Latest news with #Nikora
The Advertiser
12-08-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Burns ready to step up in Sharks' finals fight
Second-rower Billy Burns knows he hasn't got much time to show Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon why he's worthy of a starting jersey in the battle for NRL finals berths. But Briton Nikora's suspension has opened up a spot for the 26-year-old to step up for the Sharks. After signing a contract extension until the end of 2026 on Friday, Burns has been thrust into the starting lineup against last-placed Gold Coast on Saturday. He knows it's a big game for the seventh-placed Sharks, who need to bounce back after an upset loss to St George Illawarra that dealt a major blow to their top-four hopes. Nikora won't be available ahead of the finals after dealing a high-shot on Corey Allan last Saturday, but Burns wants to ensure he is not missed too much. "Hopefully not, mate. I'll be filling in for him," Burns said. "I've got to step in, do my job, and that'll help the team go forward and get the win. "I just want to get some consistency and build some good relationships and connections with the boys around me. "I don't have much time to get that going, but I've been with these boys for the last two years now, so I'm ready to go." Burns admitted Cronulla went into the Dragons game "unconsciously" concerned too much about the ladder. He said this week's training has been about refocusing on the rest of the season. After Gold Coast, the Sharks have a bye before facing Newcastle and Canterbury. Burns was adamant they would not take the cellar-dwelling Titans lightly, noting they recently beat the Warriors and forced hot shots Penrith to golden point. "We did that (maths) and if we win this game, we'll be well entrenched in there (top eight)," Burns said. "Anyone can beat anyone, that's been shown lately with all the bottom eight sides beating top eight sides. "You can't take them (Titans) lightly at all. "They've got Jayden Campbell, who can do anything. They've got Kieran Foran, who's been there, done it all." Second-rower Billy Burns knows he hasn't got much time to show Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon why he's worthy of a starting jersey in the battle for NRL finals berths. But Briton Nikora's suspension has opened up a spot for the 26-year-old to step up for the Sharks. After signing a contract extension until the end of 2026 on Friday, Burns has been thrust into the starting lineup against last-placed Gold Coast on Saturday. He knows it's a big game for the seventh-placed Sharks, who need to bounce back after an upset loss to St George Illawarra that dealt a major blow to their top-four hopes. Nikora won't be available ahead of the finals after dealing a high-shot on Corey Allan last Saturday, but Burns wants to ensure he is not missed too much. "Hopefully not, mate. I'll be filling in for him," Burns said. "I've got to step in, do my job, and that'll help the team go forward and get the win. "I just want to get some consistency and build some good relationships and connections with the boys around me. "I don't have much time to get that going, but I've been with these boys for the last two years now, so I'm ready to go." Burns admitted Cronulla went into the Dragons game "unconsciously" concerned too much about the ladder. He said this week's training has been about refocusing on the rest of the season. After Gold Coast, the Sharks have a bye before facing Newcastle and Canterbury. Burns was adamant they would not take the cellar-dwelling Titans lightly, noting they recently beat the Warriors and forced hot shots Penrith to golden point. "We did that (maths) and if we win this game, we'll be well entrenched in there (top eight)," Burns said. "Anyone can beat anyone, that's been shown lately with all the bottom eight sides beating top eight sides. "You can't take them (Titans) lightly at all. "They've got Jayden Campbell, who can do anything. They've got Kieran Foran, who's been there, done it all." Second-rower Billy Burns knows he hasn't got much time to show Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon why he's worthy of a starting jersey in the battle for NRL finals berths. But Briton Nikora's suspension has opened up a spot for the 26-year-old to step up for the Sharks. After signing a contract extension until the end of 2026 on Friday, Burns has been thrust into the starting lineup against last-placed Gold Coast on Saturday. He knows it's a big game for the seventh-placed Sharks, who need to bounce back after an upset loss to St George Illawarra that dealt a major blow to their top-four hopes. Nikora won't be available ahead of the finals after dealing a high-shot on Corey Allan last Saturday, but Burns wants to ensure he is not missed too much. "Hopefully not, mate. I'll be filling in for him," Burns said. "I've got to step in, do my job, and that'll help the team go forward and get the win. "I just want to get some consistency and build some good relationships and connections with the boys around me. "I don't have much time to get that going, but I've been with these boys for the last two years now, so I'm ready to go." Burns admitted Cronulla went into the Dragons game "unconsciously" concerned too much about the ladder. He said this week's training has been about refocusing on the rest of the season. After Gold Coast, the Sharks have a bye before facing Newcastle and Canterbury. Burns was adamant they would not take the cellar-dwelling Titans lightly, noting they recently beat the Warriors and forced hot shots Penrith to golden point. "We did that (maths) and if we win this game, we'll be well entrenched in there (top eight)," Burns said. "Anyone can beat anyone, that's been shown lately with all the bottom eight sides beating top eight sides. "You can't take them (Titans) lightly at all. "They've got Jayden Campbell, who can do anything. They've got Kieran Foran, who's been there, done it all."
