Briton Nikora

[Wizardman]

What has happened to this bloke this year? For many years, I think the guy has actually been underrated. He was one of the best hole runners in the game and did more than his share of defence as well.

This year, he has pretty much been a non-factor in attack. Even his defensive workload has dropped this year.

What is going on with him?

 

[island pro]

I think it is mostly game plan related. In a bid to reduce errors, we have also reduced any sort of shape or ball movement in attack. The players are off it and starting to play as such.

Pretty hard to play at 100% if you don’t believe in the current direction and don’t think it will work, and being 5% off in energy or attitude is all it takes for great players to fall back to the pack.

Just opinion of course.

 

[Wizardman]

I think it is mostly game plan related. In a bid to reduce errors, we have also reduced any sort of shape or ball movement in attack. The players are off it and starting to play as such.

Pretty hard to play at 100% if you don’t believe in the current direction and don’t think it will work, and being 5% off in energy or attitude is all it takes for great players to fall back to the pack.

Just opinion of course.

Its a worry as he is the one guy in your club that puts good seasons back-to-back together, never mind just good games. I've noticed Wilton not as effective as well so you could be well onto something. It is just particularly surprising that Nikora is having the sort of year he is having.

 

[bad boy bubby]

We're all a bit concerned.
The answer I feel is the same answer as to why the whole team just isn't right this year.

 

[DJDL]

I've been wondering whether the fact we have 17 players off contract either at the end of this year or next, and there's been nothing done to retain the majority of them, is having an effect on morale.
This time last year, we'd long locked up anyone who was coming onto market from Nov. 1.
No such movement this year.

Could that be affecting player morale?
Could a great number of players have been told "sorry, there's nothing for you after your contract expires"?
Or their managers have been trying to sort something and not hearing anything back.

One thing's for sure, they're not playing with anything like the level of commitment needed.
They're either pre-occupied with their own futures, or off the coach.
Or both.

 

[chewsta]

Whatever it is, he caught it off the bloke playing outside him.

 

[R-15-3]

IMO he is the worst player in the NRL for getting back to his feet after making a tackle.
He never gets back to marker or the defensive line, he is always behind the ruck when the ball is played.
Needs to spend the next 4 weeks leaning to hit and stick and retain his feet.

 

[Craigshark]

IMO he is the worst player in the NRL for getting back to his feet after making a tackle.
He never gets back to marker or the defensive line, he is always behind the ruck when the ball is played.
Needs to spend the next 4 weeks leaning to hit and stick and retain his feet.

yep, loses the tackle a lot, and gets up with the filthy look on his face shaking his head as if it doesn’t always happen

 

[Chimp]

I reckon there’s something off about our conditioning. There’s usually 2 options, bulk up for extra strength and lose a bit of pace, or slim down to gain pace, but lose a bit of strength.

We appear to have gone for a hybrid and somehow we look slimmer/less bulky which means we’re weaker, but we’ve also got slower. Brit and Jesse are 2 of the finest examples of this - weaker and slower than ever.

 

[shaggs]

I reckon there’s something off about our conditioning. There’s usually 2 options, bulk up for extra strength and lose a bit of pace, or slim down to gain pace, but lose a bit of strength.

We appear to have gone for a hybrid and somehow we look slimmer/less bulky which means we’re weaker, but we’ve also got slower. Brit and Jesse are 2 of the finest examples of this - weaker and slower than ever.

I used to post about this regularly and messaged frenzy with this theory.

For best part of a season and a half the conditioning of the players has been less than ideal. At times I thought it was tapering or in a block of hard training that showed as heavy legs or fatigue in the game but now, it is every week.

Our first contact is poor and all players have gotten slower.
Teams either get bigger and stronger or fitter and faster. We have done neither.

A broom through the conditioners and the assistant coaches needs to happen this off season

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

Whatever it is, he caught it off the bloke playing outside him.

Both Britt and Jesse have been rank average this year. Don’t think we lose anything by having Billy and Ma replacing them for the next month or so. Badly need KL back imo.

 

[Frailty]

He got his contract and he plays for a coach that refuses to hold anyone accountable. Why would we expect any improved performance?

 

[Big Bloke]

Is he now the forgotten man?

 

[2012....Sharks Year]

Is he now the forgotten man?

Not necessarily forgotten but not as dangerous in attack as he previously was. Pretty good defensively though. I like the fact Billy Burns is getting some game time leading into the semis. May the best man win.

 

[Craigshark]

Is he now the forgotten man?

well you could say in previous seasons we’d be spewing about him being suspended, this time around no one hardly bat and eyelid

 

[Stake Removed]

If you take out the work out back 5 do coming off goal line.
Nikora looks more like a centre, he suits that style of play

 

[coolumsharkie]

I reckon there’s something off about our conditioning. There’s usually 2 options, bulk up for extra strength and lose a bit of pace, or slim down to gain pace, but lose a bit of strength.

We appear to have gone for a hybrid and somehow we look slimmer/less bulky which means we’re weaker, but we’ve also got slower. Brit and Jesse are 2 of the finest examples of this - weaker and slower than ever.

Legs 11, Bingo!

 

[Craigshark]

Dare I say it, has he become overrated? His kiwi like performances are very few and far between these days. Has a ramien like penalty or brain explosion in him and seems to make a lot of ineffective tackles.

 

[jc155776]

Should have kept talakai and worked out a way to move Nikora on. Not worth the money he’s on.

 

[DJDL]

Dare I say it, has he become overrated? His kiwi like performances are very few and far between these days. Has a ramien like penalty or brain explosion in him and seems to make a lot of ineffective tackles.

He's second only to JC in tackle efficiency from last night at ~96%
But yes, he's nowhere near as effective with the ball as he has been in years gone by, and is definitely prone to conceding penalties.

Should have kept talakai and worked out a way to move Nikora on. Not worth the money he’s on.

A month ago I'd have been inclined to agree with you, but Sifa has looked a shell of his former self to me, in both matches and the trial.