The Wests Tigers hopes of signing Sharks and Test backrower Briton Nikora have suffered a blow with their primary target declaring his allegiance to Cronulla.
Viewed by Tigers officials as the ideal replacement for Cowboys-bound forward Luciano Leilua, Nikora is on the top of the struggling club’s hit-list.
Tigers and New Zealand Test coach Michael Maguire has a relationship with Nikora, having handed the hard-running edge-forward his debut Test jersey in 2019.
Ahead of a clash with the Tigers on Sunday Pointsbet Stadium, Nikora remains off-contract at Cronulla with the Sharks eager to retain the talent they first signed for $5,000 as a 17-year-old.
The softly-spoken Nikora, 24, has joined fellow off-contract Shark Braden Hamlin-Uele (see below) in declaring his priority was to stay in the Shire.
Briton Nikora wants to stay at the Sharks. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
“I’ve been here since I was 17. My partner is from here. I’ve got kids here, we live down the road, so this is my home,’’ Nikora said.
“As I said, I’ve been here since the under-20s so I don’t really want to leave.
“I know we’re facing the Tigers this week, but I’m just focusing on my job and letting the outside noise take care of itself.
“I just need to play good, consistent footy and the contract stuff will take care of itself.
“I’d obviously love to stay here and hopefully we can get it done as soon as possible.’’
To those that have watched Nikora‘s 66-game career closely, his maturation in the key effort areas on the football field, including kick-chase and line-speed in defence, has proven outstanding over the first month of this season.
Nikora admits sharpening his focus compared to that of past seasons is behind his fast-start to 2022.
“We’ve got a couple of wins in a row and the boys are feeling great,’’ Nikora said.
“Fitzy (Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon) and the staff are really good coaches and they’ve given us the game plan and it’s working.
“Our pre-season was good. We learned a lot from Fitzy and the coaches and preparation is a big one.
“My preparation from a couple of years ago to this year is different, I’m just trying to do all the little things right.
“Eating and sleeping, my preparation against who we‘re playing, all those little things matter.
“Our effort areas are a big focus, doing those one percenters, that’s what matters to us.’’
Nikora added that his right-side combination with Sharks marquee-signing Nicho Hynes was gaining momentum.
“It was sad to see Shaun (Johnson) leave, after building a combination with him,” Nikora said.
“But Nicho has come in and it’s been awesome playing alongside him.
“Just the way he plays, that off the cuff style and you never know what he’s going to do.
“He just pops up anywhere. I’ve loved playing outside him.’’