IN-FORM Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima has put his hand up to replace the injured Dylan Brown in the New Zealand halves but admits the battle for places in the Kiwis side to face Australia in the World Cup opener is going to be intense.

Brown, who steered New Zealand to last year’s Pacific Cup success, has been ruled out of RLWC26 after rupturing his ACL last weekend while playing for Newcastle.

However, Kiwis coach Stacey Jones still has Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes, Warriors playmaker Te Maire Martin and Nikorima to choose from.

Nikorima, who will join the Dragons next season, has played 18 Tests since debuting for the Kiwis in 2015 but missed last year's Pacific Championships and the last World Cup in 2022.

Photo: Kodi Nikorima after the 2019 defeat of Great Britain in Christchurch, where the Kiwis will again play during the World Cup. @SWPix

"Hopefully I get the nod from Stacey. I always love playing in the Black-and-White jersey,” Nikorima said. “I’m a proud Kiwi and if I get the opportunity I'll take it with both hands.

“We've still got some other halves in Jahrome and obviously Te Maire, he's playing pretty good footy at the Warriors too, so I'll be excited to be a part of the squad if I do get the nod.”

Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo believes Jones is set to choose New Zealand’s best ever line-up for the October 15 clash at Allianz Stadium and Nikorima agreed that almost every position was up for grabs.

Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga, who has pledged his allegiance to the Kwis and is vying for the No.1 jersey with Keano Kini and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad but can also play in the halves.

The dummy half role is also hotly contested between Nikorima’s Dolphins team-mate Jeremy Marshall-King, Newcastle’s Phoenix Crossland and South Sydney’s Brandon Smith, while Warriors hooker Wayde Egan is considering making himself available on residency grounds.

Jones also has a glut of topline forwards at his disposal.

Led by James Fisher-Harris, the Kiwis coach will have to choose between Joseph Tapine, Moses Leota, Erin Clark, Naufahu Whyte, Xavier Willison, Leo Thompson, Jack Williams and Tanner Stowers-Smith for his other starting prop, lock and bench middles.

Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali’i, Scott Sorensen and Willison are the leading secondrow contenders.

Photo: Kodi Nikorima in action for the Kiwis in 2024. @SWPix

“We've got some great forwards, and then obviously with Kalyn coming across, he adds to the squad too, so we have plenty of players to choose from,” Nikorima said.

“It obviously gives the coach and the selectors a bit of a headache, but I'm sure whoever is in the squad will do a great job.

“I love playing with Jez, he’s our 9 here and he played last year, but unfortunately he got injured.

"There's obviously competition for spots in the 9 jersey too, with Phoenix playing well and obviously Brandon Smith … he's injured at the moment but he’s been playing some good footy too."

Marshall-King said he would be keen to continue his partnership with Nikorima beyond the Dolphins season, and backed him for the Kiwis five-eighth role.

"Kodi will do a great job for the Kiwis," Marshall-King said. "It is just how crafty he is. He is not the biggest guy but with the ball you see how skilful he is.

"His defence has been great as well and that is something he has focused on."

Just like in 2008, when New Zealand won the World Cup for the first time, the Kiwis will open RLWC26 against the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium on October 15.

The Kiwis then travel to Christchurch to play Cook Islands at the new indoor OneNZ Stadium on October 25 and take on Fiji at Cbus Super Stadium on October 31.

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