While all of Aotearoa wanted a 1-outs with anyone who disregards Tokoroa's Joseph Manu, Sydney Roosters dished out the 18th Kiwi-NRL debut as Moala Graham-Taufa was graced with a couple minutes of NRL footy.
Junior Ratuva was already an intriguing footy player from a Kiwi-NRL perspective as he was recruited out of Kings College 1st 15 by Melbourne Storm back in 2017.
Two teams have dominated the NRL for the past decade and while lots of flashy blokes have snapped up the headlines throughout this period, Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have two hearty Aotearoa troopers leading their success in Jesse Bromwich and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Like most NRL clubs, Manly Sea Eagles are bolstered by Kiwi-NRL players at all levels.
Newcastle Knights have named St Paul's College junior Jirah Momoisea to make his NRL debut this weekend, making Momoisea the 17th Kiwi-NRL debutant of 2021.
What happens when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Lesson Ah Mau depart Aotearoa Warriors? The whanau win three games in a row, churning out fun footy against weaker teams and continuing their sneaky push for a top-eight spot.
Add three more Kiwi-NRL debutants to the tally for 2021 now that Naufahu Whyte, Griffin Neame and Makahesi Makatoa all made their debuts over the weekend.
Depending on whether you're optimistic about Aotearoa Warriors sneaky NRL finals push or if you reckon the curse won't be vanquished this season, in Chanel Harris-Tavita and the Aotearoa juniors there are plenty of reasons to tap into Warriors mahi.
In covering Kiwi-NRL matters at the top end of NRL business and also the junior pipelines offered by every NRL club, a strong trend of SEQ emerging as a pivotal round-a-bout of Kiwi-NRL prospects quickly perked my antenna.