Former teen star Jayden Nikorima vows to make most of surprise second chance at Melbourne Storm

The emotional and spiritual fightback of Jayden Nikorima is so admirable it has even compelled the best team of the past two decades to give him a shot at NRL redemption.

Jayden Nikorima at Redcliffe Dolphins pre season training, December 3 2018. Photo: Jon Sloan.

Jayden Nikorima calls it the ultimate comeback story, one so extraordinary he almost can’t believe it himself.

Just 18 months ago, Nikorima wasn’t just fighting for his footballing career, he was waging a battle to stay alive as he recalls the soul-destroying nights crying himself to sleep and conjuring visions of taking his life.

Today, the former Broncos and Roosters young gun has taken charge of his life. It is an emotional and spiritual fightback so admirable it has even compelled the mighty Melbourne Storm — the best team of the past two decades — to give him a shot at NRL redemption.

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Jayden Nikorima has been gradually rebuilding his career with the Redcliffe Dolphins.

Nikorima, the younger brother of Warriors playmaker Kodi, will join the premiers from November on a 12-month contract — four years after being sacked by the Roosters following a series of off-field indiscretions.

Tipped for NRL stardom in his teens at the Broncos, Nikorima endured one of the most dramatic career crashes in the sport’s history. In 2017, he recorded two strikes for cocaine use at the Roosters, triggering a 12-match NRL ban, which sent him into a spiral of drug and alcohol abuse.

After the second strike, fearing his career was over, Nikorima panicked. He offered $7000 to a teammate at Roosters feeder-club Wyong Roos to falsify a statutory declaration claiming he had spiked Nikorima’s drink.

When the truth emerged, police charged Nikorima. He was lucky to escape a jail sentence, instead serving a 12-month community corrections order.

Given Nikorima’s rap sheet, it begs the question — why on earth have the Storm signed him? To some, it is a gamble with a potentially disastrous outcome. To Nikorima, it is an opportunity to show why, at 24, the “better version” of himself is the right ideological fit for Craig Bellamy’s champions.

“I have been resilient through my story and their club (Melbourne) is built on resilience,” he told the Building Better Humans podcast with Glenn Azar, a mindset-and-performance coach who has helped rebuild Nikorima’s life.

“I think I fit the mould with their traits.

Jayden Nikorima was destined for big things at the Broncos.

“Melbourne actually tried to sign me six years ago (from the Broncos) and when I first went for a meeting, they said if you don’t fit our club culture, you will soon get found out.

“It wasn’t meant to be back then, but I honestly feel Melbourne have a better version of me now.

“I am living proof that you aren’t your mistake.”

Before they sign any player, the Storm subject potential recruits to ‘The Coffee Test’. It involves the player having a heart-to-heart with coach Bellamy and Storm football chief Frank Ponissi, who have been around long enough to detect those not suited to the Storm system.

After one chat, they were won over by Nikorima’s attempts at reformation. Later this year, he will become a father. He has thrown himself into personal development and charity work, last year running 116km to raise $63,000 for an eight-year-old child battling brain cancer.

“That’s why I love being in the position I am in now,” said Nikorima, who played seven NRL games for the Roosters in 2016.

“I have a stronger voice and I’m in a better position to be able to help and inspire this younger generation of players.

Jayden Nikorima had his Roosters contract torn up after two cocaine offences.

“This is massive for me. I know Melbourne is such a big club, but if I can get into the team and they get a feel for who I am, I will jump on the back of that as well.

“I really don’t expect to play a game. I expect to have the hardest pre-season of my life. But I’m looking forward to being part of the system and I’m keen to see what the high performers at the Storm are doing.”

Nikorima has played three games for Redcliffe in the Intrust Super Cup this year. By chance, Storm scout Paul Bunn just happened to be at Redcliffe the day Nikorima scored two tries to carve up Wynnum Manly.

Bunn has delivered more than 30 players to the NRL at the Storm and he believes Nikorima has time on his side to resurrect his NRL career.

“I didn’t know he was allowed to play Queensland Cup this year,” Bunn said.

“I thought he was still banned, but I was at Redcliffe watching and I thought what’s Jayden Nikorima doing out there?

“We cut up some vision and I was really impressed with what I saw.

Nikorima played eight NRL games for theb Roosters in 2016.

“I know Jayden has had some off-field problems but we did more investigating into his personality and we were impressed with the work he has done to improve himself as a person.

“Jayden spoke really well and honestly about his journey to improve himself.

“We feel Jayden is a great redemption story. If you make a mistake in life but knuckle down, you can redeem yourself.

“Craig Bellamy is always of the opinion if you improve as a person, you deserve another chance.

“With the faster pace of the NRL, I think the game suits him.

“We see Jayden as a handy option at five-eighth or halfback and he can be a great back-up on the bench for us as a possible utility.

“He is only 24 and is about to become a father, so we are excited about how Jayden can develop at the Storm.”

Originally published as Former teen star Jayden Nikorima vows to make most of surprise second chance at Melbourne Storm