Departing Panther Viliame Kikau is determined to repay the club that gave him his NRL debut with a second-straight premiership.
Ahead of moving to the Bulldogs next season, the Fijian back-rower was crucial in Penrith's 32-12 preliminary final win over the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.
From his charge down of a kick by Souths halfback Lachlan Ilias, to a quick-play-the-ball which kicked off the Panthers' comeback through Api Koroisau's try, Kikau left nothing on the field as he helped the Mountain Men into Sunday’s grand final.
Api splits them to get on the board
“I took off from Fiji not knowing anything about rugby league. After playing with the Cowboys under-20s, I came here in 2017 and I’ve learned a lot in the last few years,” Kikau said.
“Penrith has taught me a lot, and not only how to be a good footy player, but a better person off the field, and I think that’s a credit to the club and everyone that works around the club.
“Every game I’ve played this year I’ve played it as my last, so obviously it’s going to be the ‘last last’ this week, so I’m going to give it everything.
“The only way I think I can repay them is winning the grand final next week.”
After calling the foot of the mountains home for the last six years, Kikau said "it doesn’t get bigger than this" as his side begin preparations for a historic grand final against their Western Sydney rivals, Parramatta.
An all-time Battle of the West
The Eels finished fourth and were the only team to beat Penrith twice during the home and away season – 22-20 in Round 9 at BlueBet Stadium and 34-10 at CommBank Stadium in Round 20, before the Panthers won 27-8 in Finals Week 1.
“They’ve shown up this year, they’ve beaten us twice and we’ve got up once, so we’re going to have to be ready for a big one against Parramatta,” Kikau said.
“It’s going to be a big week. Obviously compared to the last two years when we got in the grand final we didn’t really do a lot because of COVID, so everything is open and there’ll be a lot going on.
“The fans are going to be around the streets and the same with Parramatta. I don’t think there’s anything bigger than this.”
With Eels workhorse hooker Reed Mahoney also set to join the Bulldogs next season, Kikau said he is excited to line up against his future teammate in Sunday’s big dance.
“Yeah he’s going to be out there and it’ll be great to [play] him next week,” he said.
“I think he’s a great player, one of the best hookers in the competition I think.
“The way he takes on defence, he makes a lot of tackles, fifty plus, so credit to him. I’m excited to play with him.”
Meanwhile, the star forward was breathing a sigh of relief on Sunday morning after he escaped a suspension for a shoulder charge on Campbell Graham.
Kikau, who has already been cited for a shoulder charge offence this year, was charged with the grade one offence for his tackle and will receive a $3,000 fine with an early guilty plea.
"I got it wrong there. That stuff happens in games," he said.
"Just getting off the mark trying to lead the team. I got it a bit wrong."
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