The Advertiser
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Cronulla star set for long ban as Dolphins' woes mount
Cronulla face being without star second-rower Briton Nikora until the finals after he was whacked with a three-match ban for a high shot on St George Illawarra winger Corey Allan. Nikora was charged with a grade two high tackle by the match review committee for the incident in the 77th minute of the Sharks' 22-14 loss to the Dragons on Saturday. He was also sent to the sin-bin. The Sharks are seventh on 28 points and still have a bye and three matches, against Gold Coast and Newcastle at home and Canterbury away, in the final four weeks of the NRL season. Nikora will miss all three with an early guilty plea but risks being rubbed out of the first week of the finals if he challenges at the judiciary and fails. Cronulla have some chance of sneaking into the top four but the loss of Nikora, one of their chief attacking weapons, will make that task harder. The four players sin-binned in the Sydney Roosters' 64-12 win over the Dolphins on Saturday night have been hit with fines. Roosters duo Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte, along with the Dolphins pair Aublix Tawha and Francis Molo, were charged with contrary conduct for their part in a melee that erupted in the ninth minute. Leniu also received a second contrary conduct charge for his role in the fracas. Leniu will have to cough up $3600 while Molo, Tawha and Whyte have been billed $1000 each with early pleas. It is worse for Molo as he will miss the derby with Brisbane on Saturday night after also being charged with a careless high tackle on Whyte in the 43rd minute. The grade two charge will mean he misses one week with an early guilty plea. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe will also have to dig into his pockets and pay a $4800 in fines for a shoulder charge on Leniu and high tackle on centre Billy Smith. The Dolphins already were set to be without veteran forward Felise Kaufusi for the Broncos clash. He is serving two weeks for a previous misdemeanour. Sitting eighth on 26 points, the Dolphins are just ahead of the Roosters, also on 26 points, on for-and-against. Cronulla face being without star second-rower Briton Nikora until the finals after he was whacked with a three-match ban for a high shot on St George Illawarra winger Corey Allan. Nikora was charged with a grade two high tackle by the match review committee for the incident in the 77th minute of the Sharks' 22-14 loss to the Dragons on Saturday. He was also sent to the sin-bin. The Sharks are seventh on 28 points and still have a bye and three matches, against Gold Coast and Newcastle at home and Canterbury away, in the final four weeks of the NRL season. Nikora will miss all three with an early guilty plea but risks being rubbed out of the first week of the finals if he challenges at the judiciary and fails. Cronulla have some chance of sneaking into the top four but the loss of Nikora, one of their chief attacking weapons, will make that task harder. The four players sin-binned in the Sydney Roosters' 64-12 win over the Dolphins on Saturday night have been hit with fines. Roosters duo Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte, along with the Dolphins pair Aublix Tawha and Francis Molo, were charged with contrary conduct for their part in a melee that erupted in the ninth minute. Leniu also received a second contrary conduct charge for his role in the fracas. Leniu will have to cough up $3600 while Molo, Tawha and Whyte have been billed $1000 each with early pleas. It is worse for Molo as he will miss the derby with Brisbane on Saturday night after also being charged with a careless high tackle on Whyte in the 43rd minute. The grade two charge will mean he misses one week with an early guilty plea. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe will also have to dig into his pockets and pay a $4800 in fines for a shoulder charge on Leniu and high tackle on centre Billy Smith. The Dolphins already were set to be without veteran forward Felise Kaufusi for the Broncos clash. He is serving two weeks for a previous misdemeanour. Sitting eighth on 26 points, the Dolphins are just ahead of the Roosters, also on 26 points, on for-and-against. Cronulla face being without star second-rower Briton Nikora until the finals after he was whacked with a three-match ban for a high shot on St George Illawarra winger Corey Allan. Nikora was charged with a grade two high tackle by the match review committee for the incident in the 77th minute of the Sharks' 22-14 loss to the Dragons on Saturday. He was also sent to the sin-bin. The Sharks are seventh on 28 points and still have a bye and three matches, against Gold Coast and Newcastle at home and Canterbury away, in the final four weeks of the NRL season. Nikora will miss all three with an early guilty plea but risks being rubbed out of the first week of the finals if he challenges at the judiciary and fails. Cronulla have some chance of sneaking into the top four but the loss of Nikora, one of their chief attacking weapons, will make that task harder. The four players sin-binned in the Sydney Roosters' 64-12 win over the Dolphins on Saturday night have been hit with fines. Roosters duo Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte, along with the Dolphins pair Aublix Tawha and Francis Molo, were charged with contrary conduct for their part in a melee that erupted in the ninth minute. Leniu also received a second contrary conduct charge for his role in the fracas. Leniu will have to cough up $3600 while Molo, Tawha and Whyte have been billed $1000 each with early pleas. It is worse for Molo as he will miss the derby with Brisbane on Saturday night after also being charged with a careless high tackle on Whyte in the 43rd minute. The grade two charge will mean he misses one week with an early guilty plea. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe will also have to dig into his pockets and pay a $4800 in fines for a shoulder charge on Leniu and high tackle on centre Billy Smith. The Dolphins already were set to be without veteran forward Felise Kaufusi for the Broncos clash. He is serving two weeks for a previous misdemeanour. Sitting eighth on 26 points, the Dolphins are just ahead of the Roosters, also on 26 points, on for-and-against.
