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MEET the Brisbane teenager, yet to play in the NRL, who had master coaches Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson engaged in a bidding war for his signature.
Jayden Nikorima, 19, is the fleet-footed utility who has clearly grown up watching video highlights of New Zealand Warriors superstar Shaun Johnson.
Signed with the Brisbane Broncos under 20s team last season, Nikorima was pursued by the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters before ultimately inking a three-year deal to move to the Tricolours.
Part of the reason the speedster opted to move to Sydney was due to Brisbane’s depth in the halves, with Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and older brother Kodi Nikorima ahead of him in the pecking order.
A schoolboy star who represented Queensland under 20s and the Junior Kangaroos last year, Nikorima can play five-eighth, fullback, centre and hooker.
Under the reduced eight-interchange system next season, the utility shapes as the perfect super sub.
Jayden Nikorima during a Junior Kangaroo's training session. Currently residing with fellow young gun Jackson Hastings in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Nikorima told The Daily Telegraph he and brother Kodi had a lengthy discussion before he decided to leave Brisbane.
“It was a tough decision, especially considering myself and my older brother are so close,” Nikorima said.
“Our dream was to one day play an NRL game together. But in the end because we were going for the same position, as in we’re both utilities, we sat down and decided this was the best option for myself.
“I’m happy to play anywhere. I’ve spent more time in the halves over the last 12 months but it really doesn’t worry me.
“A big reason why I moved is because I like a challenge. I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone. It was hard leaving the Broncos, I loved my time at the club.”
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been training Nikorima in the halves over the off-season, with club co-captain Mitchell Pearce still recovering from a torn hamstring.
Robinson likes the way Nikorima has the necessary dash of “typical, cheeky halfback”, while also possessing the discipline to knuckle down into his first full NRL off-season.
“He’s definitely a natural footy player with very good instincts. The test for him will be to get through a big off season and then continue to deliver,” Robinson said.
“At his age, some of these early pre-seasons are really key. We’re getting good view on the decisions he makes under pressure at the moment and whether he can sustain the workload daily.
“He’s definitely doing a good job on all fronts at the moment.
“He’s played so many different positions, that’s where you can see the ability to adapt in his game.
“We’re not fixed on where he’s going to play. We’re open to letting him train hard and play his footy and then we’ll work out a position as we go.
“If he keeps going like he’s going in the off-season I see him playing NRL next year definitely.
Nikorima underwent a shoulder reconstruction in August last season but has returned to full training with the Roosters.
Growing up in Brisbane Nikorima followed the New Zealand Warriors, with his favourite player the mercurial master of making something out of nothing, Shaun Johnson.
December 29, 2015 9:00pm
James HooperThe Daily Telegraph
Despite his older brother Kodi making his Kiwi Test debut on the most recent UK tour, Nikorima has pledged to play for Queensland and Australia if he is selected for higher honours.
“My Dad’s Maori and Mum’s Kiwi. I was born in New Zealand and we moved to Brisbane when Kodi was about eight and I was six,” he said.
“Dad always loves telling me stories about how he could have been an All Black and how fast he was.”
Jayden Nikorima, 19, is the fleet-footed utility who has clearly grown up watching video highlights of New Zealand Warriors superstar Shaun Johnson.
Signed with the Brisbane Broncos under 20s team last season, Nikorima was pursued by the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters before ultimately inking a three-year deal to move to the Tricolours.
Part of the reason the speedster opted to move to Sydney was due to Brisbane’s depth in the halves, with Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and older brother Kodi Nikorima ahead of him in the pecking order.
A schoolboy star who represented Queensland under 20s and the Junior Kangaroos last year, Nikorima can play five-eighth, fullback, centre and hooker.
Under the reduced eight-interchange system next season, the utility shapes as the perfect super sub.
Jayden Nikorima during a Junior Kangaroo's training session. Currently residing with fellow young gun Jackson Hastings in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Nikorima told The Daily Telegraph he and brother Kodi had a lengthy discussion before he decided to leave Brisbane.
“It was a tough decision, especially considering myself and my older brother are so close,” Nikorima said.
“Our dream was to one day play an NRL game together. But in the end because we were going for the same position, as in we’re both utilities, we sat down and decided this was the best option for myself.
“I’m happy to play anywhere. I’ve spent more time in the halves over the last 12 months but it really doesn’t worry me.
“A big reason why I moved is because I like a challenge. I wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone. It was hard leaving the Broncos, I loved my time at the club.”
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been training Nikorima in the halves over the off-season, with club co-captain Mitchell Pearce still recovering from a torn hamstring.
Robinson likes the way Nikorima has the necessary dash of “typical, cheeky halfback”, while also possessing the discipline to knuckle down into his first full NRL off-season.
“He’s definitely a natural footy player with very good instincts. The test for him will be to get through a big off season and then continue to deliver,” Robinson said.
“At his age, some of these early pre-seasons are really key. We’re getting good view on the decisions he makes under pressure at the moment and whether he can sustain the workload daily.
“He’s definitely doing a good job on all fronts at the moment.
“He’s played so many different positions, that’s where you can see the ability to adapt in his game.
“We’re not fixed on where he’s going to play. We’re open to letting him train hard and play his footy and then we’ll work out a position as we go.
“If he keeps going like he’s going in the off-season I see him playing NRL next year definitely.
Nikorima underwent a shoulder reconstruction in August last season but has returned to full training with the Roosters.
Growing up in Brisbane Nikorima followed the New Zealand Warriors, with his favourite player the mercurial master of making something out of nothing, Shaun Johnson.
December 29, 2015 9:00pm
James HooperThe Daily Telegraph
Despite his older brother Kodi making his Kiwi Test debut on the most recent UK tour, Nikorima has pledged to play for Queensland and Australia if he is selected for higher honours.
“My Dad’s Maori and Mum’s Kiwi. I was born in New Zealand and we moved to Brisbane when Kodi was about eight and I was six,” he said.
“Dad always loves telling me stories about how he could have been an All Black and how fast he was.”
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