They fiercely denied rumours he was on their radar in December but the New Zealand Warriors will reportedly make a big-money bid to poach Brisbane Broncos half-back Kodi Nikorima in the coming days.
The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel claims the Warriors will table a formal offer to Nikorima early next week, with the Broncos reportedly willing to entertain releasing the 25-year-old.
Nikorima has started all seven games for the 2-5 Broncos this season but it is understood new coach Anthony Seibold is not sold on the Kiwi international as his long-term No.7.
The Warriors are desperate for a specialist half-back after their shock decision to release Shaun Johnson from the final year of his contract to sign with Cronulla.
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Badel reports Nikorima would prefer to stay in Brisbane but the Warriors could provide him long-term security with a deal that would keep him in Auckland until the end of the 2022 season.
Speculation over Nikorima’s future is another unwanted distraction for Seibold ahead of Thursday’s grudge match against his former club South Sydney and the man he replaced at Red Hill, Wayne Bennett.
It is understood Nikorima will play against the Rabbitohs regardless of what his future holds beyond the Round 8 blockbuster.
The often-maligned playmaker has played 86 NRL games since making his first-grade debut for the Broncos in Round 2 of the 2015 season against Cronulla.
Brisbane have halves prospects Sean O’Sullivan, Tom Dearden, Cory Paix and Tanah Boyd in their ranks, placing pressure on Nikorima to keep his No.7 jumper at Red Hill next season and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Warriors were linked with halves Mitchell Moses, Corey Norman, Luke Brooks, Te Maire Martin and Dylan Brown in the off-season.
Instead, they opted to give young guns Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tavita the chance to partner veteran Blake Green in the halves.
A groin injury to Green forced coach Stephen Kearney to partner Harris-Tavita with back-rower Tohu Harris in the 13-12 Anzac Day loss to Melbourne.
