No official word on Nikora yet, but here's Riccio's report. I had him down for 3 years, not the 2 Riccio is suggesting.
The Sharks are on the verge of snaring a second major recruitment scalp with Test backrower Briton Nikora poised to extend his future at the club.
Off-contract at the end of 2025, Nikora has agreed to terms on a new two-year deal at Cronulla that will keep the Kiwi International in the Shire until the end of 2027.
Nikora’s impending re-signing emerged just 24-hours after this masthead revealed Braydon Trindall had committed his future to the club (see below).
Nikora’s retention at the Sharks will have significant ramifications on the open market where he was considered one the most-prized backrow signatures from a list of 2025 off-contract edge-forwards which includes Kenny Bromwich, Bryce Cartwright, Tallis Duncan, Felise Kaufusi, Connelly Lemuelu, Trent Loiero, Kai Pearce-Paul and Teig Wilton
The Sharks 2024 Player of the Year nominee is one of 12 players from Cronulla whose contracts expire at the end of 2025.
The outstanding edge-forward had the option of testing his worth on the open market, but has virtually ignored the opportunity of playing elsewhere to remain loyal to the club he made his NRL debut with in 2019.
The fact that Nikora invited a large contingent of his teammates, plus head coach Craig Fitzgibbon and chairman Steve Mace, to his wedding in Bali last month, is an indication of the 26-year-old’s connection to the club.
It’s anticipated Nikora will officially put pen to paper once he returns to Australia this week from his honeymoon.
A mainstay of the Sharks pack, Nikora is one of the most durable and consistent forwards in the game with the powerful hole-runner averaging 22-games each season since his debut.
A try-scoring threat, Nikora scored 10-tries in 2024 - the most of any Sharks forward.
Nikora’s re-signing is a major win for the Sharks, with the club facing a major challenge to retain a huge contingent of off-contract stars.
The Sharks have Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Kade Dykes, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sam Stonestreet, Teig Wilton, Tom Hazelton, Tuku Hau Tapuha and William Kennedy off-contract at the end of 2025.
Rising prop Oregon Kaufusi has also committed to the Sharks for the 2025 season.
Cronulla are hopeful that Kaufusi, 25, can form a formidable combination with high-profile prop recruit Addin Fonua-Blake in 2025 and choose to extend his future beyond next season.
The Samoan International and former Eels prop missed just one match in Cronulla’s 2024 preliminary final season.
Market Watch: Sharks lock down another star in re-signing spree
