Kodi Nikorima

Background

Born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Nikorima is of Māori descent. He moved to Brisbane, Australia as a 12-year-old and played his junior rugby league for the Aspley Devils, while being educated at Wavell State High School, before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos. His younger brother Jayden Nikorima is also a professional rugby league player who plays for the Sydney Roosters.

Early career

From 2012 to 2014, Nikorima played for the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team.

In February 2014, Nikorima was selected in the Broncos runners-up 2014 Auckland Nines squad. On 5 October 2014, Nikorima played for the Broncos in their 2014 NYC Grand Final match against the New Zealand Warriors, playing at fullback and scoring a try in the 34-32 loss. On 18 October 2014, Nikorima played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos, playing at fullback and scoring a try in the 15-14 win at Mt Smart Stadium.

2015

In January and February, Nikorima played for the Broncos in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. In Round 2 of the 2015 NRL season, Nikorima made his NRL debut for the Broncos against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, playing off the interchange bench in the Broncos' 10-2 win at Remondis Stadium. On 28 April, he was named as 18th-man for New Zealand against Australia in the 2015 Anzac Test. On 12 May, he re-signed with the Broncos on a one-year contract. In Round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans, he scored his first NRL career try in the Broncos' 34-0 win at Suncorp Stadium. On 4 October, he played off the interchange bench in the Broncos' 17-16 golden-point extra-time loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2015 NRL Grand Final. He finished off his debut season in the NRL having played in 20 matches and scoring 1 try for the Broncos. On 9 October, he was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tour England. He was one of four members of Brisbane's grand final team to be included in coach Stephen Kearney's squad for the three-test tour and one of six rookies to have received an international call-up by the Kiwis. On 2 November, he made his international debut against England, playing off the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 12-26 loss at KC Stadium. In the second test of the series, he was chosen to start at halfback over fellow rookie Tuimoala Lolohea, in the Kiwis' 9-2 win at London Olympic Stadium. On 14 November, in the third and final test match against England, Nikorima kept his starting halfback spot for the Kiwis in their 14-20 final loss at DW Stadium.

2016

On 6 May, Nikorima played for New Zealand against Australia in the 2016 Anzac Test, starting at five-eighth after being originally named on the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 16-0 loss at Hunter Stadium. In Round 17 against the Melbourne Storm, he dislocated his shoulder during the first half, where he played the rest of the match with the injury. After the match, he was ruled out for the rest of the year. On 7 September, he extended his contract with the Broncos for a further 2 years, until the end of the 2018 season. He finished the 2016 season having played in 16 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Broncos.

2017

Nikorima spent the early rounds of the season playing in the QLD Cup for the Norths Devils before making his first appearance for the Broncos in Round 6 against the Sydney Roosters, playing off the interchange bench in the 32-8 win at Suncorp Stadium. When Broncos first choice halfback Ben Hunt was sidelined with a hamstring injury for 5 matches, Nikorima was selected to fill in at halfback and it come with great success resulting with the Broncos winning 5 matches in a row and him scoring 4 tries in that period of time. On 5 May 2017, Nikorima played for New Zealand in the 2017 ANZAC Test against Australia where he played off the interchange bench in the 30-12 loss at Canberra Stadium.