New Kodi Nikorima deal gives Kristian Woolf his dream Dolphins spine after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Isaiya Katoa, Jeremy Marshall King signings

Joel Gould

AAP

2 Min Read

14 Aug 2024

The Dolphins will have a strong line-up for the next few years after Kodi Nikorima (not pictured) signed a two-year deal. Credit: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

The re-signing of Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima until the end of 2026 gives the club class and continuity in the spine positions for the new era set to dawn under incoming coach Kristian Woolf.

Ahead of his 200th NRL game, the 30-year-old’s new two-year deal complements the signatures of fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (2027), No.7 Isaiya Katoa (2028) and injured hooker Jeremy Marshall King (2028).

The quartet have been key figures in lifting the Dolphins to eighth on the ladder ahead of the away clash with fifth-placed Canterbury in Bundaberg on Saturday.

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Nikorima, with 15 try assists this season, is playing his best football under coach Wayne Bennett, but said he had no doubts about re-signing and continuing his journey under Woolf, who takes the reins in 2025.

“I think he is similar to Wayne with the approach that he has,” Nikorima said of Woolf.

“He doesn’t beat around the bush. He looks you between the eyes, which I like as a coach, someone who is up-front and honest.

“I am sure once he gets the team by himself things will start to click. Wayne is still our head coach now. He is the boss and we take our orders from him, but Woolfy is his own man and I can’t wait to play under him.”

For a large hunk of his career Nikorima has been a Mr Fix-It for his clubs, playing fullback, in the halves, hooker and coming off the bench as a utility.

This year, after a pre-season spent training at No.6, he has made the five-eighth position his own.

“It gives you that consistency. When you are chopping and changing it not only affects yourself but the players around you,” Nikorima said.

“For most of the year me and Izzy (Katoa) have been in the halves and we have probably complemented each other.

“It is something you can build on. I am talking about the future, but we have a couple of big games (against the Bulldogs and Melbourne) coming up and we really want to put our foot down and push for a finals berth.”

Nikorima has been a rugby league journeyman, with stints at Brisbane, the Warriors and South Sydney.

His re-signing was a fait accompli in one respect.

“I came here as an inaugural player and I am really enjoying my time here,” Nikorima said.

“We have a great bunch of boys, a great coaching staff and Brisbane is home for me. You know that saying, ‘happy wife, happy life’, I am living it right now.”