Kodi Nikorima

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Kodi Nikorima
Kodi Nikorima Broncos.jpg
Personal information
Full nameKodi Nikorima
Born (1994-04-03) 3 April 1994 (age 27)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight83 kg (13 st 1 lb)
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Halfback, Hooker, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–18 Brisbane Broncos 86 22 0 0 88
2019– New Zealand Warriors 52 10 60 1 161
Total 138 32 60 1 249
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 New Zealand 15 2 0 0 8
2020 Māori All Stars 1 1 0 0 4
As of 3 June 2021
Source: [1]

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

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 and 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 and the Pine Rivers Bears (where he won a competition). Kodi was 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]

2020[]

Nikorima made 19 appearances for New Zealand in the 2020 NRL season as the club once again missed out on the finals.[43]

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[bare URL]
  36. ^ https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/10/05/kiwis-world-cup-squad-named/
  37. ^ "New Zealand v Samoa score; match report, result and video highlights from Rugby League World Cup | Daily Telegraph". Archived from the original on 30 October 2017.
  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.
  43. ^ "Warriors to make finals in 2021". www.nrl.com.

External links[]

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