blogging it real

The title pretty much sums it up but what I have below is an up to date list of all the NZ eligible players in the NRL plus others in various categories. I'd like to have a list of all NZ players currently in the NRL who have actually taken the field this year or in previous years but it's really hard to keep up with things. Some clubs have literally hundreds of players on their books and their premier squads of 25 players don't mean that they can only pick those guys for first grade. There are others who come and go. Then of course there are players born in NZ but are essentially Aussies and players born in the islands but who may or may not have lived in NZ before getting a contract in Aussie. It's all very confusing and hard to find out due to there being piss all known about a lot of these recent arrivals on the scene. I'll add to the list or tinker around with it if I find any mistakes or things to add.

Anyway, the stats say (thus far) SEVENTY SEVEN NZers have either played in the NRL this year or last year. If I count every NZer on the fringe we get to 93. Both lists are growing as well, as I find out more. That's roughly nineteen percent of players in the NRL depending on how you calculate it.

So stick that up your arse Mark Geyer who thinks Aussie doesn't owe us anything and they've been giving us a helping hand for years. You reckon you can find 77 reserve grade Aussies good enough to fill those spots next week? That's three full squads so fuck it, give us three teams in your competition.

BRONCOS
Greg Eastwood (b. Auckland – Manurewa)
John Te Reo (b. Wellington – Wainuiomata)
Andrew Lomu (b. Sydney but played for Kiwis through parents)

BULLDOGS
Ben Roberts (b. Sydney but played for Kiwis through parents)
Matthew Utai (b. Auckland)
Sonny Bill Williams (b. Auckland – Marist)
Tim Winitana (b. Wellington)
Billy Ngawini (b. Auckland - Papakura Sea Eagles)
Lee Te Maari (b. Tokoroa)

RAIDERS
Glen Turner (b. Christchurch – Linwood)
Jason Williams (b. Auckland – Marist)

COWBOYS
David Faiumu (b. Wellington – Wainuiomata)
Sione Faumuina (b. Auckland – Glenora)
Toshio Laiseni (b. Tonga – Otahuhu Leopards)

SEA EAGLES
Steve Matai (b. Auckland – Ponsonby)
Jack Afamasaga (b. Wellington)

STORM
Adam Blair (b. Whangarei – Northland Carvers)
Sam Tagataese (b. Lower Hutt – Hutt Valley Marists)
Ryan Shortland (b. Masterton)
Matt Rua (b. Auckland – Waitemata)
Paletasala Ale (b. Auckland - Auckland Lions)
Sika Manu (b. Wellington)

KNIGHTS
George Carmont (b. Auckland – Otahuhu)
Cooper Vuna (b. Auckland)
Terrence Seuseu (b. NZ)
Jesse Royal (b. Waikato)
Marvin Karawana (b. Wellington)

PARRAMATTA EELS
Nathan Cayliss (b. Australia but has played for the kiwis)
Fui Fui Moimoi (b. Auckland – Mt Albert)
Krisnan Inu (b. Apia but has played for the Kiwis)
Aaron Cannings (b. Auckland)
Weller Hauraki (b. Dannevirke - Levin Knights)

PENRITH PANTHERS
Frank Pritchard (b. Sydney but has played 8 tests for the Kiwis)
Tony Puletua (b. Auckland)
Frank Puletua (b. Auckland)
Mark Meredith (b. Samoa – played for Junior Kiwis)
Junior Moors (b. Auckland)

SHARKS
Fraser Anderson (b. Auckland – East Coast Bays)
Luke Covell (b. Australia but available for the Kiwis due to a Kiwi father)
Phillip Leuluai (b. Auckland – Otahuhu)
Misi Taulapapa (b. Auckland – Marist)
Henry Perenara (b. Auckland - New Lynn)

RABBITOHS
Roy Asotasi (b. Auckland – Marist)
David Fa’alogo (b. Auckland – Mt Albert)
Joe Galuvao (b. Auckland – Manurewa)
David Kidwell (b. Christchurch – Hornby)
Jeremy Smith (b Huntly)
Nigel Vagana (b. Auckland – Richmond)
Isaac Luke (b. Hawera - Hawera Hawks)

DRAGONS
Lagi Setu (b. New Zealand)
Rangi Chase (Dannevirke Tigers)
Ben Ellis (Turangi Dambusters)
Ricky Thorby (b. New Zealand - Central Falcons)

ROOSTERS
Sam Perrett (b. Auckland)
Iosia Soliola (b. Auckland – Ponsonby)
Vince Mellars (b. Petone – Petone)

TIGERS
Paul Whatuira (b. Wellington – Wainuiomata)
Taniela Tuiaki (b. Auckland)
Benji Marshall (b. Whakatane)
Dene Halatau (b. Invercargill)
Bronson Harrison (b. Auckland)
Ben Te'o (b. New Zealand)

TITANS
Jake Webster (Melbourne but has played for the Kiwis)

WARRIORS
Patrick Ah Van (b. Auckland – Te Atatu)
Simon Mannering (b. Napier – Wellington Orcas)
Manu Vatuvei (b. Auckland – Otahuhu)
Jerome Ropati (b. Auckland – Marist)
Louis Anderson (b. Dargaville – East Coast Bays)
Wairangi Koopu (b. Opotiki – Taniwharau)
Epalahame Lauaki (Waitemata)
Corey Lawrie (b. Christchurch – Canterbury Bulls)
Sam Rapira (b. Hamilton – Hukanui)
Logan Swann (b. Auckland – Mt Wellington)
Evarn Tuimavave (b. Auckland – Richmond)
Ruben Wiki (b. Auckland – Otahuhu)
Nathan Fien (b. Mount Isa…grannygate anyone?)
Lance Hohaia (b.Hamilton – Taniwharau)

On the Warriors books but haven’t debuted
Malo Solomona (Richmond)
Miguel Start (Pakuranga)
Isaac John (Waicoa Bay Stallions)
Daniel O’Regan (b. Auckland)
Leeson Ah Mau
Sonny Fai (b. Auckland – Counties Manukau Jetz)
Roman Hifo
Scott Jones (Bay Roskill)
Wayne McDade (Richmond)
Russell Packer (Central Falcons)
Constantine Mika (Otahuhu)

Players in other NRL clubs who haven't debuted yet (that I know of)

Knights
Hanan Laban (b. Lower Hutt)
Tim Natusch (b. Wellington)

Cowboys
Karl Johnson (b. NZ – Taniurharall)

Sharks
Brackin Karauria-Henry (b. Auckland – Halswell)

Storm
Liam Foran

NZ BORN (but traitors)
Karmichael Hunt (b. Auckland)
Tonie Carroll (b. Christchurch)
Brad Thorn (b. Dunedin)
Willie Mason (b. Auckland)

At least thirty seven players in the NRL were born in Auckland. Not bad. I'd say that would be not too far off Brisbane born players and obviously behind Sydney by some margin.

Labels: new zealand players, nrl, rugby league