Official Jesse Ramien

[Thresher]

I know if we lose Uele or another prop Tuks is probably next man up but don’t think it’s going to take long for the other kids to surpass him.

I don’t particularly rate him and for someone his size he’s pretty under whelming. Should be far more dominant for the Jets too

I'm keen to see him play a season without the injuries that were slowing him down up until recently.

 

[Proud Shark]

It's not a waste if Burns starts at second row and then shifts to lock for JC and Nikora comes on to play second row - it's still just one sub same as it would be directly subbing JC for a benchy to go on and play lock

Nikora from the bench he was so much fresher and energetic, it looks promising. I hope Fitz doesn't abandon it
Either way Burns still deserves to start

Nikora on the bench is actually a great middle ground between a 4 forward bench and a 3 forward + 1 genuine utility bench

Nikora has a degree of versatility but he is also technically a forward, just not a middle. The Trindall & Atko bench utility experiments gave us next to no value, I hope Fitz has moved on from it

As a side bonus it might just keep Nikora extra keen and motivated to crack on from the bench and try and earn his starting position back

I completely acknowledge that the rotation of Nikora off the bench had it's pros. I just don't think it's the right option, especially long term.

Nikora is a class back rowers, and he's been paid as such. Giving him 15 minutes on the edge and 15 in the middle is a waste of cap space and poor balance to the side alongside our already expensive bench.

We could make it work next year, as we are unlikely to see many changes in the squad, but beyond that we'll likely need to pay Burns like a starter if that's his role, which will cause additional strain.

Nikora at his best is a top 5 edge back rower. In my opinion if we aren't looking to, or can't get the best out of him there, we're better off utilising the cap space elsewhere.

 

[#13]

I know if we lose Uele or another prop Tuks is probably next man up but don’t think it’s going to take long for the other kids to surpass him.

I don’t particularly rate him and for someone his size he’s pretty under whelming. Should be far more dominant for the Jets too

I agree that 2025 wasn’t the sort of standout year I expected from him, especially at NSW Cup level.
However, I think there is real potential in him given his age, size and power. Ideally, Tuks should be utilised as an impact piece from the bench in 2026 but he really has to prove his worth to Fitzy in preseason IMO.

 

[stalefish]

tuks is ready to be fired out a shotgun he said '26 is his statement year

 

[#13]

It's not a waste if Burns starts at second row and then shifts to lock for JC and Nikora comes on to play second row - it's still just one sub same as it would be directly subbing JC for a benchy to go on and play lock

Nikora from the bench he was so much fresher and energetic, it looks promising. I hope Fitz doesn't abandon it
Either way Burns still deserves to start

Nikora on the bench is actually a great middle ground between a 4 forward bench and a 3 forward + 1 genuine utility bench

Nikora has a degree of versatility but he is also technically a forward, just not a middle. The Trindall & Atko bench utility experiments gave us next to no value, I hope Fitz has moved on from it

As a side bonus it might just keep Nikora extra keen and motivated to crack on from the bench and try and earn his starting position back

Benching Nikora would certainly galvanise him if nothing else.
That being said I think we found that having four props on the bench as opposed to three props and a utility (which proved to be pointless as Blayke tends to play the full 80 mins week in week out) was far more effective during the run home and in the finals in 2025.
What this debate does do however is raise a question over Nikora’s future. I don’t know what he’s on but I can’t see the club paying him a decent whack to sit on the bench, be 18th man or play NSW Cup. The lad has two more years on his current deal so it’s unlikely he will be moved on ahead of 2026 at least.

 

[#13]

Does Nikora have versatility? Apart from @Sharkfox saying he can play centre

I've liked Nikora's impact off the bench but in bit sure Burns is an 80 min player

There is an argument to say that, if you are looking for utility value off the bench but also punch in the forwards, that Talakai would be a better bet than Nikora in that role.

 

[bort]

Benching Nikora would certainly galvanise him if nothing else.
That being said I think we found that having four props on the bench as opposed to three props and a utility (which proved to be pointless as Blayke tends to play the full 80 mins week in week out) was far more effective during the run home and in the finals in 2025.
What this debate does do however is raise a question over Nikora’s future. I don’t know what he’s on but I can’t see the club paying him a decent whack to sit on the bench, be 18th man or play NSW Cup. The lad has two more years on his current deal so it’s unlikely he will be moved on ahead of 2026 at least.

I think we’ve also seen enough evidence though that 4 forwards is plan A to a certain degree of quality/trust and the utility only comes into play when Fitz does have access to enough of his better forwards.

Arguably the evidence supports we saw having good players available helps lead to good results.

 

[#13]

I completely acknowledge that the rotation of Nikora off the bench had it's pros. I just don't think it's the right option, especially long term.

Nikora is a class back rowers, and he's been paid as such. Giving him 15 minutes on the edge and 15 in the middle is a waste of cap space and poor balance to the side alongside our already expensive bench.

We could make it work next year, as we are unlikely to see many changes in the squad, but beyond that we'll likely need to pay Burns like a starter if that's his role, which will cause additional strain.

Nikora at his best is a top 5 edge back rower. In my opinion if we aren't looking to, or can't get the best out of him there, we're better off utilising the cap space elsewhere.

I agree that, if Nikora isn’t going to be starting, the club are better off utilising the cap space elsewhere.
However, with two years to run on his current deal and, the fact that he is, on his day, one of the best in his position in the NRL, I don’t think the Sharks will be looking to move him on ahead of 2026.
If he does end up on the bench for most of the season, I’d think his representative will likely start looking around ahead of 2027 and an early release from the final year of his deal may come about at that point.

 

[#13]

I think we’ve also seen enough evidence though that 4 forwards is plan A to a certain degree of quality/trust and the utility only comes into play when Fitz does have access to enough of his better forwards.

