Jayden Nikorima out to make amends at Salford for ‘mistake’ that saw him sacked
JAYDEN Nikorima hopes to make a big noise now he is at Salford – after going to a big noise ended his Catalans stint.
And he is not blaming anyone for stepping out of line other than himself.
The half back was one of three Dragons players turfed out for attending a Burna Boy concert when they told the club they were ill.
On the other side of the world from home, Nikorima already has some making up to do as his move meant he was in England while wife Christa turned 30, packing up their French home.
Now a remorseful player is ready to make amends by helping his new club to the top six, which they will take a big step towards by beating Leeds today.
Nikorima, sacked along with Siua Taukeiaho and Damel Diakhate, said: “Of course there are regrets. I loved the club and felt it was a good move for my family and I.
“But we made a mistake during the international week – it was an error by the three of us and we’ve got to live with that.
“However, I always say, ‘You’re never defined by your mistakes.’ That mistake won’t define me.
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“I never thought I’d be at Salford at the start of the year – it’s a good life at the Dragons and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
“But I feel I owe it to my family, who moved halfway across the world, to take the opportunity Salford has given me.”
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New Zealand-born Nikorima scored a debut win against Castleford after living with Aussie prop Loghan Lewis.
And the 27-year-old has already learned that Marc Sneyd can handle pretty much everything as he looks to thrive in boss Paul Rowley’s style of play – one that could ironically push the coach, who the Rhinos want, towards Headingley next season.
He added: “It was different to what I’d been used to over the last year but it’s more like how I played at Melbourne, my favourite years in rugby league.
“If that was anything to go by, I’m going to enjoy it. We back our skill in offence and in defence, we try to apply pressure.
“Under fatigue, it’s hard to execute plays. It takes some gutsy players and some gutsy teams to be able to pull that off.
“And if we weren’t rugby league players, Sneydy would probably be my PA. He just directs and lets me be me.”