Hunt for No.7 over
WAYNE Bennett has officially anointed Kodi Nikorima as Brisbane’s next long-term halfback after dropping the selection bombshell that could end Ben Hunt’s career at the Broncos.
Bennett yesterday made one of the toughest calls of his 41-year coaching career, sensationally dumping his firstchoice halfback Hunt for tonight’s clash against Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
The shock has opened the door for Nikorima, who recently deputised for the injured Hunt and faces the Rabbitohs buoyed by a 5-0 record as a starting halfback.
Nikorima was so uncertain about his future last year he weighed up quitting the club to partner Cooper Cronk at Melbourne under the tutelage of Craig Bellamy.
But with Hunt joining the Dragons next season, Bennett declared Nikorima had convinced him of his ability to wear the No. 7 jumper on a fulltime basis next season.
Bennett’s stance rules out the Broncos scouring the market for a big-name playmaker as the super coach backs his playmaking trio of Anthony Milford, Nikorima and rejuvenated veteran Benji Marshall.
“There’s no doubt Kodi will be halfback next year,” Bennett said. “He was under a lot of pressure last year to go to other clubs and felt he might not get an opportunity.
“But we convinced him to stay here and I’ve always thought he had a long-term future here.
“It was just a case of where that was, but with Ben making his decision to go, it’s opened up the opportunity for Kodi.”
Since his NRL debut two years ago, Nikorima has been primarily used as a supersub but the Kiwi Test utility has always backed his ability to be the halfback that can take the Broncos to a premiership.
As a teenager at Aspley, Nikorima was regarded as the best young playmaker of his generation and rated so highly he kept Milford out of junior representative teams.
Now Bennett is banking on the Milford-Nikorima alliance, supported by Marshall’s brilliance and guile off the bench, to steer the Broncos to the finals – starting against Souths tonight.
Nikorima, knowing he has Bennett’s backing, is set to activate a 12-month extension in the coming weeks and the Broncos coach also wants Marshall next year at age 33.
“We’re keen to keep Benji here but we have a salary cap like everyone else,” he said.
“He wanted a chance and we’ve given him that. He’s back to some old Benji form.”
Bennett, though, yesterday insisted he won’t let Hunt go early to the Dragons.