Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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KODI Nikorima is under pressure to lift for the finals with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett admitting his key playmaker was “off the pace” in Friday night’s defeat of the Dragons.
Nikorima continued his remarkable winning streak at Brisbane’s nerve centre, with the Kiwi Test utility now unbeaten in 10 games at a starting halfback following Brisbane’s 24-12 disposal of the Red V.
But the jury remains out on whether Nikorima has the all-round game to fire in the pressure-cooker arena of playoffs football and break Brisbane’s 11-year premiership drought.
Nikorima was overshadowed by his halves partner Anthony Milford on Friday night. While Milford carved up the Dragons, producing a try, seven tackle-busts, two try assists and two line breaks, Nikorima was quiet, failing to break the line and running the ball just three times for 34 metres.
Bennett refused to be too critical of Nikorima on a night where Brisbane cemented second spot. But he concedes there is room for improvement as the pint-sized dynamo prepares for a halfback showdown with Eels sensation Mitchell Moses on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.
“Kodi was a bit off the pace,” Bennett said when asked if he was happy with his playmaking trinity of Nikorima, Milford and Ben Hunt.
“But that’s OK, he’s had a lot of good games this year.
“I have no real criticism of Kodi. He just wasn’t as good tonight as he has been, that’s all.
“It’s going to happen. It happens to them all.”
While he is showing flashes of brilliance, Nikorima needs to work on his control and game management. He was hooked after 34 minutes against Canberra in round 16 and it was left to Benji Marshall and Hunt to bring some authority and shape to Brisbane’s attack.
Nikorima played off the bench in Brisbane’s 2015 grand final team but this will be his maiden finals campaign as a starting halfback.
Premiership favourites Melbourne will have Queensland Origin ace Cooper Cronk calling the shots in September, underlining the daunting challenge ahead for Nikorima.
Milford enjoys playing with Nikorima, whom he has known since their teens in junior-rep sides, and Broncos skipper Darius Boyd backed Nikorima to deliver in the playoffs.
“There’s more in everyone,” he said. “With our halves ... sometimes ‘Milf’ shines and Kodi is a bit quieter, but then Kodi shines and Milf might have a quiet game.
“You can’t dominate every week and sometimes the game doesn’t flow that way for you.
“The important thing is Kodi didn’t make any errors, he got the team around the park and we got the win.”
Brisbane have now won three straight games since the season-ending injury to Andrew McCullough, who snapped his ACL against the Parramatta team the Broncos face again this week.
“Parra beat us a few weeks ago, but we have upped the ante since then, particularly in defence,” Boyd said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...t/news-story/995284043c80d7991c63946ea56f9ac2
Nikorima continued his remarkable winning streak at Brisbane’s nerve centre, with the Kiwi Test utility now unbeaten in 10 games at a starting halfback following Brisbane’s 24-12 disposal of the Red V.
But the jury remains out on whether Nikorima has the all-round game to fire in the pressure-cooker arena of playoffs football and break Brisbane’s 11-year premiership drought.
Nikorima was overshadowed by his halves partner Anthony Milford on Friday night. While Milford carved up the Dragons, producing a try, seven tackle-busts, two try assists and two line breaks, Nikorima was quiet, failing to break the line and running the ball just three times for 34 metres.
Bennett refused to be too critical of Nikorima on a night where Brisbane cemented second spot. But he concedes there is room for improvement as the pint-sized dynamo prepares for a halfback showdown with Eels sensation Mitchell Moses on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.
“Kodi was a bit off the pace,” Bennett said when asked if he was happy with his playmaking trinity of Nikorima, Milford and Ben Hunt.
“But that’s OK, he’s had a lot of good games this year.
“I have no real criticism of Kodi. He just wasn’t as good tonight as he has been, that’s all.
“It’s going to happen. It happens to them all.”
While he is showing flashes of brilliance, Nikorima needs to work on his control and game management. He was hooked after 34 minutes against Canberra in round 16 and it was left to Benji Marshall and Hunt to bring some authority and shape to Brisbane’s attack.
Nikorima played off the bench in Brisbane’s 2015 grand final team but this will be his maiden finals campaign as a starting halfback.
Premiership favourites Melbourne will have Queensland Origin ace Cooper Cronk calling the shots in September, underlining the daunting challenge ahead for Nikorima.
Milford enjoys playing with Nikorima, whom he has known since their teens in junior-rep sides, and Broncos skipper Darius Boyd backed Nikorima to deliver in the playoffs.
“There’s more in everyone,” he said. “With our halves ... sometimes ‘Milf’ shines and Kodi is a bit quieter, but then Kodi shines and Milf might have a quiet game.
“You can’t dominate every week and sometimes the game doesn’t flow that way for you.
“The important thing is Kodi didn’t make any errors, he got the team around the park and we got the win.”
Brisbane have now won three straight games since the season-ending injury to Andrew McCullough, who snapped his ACL against the Parramatta team the Broncos face again this week.
“Parra beat us a few weeks ago, but we have upped the ante since then, particularly in defence,” Boyd said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...t/news-story/995284043c80d7991c63946ea56f9ac2