7NEWS
10-08-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Cronulla second-rower Briton Nikora cops three-match ban for high shot on Corey Allan
Cronulla face being without star second-rower Briton Nikora until the finals after he was whacked with a three-match ban for a high shot on St George Illawarra winger Corey Allan. Nikora was charged with a grade two high tackle by the match review committee for the incident in the 77th minute of the Sharks' 22-14 loss to the Dragons on Saturday. He was also sent to the sin-bin. The Sharks are seventh on 28 points and still have a bye and three matches, against Gold Coast and Newcastle at home and Canterbury away, in the final four weeks of the NRL season. Nikora will miss all three with an early guilty plea but risks being rubbed out of the first week of the finals if he challenges at the judiciary and fails. Cronulla have some chance of sneaking into the top four but the loss of Nikora, one of their chief attacking weapons, will make that task harder. The four players sin-binned in the Sydney Roosters' 64-12 win over the Dolphins on Saturday night have been hit with fines. Roosters duo Spencer Leniu and Naufahu Whyte, along with the Dolphins pair Aublix Tawha and Francis Molo, were charged with contrary conduct for their part in a melee that erupted in the ninth minute. Leniu also received a second contrary conduct charge for his role in the fracas. Leniu will have to cough up $3600 while Molo, Tawha and Whyte have been billed $1000 each with early pleas. It is worse for Molo as he will miss the derby with Brisbane on Saturday night after also being charged with a careless high tackle on Whyte in the 43rd minute. The grade two charge will mean he misses one week with an early guilty plea. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe will also have to dig into his pockets and pay a $4800 in fines for a shoulder charge on Leniu and high tackle on centre Billy Smith. The Dolphins already were set to be without veteran forward Felise Kaufusi for the Broncos clash. He is serving two weeks for a previous misdemeanour. Sitting eighth on 26 points, the Dolphins are just ahead of the Roosters, also on 26 points, on for-and-against.
The Age
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Age
11 charges, $13,400 in fines after NRL's wild night of fights and high shots
The NRL has handed out 11 charges and $13,400 in fines from a wild Saturday of fixtures that included five sin-binnings and set the finals race alight. Eight charges alone came out of the Roosters fiery 64-12 drubbing of the Dolphins, with Spencer Leniu, Naufahu Whyte, Francis Molo and Tawha Aublix all issued contrary conduct charges for the ninth minute melee that saw them all sin-binned. Leniu has also been served the same contrary conduct charge for rushing in to hit Aublix in the back a minute earlier. The Roosters firebrand's fine for both incidents was bumped up to $1800 with an early guilty plea, with the rest of the sin-binned trio facing $1000 fines. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe is also facing separate $1800 and $3000 fines for his part in the explosive opening to the contest, which included a high shot on Billy Smith and shoulder charge on Leniu. Donoghoe's fine for hitting Leniu would become a two-game suspension if he unsuccessfully contested the charge at the judiciary. Molo is also facing a 1-2 game ban for his grade 2 careless high tackle on Whyte early in the second half. Despite the Roosters-Dolphins pyrotechnics, Cronulla were hit hardest by the match review committee on Sunday with Briton Nikora potentially rubbed out until the finals. Nikora is facing a 3-4 game suspension for his high tackle on Corey Allan in the Dragons 22-14 boilover. Given the Sharks have a bye after next week's clash with the Titans, Nikora would not play again until week one of the finals if he takes an early guilty plea. His punishment has been increased given it is at least his third high tackle charge in the past few years.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
11 charges, $13,400 in fines after NRL's wild night of fights and high shots
The NRL has handed out 11 charges and $13,400 in fines from a wild Saturday of fixtures that included five sin-binnings and set the finals race alight. Eight charges alone came out of the Roosters' fiery 64-12 drubbing of the Dolphins, with Spencer Leniu, Naufahu Whyte, Francis Molo and Aublix Tawha all issued contrary conduct charges for the ninth-minute melee that led to all four being sin-binned. Leniu has also been served the same contrary conduct charge for rushing in to hit Aublix in the back a minute earlier. The Roosters firebrand's fine for both incidents was bumped up to $1800 with an early guilty plea, with the rest of the sin-binned quartet facing $1000 fines. Dolphins lock Kurt Donoghoe is also facing separate $1800 and $3000 fines for his part in the explosive opening to the contest, which included a high shot on Billy Smith and shoulder charge on Leniu. Donoghoe's fine for hitting Leniu would become a two-game suspension if he unsuccessfully contested the charge at the judiciary. Molo is also facing a 1-2 game ban for a grade 2 careless high tackle on Whyte early in the second half. Despite the Roosters-Dolphins pyrotechnics, Cronulla were hit the hardest by the match review committee on Sunday, with Briton Nikora potentially rubbed out until the finals. The second-rower is facing a 3-4 game suspension for his high tackle on Corey Allan in the Dragons 22-14 boilover. Given the Sharks have a bye after next week's clash with the Titans, Nikora would not play again until week one of the finals if he takes an early guilty plea. His punishment has been increased given it is at least his third high tackle charge in the past few years.
