Kodi Nikorima

Kodi Nikorima
Personal information
Born (1994-04-03) 3 April 1994
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height 174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position Halfback, Hooker, Five-eighth

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– Brisbane Broncos 79 20 0 0 80
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–18 New Zealand 10 1 0 0 4
As of 4 March 2018
Source: [1]

Kodi Nikorima (born 3 April 1994) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League. A New Zealand national representative, Nikorima plays as a halfback, five-eighth and hooker; but he can also play fullback.

Background

Born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Nikorima is of Māori and Irish descent.[2][3] He moved to Brisbane, Australia as a 12-year-old and played his junior rugby league for the Aspley Devils, while being educated at Wavell State High School, before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.[4][5] His younger brother Jayden Nikorima is also a professional rugby league player who used to play for the Sydney Roosters.[6]

Playing career

Early career

From 2012 to 2014, Nikorima played for the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team.[7]

In February 2014, Nikorima was selected in the Broncos runners-up 2014 Auckland Nines squad.[8] On 5 October 2014, Nikorima played for the Broncos in their 2014 NYC Grand Final match against the New Zealand Warriors, playing at fullback and scoring a try in the 34-32 loss.[9] On 18 October 2014, Nikorima played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos, playing at fullback and scoring a try in the 15-14 win at Mt Smart Stadium.[10][11]

2015

In January and February, Nikorima played for the Broncos in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines.[12] In Round 2 of the 2015 NRL season, Nikorima made his NRL debut for the Broncos against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, playing off the interchange bench in the Broncos' 10-2 win at Remondis Stadium.[13] On 28 April, he was named as 18th-man for New Zealand against Australia in the 2015 Anzac Test.[14] On 12 May, he re-signed with the Broncos on a one-year contract.[15][16] In Round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans, he scored his first NRL career try in the Broncos' 34-0 win at Suncorp Stadium.[17] On 4 October, he played off the interchange bench in the Broncos' 17-16 golden-point extra-time loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2015 NRL Grand Final.[18][19] He finished off his debut season in the NRL having played in 20 matches and scoring 1 try for the Broncos.[20] On 9 October, he was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tour England.[21] He was one of four members of Brisbane's grand final team to be included in coach Stephen Kearney's squad for the three-test tour and one of six rookies to have received an international call-up by the Kiwis. On 2 November, he made his international debut against England, playing off the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 12-26 loss at KC Stadium.[22][23] In the second test of the series, he was chosen to start at halfback over fellow rookie Tuimoala Lolohea, in the Kiwis' 9-2 win at London Olympic Stadium.[24] On 14 November, in the third and final test match against England, Nikorima kept his starting halfback spot for the Kiwis in their 14-20 final loss at DW Stadium.[25][26]

2016

On 6 May, Nikorima played for New Zealand against Australia in the 2016 Anzac Test, starting at five-eighth after being originally named on the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 16-0 loss at Hunter Stadium.[27] In Round 17 against the Melbourne Storm, he dislocated his shoulder during the first half, where he played the rest of the match with the injury.[28] After the match, he was ruled out for the rest of the year.[29] On 7 September, he extended his contract with the Broncos for a further 2 years, until the end of the 2018 season.[30] He finished the 2016 season having played in 16 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Broncos.[31]

2017

Nikorima spent the early rounds of the season playing in the QLD Cup for the Norths Devils before making his first appearance for the Broncos in Round 6 against the Sydney Roosters, playing off the interchange bench in the 32-8 win at Suncorp Stadium.[32] When Broncos first choice halfback Ben Hunt was sidelined with a hamstring injury for 5 matches, Nikorima was selected to fill in at halfback and it come with great success resulting with the Broncos winning 5 matches in a row and him scoring 4 tries in that period of time.[33] On 5 May 2017, Nikorima played for New Zealand in the 2017 ANZAC Test against Australia where he played off the interchange bench in the 30-12 loss at Canberra Stadium.[34] On 17 July 2017, Nikorima extended his contract with the Broncos to the end of the 2020 season.[35] Nikorima finished the 2017 NRL season with him playing in 19 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Broncos. On 5 October 2017, Nikorima was named in the 24-man New Zealand Kiwis squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[36] In the Kiwis first pool match against Samoa, Nikorima scored his first international try for the Kiwis in the 38-8 win at Mt Smart Stadium.[37] Nikorima finished the Kiwis disappointing campaign with him playing in 3 matches and scoring 1 try.

