Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has quashed suggestions that his club are after the signature of star Warriors half Kieran Foran.

Reports surfaced earlier in the week that Foran and his management had contacted the Broncos to offer the New Zealand international's services for the 2018 NRL season and beyond.

It's a move that would make sense for both parties, with Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt leaving for the Dragons at the end of the year and Foran only on a one-year contract at New Zealand – leaving him without a club for 2018.

Despite this, Bennett has denied any such advancement from either party, saying his club was yet to make any decisions on who will be halfback for Brisbane in 2018.

"That's just a story. No one from this club has spoken to Kieran Foran or his manager," Bennett said.

"We are always interested in quality players but no one has spoken to him.

"I won't go into any more detail. This club has made no approaches toward Kieran Foran or his manager.

"As well as that, we have not been approached by Kieran or his manager."

A possible replacement for Hunt is Brisbane's own Kodi Nikorima, with the New Zealand international starting at halfback for the Kiwis in their 2015 tour of England.

He followed this up with a starting berth at five-eighth for New Zealand in the 2016 Anzac Test – adding to his credentials as Hunt's possible replacement.

But a lot will depend on how his 2017 season pans out after injury cut short his 2016 campaign.

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[2017] Telstra Premiership - Round 1: Sharks vs Broncos

Nikorima is still feeling the effects of a shoulder reconstruction he underwent midway through 2016 after dislocating his shoulder twice in Brisbane's Round 17 match against the Storm.

He will not play in the Broncos' season opener against the Sharks on Thursday night, instead starting at five-eighth for the Norths Devils in the Intrust Super Cup in a bid to regain match fitness.

Although not quite right for a return to the NRL, Bennett said Nikorima would be back in his 17 sooner rather than later.

"Kodi will be a Mr Fix-it for us later in the year but he hasn't played for six months," he said.

"He had a major reconstruction on his shoulder last year so I didn't think this week's match would be one to play him in.

"Kodi only played 20 minutes of football about a week ago so he doesn't have much football behind him.

"It just didn't make sense to expose him to tomorrow's match knowing that.

"He'll get some confidence and some playing time in the Queensland Cup on the weekend, and he will get his opportunity for us soon."

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