He was one of the club's underage recruits, and played in the Gold Coast's first season.

Nicholls made his debut in Round 8 of the 2011 AFL season, against Adelaide.

[2] Nicholls was born in Yarrawonga in country Victoria to a Fijian mother and an Australian father.

Nicholls was the Round 16 nomination for the 2013 AFL Rising Star award.

[3] He was selected as the ruckman in the AFL Players' Association's inaugural 22under22 team.