Blindside: Latest NRL gossip and inside info
DESPITE finally appearing to click with Anthony Milford, Brisbane halfback Kodi Nikorima is facing a fierce battle to retain the Broncos’ famous No. 7 jumper next season.
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BRISBANE halfback Kodi Nikorima is facing a fierce battle to retain the Broncos’ famous No. 7 jumper next season. Blindside understands the Broncos have privately discussed using Nikorima in a hooker/super-sub interchange role next season following the recent purchase of rookie Roosters halfback Sean O’Sullivan.
Last month, former NSW hooker Michael Ennis, now a leading expert commentator on Fox Sports, claimed Brisbane could not win a premiership with Nikorima at halfback.
His comments caused a stir but have since been vindicated following Brisbane’s 48-18 finals drubbing against the Dragons last week.
When Sullivan weighed up signing with the Broncos, the prospect of moving Nikorima to a Mr Fixit utility role was mentioned. Sullivan eventually inked a deal, believing he is a genuine chance of wearing the Broncos’ No. 7 jumper in 2019, but Nikorima will not give up without a fight.
While he has his critics, the Kiwi Test utility had an impressive finish to the season and is maturing as a halfback. Nikorima was one of Brisbane’s better players in their Red V rout and has been added to the club’s leadership group with halves partner Anthony Milford.
“They are open with the younger players and it’s good for us to all have a word and say in what happens in meetings,” prop Joe Ofahengaue said.
Proposal angers agents
THE NRL is considering a controversial move to ban the code’s player agents from signing rugby league players until the age of 17.
NRL chief-operating officer Nick Weeks held a player-agents forum in Brisbane a fortnight ago where he outlined a proposal for the next generation of stars to be off-limits to representation until they turn 17.
Under current rules, NRL managers and clubs can sign players at 15. Under the new proposal, clubs would still be permitted to sign players at 15, but managers would be forced to wait another two years before they can offer agent representation.
The NRL’s proposal has gone down like a lead balloon with agents, who are pushing for a consistent age limit in line with NRL recruiting activities.
The agents argue it is nonsense for NRL clubs to be allowed to sign players at 15 when those teenagers can’t have a manager until 17. It means kids face negotiating with NRL clubs with the aid of their parents.
“It’s ridiculous,” said one agent. “There must be one standardised age restriction. How can the NRL expect young kids to deal with NRL clubs without the professional advice of a manager? It opens up all sorts of potential problems.”
Taylah in her own league
WHAT do the Gold Coast Titans have to do with the Miss World pageant?
Gold Coast local Taylah Cannon will fly the flag for Australia at the Miss World competition in China in December after being crowned Miss World Australia.
The 23-year-old make-up artist is the former partner of Titans lock Jai Arrow.
Arrow and Cannon were an item during the 2018 season when Arrow went on to earn selection in the Queensland Origin side.
Ironically, Cannon did a fitness challenge at the Titans as part of the pageant.
Lodge’s dark side
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg may have been a nervous man watching the late stages of last Sunday’s elimination final at Suncorp Stadium.
Greenberg put his reputation on the line by allowing Broncos prop Matt Lodge to return to the NRL this season three years after his New York night of shame.
Greenberg, who was at the game, was heavily criticised early in the season for allowing Lodge back in, but was convinced Lodge was reformed.
Lodge, 23, has been squeaky clean for the Broncos this season, however he lost his cool late in the game as the Dragons racked up a big win.
Lodge produced some grubby moments in the final minutes, including a swinging arm and an elbow on the ground, in what was not a good look.
The jury is still out on whether he is reformed and he needs to get that out of his game.
Lynn misses horror show
ONE of the Broncos’ biggest supporters nearly flew to the Caribbean after seeing the score in last Sunday’s elimination final.
Brisbane Heat star Chris Lynn missed watching his beloved Broncos get walloped by the Dragons as he was in transit.
Lynn, a former member of the Broncos’ junior academy, was on his way back to Brisbane after playing for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.
He was gutted to miss the game until he saw the Broncos had been hammered 48-18.
“I got off the plane and saw the score and wanted to get back on the plane,” Lynn told Blindside.
“I was following them overseas and they were flying and the Dragons were going through a low patch.
“I thought ‘this will be a no-brainer’. It’s a funny thing, sport.”
Lynn was a gun young halfback alongside Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough before shifting his focus to cricket.
title year is sam’s zenith
BRONCOS great Sam Thaiday says the highlight of his NRL career came 12 years ago.
Thaiday hung up his boots after Brisbane was sent packing in a 48-18 finals humiliation to the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday.
