Viliame Kikau might not be the most damaging left-sided back-rower in the grand final.
It seems ridiculous to write, and it’s not a slight on the Fijian but rather a reflection of just how good Shaun Lane has been this year for Parramatta.
The Dally M Team of the Year had space for only one of them. Kikau got the nod. Many thought Lane was unlucky.
What’s not in dispute is how two colossal back-rowers roaming on the left have driven their sides to an all-western Sydney grand final on Sunday night.
There are similarities; both are 27 and stand just under 200cm (Lane at 198cm and Kikau 195cm), both found their way to their current clubs through back channels and both create opportunities for others when there doesn’t seem to be any. No NRL forward has more line-break assists this year than Kikau (15). Lane is second (14).
That can be largely attributed to their offloading ability, which means both sides have attackers sliding through off the hip every time they carry the ball.
Penrith Panthers back-rower Viliame Kikau and Parramatta Eels opposite Shaun Lane.Credit:Wolter Peeters
“Some games he’s just unstoppable on the edge,” Kikau said of Lane. “He just looks like a player, who is hard to tackle. He’s so wobbly when he’s running, but when you get to him he just slips off and he’s got that offload too.
“The ball is the most important thing with him. When you make contact, you’ve got to make sure someone is around the ball. As soon as that arm comes out he’s floating the ball and with good players around him, they can make a play out of it.
“He’s a very good player.”
Kikau could have been talking about himself.
While Lane is more often used as the lead runner, Kikau usually reverts to a sweeping role at Penrith where centre Izack Tago runs the hard line and the Fijian arcs around the back and provides soft hands to winger Brian To’o. He barely leaves a fingerprint on the ball. The skill would be sublime for any half, let alone a giant like Kikau.
The past couple of months, Kikau has played like a man possessed. In defence, he’s been monumental. It’s an area where he has previously been criticised, but he’s leaving his mark on rivals without the ball as much as with it these days.
In the grand final, he has Eels wrecking ball Isaiah Papali’i to deal with. The New Zealander is much like Penrith’s Liam Martin, staring down a huge height and weight discrepancy against his direct opponent at Accor Stadium.
Asked about Kikau, Papali’i said: “He’s a freak athlete. A big body that can move very quickly.
“You’ve got to chop his legs because he’s that quick. You’ve got to get him to the ground and limit the offload and his ability to make post-contact metres. He leaves it all out there and even though he might look tired at times, he’s always found that extra effort.
“For me, I’m a different type of player and body shape. I’m sure he takes the challenge personally, so do I. He’s a world-class back-rower and I class myself up there too. I want to make sure I beat my opponent in the opposite position. I’ve got to make sure I get one up on him.”
