NRL news: Panthers look to stem roster loss with Kikau cash

Coach Ivan Cleary has revealed how he will rebuild a premiership winning Penrith squad ripped apart by off-season departures.

Penrith have now turned to holding on to Dylan Edwards and Api Koroisau.

Penrith have turned their attention to re-signing premiership heroes Dylan Edwards and Api Koroisau as they accept the grim reality of their grand final squad being ripped apart.

The defection of star backrower Viliame Kikau to Canterbury this week means five players from the Panthers’ 17 who triumphed over South Sydney will be gone by Christmas 2022.

Four of them, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Paul Momirovski and Tyrone May, have already left the club. It’s the most to leave a premiership team since South Sydney in 2014.

Edwards and Koroisau will also enter the final years of their current deals, with the club locked in negotiations with both players on extensions.

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Retaining fullback Dylan Edwards is key for the Panthers. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Koroisau has already been linked to Wests Tigers in recent weeks, but Penrith officials remain confident of keeping the two-time premiership-winning hooker.

While it might’ve been hoped Kikau’s exit would’ve given the club some money to chase a proven talent, that cash can now be used to retain Edwards and Koroisau.

It is understood the Panthers failed to even table an offer to Kikau, who will head to the Bulldogs on a four-year deal worth around $3.2 million.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary defended the club’s roster strategy, having shelled out big-money deals to a core group of players aimed at keeping their premiership window open.

Over the past 12 months alone, the likes of Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Isaah Yeo have all been re-signed long-term.

Hooker Apisai Koroisau is another the Panthers wish to hold on to. Picture: NRL Photos

“Over the last three years we’ve had something like 15 guys go on to sign the biggest contracts of their life, so we take a bit of pride in that,” Cleary said.

“But it’s hard work trying to keep this team together.”

The return of ex-Panthers forward Chris Smith will be confirmed in coming days, while Penrith are also on the lookout for a centre and backrower to complete their top 30.

Crichton is expected to return to the centres next season, with rookie Izack Tago and Robert Jennings likely to battle for the other vacant spot for round one.

The Panthers are also light in their back row stocks, particularly once Kikau departs.

Mavrik Geyer, the son of club legend Mark, is on a development deal next year, while the club is also high on twin brothers Niwhai and Hohepa Puru.

“Our mandate is to grow our own players,” Cleary said.

“That will continue to happen and we need it to happen. The next guys who come in, hopefully we can still be competitive. That’s the idea.”

‘MAD NOT TO TAKE IT’: CLEARY BACKS BOOED KIKAU

By - Nick Campton

Viliame Kikau copped his share of boos at Penrith’s premiership party, but Ivan Cleary said the star backrower would be “mad” not to take the riches on offer from Canterbury.

Each Panther received a raucous reception from the 12,000 strong crowd at BlueBet Stadium, save Kikau, who copped a mixed bag from the Penrith faithful after a photo of him in a Bulldogs polo was leaked on Friday night.

Cleary shut down any talk of Kikau leaving before 2023 and revealed he cleared the air with the Fijian superstar after the photo was made public.

Viliame Kikau copped his fair share of boos at the celebration.

“We pretty much knew (we’d lose him). Emotionally you don’t want to accept it,” Cleary said.

“Yesterday was sobering that the reality set in. We have a whole season with Vili and that’s all we’re looking forward to.

“He wasn’t happy (about the photo). I spoke to him last night and he was very angry about it to be honest, which is fair enough.

“At the end of the day it’s a bit of clickbait for everybody and everyone gets excited about that stuff. I spoke to Vili a few weeks ago about the potential for him having to leave, we certainly never wanted him to leave, it’s sad but a reality of professional sport.

“When you get those sorts of numbers thrown at you, you’d be mad not to (take it). There’s not more pressure. He’ll enjoy his final year here and we’ll enjoy having him here.

Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton show off the premiership trophy.

A 12,000-strong crowd turned up to watch the festivities.

Cleary denied Kikau would grow complacent in his final year as a Panther and backed the club to retain some of their other impending free agents.

“He’s committed to us,” Cleary said.

“We’ve already had a few guys sign on again and certainly taken less than what they could have got elsewhere, particularly last year.

“It’s tough because you’re only in the game for so long. It’s a balancing act. One thing that is for sure is all the guys who have left or are leaving, ideally they would have liked to stay. You can’t keep them all.

“He’ll be back in a couple of weeks and you can get a lot done in one year. We showed that with ‘Burto’ (Matt Burton) last year.”

