niukore.webp
niukore.webp

Player Marata Niukore

Date of Birth
Jul 29, 1996
Birth Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality
  1. 🇳🇿 New Zealand
  2. 🇨🇰 Cook Islands
Height (cm)
188 cm
Weight (kg)
106 kg
Position/s
  1. Centre
  2. Prop
  3. Second Row
  4. Lock
Warrior #
276
NRL Debut Date
May 18, 2018
NRL Debut Details
NRL 2018, Round 11, Parramatta Eels Vs NZ Warriors
Warriors Debut Date
Mar 3, 2023
Warriors Debut Details
NRL 2023, Round 1, Newcastle
Warriors Years Active
  1. 2023
  2. 2024
  3. 2025
Signed From
Parramatta Eels
Junior Club/s
Mangere East Hawks
Previous Club/s
Parramatta Eels
Current Club
New Zealand Warriors
Rep Honours
  1. NZ
  2. Cook Islands
  3. Junior Kiwi
Status
Active
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marata_Niukore
Rugby League Project
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/marata-niukore/summary.html
Overview instagram Gallery Discussion
WahsaurusRex

WahsaurusRex

NameMarata Niukore
Born29 July 1996 (Auckland, New Zealand)
Height188cm
Weight106kg
PositionSecond Row, Centre, Lock
Warriors Player Number#276
Warriors DebutRound 1 vs. Newcastle Knights, 03 March 2023
Warriors Career2023-
RepresentativeNew Zealand, Cook Islands
Junior ClubMangere East Hawks
Previous ClubParramatta Eels
NRL DebutRound 11 vs. New Zealand Warriors, 18 May 2018 (Paramatta Eels)
 

NZWarriors.com

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Just needs to adjust his tackling lower to prevent those trigger happy refs from sending him to the bin.

Also if you’re gonna touch Fafita’s face, do it with a closed fist 😉
 
He's absolutely targeted, some his fault but he's absolutely no where near the leagues of JWH or Radley. They intentionally commit foul play as part of their standard game, he's been responsible for a couple of unlucky but common head high yellows. NAS not being on there sums up a lot. Certain clubs get preferential treatment both on and off the field.

I don't fault him for that, though he does need to be aware of it because he's going to keep getting that treatment next year.

What we do need to see is a lot more out of him game impact wise. We paid overs to bring him in and while he's a strong player and definitely part of our first picked side, he's rarely been a top 5 player in a game for us this year. We really need him to stand up and start breaking some games open, don't expect him to be AFB level but every third game he needs to be standing out big time.

As it is I'd happily swap him for a prop of similar value and just slot in Curran.
 

Warriors v Cowboys: Marata Niukore to make up for lost time after injury-hit NRL season​

By Alex Powell
7 Jun, 2024

Marata Niukore is a man of few words.
But the Warriors forward has made it clear he’s going to make up for lost time over the second half of the NRL season.
Despite becoming a key figure in Andrew Webster’s 2023 revolution at the Kiwi club, the 27-year-old has endured a frustrating season so far.
Across the first 13 rounds of the competition, Niukore has played just 74 minutes across two games, after two separate foot injuries.

However, if there’s any good omen for Webster and co now that Niukore’s back and the Warriors look to reignite their season, both those games have been wins.
The most recent of those was the 24-20 victory over the Dolphins, before last week’s bye.
And now named in the No 11 jersey for this weekend’s trip to Townsville to face the North Queensland Cowboys, Niukore is happy to draw a line under his injury woes.
“It’s never ideal to notch an injury throughout the season, let alone at the start,” he said.

“To miss 12 weeks was nerve-racking. It was a bit weird trying to prepare for a game last week.
“But it was good to get out there and iron out the cobwebs, get that over and done with.”
The importance of Niukore’s return for the Warriors can’t be understated.
After he impressed for the Parramatta Eels, the club’s front office made Niukore one of the highest-paid players at Go Media Stadium to bring him home - and it’s money well spent.
Marata Niukore has struggled with injury this year after a starring role in 2023. Photo / Getty Images
Marata Niukore has struggled with injury this year after a starring role in 2023. Photo / Getty Images
Last season saw the enforcer play 22 games for 14 wins, and make 579 tackles at a success rate of just under 93 per cent.
On top of that, he averaged 94 run metres per game, as a weapon on both attack and defence.
This season, as the Warriors have battled injury after injury, Niukore’s return is a sight that will trouble oppositions across the NRL.
“I know what I’m capable of bringing to the team,” he added.
“If I can come into this team and add to that, I’ll put myself in a good position to nail the role.
“Whether that’s in the middle or on the edge, if I play to my strengths, and keep working on the stuff I need to, I’ll put myself in a good position to notch up some good performances.”


Just where he plays, though, is still up for debate.
As Webster named his team to face the Cowboys on Tuesday, Niukore was a notable inclusion in the second row, where he spent last season.
However, the signing of Kurt Capewell at the start of the season signalled a huge change in the Warriors’ tactics.
This year had seen Niukore used as a prop, where he’d also played for the Eels, with the threat of a lethal front-row combination with Addin Fonua-Blake.
His stint in Parramatta also saw Niukore utilised at centre, and he is one of the most versatile players on the Warriors’ books.
But as far as the man himself is concerned, Niukore is happy to do a job wherever the team needs him.

“It wasn’t the plan to be in the back row, especially after signing Capes. But me and Webby notched a plan in pre-season to practise both roles.
“We had all pre-season to do that, I felt like we had a lot of things to iron out in terms of positions I’ll be playing.
“Whether that’s in the middle or on the edge, I’m more than comfortable trying to do both, and what’s best for the team.”


www.nzherald.co.nz

‘I know what I’m capable of’: Returning Warrior's warning to rivals

Marata Niukore is back to full fitness as the Warriors look to reignite their season.
www.nzherald.co.nz www.nzherald.co.nz
 
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