‘Greedy’ Nikorima helps

Kodi Nikorima has been hailed for following Stacey Jones’ plea to ‘‘be greedy’’ and unleash his attacking game as the Warriors halves reignited their NRL season.

Former Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott said the short kicking game of Nikorima and Blake Green proved the difference in a 36-27 win over the Cowboys on Friday night, while Nikorima kept the Townsville team’s defence guessing with his clever runs and deft passes. Nikorima produced one of his best performances in the pivotal standoff role since joining the Warriors from the Broncos last year, and later revealed former Warriors great and current assistant coach Stacey Jones was ‘‘in my ear the whole week just saying, ‘I just want you to be greedy this week and just run the ball’.

‘‘Every time I play I try and run the ball, that’s one of my strengths, and when I’m not, I feel I let the team down,’’ Nikorima told Nrl.com.

He said he was ‘‘just trying to pick my moments’’ against the Cowboys, and I’m just thankful they came off tonight’’.

Nikorima made 97m from nine runs, completed 14 tackles and delivered two tactical kicks in an impressive individual performance.

The 26-yearold also bagged two try assists – one from an audacious pass to wing Adam Pompey – and slotted four goals and a field goal for a nine-point personal haul.

Endacott said he thought

Nikorima was ‘‘outstanding’’ and the ‘‘best player on the park’’ and imagined he would take great confidence from his display.

‘‘He actually decided to play football and asked questions of the Cowboys defence; he split them time and time again. ‘‘The Warriors only have two players with real firepower that trouble other teams, and that’s Nikorima and Roger TuivasaSheck,’’ Endacott said. ‘‘They need a couple more there.’’

He said Nikorima had a bit more freedom and seemed to enjoy having the ball in his hands. ‘‘He certainly listened to what Stacey said.’’

Endacott, who coached the Warriors in 1997-98 and was Kiwis coach from 1994 to 2000, said the key to the Warriors’ win was the short kicking game from the two halves, Nikorima and

Esan Marsters has his run cut short by a flying Warriors tackler.

Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott said Kodi Nikorima was the Warriors’ best player.