Bennett shifts Nikorima Injury-ravaged Broncos ‘just get on with it’
BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed regular half Kodi Nikorima will wear the No.1 jersey in tonight’s NRL qualifying final against Sydney Roosters – although he did admit he was tempted to pick utility Jordan Kahu at fullback.
The second-placed Roosters had feared Bennett would throw a “spanner in the works” and again reshuffle his backline despite Nikorima training at fullback for skipper Darius Boyd (hamstring) all week.
“We were tempted (to pick Kahu at fullback) ... but Kodi has played a lot of fullback in the under 20s and he’s a great carrier of the football – I thought he was our best option,” Bennett said.
The Brisbane mentor was unconcerned that Boyd had become their latest key injury ahead of the NRL finals, joining hooker Andrew McCullough (knee) and forwards Korbin Sims (arm) and Tevita Pangai Junior (hamstring) on the sidelines.
While Sims and McCullough are gone for the season, Boyd and Pangai Junior are no guarantee of returning next week after going down in last round’s win over North Queensland.
“I haven’t blinked about it,” Bennett said of their injury toll.
“We knew Darius was not going to be there.
“We have the best team on the field that we can get.
“They are all confident in their positions. We will just get on with it.”
The enforced Broncos reshuffle has elevated veteran Benji Marshall to starting halfback for the Roosters showdown, just 12 months after the former New Zealand skipper contemplated retirement.
Marshall was left without a club after 14 NRL seasons but snapped up a one-year Brisbane lifeline after ringing Bennett for advice. The signing raised eyebrows at the time but Bennett wondered what he would have done without the playmaker this year.
“The key to it all has been Benji. He has been able to fill in for us on a number of occasions,” Bennett said.
“He came here and was allowed to be a player again.
“He is best when he is enjoying his football.
“That’s all I want him to do tomorrow night.”