Arguably the evidence supports we saw having good players available helps lead to good results.

I’d like to think that if a utility is required we look to Jayden Berrell. The lad recently extended his deal for 2026 and has been a standout for the Jets for the past two seasons.
However, given Blayke’s form and superhuman fitness and Talakai’s flexibility, I can’t see him getting a look-in.

 

[Proud Shark]

I agree that, if Nikora isn’t going to be starting, the club are better off utilising the cap space elsewhere.
However, with two years to run on his current deal and, the fact that he is, on his day, one of the best in his position in the NRL, I don’t think the Sharks will be looking to move him on ahead of 2026.
If he does end up on the bench for most of the season, I’d think his representative will likely start looking around ahead of 2027 and an early release from the final year of his deal may come about at that point.

Completely agree. That's why I'm pretty confident he'll be starting on the edge in round 1. If we had to fit him in the starting lineup somewhere, I'd almost guess that JC's spot is in more jeopardy.

I think we'll see:


AFB
Brailey
Toby
Wilton
Nikora
JC

Kaufusi
Hazleton
Talakai
Burns

BHU potentially at another club.

 

[Gards]

If Nikora is a gun/elite Top 5 backrower he probably shouldn't have got outplayed by Billy Burns and then lose his spot to him but both those things happened

Nikora feels like what Brailey used to be some - has something in the way of fulfilling his potential but even back then Brailey was consistent at least and we don't seem to get that week to week consistency from Nikora and never really have for long periods of time

Regarding potential maybe he has already reached it

Nikora is a good player but he ain't irreplaceable. I want him back starting in the second row but I want him to earn it and prove he deserves to hold onto it - even if he could just give us a few more tough carries, more involvement in attack outside of the odd line run or pass and miss a few less tackles it would be a welcome improvement

 

[Tiger Shark]

Completely agree. That's why I'm pretty confident he'll be starting on the edge in round 1. If we had to fit him in the starting lineup somewhere, I'd almost guess that JC's spot is in more jeopardy.

I think we'll see:


AFB
Brailey
Toby
Wilton
Nikora
JC

Kaufusi
Hazleton
Talakai
Burns

BHU potentially at another club.

Don’t mind Hazo starting over Rudolf and we might see Oregon back to starting as he seems to start over others a lot when healthy


Ultimately probably doesn’t make a huge difference

 

[Sparkles]

If Nikora is a gun/elite Top 5 backrower he probably shouldn't have got outplayed by Billy Burns and then lose his spot to him but both those things happened

Nikora feels like what Brailey used to be some - has something in the way of fulfilling his potential but even back then Brailey was consistent at least and we don't seem to get that week to week consistency from Nikora and never really have for long periods of time

Regarding potential maybe he has already reached it

Nikora is a good player but he ain't irreplaceable. I want him back starting in the second row but I want him to earn it and prove he deserves to hold onto it - even if he could just give us a few more tough carries, more involvement in attack outside of the odd line run or pass and miss a few less tackles it would be a welcome improvement

I don't think he lost his spot mate. Burns was making the most of an injury opportunity and Fitz took the luxury of easing and underdone Nikora back in... Not that he played that way!

I still hold that Nikora should have started that final game for us. He was ready and his experience would have been helpful (result changing? Who knows)

 

[Proud Shark]

Don’t mind Hazo starting over Rudolf and we might see Oregon back to starting as he seems to start over others a lot when healthy


Ultimately probably doesn’t make a huge difference

Yeah the starting middle positions are very much up for grabs outside of AFB. You'd want to have a good preseason.

 

[Gards]

I don't think he lost his spot mate. Burns was making the most of an injury opportunity and Fitz took the luxury of easing and underdone Nikora back in... Not that he played that way!

I still hold that Nikora should have started that final game for us. He was ready and his experience would have been helpful (result changing? Who knows)

Yea I think it was a bit of both - ease Nikora back in while rewarding Billy

I think Billy was the more impactful player for us throughout the season

Nikora had some good moments but Burns just brought something we had been missing to the team

Burns isn't going to be elite or anything but not every player needs to be and being on a small contract helps with our cap
He's probably the closest thing we have had to a Sorro/Capewell type player in a bit

 

[Thresher]

From a club perspective, the Ramien being shopped by the Sharks rumour is not correct according to Shinaz.

18.10 on the timer

 

[Tiger Shark]

From a club perspective, the Ramien being shopped by the Sharks rumour is not correct according to Shinaz.

18.10 on the timer

Interesting, you’d think he has good mail

Hope it happens though

 

[Thresher]

Interesting, you’d think he has good mail

Hope it happens though

Unless, as they said, it's his new manager doing the agitating, which means that it could still happen.

 

[apezza]

Unless, as they said, it's his new manager doing the agitating, which means that it could still happen.

I dont know why his manager would do that. He's on a good wicket for next year and can negotiate from Nov 1 anyway.

 

[Gibs]

Yeah disagree.

Has been fat for years and was border line out of the 17 at stages, then come contract time miraculously has lost his weight and playing well again (despite having a Barry last match)

Just in the forwards alone, hazelton, AFB, Talakai consistently better then him.

So while I agree he has come good (finally). Wouldnt be dumping loads of praise on him. Has been fat as for most of this contract and playing no where near his potential (and no I am not referring to times when he has been returning from injury)

I don't think he lost his spot mate. Burns was making the most of an injury opportunity and Fitz took the luxury of easing and underdone Nikora back in... Not that he played that way!

I still hold that Nikora should have started that final game for us. He was ready and his experience would have been helpful (result changing? Who knows)

Burns played so well the weeks before he made it impossible to drop him. Nikora played great off the bench but Burns was the better of the two since Nikoras return.