Official Briton Nikora

[sharks2010]

He used to have that with SJ. Went downhill after he left. Maybe he'll get that again with Hynes.

Yeah I guess it just comes down to the difference in timing and the way they play from sj and nicho, has definitely improved as the season has gone on and spent more time together

 

[Gards]

Up against Nanai this weekend will be a good test for Nikora

Nanai with the size and hype, Nikora with more experience and in a patch of form

Hoping Briton and Hynes can force some misreads on that edge as I expect stronger tackles/efforts on him than what he got against Newcastle

 

[bort]

Up against Nanai this weekend will be a good test for Nikora

Nanai with the size and hype, Nikora with more experience and in a patch of form

Hoping Briton and Hynes can force some misreads on that edge as I expect stronger tackles/efforts on him than what he got against Newcastle

Both play right dont they?
Up against Lucy I think, Nanai v Graham
Could be wrong though, haven’t checked that

 

[Gards]

Both play right dont they?
Up against Lucy I think, Nanai v Graham
Could be wrong though, haven’t checked that

Actually yea Nanai has been playing on the right, at least recently, dunno prior to Leilua coming into the team

The way the Cows players were getting named/numbered in past games team lists through me off as Nanai has been named in both the 11 & 12, the latter of which would have in theory put him opposite Nikora who is always named @ 11

I know it's just a number and means even less when it comes to forwards - maybe Payten been swapping the 2 second rowers around on the day, only seen a handful of Cows games in full this year

Just watched highlights of Cows vs. Penrith and Nanai was defs playing on the right so yea he will line up against Wade. Doubt Payten gunna mess too much with things at this point

 

[burgess1978]

Nanai has played right side all year.

Gilbert was left side prior to Luciano joining.

 

[GF78]

Sharks by 8. I for one, am confident,

 

[CrazyMatt]

Sharks by 8. I for one, am confident,

And I for one, am confident that you have the wrong thread.

 

[Western Sharkie]

Sharks' Nikora learns value of time

Sharks' Nikora learns value of time

It didn't take long for Cronulla back-rower Briton Nikora to find out Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon doesn't...

www.canberratimes.com.au

​

Briton Nikora is enjoying a fine year with Cronulla but his pre-season got off to a rocky start.
It didn't take long for Cronulla back-rower Briton Nikora to find out Sharks head coach Craig Fitzgibbon doesn't suffer fools.
Back in the Sharks' pre-season Nikora committed the ultimate sin for an NRL player when he failed to turn up to training on time.
But rather than get shouted at, receive a fine or get sent for laps of PointsBet Stadium, Fitzgibbon's response left a lasting impression.
"Fitzy just sent me home," the New Zealand international told AAP.
"You have this feeling that you know you've done something wrong.
"I think it makes you feel worse when he says it so nicely because he's pretty chilled about it and there's no screaming or yelling.
"I was the first one to turn up late - I got some stuff mixed up, I thought it was a recovery day but I missed the meeting beforehand.
"He was pretty good about it and I came back the next day and just ripped in."
It was a lesson well learnt for Nikora, who says he gained an understanding of Fitzgibbon's ruthlessness as he seeks to turn the Sharks from an inconsistent side into one which could compete for silverware.
Nikora is a working example of that. He burst into the NRL in 2019 but struggled to rediscover that blistering form until this year.
"I think throughout 2019 I was loving it and I was in cruise control after then," he said.
"But Fitzy has helped me do the little things right so when the big plays do come they are there for you.
"He has opened my eyes - I thought I knew a bit about footy until Fitzy came in."
Since Fitzgibbon's arrival at the club, Cronulla have been on an upward curve and finished second this season.
Were it not for a 93rd-minute golden-point field goal against North Queensland, the Sharks could be having the week off.
As it is, they will face Souths in a winner-takes all game on Saturday to set up a preliminary final with Penrith.
"We went into last week with a do-or-die attitude," Nikora said. "Our defence wasn't where we wanted it to be and we need to clean that up."
Australian Associated Press

 

[egg]

Nice

 

[snowman]

owes us a big game

played 93 minutes and had 61 meters, not good enough

 

[bort]

Briton Nikora was 1 meeting and 2 years late to this form improvement

 

[Six Again]

owes us a big game

played 93 minutes and had 61 meters, not good enough

His metres had a bit to do with his name obviously being in bold letters on Cowboy's defensive tip sheet last week .

