Player Kodi Nikorima

Kodi Nikorima

Broncos rocked by Warriors poaching raid of playmaker Kodi Nikorima
Peter Badel - The Courier-Mail
April 28, 2019 9:09am

The Warriors are targeting Kodi Nikorima to solve their playmaking crisis in a move that could end the Brisbane halfback’s career at the Broncos within weeks.

The Courier-Mail understands the Warriors will table a formal offer in the next 48 hours in a bombshell development for Nikorima as he prepares for Thursday night’s Broncos-Souths grudge match.

The clash at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium against his former coach Wayne Bennett could be Nikorima’s 87th and final game for the Broncos with Brisbane considering an immediate release to the Warriors.

Kodi Nikorima could be on the way out of Red Hill. Picture: Annette Dew

The 25-year-old was first linked with a move to the Warriors last December.

Nikorima has been made aware of the Warriors’ poaching bid and would be devastated at the thought of leaving a Broncos club that has groomed him for the NRL since his teen years in Brisbane’s under-20s ranks.

The veteran of 13 Tests for New Zealand has consistently maintained he can succeed at halfback but the Broncos’ sluggish 2-5 start this season has not helped his prospects of being Brisbane’s long-term No.7.

Nikorima has had a tough start to 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is developing young halfbacks Sean O’Sullivan, Tom Dearden, Cory Paix and Tanah Boyd, raising the possibility Brisbane could send Nikorima back to the bench as a No.14 super-sub next season.

But Nikorima may not last that long at Red Hill if the injury-ravaged Warriors can get their man as soon as possible.

The Kiwi outfit have had their scrumbase decimated with Shaun Johnson’s off-season move to Cronulla compounded by a groin injury to his one-time halves partner Blake Green.

Such is their plight, the Warriors were forced to use back-rower Tohu Harris in the halves alongside four-game rookie Chanel Harris-Tavita in their Anzac Day clash against Melbourne last Thursday night.

Nikorima is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2020 but the Warriors are keen to tempt him with a lucrative offer, potentially spanning three seasons beyond this year.

Warriors coach Steve Kearney worked with Nikorima as a former assistant at the Broncos and the pair share the same manager, the NRL’s most powerful agent Isaac Moses.

The Broncos were hoping the Milford-Nikorima alliance would work but the pint-sized pair have never really clicked since joining forces last season following Ben Hunt’s departure to the Dragons.

In the wake of Brisbane’s 29-6 defeat of Cronulla on Saturday night, Broncos prop Matt Lodge praised Nikorima, saying he is an NRL-quality halfback.

“All our forwards have trust in ‘Milf’ (Milford) to get the job done and Kodi is just as dangerous,” he said.

“I’d hate to be tackling him because he’s short and explosive.

“He can just break games open when we need points. Kodi is a threat. He’s just got to run the ball.”

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[Vancent]

Good news, better news than ash returning, very similar offerings with less injuries.

 

[the borg]

Can understand him enacting his option, sounds like a get in first before I lose out all together decision. As I doubt if another club will have him.
Is this good for the team? Not a Kodi hater but the Q is... with the forward pack and a stable backline can he get us into the finals and can he take us all the way? POS I guess, had to be positive in his statement; no other choice really.
To me the jurys still out.. it seems he'd be better in the Super league than NRL

 

[bruce]

Can understand him enacting his option, sounds like a get in first before I lose out all together decision.

If the club didn't want him he would be gone...look at Blair

 

[AusWarriorsFan]

Can understand him enacting his option, sounds like a get in first before I lose out all together decision. As I doubt if another club will have him.

I agree. The problem for the Warriors is, who can they attract. Whilst Kodi has clearly not lived up to expectations of improvements at 5/8th, they clearly werent close to signing a marquee 5/8th at this point. Aside from Shaun Johnson that is, which Id have taken in a heart beat over Kodi, but not sure what the real deal is there.

Either way, Warriors have heaps of options once Chanel Harris-Tavita returns, for me the preference would be Kodi to play off the bench as small power forward, Walsh to play 6, Turner also shows hes got the speed we need. The problem is we dont have the halves right now getting the ball to the right places and both Sean O'Sullivan and Kodi are pretty dodgy with the 5th tackle option and Kodi has a terrible bomb. Im much happier seeing the Warriors run the ball when 30 out on the last than Kodi putting up the same bomb that goes 10m and never ends up in a result.

I think he definitely took the option before the Warriors got closer to somebody of much higher quality and consistency. I think for Kodi it was his only option, for the Warriors, I think we could have released him and waited for a better option or reshuffle of the 5/8th option, of which, Hayze is the only listed 5/8th on the team page. I expect we will lose him and Turner with this resigning, unless Kodi is used as the bench utility that he is best suited for.

 

[6Again]

for me the preference would be Kodi to play off the bench as small power forward

Either your on the spectrum and this is some kind of genius or it’s the nuttiest thing I’ve read in a while. Do you mean play Kodi off the bench at dummy-half or something else?

 

[tajhay]

Paying the price for the contracts given out under the past regime.

Cant blame him for taking the option - its not his fault. No other club would pay him what hes on. Best suited as an interchange hooker.

 

[Stalefish540]

Paying the price for the contracts given out under the past regime.

Cant blame him for taking the option - its not his fault. No other club would pay him what hes on. Best suited as an interchange hooker.