References

  1. ↑ "Kodi Nikorima - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  2. ↑ "2015 Brothers Kodi and Jayden Nikorima Battle for Vacant Spot". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  3. ↑ "Luke Keary in line for World Cup gig with Ireland". Yahoo. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "Nikorima happy biding time on bench". NRL.com. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  5. ↑ "Broncos bid to buy back the farm". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  6. ↑ "Why Mitchell Pearce's dog act couldn't have come at a worse time for the Sydney Roosters". SMH. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "N". Nyc Database. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  8. ↑ NRL Ladder (14 February 2014). "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Holden Cup Grand Final 2014: Kodi and Jayden Nikorima set to lead Broncos to glory". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
  10. ↑ "2014 JUNIOR KIWIS TEAM ANNOUNCED". Rugbyleagueweek.com.au. 10 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Kiwi kids cause Kangaroos upset". NRL.com. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  12. ↑ "Kodi Nikorima to make Broncos debut after backing from Darren Lockyer". Couriermail.com.au. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  13. ↑ "NRL 2015 - Round 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  14. ↑ "Kodi Nikorima Called Into New Zealand Squad As 18th Man After Just Seven NRL Games". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  15. ↑ "Kodi Nikorima extends Broncos contract | NRL". Zero Tackle. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  16. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Kodi Extends Contract". Broncos.com.au. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  17. ↑ "Broncos trounce Titans to extend streak". NRL.com. 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  18. ↑ Michael Chammas (2016-02-25). "NRL Grand Final 2015: North Queensland Cowboys outgun Brisbane Broncos to win premiership". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  19. ↑ "NRL Grand Final Player Ratings Broncos V Cowboys Who Starred And Who Struggled". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  20. ↑ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 2016-02-20. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  21. ↑ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  22. ↑ "New Zealand 19-man squad named for first game". Englandrl.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  23. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (2015-11-01). "International Series 2015: England 26-12 New Zealand - BBC Sport". Bbc.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  24. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (2015-11-07). "International Series 2015: England 2-9 New Zealand - BBC Sport". Bbc.com. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  25. ↑ "Kiwis stick with Kodi Nikorima at halfback for deciding test". Stuff.co.nz. 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  26. ↑ "England V New Zealand 3rd Test Hosts Take Series With Nervy 20-14 Win Over Kiwis In Wigan". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  27. ↑ "UPDATED: Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
  28. ↑ Rugby League (2016-07-01). "Brisbane Broncos' Kodi Nikorima has shoulder popped back in during NRL game". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  29. ↑ "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  30. ↑ "Broncos re-sign rising utility Kodi Nikorima". Couriermail.com.au. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  31. ↑ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  32. ↑ "Brisbane Sends SOS to Kodi Nikorima As They Look to Find Their attacking Spark". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  33. ↑ "Broncos Give Kodi Nikorima Six Weeks to Prove Himself Ahead of Jack Bird's Transfer Decision". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  34. ↑ "'The greatest I've ever seen'". News.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  35. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/broncos/kodi-nikorima-signs-on-with-brisbane-broncos-until-end-of-2020/news-story/bac6cc7f3dbcb69c2bcc2cb3b24b1a9e
  36. ↑ https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/10/05/kiwis-world-cup-squad-named/
  37. ↑ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/shaun-johnson-sparks-new-zealand-to-388-world-cup-win-over-samoa/news-story/e58b4a404e7c412fd4b9a07f4269b028
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