Sport Confidential: Viliame Kikau reveals details of fiery exchange with Jai Arrow in NRL grand final
Viliame Kikau has broken his silence on his rendition of the Rabbitohs’ ‘glory glory’ team song during the Panthers’ grand final celebrations, admitting ‘too many beers’ were involved.
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Penrith’s Viliame Kikau has lit the fuse for the grand final rematch, claiming South Sydney’s Jai Arrow “wanted to fight” him during last year’s explosive premiership decider.
Kikau has also broken his silence on his rendition of the Rabbitohs’ ‘glory glory’ team song during the Panthers’ grand final celebrations.
All eyes will be on Kikau and Arrow when they clash on Friday night.
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The pair were involved in a terse exchange during the grand final with Arrow collected high by Kikau with his first carry. He eventually failed a concussion test later in the game with his grand final appearance lasting just 16 minutes.
Arrow hit out at Kikau as he came from the field and the Penrith back-rower has lifted the lid on what the Maroons representative barked at him.
“He wanted to fight,” Kikau said.
“I’m not really a fighter. I didn’t say anything to him. It’s not boxing, it’s rugby. It got fiery. It’s footy – what happens on the field stays on the field.
“He is a great player. He gets them rolling a lot of the times.”
Kikau earnt the further ire of Rabbitohs officials when video emerged of him appearing to mock South Sydney’s team song.
“That was all fun and games off the field,” Kikau said. “Too many beers. That’s what it was … The grand final rematch is always big. I’ve watched it a couple of times and in pre-season we watched it again.”
Kikau said the Panthers had been below their best despite their undefeated start to the season.
“We got a bit put on show in the second half (against the Knights),” Kikau said. “It’s something we need to fix as soon as possible.”
TIGERS STAR FLIES IN FACE OF CLUB’S KNOCKBACK
Jackson Hastings paid for his own flight to the Gold Coast after Wests Tigers knocked back a request from coach Michael Maguire to have Hastings and Adam Doueihi join the team in Queensland.
It is understood Tigers management raised concerns over the message it would send to other sidelined players if they had just Hastings and Doueihi fly with the team.
Maguire had hoped two of his best players in Hastings, who will return from suspension in round six, and the injured Doueihi, who is also one of the club captains, would sit beside him in the coach’s box on Thursday night.
He also wanted the pair on the Gold Coast to assist with preparations and ensure they had a role to play despite being sidelined.
But the request was knocked on the head by Tigers management amid concerns that it may send the wrong message by flying two players to the Gold Coast and leaving other squad members in Sydney.
That did not stop Hastings though who showed his commitment for the side by putting his hand in his own pocket to ensure he could still play some role to assist the struggling side.
Many believe Hastings and Doueihi should be the team’s first-choice halves pairing given halfback Luke Brooks’ indifferent start to the season.
Doueihi has earmarked round 14 to make his long-awaited return from knee surgery.
In an interview this week, Maguire rubbished suggestions he has lost the dressing room.
“I can see every day the attitude the players have. There’s no issue in that regard with morale,” he said.
“We’re in a better spot than people think. We have eight first-graders sitting on the sideline and that doesn’t help. The challenging part of coaching in the NRL is getting through the tough periods when your roster has been decimated and you need depth to fight through it.
LODGE LOOKS TO SYDNEY
Matt Lodge has rejected a rich three-year contract extension to remain at the Warriors as he tests the market in the hope of securing a deal in Sydney.
The Warriors put a multi-year offer in front of the 26-year-old in a bid to lock him down long-term. Instead of taking up that deal, Lodge is now considering if he will stay at the Warriors for just 12 months.
Lodge has an option his favour to remain at the club which he must take up before the end of April. It is understood Lodge’s preference is to return to Sydney with his young family and he is reluctant to relocate to Auckland.
The Dolphins could consider making a play as they slowly put together their roster.
DOLPHINS’ MUNSTER MOVE
The Dolphins have held informal talks with Cameron Munster’s manager Braith Anasta over the prospect of signing the Melbourne Storm star for the 2024 season.
Confidential understands that Anasta met Dolphins head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan last Sunday where the pair had an initial discussion over Munster’s future.
