect each of them to be challenging for first team footy. The 2025-26 EPL kicks off in mid-August with probably a month of preseason games preceding it for most teams. Forest haven’t announced any plans yet.
Musical Jam...