Roosters rookie Jayden Nikorima a rugby league rarity

RUGBY league’s greatest five-eighths Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer believe the Roosters have a found a rugby league rarity in Jayden Nikorima.

Sydney Roosters player Jayden Nikorima at Roosters HQ, Moore Park. pic Mark Evans

RUGBY league’s greatest five-eighths Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer believe the Roosters have a found a rugby league rarity in Jayden Nikorima — a pure footballer.

Lewis and Lockyer watched Nikorima during his under-20s career with Brisbane when he was considered the club’s next star playmaker.

They knew what many only discovered through Nikorima’s eye-opening performance for the Sydney Roosters in the World Club Series.

The Roosters spent relatively significant cash to poach Jayden Nikorima from the Broncos. Picture: Mark Evans

That effort, in which he scored one try and created three more, made fans realise why the Roosters spent relatively significant cash to poach Nikorima from the Broncos.

He will make his NRL debut in Round 1 for the Roosters, and at age 19, he will partner 20-year-old Jackson Hastings in the halves.

Lewis believed Brisbane-raised Nikorima had rare ­vision for a player of his age.

“When he impresses that much in his first job in the big time, everybody had to be ­impressed with what they saw,” Lewis said.

Lockyer praised Nikorima’s ability to be more than an athlete and said he was ready to handle the NRL.

“He is up to it. I have been watching him in the 20s system and he’s a real talent and a real footballer,” Lockyer said.

Jayden Nikorima in action for the Queensland under-20s last year. Picture: Adam Head

“The thing with Jayden is, he’s an all-rounder.

“He will get tested in defence because of his size but I think he’s up to it.

“His brother Kodi is talented too.

“They are very nimble those Nikorima boys and they know how to overcome their lack of size.”

Originally published as Roosters rookie Jayden Nikorima a rugby league rarity