The Village Motors Dolphins have signed former Sydney Rooster Jayden Nikorima for the 2019 season.
General Manager of Football Grant Cleal said that while the role of the Club and the Intrust Super Cup Competition is to give players a chance to play in the NRL, providing a pathway back to the NRL for players is just as vital.
“The Intrust Super Cup pathway allows players to achieve their dreams of playing in the best competition in the world. The Village Motors Dolphins take the responsibility of giving players this opportunity very seriously. The club has a goal of getting three players each season through to the NRL level. In recent years Christian Hazard (Newcastle), Tyson Gamble (Wests Tigers), Myles Taueli (Broncos) and Toby Rudolf (Cronulla Sharks) to name a few have all been offered contracts while playing for the Dolphins. Getting players to this elite level is foremost in the Club’s ambitions.”
Cleal said the Club also has a responsibility to give players another chance to be the best they can be and Jayden Nikorima is no exception. “Jayden is striving to get back to the level he knows he can compete at. Clubs like the Dolphins are here to assist players reach their potential, on and off the field. Matthew Lodge is an example of a young man who worked extremely hard to get back to the top level. He came to the Dolphins not knowing whether there was a future for him in the sport he has played all his life. This week he was named in the NSW Emerging Origin team, alongside current Dolphin Kotoni Staggs.
“We are big believers in second chances. Few people go through their lives not making mistakes and football players are no different. What I can assure our supporters is that we will always work with our players to be better people. In return, we expect that they are doing their very best both on the field and just as importantly off it,” Cleal added.
Photo credit: David Clark