NRL reaction to Cyclone Alfred infuriates Dolphins WAG Bree Nikorima
The threat of Cyclone Alfred has forced the NRL to relocate a game away from Brisbane leaving the families of Dolphins players to face the storm alone and the wife of one star has reacted furiously.
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The wife of star Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima has expressed serious concerns over the NRL’s decision to relocate Friday night’s clash to Sydney, leaving families behind as Cyclone Alfred closes in on southeast Queensland.
On Tuesday, the NRL made the decision to relocate the fixture between the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs from Suncorp Stadium to CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, citing safety concerns for players and fans.
Alfred is expected to make landfall in southeast Queensland on Thursday, bringing with it destructive winds of 130 kilometres per hour and heavy rainfall, including flash flooding.
The Queensland government has also warned that millions of residents could be without power for around three days after Alfred makes landfall tomorrow.
Dolphins players are scheduled to travel to Sydney for the Round 1 clash on Wednesday to avoid travelling through the worst of the wild weather.
In a now deleted social media post, Bree Nikorima, who is six months pregnant, expressed her anger at the NRL’s decision to relocate the game as families of players are left to face the tropical storm without their partners.
“Because a game of football is THAT important. Leaving the families behind to ride out the direct line of a cyclone alone,” she had posted.
“Some (families) with no support at all.
“I’m 6 months pregnant with 2 young kids in an area that can flood. Disgusting.
“Do better NRL.”
The NRL are working with the Dolphins regarding travel arrangements but the club is also likely to be in contact with families to support them over the coming days.
Broncos players flew out of Brisbane on Tuesday to bunker down in Sydney ahead of the side’s clash against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said the families of players staying behind in Brisbane would have the club’s full support.
“Our welfare people are all across it, they are the best in the business and we’re making the families have everything they need to be as prepared as they can for the next few days,” Donaghy said.
It comes as Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale revealed he would have refused to play in the AFL’s season opener against the Geelong Cats at the Gabba, if the game had not been postponed.
Neale said he also would have refused to play Thursday’s fixture even if it had been relocated to Melbourne instead.
“I wouldn’t have played, I would’ve stayed here with Jules and the kids and we have a dog here as well,” he said on AFL 360.
“So unless they were willing to fly families as well, which on a pretty short notice I’m not sure if they could’ve organised that, but if they were able to fly families out of town and we could’ve sorted out the dog then I would’ve done it.
“But I wouldn’t have left Jules here with our three year old daughter and a 10 week, 11 week old little boy, so that would’ve been pretty hard to do.
“I wouldn’t have played.”
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