Official Briton Nikora

[CrazyMatt]

Yeah sign him for three years, no stuffing around.

We should of tried to do it weeks ago. After his top notch start to the season he’d be absolutely brain dead not to hold off and test the market.
Hope we can turn his head before then, but it could be tough.

 

[Capital_Shark]

Who said discussions haven't began?

He loves SJ apparently as a fellow Kiwi, JMo has had big raps on him for a long while and he's got an 80min spot in a top NRL side that's his to lose.

"Home" would be NZ and they're stacked in the forwards so don't see them calling.

Think we're good to re-sign him.

 

[Tatus]

He’s been coached by Morris for the majority of his professional career. Hopefully the comfortablity factor comes into play here.

 

[Western Sharkie]

He’s been coached by Morris for the majority of his professional career. Hopefully the comfortablity factor comes into play here.

We blokes need to introduce him to a nice shire girl that doesn’t want to leave so as to Keep him there.

 

[Flanno]

Go on then WS, make it happen mate! Nikora-Johnson, what a combo that’s going to be for the next few years. Nikora has it all to succeed here at the Sharkies, if we make him a good offer I don’t see why he would go elsewhere

 

[snowman]

Who said discussions haven't began?

He loves SJ apparently as a fellow Kiwi, JMo has had big raps on him for a long while and he's got an 80min spot in a top NRL side that's his to lose.

"Home" would be NZ and they're stacked in the forwards so don't see them calling.

Think we're good to re-sign him.

exactly

 

[Gards]

well I doubt SJ is going to be selling Nikora on the virtues of the Warriors system so that's one less club to worry about

 

[HaroldBishop]

Andrew Fifita had an inkling Briton Nikora would make it at as an NRL player when he shot him a text on Christmas Eve.

The Sharks star was on his way back from a knee injury and Nikora happened to be nursing the same ailment. The main playing group were in the middle of a two week break but Fifita was eager to squeeze a rehabilitation session in on Christmas morning, before his kids were awake and opening presents.

That meant a 7am start at Cronulla Park, while the rest of the country was either tucked up in bed or unwrapping gifts.

"The only message I got back from him was ‘Yep, sweet, see you there,’" Fifita said. "We dug deep and now he is playing round one, round two and I’m pretty sure he got man-of-the-match on the weekend. He is one of the blokes who will be there for you. I can’t speak highly enough of him."

Fifita's ringing endorsement will come as little surprise to those who have watched Cronulla's start to the season. Nikora's performance in the second match of his career looked more like one of a player with 200 caps under his belt.

He scored a try, busted four tackles and made 131 metres from his nine carries and on the other side of the ball, made 27 tackles without missing one.

He has made his way through the Cronulla system during four years at the club and is now taking full advantage of the opportunity given to him by rookie coach John Morris.

The first "pinch me" moment of his first grade career popped up in the 20-6 win over the Titans, where he squared off against childhood hero Kevin Proctor.

"When I played against [Proctor] on the weekend I looked at him and thought, 'I used to watch you, now I am playing against you'," Nikora said. "It’s heaps surreal. Even just running out with all the guys I have looked up to during school. "Fifita, [Shaun] Johnson, [Josh] Dugan, I still trip out about it."

Nikora is a product of famous Gold Coast rugby league nursery Keebra Park High but arrived at the school in a roundabout way.

The 21-year-old was born in the North Island New Zealand town of Mount Maunganui, in Tauranga, before moving to the bright lights of the Gold Coast at the age of nine.

Having grown up in the rugby mad nation, Nikora had barely watched a minute of rugby league when he arrived in Australia. Just eight years later, he was in Cronulla's system.

"Once I moved to the Gold Coast I completely switched," Nikora said. "Everything was league, no union. I was full into league. I just loved it, hey."

Cronulla have loved what they've seen from Nikora through his first two starts. The Sharks have hardly been short on second row talent in recent years with Wade Graham and Luke Lewis running the show but with the former currently injured and the latter retired, Nikora looms as the club's next star in that spot.

He has picked the brain of both players since arriving at the club at the end of 2015.

"Wade, Lewis last year, [Jason] Bukuya, even guys like Fifita, everyone is helping me out bit by bit," Nikora said. "Wade and Lewi, they just taught me all the little things that I need to work on and the one percenters.

"[Graham] tells me what to look out for, what to work on, pretty much takes me under his wing and shows me what to work on."

Nikora has clearly taken Graham's tips and tricks on board but that hasn't stopped him from pinching himself at training. "When I go to training sometimes I trip out that I am training with these types of fellas," he said.

"It’s a childhood dream to play with them. I just needed to be ready, I guess."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/ch...ita-nikora-was-real-deal-20190326-p517t7.html

 

[egg]

Great Article HB

 

[Sparkles]

Someone is finally doing some good work on PR for Fifita. There's been a few really good stories recently.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Fast becoming my go to when my wife knocks me back. Have a poster tucked away for said occasions.

 

[snowman]

Oooooft he is a fkn gem

 

[Thresher]

We've got something really special here.

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

What a player!!!

 

[Gards]

Fast becoming my go to when my wife knocks me back. Have a poster tucked away for said occasions.

sicko

P.S send copies

 

[snowman]

not many players keep going for the ball for that try

you can tell by his instincts and the put down that he spent some time with the backs in the off season - class finish that

 

[HaroldBishop]

Live I didn't think he scored. Incredible effort.

 

[Gards]

not many players keep going for the ball for that try

you can tell by his instincts and the put down that he spent some time with the backs in the off season - class finish that

I can think of one - Luky Lewis

but yea getting there is one thing, forcing the ball is another. nice try

 

[Sir Chadley]

Live I didn't think he scored. Incredible effort.

Same here. I thought he was miles over.

Some of the Fox commentators still tried to play video ref with Queensland hats on.

Vossy wasn't fooled though.

 

[Tiger Shark]

Same here. I thought he was miles over.

Some of the Fox commentators still tried to play video ref with Queensland hats on.

It would be nice to have a QLD game where the commentators aren't that biased. Was making me sick. Loved it when we kicked ahead, you can tell it was hurting them haha