Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima was left bloodied following a nasty head clash with teammate Tom Gilbert in the inaugural Brisbane derby on Friday night, won by the Broncos 18-12.
The Broncos struck first in the Brisbane derby, spreading the footy to the left as Jesse Arthars rocketed over the try line.
Only moments earlier, Nikorima had been injected into the game for an injured Tesi Niu.
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But he soon had blood gushing from his head after clashing heads with Gilbert in a tackle.
“Kodi Nikorima, he’s come out of that very awkwardly and he’s opened up straight away, so he won’t be on the field long here,” commentator Peter Psaltis said for Nine.
“That was nasty.”
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Nikorima departed the field for a head injury assessment with Ray Stone coming on as his replacement.
Earlier, Gilbert sparked an all-in scuffle as he roughed up Adam Reynolds.
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The Broncos halfback tried to pull off a cut-out ball on the right edge in the 16th minute but threw it over the sideline.
Gilbert got up in Reynolds’ grill and let him know about it.
“Here we go,” said Nine’s Cameron Smith as Dolphins and Broncos jerseys rushed in from all angles.
“It wouldn’t be a derby without a bit of argy-bargy!” Psaltis added.
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