Gaz
NRL Captain
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Seibold assures Nikorima his Broncos future is safe
December 13, 2018
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold has assured star halfback Kodi Nikorima that he has not been shopped to other clubs and he is an integral part of his plans for 2019.
The new Broncos coach was emphatic when he said the club had not discussed offloading Nikorima with other clubs and had no intention of doing so, despite media reports to the contrary in the wake of Shaun Johnson's recent departure to the Sharks.
Seibold said he had spoken to Nikorima in person and on the phone about his future and that the 24-year-old had not given indication he wanted to leave or that he was even considering it.
"I haven’t spoken to anyone about [offloading] Kodi Nikorima and Kodi hasn’t come to me to ask if he can look around, so I am not sure where that came from,” Seibold told NRL.com.
"From what he told me he loves Brisbane and wants to crack on with it.
"We have competition for spots in the halves with Kodi, Anthony Milford, Sean O’Sullivan and Troy Dargan.
"Kodi is the New Zealand Test halfback and I rate him very highly."
The Broncos have had the New Zealand-born playmaker on their books since he was 12.
His last game of 2018 was in New Zealand’s big win over England in the third Test in which he turned in a man-of-the-match display in the halves.
The Broncos are hoping Nikorima and Milford can improve in 2019 after a full season as halves partners under their belts.
Seibold has only been Brisbane's coach for a little more than a week and is understandably not guaranteeing anyone a position at this stage in the starting line-up.
Nikorima is not due back at training until January and in the meantime the Broncos are using their up and coming halves in the playmaking positions.
Former Broncos captain Justin Hodges said O'Sullivan's arrival from the Roosters would benefit Nikorima and that Seibold was the man to get even more out of the incumbent No.7.
"I think Kodi has done a great job and having Sean O'Sullivan here will put bit of pressure on him," Hodges said.
"Knowing a young guy is waiting in the wings wanting to take his spot will make him bring out his best and work extra hard,
"I think Seibs is the right guy for that. [The halves] are the guys who are going to turn the club around and get us that premiership."
Source: NRL.com
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