Broncos’ Kodi Nikorima admits surprise at benching in Wayne Bennett’s tactical switch

KODI Nikorima says he never expected to be axed from the starting side as Broncos coach Wayne Bennett comes under fire for his tactical switch in Friday night’s finals loss to the Roosters.

Nikorima didn’t get the chance to prove he could take it. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

KODI Nikorima says he never expected to be axed from the starting side as Broncos coach Wayne Bennett comes under fire for his tactical switch in Friday night’s finals loss to the Roosters.

Nikorima was bracing for an aerial raid at Allianz Stadium but it was his own coach who dropped a bombshell, relegating him to the bench and opting for David Mead at fullback in the qualifying final.

The super coach made the shock decision when he woke at 5am on game day. With star fullback Darius Boyd sidelined by injury, Nikorima was originally named in the No. 1 jumper and trained at the back all week, working specifically on his bomb defusal.

But after the Broncos completed a team walk on Friday, Bennett summoned Nikorima, informing him he had changed his mind and would start Mead for the first 20 minutes to ease the pressure on him.

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A dejected Nikorima after the Broncos’ defeat. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)

The move backfired, with the Roosters bolting to a 12-0 lead after 18 minutes before Bennett replaced Mead with Nikorima, who finished the game as one of Brisbane’s better players.

The Kiwi Test utility refused to be critical of Bennett but spoke of his surprise after learning of his demotion to the bench just hours before one of the biggest games of his career.

“I only found out on the morning (of the game),” Nikorima said.

“I was a bit surprised. Going into the game, I thought I was starting and then the old fella (Bennett) woke up and had a change of mind.”

On match eve, Roosters hooker Jake Friend put Nikorima on notice, revealing his side planned to target the utility with a series of high kicks to exploit his 174cm size disadvantage.

Despite Sydney’s tactical blueprint, Nikorima was unfazed and felt he was confident of filling in for Boyd, just as he did in a classy backfield performance against the Bulldogs six weeks ago.

“That was the plan all week (for Nikorima to play fullback),” he said. “Wayne then said to me there was apparently a lot of pressure on me going into this game.

“The one thing is I wasn’t reading the media about it (him being targeted), so it didn’t bother me anyway. I was preparing to play fullback and I did it when I came on.

“I didn’t play 80 but I still played 60 minutes. I was comfortable doing the job at fullback ... I felt I was ready.”

Bennett defended his tactical ploy, believing Mead would absorb the early onslaught given his extensive experience playing fullback at former club the Titans.

“I thought we would take a bit of pressure off Kodi, that (the fullback switch) didn’t affect us,” Bennett said.

Nikorima didn’t get the chance to prove he could take it. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)

Mead, who did not return to the field after his 20-minute cameo, revealed he was given specific instructions by Bennett.

“Wayne told me after the team walk that I would play 20 minutes and then Kodi would come on,” he said.

“Wayne told to me to go in, run as hard as I could and Kodi would come on and play the rest of the game.

“I think Wayne wanted take some pressure off Kodi. There was a bit of focus on him so he told me to practise some high balls at training and run hard.”