Sniffing Around

NZ Warriors on the rise, Aotearoa Kiwis depth, NZ footy transfers, Tall Blacks prep, domestic footy roundup & more

The Niche Cache

Aug 07, 2023

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Scotty’s Word

NZ Warriors are 3rd on the NRL ladder and 2nd in NSW Cup.

NRL: 3rd, 13-7

NSW Cup: 2nd, 12-1-8

The NRL Warriors had a niggly battle with Titans on Friday. They were clearly below par and Titans were fizzed up to defend their home turf. Winning that game was the most important thing and I reckon it was one of Shaun Johnson's best games this season, hence I whipped up a Kiwi-NRL Spotlight covering Johnson's mahi this season.

NSW Cup Warriors defeated Panthers 26-14 in Sydney on Saturday. Tom Ale had a big stint with 54mins, while Selumiela (Leka) Halasima and Demitric Sifakula both played 80mins. Tanner Stowers-Smith was promoted to starting prop with Zyon Maiu'u dropping to the bench, both rolled through 34mins. Jacob Laban played 30mins and Isaiah Vagana grabbed 22mins off the bench. Better learn about these lads as they are usually dominating opposition forwards while all being local youngsters.

Kalani Going is also sniffing around an NRL debut. Going played 50mins vs Panthers and scored a try, his fourth game in a row scoring. Going is averaging 119m/game with 91.4% tackling as a nimble forwards who can cover edge and middle.

Versatility is a trend in the Warriors roster. Going is joined by Halasima and Sifakula in covering all forward positions. Ali Leiataua was an SG Ball fullback who played in the halves for NSW Cup before his NRL debut at centre. This flows into the outside backs. Someone like Moala Graham-Taufa who can play centre and wing without fuss; Graham-Taufa started at centre vs Panthers, then fullback Ben Farr got injured so Setu Tu went from wing to fullback with Graham-Taufa sliding to wing.

Graham-Taufa has played 20 games this season and has notable pedigree coming up through the Roosters system.

Northland's Dylan Brown and Wiremu Greig returned for Eels in their win over Dragons. Brown was out suspended and Greig missed the mid-season due to injury, then the stars aligned for the Whangarei juniors to return in the same game. Greig only played 8mins off the bench but he was busy with 7 runs, providing a small dose of oomph that helped Eels fight off Dragons.

Brown was straight back into his regular mahi with 15 runs - 114m @ 7.6m/run, a linebreak, a try assist and 15 tackles @ 79%. Brown's tackling was below par and he barely kicked but he will build back into the Eels system alongside Mitchell Moses. With my Kiwi-NRL goggles on, Brown's impact on winning footy for Eels can't be overlooked. While Brown is 7-7 this season, his first four seasons (debuted at 18yrs) featured at least 64% wins.

I'm curious how Brown performs as Eels chase finals footy. They are currently 9th (11-10) and his first game back was a win, boosted by Greig who was playing 40+ minutes before his injury.

Now for an updated map of Aoteaora Kiwis depth. The top tier is mainly lads from the World Cup last year with Matthew Timoko elevating as a possible starting centre for Aotearoa Kiwis. There is a bit of buzz about Jahream Bula and I don't have him in this mix as he hasn't stated any desire to represent Aotearoa, plus he'd be in the emerging bracket because of Kiwis depth.

Phoenix Crossland is an interesting lad who isn't quite in my mixer yet. Born in Wellington and moved to Australia as a kiddo, currently shining at hooker for Knights. Aotearoa has Brandon Smith and Jeremy Marshall-King as hookers, while Erin Clark was a monster for Titans vs Warrior as a middle forward. Clark has played plenty at hooker and could cover that role.

Of course many of these players are available for Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands etc. Players in the Aotearoa Kiwis tier have been hearty Aotearoa representatives, while the emerging players have their eligibility listed with them.

Aotearoa Kiwis Tier

Joseph Manu, Jordan Rapana, Jamayne Isaako, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Sebastian Kris, Matthew Timoko
Shaun Johnson, Kieran Foran, Jahrome Hughes, Dylan Brown
Brandon Smith, Jeremy Marshall-King, Erin Clark
Jesse Bromwich, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Joseph Tapine, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Isaac Liu, Braden Hamlin-Uele
Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali'i, Kenny Bromwich, Marata Niukore, Scott Sorenson

Emerging Kiwis Tier

Bailey Simonsson, Will Warbrick, Adam Pompey, Rocco Berry, Reimis Smith, Starford To'a (Tonga), Deine Mariner (Samoa), Valynce Te Whare, Keano Kini
Leo Thompson, Wiremu Greig, Griffin Neame, Jordan Riki, Xavier Willison (CI), Naufahu Whyte (Tonga), Alex MacDonald, Siua Wong (Fiji), Connelly Lemuelu (Samoa)

Titans are 3-0 in NRLW and the only undefeated team. They have Auckland's Georgia Hale in fabulous form at lock, averaging a career-high 116m/game and chillin' as the best tackler in NRLW. It's not even close...