Munster is under contract for next season and the Storm have tabled an offer to extend his deal, albeit well below his current salary.
The Dolphins wanted to understand where they stood. It is believed Munster’s strong desire is to remain in Melbourne and there is no sense of urgency around the talks given he is unable to sign with a rival club before November 1.
The Dolphins have some big decisions to make. They continue to circle Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga and it seems unlikely they would be able to sign both he and Munster given their respective price tags.
Should Ponga reject a move back to Queensland — the smart money suggests he will stay in Newcastle — the Dolphins are likely to step up their attempts to sign Munster.
AVOIDING PAYNE
Bulldogs officials have distanced themselves from chasing Payne Haas after the club’s head of football Phil Gould was spotted meeting with Haas’s new agent.
Gould met Haas’s new manager Tyran Smith last week. There was no discussion about Haas joining the Bulldogs.
Instead it was – we were told - a catch-up to discuss Smith’s players who are contracted to the Bulldogs.
DALLY M GLITTER
The NRL will present the NRLW Dally M female player of the year award at a glitzy ceremony on Thursday night.
Sandstone Point in Queensland will play host to the awards, which will also acknowledge captain, coach, try and tackle of the year awards.
The grand final is at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday week.
CRONK, SMITH BACK TOGETHER
The big three are back together. Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk will be among more than 300 people attending a premiership lunch in Melbourne on Friday to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Storm’s 2012 premiership win.
Smith, Slater and Cronk will be on stage during the celebration to reflect on events of a decade ago. Insiders believe it will be the first time Smith and Cronk have been in a room together since the halfback left the Storm at the end of 2017.
Their relationship has been the subject of much scrutiny in the years since and all eyes will be on Melbourne as the pair reunite with Slater to celebrate one of the most significant moments in their careers.
Only three members of the 2012 premiership squad are unable to attend the lunch — Richie Fa’aoso for personal reasons, and Will Chambers and Gareth Widdop because they are playing rugby union and rugby league respectively overseas.
MANLY MAKING GROUND
NSW minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres was among the special guests at 4 Pines Park last weekend for the opening of the new grandstand.
Ayres’ presence was significant for the Sea Eagles. The club is optimistic it will be given upwards of $150 million to carry out further renovation of their home ground in coming weeks.
Whispers in rugby league circles suggest the Sea Eagles will get their wish with the remainder of the promised government funding spent on Cronulla’s home ground Pointsbet Stadium, Leichhardt Oval and Accor Stadium.
The NRL still has plenty of leverage over the state government. Head office are yet to announce a home for this year’s grand final and Sydney’s ability to hold onto the decider will hinge on the state government’s commitment to pour money into suburban grounds.
RADIO CALLER’S MIXED GIGS
Wests Tigers’ freshly-minted communications chief Chris Warren will continue to juggle his new position with calling rugby league games for 2GB. Warren confirmed to Confidential that the Tigers and 2GB were happy for him to work in both roles.
“I don’t see it as a conflict of interest,” Warren said. “The club is happy for me to continue doing it and it is something I really enjoy.”
The highly regarded Warren, son of legendary rugby league commentator Ray Warren, steps into one of rugby league’s hottest seats at the Tigers as he looks to help the club navigate its way through some troubled waters.
CHANNEL CHANGING
Change is coming at Channel 9. Their head of NRL Simon Fordham has been shifted to another role. Andrew Rodgers is the new man at the helm.
CUP SEARCH FOR TV SPOT
Rugby league World Cup organisers are trying to lock in broadcast partner in Australia.
The rights were originally sold to streaming company Sports Flick but that company has since unravelled. Instead World Cup boss Jon Dutton has begun with the NRL’s host broadcasters – Fox and Nine – plus Channel 7, who televised the World Cup in 2017.
“Last year we had agreed a deal which was terminated,” Dutton said. “We’ve reached out to the three networks and a few more to gauge the level of interest. We are conscious about kick-off times and the time (games will be shown) in Australia. This is the last major bit of the jigsaw.”
Dutton plans to visit NRL clubs in June. He confirmed the tournament would not have a mandatory vaccine policy.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: Viliame Kikau reveals details of fiery exchange with Jai Arrow in NRL grand final
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