He hasn't been playing as if it's contract year that's for sure. Hopefully with Chanel Harris-Tavita coming back he starts to feel the pressure.

 

[TheCool]

Paying the price for the contracts given out under the past regime.

Cant blame him for taking the option - its not his fault. No other club would pay him what hes on. Best suited as an interchange hooker.

Pretty sure this was POS first move.

 

[wellyboy]

Pretty sure this was POS first move.

I bet SK had a massive input.

 

[bruce]

I bet SK had a massive input.

and the agent!!!

 

[Sup42]

I am ok with it.

In market terms we are paying him close to what he is worth as a starting spine player. He has quite a good boot in general play, short game especially.

He doesn't turn over possession with shit service to other players like some of our past halves.

He will possibly be quite useful when the focus shifts to Walsh.

He is a good utilility player in a 17.

 

[AusWarriorsFan]

He will possibly be quite useful when the focus shifts to Walsh.

Yes exactly. I dont think Walsh is the sort that is going to wait for Kodi to provide holes or broken player, he will inject himself. 2 try assists first game is a good effort

Kodi is a placemarker, its obvious we are looking for a high quality 6, but I do find Shaun Johnson for only $800k just because a couple of players didnt like him getting so much attention and winning games is a piss poor reason not to take the deal. Im not sure who else would touch the Warriors? Unless Gould has another "Walsh" trick up is sleeve for both the 6 and 9 roles.

 

[Stalefish540]

I am ok with it.

In market terms we are paying him close to what he is worth as a starting spine player. He has quite a good boot in general play, short game especially.

He doesn't turn over possession with shit service to other players like some of our past halves.

He will possibly be quite useful when the focus shifts to Walsh.

He is a good utilility player in a 17.

I don't doubt his ability to play RL, he has shown it in a bunch of games he has all the tools. Just seems as though he goes through the motions far too often. Would seem it's near impossible to get a more consistent fire lit under him. As others have said, not fussed on the one year given what we can realistically attract halves wise.

Bring back the Iro dollars for runs perk system I reckon.

 

[AusWarriorsFan]

That try from Brandon Smith hitting the line at speed, is exactly what I could see Kodi doing.

He could easily pickup the 9 role and make it his own at the Warrors. We need speed out of the ruck, and or somebody catching the Defense broken due to blasting out of dummy half creating multiple hokes for somebody like to Walsh to continuously be backing up, similar to Papenhausen is always behind Brandon Smith/Harry Grant.

But he doesnt want to play the position. That is where somebody like J Hughes for the storm went from FB and worked hard to become running 5/8th and highly effective. We need players who will perform at whatever position they are given, not guys who will have a sulk if hes told they want him to perform with speed at dummy half. It is what it is, I get the feeling this is what will occur as it solves 2 birds with 1 replacement. Somebody like Shaun Johnson to 6 and somehow getting Kodi in the mood to see how amazing the 9 role can be and how good he could be at it. Princess players like Shaun Johnson and Kodi are all about how you sell them something rather than insulting their precious egos. Not easy.

 

[Swanley]

Cannot complain, I guess was always going to happen. Again he just needs to be more consistent and run the ball more.

He'd make a great 14....

 

[AusWarriorsFan]

He'd make a great 14....

Yes he could. But he doesnt want to. But he could easily make the starting 9 if he put some effort into transition. I really dont know how they will handle it when it happens, but if we need a quality 6 and 9 and Kodi could be a quality 9 with some training, then Shaun Johnson or similar into 6 would save a lot of money and be an easy quality fix. Sigh, lets see how it pans out.

 

[Mr Dragon]

We need to think about the future and get rid of this driftwood, 10 years of Walsh in our team is just the start, we need more young Aussies to give us a legacy like the Storm did with their young superstars

 

[wizards rage]

Wtf happened in the Titans Broncos game. I went to bed with the Titans up 20 nil after about 15 minutes. There structure in attack was awesome and the broncos looked clueless... but just checked and the Broncos won???

 

[wizards rage]

Highly impressed with the Storm. My pick for the premiership again. They are a team on another level playing a different uptempo game to everyone else.

You look at the physical conditioning of the players and they must be one of the leanest teams in the competition. Built like sprinters where most teams condition their players with bulk to handle the physicality. They play so light and fast yet don’t get the injuries because it’s not a high impact game plan.

4/8 games this season their attack has cracked 40+ points. They are built to steamroll teams in the second half as they fatigue them with their speed. Yes they are still messy on the ground in defence but exciting to watch from an athletic perspective.

The leaders again in the next evolution of the sport and the leaders in really condition their players to the new rules. Bellamy does it again.

 

[ramps]

I don't doubt his ability to play RL, he has shown it in a bunch of games he has all the tools. Just seems as though he goes through the motions far too often. Would seem it's near impossible to get a more consistent fire lit under him. As others have said, not fussed on the one year given what we can realistically attract halves wise.

Bring back the Iro dollars for runs perk system I reckon.

Yeah I find he's too easy to shut down if you are the opposing defense. I think that's the problem. If he sees no gaps in the defense, he has no idea what to do to open it up. There are plays you need to accomplish in tackles 1-3/4 that set up that option to take the line on but doesn't seem to manage the game that way.

Either he's not being fed the ball enough to create the opportunity, he's not demanding the ball or he just has no idea. He is the senior half in a very young spine. He needs to do this or make way for someone who can actually do the role so he can move to the bench.