It was a bitter ending for the 304-game Broncos legend who was hoping to win a second NRL title before farewelling the game.
Thaiday and Darius Boyd were the only remaining members of Brisbane’s 2006 premiership-winning team still at the club.
And the Maroons and Kangaroos great said that remained the highlight of his 16-season career.
“I can’t go past 2006,” he said.
“I was 21 and it was a fantastic year in general for me. We won a premiership, I represented Queensland for the first time and got the chance to play for Australia.
“Looking back on that year it was a great year.
“Even my second last game here, when we played Manly, with 41,000 people here, Sam Thaiday masks, afro wigs, to see that was a huge honour.
“Every time I touched the ball the crowd went and up cheered.
“I’ve had some fantastic memories here. They are the things I’ll miss the most.”
Tonga turning into powerhouse
TONGA are becoming an international league powerhouse with the emerging giants currently in negotiations to broker a multi-year contract for regular Tests against New Zealand.
The Kiwis and Australia have waged trans-Tasman Tests for more than 100 years but the famous Anzac rivalry faces a challenge from a fresh annual grudge match involving Tonga.
The former minnows were the Cinderella story of last year’s World Cup, charging into the semi-finals and lighting up the tournament with their remarkable sea of singing fans clad in bright red.
Now Mate Ma’a are scheduled for more regular action with coach Kristian Woolf confirming Tonga and New Zealand are planning Tests for 2019 and beyond.
“We’ve started discussions to lock in a long-term deal,” Woolf said. “It’s a no-brainer really in terms of interest. The event would be held annually in New Zealand and it could be a real grudge match.”
Spreading the word
JOHNATHAN Thurston’s popularity knows no bounds. Such is the interest in the retired Cowboys champion, Thurston will next month embark on a speaking tour taking in non-rugby league cities such as Perth and Adelaide. The $1.6 billion Optus Stadium in Perth will host Thurston’s visit to Western Australia, underlining just how big the “JT” brand has become.
Not the life for Ryley
MELBOURNE playmaker Ryley Jacks is fighting for his future in the NRL. The off-contract Jacks received interest last month from the Titans but the parties have been unable to come to terms on a deal.
It has been a luckless few months for Jacks, who in July fielded a one-year deal from the Broncos, only for coach Wayne Bennett to pull the deal.
Jacks has won 20 of 25 NRL matches for an impressive 80 per cent success rate in Melbourne but is unlikely to remain at the Storm. At 26, he believes he has more to offer in the NRL.
Searle still bitter over lost Titans
TITANS founder Michael Searle has taken a shot at the new owners of the Gold Coast club.
Searle posted a photo of himself and fellow former shareholder Andy Stubbs in America on social media this week.
The photo was accompanied by a caption which included: “He (Stubbs) may not have the profile of others but he and @joelparko have been more solid for RL than any other owners of the Titans!”.
The post was later edited, with Searle removing that remark and replacing it with a toned-down caption.
Searle lost his stake in the Titans when the NRL took over the club in 2015 and has been on bitter terms with new owners Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly since.
RISING
TARIQ SIMS: What a performance from the Dragons wrecking ball in last Sunday’s thumping of the Broncos when he made it personal against younger brother Korbin.
CAMERON MUNSTER: The Storm dynamo continues to produce on the big stage and is forging an excellent NRL career after being snubbed by the Broncos as a teenager.
JAMES MALONEY: Has his critics but the Panthers veteran is simply a winner. The NSW Origin ace turned the screws on the Warriors last week with the finals clash on the line.
BEN HUNT: Delivered a timely “up-yours” to the critics with a barnstorming display returning to face his Broncos teammates. Hunt has the ability to deliver on the big stage.
FALLING
WAYNE BENNETT: The Broncos have been thumped by 30 points in the past two finals series and the spotlight is on their coach.
SAM BURGESS: The Rabbitohs beast has had a sensational season but he was monstered by Melbourne last week and made a stack of crucial errors.
ANTHONY MILFORD: His finals display against the Dragons was appalling. Brisbane’s $1 million man made three handling errors and threw some woeful passes.
LATRELL MITCHELL: Will be sweating on the Roosters qualifying for the grand final after being suspended for a crusher-tackle against the Sharks
Disgraced ex-NRL player’s new life revealed
The new life of Jamil Hopoate has been revealed after the sacked Broncos player was imprisoned over his role in a $154 million cocaine haul.
Madge makes a call on Broncos captaincy
Adam Reynolds has made his feelings clear over the Broncos’ contentious captaincy under incoming coach Michael Maguire.