Official Briton Nikora

[MMsharks]

yeah didn't realise that
60 games NRL under his belt, feels like more, but that about right

 

[Cage]

Tipping a big improvement in Nikora under his next coach, who played the odd game in the forwards.

 

[bort]

Comparing back rowers to middles for 1 on 1 tackles is not really fair imo. Middles get more help and do less kick-chase.

Volume stats can also be misleading in terms of work rate. Nikora will be ahead of many back rowers on better teams because his team has the ball less. What we really want is per-minute mapper against possession rate - though the fact that he is staying out there and actually making the tackles counts for something.

bort - how does he compare per-game versus Wilton, Graham, and other high-minute back rowers from similarly placed teams on the ladder (Knights, Raiders, Titans)?

Happy to discuss per minute vs possession rate if you can find it or work it out.

Nikora leads average per game for second row (as he is 3rd overall on average), around 4 per game.
Rikki is next as clear number 2 (averaging about 3 per game).
Then there are a heap closer together averaging around 2.5 and down including (in decending order) Aitken, Fuimaono, Kikau, Graham, Matterson, Garner, Curran, Sims, Glenn, Elliot, Harris, Wilton, Capewell, Young, Jackson, Sironen, Whitehead, Jack Williams, Frizell, Fifita, CHN, Fitzgibbon, Olakau’atu, and more I didn’t include but after this you’re outside the top 100 for the league and Tupouinua at #102 is the last edge player to average 2.0 or better

Approx 30 of the top 100 by average were edge players and he is a notable leader in this area, although I’m not trying to pretend this is some awe inspiring stat, just thought it was interesting and nobody would have picked it.

Also possible he had to do like 12 one game and stacked his average, I haven’t checked that

 

[andrew's_sharks]

I still think Nikora can be a good long term second rower. He looks like he still needs to put on 4-5kg which he likely will in his mid 20s. A few kg and a bit of defensive work with Fitz could make all the difference for both he and Wilton

 

[Sparkles]

Crazy that he's still so young, it feels like he's been around forever. Do we think second row is an older players position? He plays a lot of minutes and games for a guy his age... maybe that's why he doesn't hit it up so much.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Crazy that he's still so young, it feels like he's been around forever. Do we think second row is an older players position? He plays a lot of minutes and games for a guy his age... maybe that's why he doesn't hit it up so much.

That's an interesting question. Without giving it a lot of thought I wouldn't think they'd take as long to mature as props.

 

[Sparkles]

That's an interesting question. Without giving it a lot of thought I wouldn't think they'd take as long to mature as props.

Yeah, they're a kind of hybrid position these days. Edge back rowers are a bit more like 80 min impact players, but still get through pretty high levels of defensive work. You'd think they'd need a bit more of a youthful spring in their steps than a rock solid middle.

 

[bort]

A handful of guys in a similar age range and number of nrl games

Schuster 20 17 games
Rikki 21 16 games
Wilton 21 19 games
David Fifita 21 63 games
Curran 22 18 games
Olakau'atu 22 23 games
Koloamatangi 23 34 games
Young 23 47 games
Nikora 23 51 games
Sua 23 78 games
Murray 23 99 games
Garner 25 55 games
Crichton 25 109 games
Kikau 26 90 games
Elliot 26 95 games
Lane 26 118 games
Matterson 26 118 games

 

[Gards]

wasn't invisible tonight, was putting in the effort from the opening whistle

didn't miss a tackle either which is remarkable

 

[Thresher]

wasn't invisible tonight, was putting in the effort from the opening whistle

didn't miss a tackle either which is remarkable

He's gone through a remarkable turnaround recently. I was a big critic of his but now I see him as one of our most dependable defensively.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I'm on the other side, can't see how he starts ahead of Wilton.

That play where he was pushed over the sideline early in the count was dumb as dog ****.

 

[Thresher]

I'm on the other side, can't see how he starts ahead of Wilton.

That play where he was pushed over the sideline early in the count was dumb as dog ****.

Yeah that was bad. Can't see him doing it twice. But who knows.

 

[Gards]

He's gone through a remarkable turnaround recently. I was a big critic of his but now I see him as one of our most dependable defensively.

I wonder if Fitz passed a message down the line or if Nikora finally woke up and relised we have competition / options for his spot in Wilton, Talakai ect and that a new coach might not gift him with selection just cause he's the more experienced incumbent

 

[bort]

I wonder if Fitz passed a message down the line or if Nikora finally woke up and relised we have competition / options for his spot in Wilton, Talakai ect and that a new coach might not gift him with selection just cause he's the more experienced incumbent

He’s been dropped before why would he not think a new coach could drop him unless that coach rings him up before they’ve started to tell him?

 

[Thresher]

He’s been dropped before why would he not think a new coach could drop him unless that coach rings him up before they’ve started to tell him?

Which coach has the phone?

 

[Paul C]

He was good tonight. Better edge than talakai atm. Id be happy with him and teig as starting 11 and 12

 

[Gards]

He’s been dropped before why would he not think a new coach could drop him unless that coach rings him up before they’ve started to tell him?

took forever for JMO to drop him. he has been the chosen one. Wilton is a better and stronger player and our real future second rower . and that's my point, Fitz likely won't give him 12 months + of mediocrity to replace him

Nikora going decent lately though which is what's important , not so much the why

 

[Super Impose]

Has shown intent both with and without the ball in recent weeks - credit to him …

 

[apezza]

Definitely playing better second half of year but with everyone fit he wouldn't be in top 17 in my opinion.

Needs to get the rookie errors out of his game.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Nikora always worries me and seems to make a lot of “dumb” decisions or makes dumb plays.
Hopefully Fitz gives him that feedback and he works on it over the off season.