Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the frontrunner to start the season as Canberra’s fullback
Newly minted Raider Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is well and truly in the box seat to start the year as Canberra’s new fullback after some strong trial form.
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He may not even realise it, but Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has his new club captain Josh Hodgson to thank for revitalising his NRL career.
It was the English international’s devastating ACL tear in the 2017 World Cup that sparked debate about compensation for injured representative stars.
As a result, measures were put in place to allow clubs to sign players in the event that they’re hurt while on rep duty.
A year later, Canberra winger Jordan Rapana suffered a long-term shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the opening months of the 2019 season.
The beneficiary was Nicoll-Klokstad, who the Raiders pursued following the injury to Rapana.
The Raiders recruit struggled to crack the top grade at the New Zealand Warriors, managing just seven games across two seasons, all of which came in 2017.
He was stuck playing on the wing for the club’s ISP Cup side and was left to wonder whether he’d see top grade football again.
But a call from former mentor Andrew McFadden, currently the Raiders assistant coach, set the course for Nicoll-Klokstad’s journey to Canberra.
After a starring in the club’s trial win over Parramatta last week, and performing strongly against Canterbury last Saturday, the 23-year-old is the frontrunner to start at fullback in round one against Gold Coast on March 17.
“He (McFadden) just gave me a call and said that there might be an opportunity here if you’re keen. I said yes. I was fully intent on staying in New Zealand,” he said.
“I was wondering how things were going to shape up for me being at the Warriors and not really knowing what was going to happen this year because at the time I was coming off contract.”
The livewire Kiwi was signed as a teenager by Melbourne in 2013 to play SG Ball, before progressing to the U20s where he claimed back of the year in 2014.
Nicoll-Klokstad returned to New Zealand in 2016 where he was stuck behind a gun back three, but rather than lamenting the frustrating scenario, he focused on upping his game.
“Back home it was a bit hard being behind those good players, but it was exciting at the same time,” he said.
“I was working with the likes of a reigning Dally M medallist in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, top tryscorer David Fusita and Ken Maumalo.
“I just turned that negative into a positive and looked at the brighter side of things.
“I was working with world-class athletes and I learned from them about work ethic and always putting your best foot work.
“I didn’t think I’d ever be here. Especially growing up, I didn’t see myself being in Canberra.
Originally published as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the frontrunner to start the season as Canberra’s fullback
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