Canterbury’s big off-season signing, Viliame Kikau, is scheduled for surgery on his pectoral muscle after a training mishap put his immediate playing future in doubt.
The Bulldogs aren’t putting a timeline on Kikau’s return until he has surgery on Monday, but club officials remain hopeful he will play some role in their 2023 campaign.
Bulldogs recruit Viliame Kikau will spend some time on the sidelines.Credit: Getty
“He left the training field yesterday with the injury and he received scans today to confirm a full rupture that will require surgery,” Canterbury said in a statement.
“He will undergo repair surgery on Monday and the club will work with the relevant medical professionals to manage his injury post-operatively.”
It’s likely Kikau will be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks, although he will be classed as “indefinite” until a post-operation assessment. The premiership-winning back-rower was named on Tuesday to return from an 11-day concussion stand-down against Parramatta on Sunday, but will instead join a bulging casualty ward that includes Josh Addo-Carr, Luke Thompson, Franklin Pele, Chris Patolo, Bailey Biondi-Odo and Fa’amanu Brown.
There is some good news for the Bulldogs as they prepare to face arch-rivals Parramatta, with Tevita Pangai jnr to play his first game of the season after overcoming a calf issue.
“TPJ” will do so in the front row, with club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner returning from a concussion break and Braidon Burns getting his first chance this year in the NRL on the wing.
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