Kodi Nikorima

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

Kodi Nikorima

Personal information
Full name	Kodi Nikorima
Born	(1994-04-03) 3 April 1994 (age 28) Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height	174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	82 kg (12 st 13 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth, Halfback, Hooker, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2015–19 Brisbane Broncos 86 24 0 0 88 2019–22 New Zealand Warriors 59 11 60 1 165 2022 South Sydney 15 0 10 0 20 2023– Dolphins 0 0 0 0 0 Total 160 35 70 1 273 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2015–19 New Zealand 15 2 0 0 8 2020–22 Māori All Stars 2 2 1 0 10
Source: ^[1] As of 16 June 2022

He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League. He has represented New Zealand and captained Māori All Stars at international level.

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]

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, playing 67 games, scoring 40 tries and kicking 9 goals for 178 points.^[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 & 2021

Nikorima made 19 appearances for New Zealand in the 2020 NRL season as the club once again missed out on the finals. Nikorima played 21 games for New Zealand in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table and missed the finals.^[43]

2022

On 9 May, Nikorima signed a two-year deal to join South Sydney effective immediately. Nikorima made his club debut for South Sydney against his former club New Zealand in a 32-30 victory at Suncorp Stadium in round 10 of the 2022 NRL season.^[44] He played a total of 15 games for South Sydney in the 2022 NRL season including all three of the clubs finals matches as they reached the preliminary final for a fifth straight season. Souths would lose in the preliminary final to eventual premiers Penrith 32-12.^[45]

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. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
8. NRL Ladder (14 February 2014). . 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. . 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. 11 May 2015. 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. 31 August 2016. 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. Matthey, James (5 May 2017). "'The greatest I've ever seen'". News.com.au — Australia's Leading News Site. 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. "Kiwis World Cup squad named". 5 October 2017.
37. . 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. December 2020.
44. "Warriors sign duo as Kodi Nikorima departs for South Sydney Rabbitohs". www.loverugbyleague.com. 9 May 2022.
45. "Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final". www.abc.net.au.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kodi Nikorima.

• New Zealand Warriors profile
• Brisbane Broncos profile
• 2017 RLWC profile