Your 2021 NRL premiers.

Cleary also defended the club’s conduct during the celebrations of their epic 14-12 win over South Sydney last month.

Stephen Crichton and Nathan Cleary courted controversy and were fined by the NRL after damaging the premiership trophy, but Cleary stood behind the club’s culture.

“They’re good kids. I’m very proud of the culture we’ve been able to build. I was actually there when most people who commented on this weren’t there,” Cleary said.

“I have to say I’m extremely proud of the way the boys celebrated together as a team ... their kids, partners, families, it was probably the best Mad Monday I’ve been involved in.

“I get it, there are things that pop up on social media that are interpreted a certain way, you can interpret however you want - but I’m super proud of our boys and enjoyed every minute of the celebrations as they did.”

Nathan Cleary accepts the key to the city.

Kikau’s departure couldn’t put a damper on things for all the Panthers fans during a day of celebration for the club, - local butcher Alessandro Talarico has been sporting the Fijian’s iconic blonde mohawk for months now.

“I’ve had it for about six months and I get called Kikau 24/7. It’s sad to see him go, but it’s the kind of thing that happens,” Talarico said.

“My mates don’t like it. But my boss at George’s Fine Meats does, and everyone who comes in talks about it. I get called all sorts of stuff - ramen head, ugg boot, sheep.

“I just wanted to show support for the boys, and I had it for the grand final, so it worked.”

Panthers roster ripped apart as NRL rivals pounce

- Michael Carayannis, Brent Read

Penrith’s premiership-winning side is already being ripped apart as the Bulldogs build their own team capable of grand final glory.

While the Panthers faithful had their long awaited chance to celebrate their premiership success at a grand final parade in Penrith on Saturday, those festivities have been soured as rivals raid their talented playing stocks.

Barnstorming backrower Viliame Kikau has agreed to join the Bulldogs on a four-year deal from 2023. It comes after Kikau rejected an $800,000 offer from the Cowboys for four years and St George Illawarra’s three-year bid for his services.

While the Bulldogs are on the up under new head of football Phil Gould, his former club Penrith is experiencing the bitter reality of premiership success. The already hostile tensions between the Bulldogs and Panthers continues to simmer after photos of Kikau posing with Gould and coach Trent Barrett surfaced online.

Phil Gould, Viliame Kikau and Trent Barrett.

Penrith officials were surprised to see Kikau parading in a Bulldogs polo shirt in images which were never supposed to be made public.

Canterbury is investigating how the photo was leaked with suggestions the image was taken from Canterbury League Club security footage.

Gould expressed his remorse to the Panthers.

“I called Penrith to apologise for the inappropriate leaking of images, taken from security cameras, at Canterbury Leagues,” Gould tweeted.

“It was not our doing, nor ever our intention, for such images to become public.”

Kikau said he was assured photos of him in a Canterbury jersey wouldn’t come public until the appropriate time and insists he remains committed to the Panthers for the upcoming season.

“Today photos were taken of me wearing another club’s colours,” he wrote on instagram.

“Me and my manager were told the photos wouldn’t become public until the appropriate time. I am very disappointed that didn’t happen and regret the upset it has caused.

“I want the Panthers fans to know I remain fully committed to our club and the team for the upcoming season. I can’t wait to celebrate our premiership with you tomorrow and hope to catch you all then.”

Kikau and Jarome Luai celebrate the Panthers’ premiership win.

The clubs had already fallen out over the Bulldogs’ push to have Matt Burton quit his contract a year early which led to a public slanging match between club officials.

The Panthers have already lost five members of their 17-man grand final squad and face the prospect of hooker Api Koroisau being squeezed out at the end of next year.

Fullback Dylan Edwards is the only other premiership winner free to chat to rival clubs but it is understood he is likely to remain a Panther.

Panthers star Viliame Kikau is set to sign a massive four-year deal to join the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had planned to announce Kikau’s signing early next week to allow Penrith to celebrate its premiership parade on Saturday.

The Panthers were resigned to losing Kikau as their cap woes continue.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said the Panthers could not compete with the offers Kikau was receiving.

“The better you go, everyone’s value goes up,” Cleary told 2GB. “Telephone numbers get thrown at players. We’re sad about him leaving.

“Never wanted him (to leave). It’s a reality of life. We couldn’t get anywhere near the numbers that were thrown at him. We’re happy for him in that sense. He will be a big part of (next year).”

Originally published as NRL news: Panthers look to stem roster loss with Kikau cash