Cronulla Sharks second-rower Briton Nikora remains cautious about the Penrith Panthers as they head into 2026, despite the Panthers' early exit from last season's finals.
Recently, the Panthers enjoyed a commanding victory over the reigning champions, the Brisbane Broncos, triumphing 26-0 at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1.
Back in the Shire, the Sharks recorded an impressive 50-10 win against the Gold Coast Titans.
"Yeah, it's going to be a tough challenge this weekend," Nikora remarked.
"But just sticking to the game plan, stick to what we know best."
"Just like what we do at training and that, all the comms, all the camaraderie out there. So, yeah, just trying to keep it simple and stick to the game plan."
When discussing the significance of securing strong early-season victories, Nikora emphasized the need for consistency and delivering solid performances weekly.
"It was a good way to start round one. Yeah, (it was) also only round one, that's how we sort of taken it."
"Not getting too excited about what we've done and all that, we've got a big game this weekend, and we're just looking forward to getting the season underway."