Former Sydney Roosters NRL Player and current Redcliffe Dolphins star Jayden Nikorima hit rock bottom when as a 20yo he lost his NRL Contract and was banned for substance abuse problems.
A kid who seemed to have it all and then threw it all away.
Over the past two years Nikorima has been lost however a chance meeting with Mindset and Human Performance Coach Glenn Azar changed all of that.
Azar a former soldier and father of Alyssa Azar, the youngest Australian to summit Mt Everest, was brought in by the Redcliffe Dolphins to run a Personal Development Bootcamp with the players as a part of their pre-season preparation.
This chance meeting with Nikorima changed everything. “I was at rock bottom. I had lost my love for Rugby League and really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.’
“After the 18 hour bootcamp something sparked in Jayden” Azar said “and he contacted me and asked if he could meet and if I would mentor him one-on-one”
Azar sat down with the young football prospect and they immediately hit it off. “He’s only one month older than my daughter Alyssa who climbed Mt Everest. so I was no stranger to high performing youngsters but also the pressures they face so I agreed to work with him and I have to say he has blown me away with his passion, his drive and the way he cares for other people.”
I was so taken by Jayden that I asked him to sit and record a podcast with me on my show The Building Better Humans Project. We release that episode on the 20th May.
In the podcast Jayden, his parents and his brother Kodi Nikorima (Auckland Warriors) all sat down and told their parts of the story of Jayden’s Darkest Days.
Australia loves a good redemption story and Nikorima is proving to be just that. He is working with young kids who dream of playing NRL one day and wants to continue to be a voice for kids whilst he chases his own dreams of re-entering the NRL.
“My goal is to prove I am worthy of an NRL contract and that I still possess the desire and the talent to be a great player. I would love to play for the Brisbane Broncos or even with the Warriors by my brother Kodi’s side but honestly I would play in any team. I will never throw away an opportunity again. I am more mature and mentally much stronger since working with Glenn’ Nikorima said.
If you’d like early access to the full podcast of Jayden and his family in their own words please