Georgia Hale: 155 tackles @ 99.4%
Simaima Taufa: 111 tackles @ 94.9%
Mariah Denman: 109 tackles @ 83.2%
Kennedy Cherrington: 108 tackles @ 93.9%
Sara Sautia: 98 tackles @ 89.9%

In a win over Sharks, Hale played 67 (of 70) minutes with 15 runs - 119m @ 7.9m/run, 56 tackles @ 100% (!!!!!!!!!). Niall Williams-Guthrie is also a consistent presence at right centre in the best team. This basic stats suggest she is settling in to league…

vs Cowboys: 14 pcm, 5 missed tackles, 68m
vs Broncos: 26 pcm, 2 missed tackles, 112m
vs Sharks: 33 pcm, 1 missed tackle, 101m

Mele Hufanga scored 4 tries for Broncos and Gayle Broughton was instrumental in most of them. What happens when Annessa Biddle moves to centre? 17 runs - 217m @ 12.7m/run and 121 post contact metres. Former Black Fern Cheyelle Robins-Reti scored for Raiders in their win over Tigers, while Leianne Tufuga scored 3 tries for Tigers.

There are still too many NRLWahine centres dominating this season, so I've got Tufuga and Biddle on the wings for the Team of the Week. A lack of edge forwards has Teuila Fotu-Moala plugging that hole. Alexis Tauneai’s excellent mahi keeps her in despite a Dragons loss while Raecene McGregor’s mana has her staying at halfback. The casualty is Tyla Nathan-Wong dropping out for Broughton. The stars could align for a Kiwi Ferns halves combo of Nathan-Wong and Broughton in the coming years, watch out.

NRLWahine Team of the Week

Fullback: Api Nicholls
Wingers: Leianne Tufuga, Annessa Biddle
Centres: Mele Hufanga, Cheyelle Robins-Reti
Halves: Raecene McGregor, Gayle Broughton
Middles: Brianna Clark, Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale
Edges: Otesa Pule, Teuila Fotu-Moala
Hooker: Nita Maynard

Musical jam...

Wildcard’s Notebook

This transfer window keeps on giving and giving. It’s been a procession of kiwi footballers making exciting moves the whole way through – we’re now at the point where many European (men’s) seasons are kicking off around this current fortnight span and still the moves keep coming.

Max Mata to Shrewsbury Town. It was mentioned as a possibility in Flying Kiwis last week and then within a couple of days they had it all sorted. Never got the visa clearance in time for him to play their week one match but he should be good to go for the next one. Mata has signed a three year deal after moving for an undisclosed fee. Still not given up hope that Nando Pijnaker could join him before the window closes in around four weeks.

It won’t be quite so swift a process from rumour to reality for James McGarry at Aberdeen. Yet another A-League player joining a Scottish Premiership club, with McGarry apparently on the verge of summoning a six-figure transfer fee for Central Coast Mariners. He didn’t travel with the Mariners to a preseason camp in Thailand and has already completed his medical (performed in Australia) ahead of the move... though the final formalities will have to wait with McGarry’s partner due to give birth any day now. No transfer until he gets to meet his child. Understandable priorities.

Mata got that move on the back of sustained impressive goal-scoring for a team that was otherwise struggling big time. He was solid last season too albeit in more of a supporting role within the squad. His Sligo Rovers time was a sustained success coming off the back of a frustrating stint in America at USL level with San Diego Loyal where he could hardly get a start. Another example of American soccer being unable to identify the quality of a kiwi player.

McGarry had similar examples of not quite fitting the bill for various clubs. At the Wellington Phoenix. At Willem II. At Newcastle Jets. He had great moments at all of them but it never quite felt like he was being used in a way that embraced his potential. Then he went to Central Coast, immediately looked at home, won a championship, now is about to leave for a big fee six months later. Legendary ‘here for a good time not a long time’ vibes.

