New Crop of Year 11 Talent of 2018 Part 1

Pic: Sionekau Lokeni

Here is New Zealand we dont struggle to find talent on the field and every year it seems like I go to a game and see and player and think “Man! Who is DIS KID RY HEA?!”. Every year there seems to be a Super Stars in the making starting their 1st XV careers and they just burst with talent with everything they do. This year is no different and honestly the talent is getting better and better every year I start Ranking the Top 60 Year 11’s, and this is what we have to look forward to this year. I will write up a few more like this so you can get to know the best up and coming Year 11’s in the country in 2018.

Sionekau Lokeni No.8 (Sacred Heart College)

When you watch young dudes play rugby, you always seem to notice those few players that is 2 steps ahead of the others on the field and when I saw Sionekau that was my first thought. As a No.8 he was a very smart player that would do a huge amount of little things that help other players in the pack and it was like he was the 1st XV player playing with U15 players. The way he would play the tight game making short leg driving runs the be up on his feet blowing out players then drop into the middle of the back line to setup a midfielder for a line break was what I loved about his game.

Monu Moli Prop (Marlboough BC)

A player who has already had that year of 1st XV under his belt and has learnt from his first year Monu is ready to make that big learning curve jump this year. He plays the game with a simple plan in mind and that is to smash dudes around him and keep active. For a young kid he has already got a handle on what its like to be in hard scummage situations and this year would be his time to figure out how to do it his way and start to watch the game slow down for him. He is already a big kid and will only get better and as his body and muscle grows so will his ability to dominate other Props and we could be watching someone special.

Havila Molia Blind Side (Kelston BHS)(PICTURED)

Seeing what I thought the best U15 Team in the country Kelston BHS a player that stood out to me was Havila and it wasn’t hard to see either. Havila was making huge runs and it didnt really look like he was trying after “Fly Swatting” out the way on coming tacklers. Havila was playing on the Blind Side but I could see a NZSS Prop in the making because of his size, power and mobility. Im keen to see what he does this year because if he stays focused and working hard I think we could be hearing about Havila for some years to come.

Bailey Moody Half Back (Christchurch BHS)

This is just another broken record when we hear that Christchurch BHS have another up and coming back that could go far and Bailey Moody is that guy right now. Here is what I see from Bailey coming up this year. Bailey is a guy that will learn how to be a 1st XV player and it will only be a matter of time before we see him in that starting position in the next year or so. He has a traditional style to him as a Half Back but he has all the fundamentals on lock already so this future is looking bright.

Eldius Alainuusee Winger (Hastings BHS)

Speed and Foot Work is what Im hearing all the time about Eldius and it not hard to miss because once he puts that first step down he is gone. I wouldn’t know how to even defend someone that fast because he could burn you off with a 2nd 5/8 putting in a kick behind the line and he would be that dude that scoops it up and scores without being touched. The only thing right now for Eldius is time and waiting for him to get bigger and faster and putting that all together, because he should be a name that we remember for the next 3 years. I think he is going to be a talent and we really should keep an eye on him through out the 3 years.

Jabez Peniata Lock (Porirua College)

Most players in the country that have huge futures in 1st XV rugby usually start as Year 11 players but not Jabez. Last year Jabez played a full year of 1st XV and started at Lock as a Year 10 player. Porirua College played in the first grade Comp and so Jabez had to go up against some NZSS type players as a Lock. Jabez has a reputation for a big kid who plays with no care in the world but making tackles hurt and pop’n off massive runs. Jabez as a Year 10 player handled himself well even as a young’n on the field and so This year he is going to be well versed in what it means to play at that level, he has what it takes to turn himself into one of the best Locks coming up in the future.

Riley Higgins 2nd 5/8 (St Patrick College Silverstream)

Another kid who could take over a game like nothing. Silverstream have been dominating the Wellington Region and its because of players like Riley who could play multiple positions and knows the game of rugby from an IQ level. As a 1st 5/8 Riley has that skill to play the traditional way and be a play maker by passing that ball a long or he could attack the line create gaps in the line and then find the open man off broken play. He has a very solid kicking game that could easily transition to a 1st XV level and we’ll see what happens this year.