Kodi Nikorima

Kodi Nikorima (born 3 April 1994) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and five-eighth for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL and New Zealand at international level.

Kodi Nikorima
Personal information
Born (1994-04-03) 3 April 1994
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Fullback, Five-eighth, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 Brisbane Broncos 86 22 0 0 88
2019– New Zealand Warriors 26 5 16 1 53
Total 112 27 16 1 141
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 New Zealand 15 2 0 0 8
As of 21 September 2019
Source: [1]

He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League.

Background

Nikorima was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and is of Māori, Irish descent.[2][3] He moved to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia as a 12-year-old.

He 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 footballer who used to play for the Sydney Roosters.[6]

He previously played for the Hamilton city tigers where he played with younger brother Tiro Rota before he left to play for Brisbane.

Playing career

Early career
Nikorima playing for the Broncos NYC team in 2014

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 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.

2018

Nikorima played as halfback in every game of the three match Kiwis tour of England in the northern autumn. He scored a try and was awarded man of the match in the Kiwis's 34-0 drubbing of England that was the final game.[38]

2019

After playing seven games for the Broncos in 2019,[39] Nikorima was told that he wouldn't be guaranteed a position in the halves. The New Zealand Warriors had expressed an interest in him as a half, and Nikorima said that they had offered "a future for me in the position I want to play."[40] Nikorima was granted an immediate release by the Broncos and signed a two and a half year contract to play for the Warriors.[41] His first game for his new club was their 26-18 victory over St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.[42]

gollark: I mean, how would you do it?
gollark: Optimality.
gollark: Why what?
gollark: I did make a working SMTP to RSS bridge.
gollark: Nominally, 37383948 things. Practically not much.

References
  1. "Kodi Nikorima - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  2. "2015 Brothers Kodi and Jayden Nikorima Battle for Vacant Spot". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  3. "7th Tackle: Luck of the Irish finds Keary". Yahoo. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  4. "Nikorima happy biding time on bench". NRL.com. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  5. "Broncos bid to buy back the farm". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  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 1 October 2015.
  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 13 March 2015.
  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. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  12. "Kodi Nikorima to make Broncos debut after backing from Darren Lockyer". Couriermail.com.au. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  13. "NRL 2015 - Round 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  14. "Kodi Nikorima Called Into New Zealand Squad As 18th Man After Just Seven NRL Games". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. "Kodi Nikorima extends Broncos contract | NRL". Zero Tackle. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  16. "EXCLUSIVE: Kodi Extends Contract". Broncos.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  17. "Broncos trounce Titans to extend streak". NRL.com. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  18. Michael Chammas (25 February 2016). "NRL Grand Final 2015: North Queensland Cowboys outgun Brisbane Broncos to win premiership". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. "NRL Grand Final Player Ratings Broncos V Cowboys Who Starred And Who Struggled". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  20. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  21. "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  22. "New Zealand 19-man squad named for first game". Englandrl.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  23. Fletcher, Paul (1 November 2015). "International Series 2015: England 26-12 New Zealand - BBC Sport". Bbc.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  24. Fletcher, Paul (7 November 2015). "International Series 2015: England 2-9 New Zealand - BBC Sport". Bbc.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  25. "Kiwis stick with Kodi Nikorima at halfback for deciding test". Stuff.co.nz. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  26. "England V New Zealand 3rd Test Hosts Take Series With Nervy 20-14 Win Over Kiwis In Wigan". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  27. "UPDATED: Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  28. Rugby League (1 July 2016). "Brisbane Broncos' Kodi Nikorima has shoulder popped back in during NRL game". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  29. "Home | Live Scores & Latest News". Fox Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  30. "Broncos re-sign rising utility Kodi Nikorima". Couriermail.com.au. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  31. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  32. "Brisbane Sends SOS to Kodi Nikorima As They Look to Find Their attacking Spark". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  33. "Broncos Give Kodi Nikorima Six Weeks to Prove Himself Ahead of Jack Bird's Transfer Decision". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  34. "'The greatest I've ever seen'". News.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  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
  38. "Nikorima stars as Kiwis cane England". NRL.com. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  39. "KODI NIKORIMA". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  40. "NRL: Kodi Nikorima unfazed by filling Shaun Johnson's boots for Warriors". newshub. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  41. "Kodi Nikorima welcomes 'new challenge' as Warriors confirm his signing". stuff. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  42. "Warriors dig deep into box of tricks for Magic Round win over Dragons". stuff. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
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