Could be plenty more to come. When the World Cup winds down the women’s transfers should start to ramp up, with several kiwi players ready for a step up to the next level. Already wrote about this in the latest Football Ferns piece. A few names that I’m keeping a close eye upon: Claudia Bunge, Malia Steinmetz, Katie Bowen, Indi Riley, and all of those Phoenix free agents. Always potential from outside the current stocks too. Did you know that Kelli Brown’s been playing NPL and scoring bundles of goals lately? Similarly there’s a high chance Joe Bell could be moved before the month ends while Callan Elliot remains an exciting free agent and there are still a few sneaky prospects on the trial circuit.

So remember how the Tall Blacks slipped up in that first friendly against Japan? If you don’t then check out Friday’s email because it was mentioned in there. Well, they had no such issues in the second game of their World Cup preparation tour. There the TB’s bossed it all the way for a 94-75 victory with Reuben Te Rangi delivering a masterful 20 points while Izayah Le’Afa and Flynn Cameron each added 15 of their own. Finn Delany (13) and Hyrum Harris (10) joined them in double figures.

It was a massive rebounding advantage that led the way, with NZ leading that stat 45-21. That included 15 offensive boards for the kiwis, who shot 59.6% from the field and 42% from deep (with 11 makes). Looks like they did it without Shea Ili or Isaac Fotu again as they sat out both games on this Japan leg. Good to see the lads hitting their stride and they’ll only get stronger from here.

Funky story out of Fiji that Trina Davis, a Fijian international forward, is having a trial with the Wellington Phoenix Women. Davis is 21 years old and was born in the USA but has excelled for Fiji since first representing the senior team back in 2018 – she was the nation’s first ever female professional having played in both Israel and Puerto Rico. Davis previously featured for Grambling State Tigers in the USA college system, which is a Division 1 school.

The Wellington Phoenix have been clear that they want an import striker to help bang away a few goals. That’s been what held them back through the first couple years in the A-League and it hasn’t helped that they’ve now lost their top scorer after each season – first Grace Jale then Milly Clegg – to rival ALW teams. Unsure if Davis is being seen as that player though. More likely this is something else, a bit of Oceania solidarity, in the hope of uncovering a diamond as they once did with Trina Davis’s compatriot Roy Krishna. Who, by the way, has re-signed in India since openly flirting with a Welly Nix return. Chiefy had other plans. Fair enough.

According to Fiji Football, there are two other players preparing for trials with the Phoenix. Fiji Women’s U19s player Angeline Rekha and Fiji Men’s U20s player Faazil Ali also both have upcoming trials at the club. Would imagine we’re talking about the reserves/U20s team there with those two. Oceania Football is facilitating all three of those trials with financial support which is probably where the impetus came from.

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As best as I can figure, here’s how we’re tracking with the 29 NZers who played in the A-League Women’s last season (at least as far as has been announced so far)...

Grace Jale (Canberra United) – Under contract for another season
Liz Anton (Perth Glory) – Signed a new deal to remain in Perth for a fourth year
Hannah Blake (Perth Glory) – Free agent having joined Perth midseason as an injury replacement last time
Indiah-Paige Riley (Brisbane Roar) – Another injury replacement, also currently out of contract
Claudia Bunge (Melbourne Victory) – Free agent
Malia Steinmetz (Western Sydney Wanderers) – Also a free agent
Hannah Wilkinson (Melbourne City) – Another free agent
Katie Bowen (Melbourne City) – Yep, free agent too
Anna Green (Sydney FC) – Retired at the end of the season (as an ALW champion)
Milly Clegg (Wellington Phoenix) – Signed one-year deal with Western Sydney Wanderers
Chloe Knott & Alyssa Whinham (Wellington Phoenix) – Already under contract with the Nix for next season
Mackenzie Barry (Wellington Phoenix) – Has signed a two-year extension with the Nix
Michaela Robertson, Emma Main, Marisa van der Meer, Kate Taylor, Grace Wisnewski (Wellington Phoenix) – All signed one-year extensions with the Nix
Michaela Foster, Emma Rolston, Paige Satchell, Betsy Hassett, Brianna Edwards, Zoe McMeeken (Wellington Phoenix) – Currently off contract but not yet released, presumably in negotiations or at least with offers on the table to return
Ava Pritchard, Saskia Vosper, Te Reremoana Walker, Charlotte Lancaster, Georgia Candy (Wellington Phoenix) – Released by the Wellington Phoenix, currently free agents

Weekly Domestic Football Roundup...

This was the round when the Northern League title contenders finally met face to face, like DeNiro and Pacino in Heat (1995). Eastern Suburbs vs Auckland City at Madills Farm. Two teams tied on points and for ambitions. Given how they’re each tearing through all other opposition a win here could have been all but comprehensive in determining first place... but we didn’t get a win. We got a fascinating 2-2 draw.

