Viliame Kikau, a prominent forward for the Vodafone Fiji Bati, is feeling optimistic ahead of their match on Saturday night. The 29-year-old player described the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Kumuls as a tough opponent, comparing their physical play to “a ton of bricks.”
Kikau emphasized the challenge of facing their Melanesian rivals, stating that it will not be an easy game. He expressed hope that the Bati will deliver an impressive performance for their home fans, especially with the support of the crowd.
“It’s a big game against the PNG brothers; they are a physical team – they come out hard from the first minute to the end. It just feels like a ton of bricks running at you the whole 80 minutes,” Kikau noted.
Having missed last year’s Pacific Bowl Championship in PNG to prepare for the 2024 NRL season with the Bulldogs, Kikau has taken on a leadership role in training sessions at Albert Park.
Reflecting on his early experiences, he mentioned how he was once a shy newcomer himself, relying on senior players for guidance. He now aims to help younger teammates, some of whom are new to the NRL, find their voice and build confidence ahead of the match.
The Bati team features promising young players such as Jordan Miller, who is expected to make his debut, and Jethro Rinakama. Kikau acknowledged that Fijian youth can be understandably shy, and he aims to support them throughout this camp.
“I’m just there to help them out, keep them in line when they need to and hopefully when they go back they’ve learned something out of this camp. We’re going to get ready and focus on this week’s game,” he said.