Kodi to focus on club in bid for Kiwi call-up
BRONCOS utility Kodi Nikorima will lose his Test spot to Kieran Foran, but believes he is still of a chance of a Kiwis call-up.
Nikorima has one more opportunity to present his claims for a spot in David Kidwell’s Kiwis side for next Friday’s Anzac Test.
The Broncos pocket rocket partnered Shaun Johnson in the halves in last year’s mid-season Test before missing the Four Nations tour with a shoulder injury.
Kidwell is expected to roll out an all-Warriors spine in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Issac Luke, Johnson and Foran, who only recently returned to the NRL, when his names his team on Sunday.
Nikorima, 23, has played mostly a bench utility role for the Kiwis during his four- Test career and is hopeful of playing in Canberra.
He is only three games back into his return from a shoulder reconstruction, but a star performance against the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night could be enough to get him over the line.
“I give myself a chance,” Nikorima said.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much. My main thing was getting back in the Broncos 17. Now my role is to stay here and try play consistent footy. The rest will work itself out.”
Nikorima has improved in his two games as Ben Hunt’s replacement at halfback, but admitted he could do more to help five-eighth Anthony Milford.
“I need to get involved more and be an option on the last tackle for Milf,” Nikorima said.
“I had a few more kicks (against the Rabbitohs) which I wanted to do.”
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has recalled winger Jordan Kahu for the Panthers clash, relegating David Mead back to the bench after his poor night against South Sydney.