Kodi Nikorima appears to be facing a suspension after a tackle that looks set to rule State of Origin hopeful Mitch Kenny out for months. Nikorima was sin-binned on Friday night in the Dolphins’ 23-22 loss to the Panthers in Darwin.
The five-eighth came down on Kenny’s lower leg in a hip-drop style tackle in the first half. The Panthers hooker – who’s been touted as smokey for the NSW Blues – cried out in agony and later limped from the field.
Kodi Nikorima is likely facing a suspension for his tackle on Mitch Kenny. Image: Fox League/Getty
It was later revealed he’d been taken to hospital with what looked to be a ‘complex’ leg fracture. ‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney wrote on social media that Kenny will likely be looking at 6-12 weeks out depending on the severity, while Penrith-based journalist Peter Lang said it could be as much as 16 weeks on the sidelines.
Kenny has been one of the unsung heroes of the Panthers’ juggernaut over the last five years, and had put himself into the frame for State of Origin selection this year. But he appears no chance to play Game 1 on May 27, and could end up missing the entire series.
“We are fearing it is pretty serious,” Ivan Cleary said of Kenny’s injury in his press conference. “There was no malice in (the tackle). It was just unfortunate.”
Kodi Nikorima facing suspension for tackle
Despite being an accident, Nikorima would still be facing a suspension. Dragons forward Ryan Couchman was hit with a four-game ban for a hip-drop tackle that ruptured the ACL of Parramatta forward J’Maine Hopgood and ended his season. Kenny copped a one-match ban in Round 4 for a similar tackle that sidelined Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi.
Penrith surged out to an 18-0 lead on Friday night before the Dolphins charged back to lead 22-18. After knotting the score at 22-all, the Panthers won in golden-point on a Nathan Cleary field goal.
“In a long season you win different ways but that one was pretty special,” said coach Ivan. “At 22-18 (down) we had everything against us. They were playing well and we had one crack down their end and scored. It says a fair bit about the team and their character that we somehow find a way to win.”
Mitch Kenny could be facing months on the sidelines.
(Getty Images)