Cam Howieson gave ACFC the lead after only 12 minutes and that held all the way up until Francis De Vries tied things up at the penalty spot on 67’. Five minutes later Ryan De Vries scored a beauty for City, great first touch and strike after a clever pass from Howieson. But Ryan Verney ensured a share of the spoils when he scored for the Lilywhites on 87’ by pouncing on a cross that wasn’t cleared. So it wasn’t the decisive outcome we might’ve had, although a draw does suit Auckland City a lot more thanks to their far superior goal difference. Each team still has five games left to play.

Elsewhere in that division, Takapuna’s 2-0 win over Manukau United was a massive hammer in the relegation battle. It was still 0-0 after 70 mins, which to be honest didn’t really suit either team, then Connor Cahill-Fahey (70’) and Matthew Palmer (85’) swung it for Taka. At the same time Bay Olympic were able to hold Melville to a 1-1 draw so as things stand we’ve got Bay Olympic on 11 points (18 games) then Takapuna and Manukau Utd each on 9 points (17 games). Taka needed that win desperately to keep from falling adrift... and they got it.

A draw for Western Springs against West Coast Rangers (Westie Derby) cost WSAFC some valuable ground in the quest for top four. Particularly after Manurewa served up the good with a 4-1 win against Hamilton Wanderers. Rewa were 1-0 down at half-time but suffice to say that didn’t last. Manurewa are now four points ahead of Western Springs in fourth. Meanwhile Auckland United are cruising along in third after first half goals from Yousif Al-Kalisy (17’ pen), Matt Conroy (26’) and Xavier Green (33’) gave them a 3-0 win over Birkenhead.

The Central League continues to stride towards a Wellington Olympic three-peat. North Wellington never stood a chance in a 5-0 defeat which, thanks to results elsewhere, means that Olympic could potentially lift the trophy as soon as next week. The other result in question was the Wellington Phoenix blowing a 3-0 lead. This was a youthful WeeNix side (even by their standards) with a chunk of regulars over in Oz with the first team. No drams there as Dan Makowen and Matt Sheridan both scored inside ten minutes. Eventually Sam Proctor made it 3-0 after 78 mins... yet they only drew with Stop Out. Yep, Connor Gaul from the penalty spot on 85’. Then Sam Cosgrove and Connor Gaul again in stoppage time. Three late goals as the WeeNix caked it at the end. A learning opportunity for the youngsters no doubt. Olympic are now six points clear with three games remaining.

That looks more or less sorted... but the National League spots sure aren’t. Western Suburbs won 2-1 vs Waterside Karori, coming from behind to win via a Malik Smith brace. There was a cracking finish between Miramar Rangers and Petone as Andy Bevin tied things up for the former on 88’ only for Sam Pickering to score an even later winner for the latter. Another requisite Matt Brazier goal in there too. 3-2 to Petone there. But Napier City Rovers only drew 1-1 with last-placed Whanganui. What that means is that there is only one point separating Wests (26pts), NCR (26pts) and Petone (25pts) with three rounds to go and only two additional Natty League spots available. That was also a huge point for Whanganui as it brings them within three of North Wellington in the relegation battle with a goal difference that is suddenly only six worse. It ain’t over yet.

Down South, Christchurch United won 3-0 against Ferrymead Bays. Nobody whatsoever is shocked by that. Dan MacLennan scored a hat-trick. The Rams remain undefeated in all competitions and are surging towards the title. Cashmere Tech are firmly on course for second and they won 3-1 vs Selwyn. Only three points separate third from sixth though. Dunedin City Royals won 7-0 against FC Twenty11 while Nelson Suburbs won 3-2 away to Coastal Spirit in a seesaw match. There was also a 2-1 win for Nomads away to Green Island.

And finally for the other National League adjacent division, the NRFL Women’s Premier... there was another top of the table clash with title defining potential ended in a draw. It was the only game of the round. Western Springs vs Auckland United in a catch-up played on Friday night. Talisha Green gave United the lead just before the break but Sofia Garcia levelled up after an hour. That keeps United in first on 28 points while Eastern Suburbs remain ahead of Springs now on 26 points. WSAFC are on 24. Two more games remain for each. Springs no longer have their title chances in their own control although they do meet United again in the last game of the season so if AUFC drop points away to Hamilton next week then we shall see. There’s also only one point between Ellerslie, West Coast Rangers, and Hamilton Wanderers for fourth place and the final National League entry so heaps to play for in this last month of winter footy.

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