 

[bort]

His metres had a bit to do with his name obviously being in bold letters on Cowboy's defensive tip sheet last week .

Only from close to the tryline
Put three on the Knights with just 56 run meters.

I think to an extent we just have to accept that the way we use our edges isn't for a lot of meters.
We have four outside backs who are all good meter makers to start sets and then a good middle rotation to take over. The edges only really get brought into the running game on shift plays when they receive but don't pass on.

Most of our middles could play more minutes and our backs get through their work easy enough, not a great need for the edge forwards to push their way in for carries.
Obviously Wade in middle for a bit but him Nikora and Teig made a combined 136-14-5 (made, missed, ineffective) of our 451-54-19 team tackles, or 30%-26%-26%
They only made 297 of our 2110 meters (14%) although Nikora was a very low contributor to that, he did make the most tackles of the three.

We just don't use our line running 94kg edge player for a lot of hit ups

 

[Sparkles]

Only from close to the tryline
Put three on the Knights with just 56 run meters.

I think to an extent we just have to accept that the way we use our edges isn't for a lot of meters.
We have four outside backs who are all good meter makers to start sets and then a good middle rotation to take over. The edges only really get brought into the running game on shift plays when they receive but don't pass on.

Most of our middles could play more minutes and our backs get through their work easy enough, not a great need for the edge forwards to push their way in for carries.
Obviously Wade in middle for a bit but him Nikora and Teig made a combined 136-14-5 (made, missed, ineffective) of our 451-54-19 team tackles, or 30%-26%-26%
They only made 297 of our 2110 meters (14%) although Nikora was a very low contributor to that, he did make the most tackles of the three.

We just don't use our line running 94kg edge player for a lot of hit ups

And maybe you don't have to when one of your biggest metre eaters every week is one of your centres.
Feels a bit lopsided though

 

[bort]

And maybe you don't have to when one of your biggest metre eaters every week is one of your centres.
Feels a bit lopsided though

Agree it doesn't feel good, or look good on paper.
But when I think through it I can see how we end up there. Fitz clearly doesn't mind, he's extended him.

 

[Sparkles]

Agree it doesn't feel good, or look good on paper.
But when I think through it I can see how we end up there. Fitz clearly doesn't mind, he's extended him.

So long as they are both defending well you could see Fitz being okay with it

 

[burgess1978]

Only from close to the tryline
Put three on the Knights with just 56 run meters.

I think to an extent we just have to accept that the way we use our edges isn't for a lot of meters.
We have four outside backs who are all good meter makers to start sets and then a good middle rotation to take over. The edges only really get brought into the running game on shift plays when they receive but don't pass on.

Most of our middles could play more minutes and our backs get through their work easy enough, not a great need for the edge forwards to push their way in for carries.
Obviously Wade in middle for a bit but him Nikora and Teig made a combined 136-14-5 (made, missed, ineffective) of our 451-54-19 team tackles, or 30%-26%-26%
They only made 297 of our 2110 meters (14%) although Nikora was a very low contributor to that, he did make the most tackles of the three.

We just don't use our line running 94kg edge player for a lot of hit ups

This is kind of why I started the fancy stats. Just looking at metres is a piss poor way to judge a player.

Nikora plays 80 and gets through a mountain of defensive work. You can’t compare that to a middle (who gets a rest) or a centre (who does far less work in defence).

 

[Sutty]

Quality over quantity with runs is fine for a right edge. Made 55 tackles. Nanai also has games where he barely runs.

 

[Six Again]

This is kind of why I started the fancy stats. Just looking at metres is a piss poor way to judge a player.

Nikora plays 80 and gets through a mountain of defensive work. You can’t compare that to a middle (who gets a rest) or a centre (who does far less work in defence).

Agree . And last week it was obvious Cowboys had instruction to mark him closely .

 

[beaver2233]