Fiji Bati player Viliame Kikau has been honored with the Dr. George Peponis Medal, recognizing him as the Bulldogs’ 2024 NRL Player of the Year. The 30-year-old played a key role in leading the club back to the finals after a six-year absence.
Kikau delivered one of the best performances of his NRL career, participating in 22 matches where he scored four tries, assisted in another four, made 41 offloads, and broke through defensive lines 10 times.
Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata praised Kikau’s accomplishment, stating, “Kikau is Kikau. He has been doing it from day one and he continues to do it. He is a great player, very calm and collected but a beast when he has the ball in hand.”
Kikau made his international debut for Fiji in 2015 against Papua New Guinea, contributing to a 22–10 victory. He entered the NRL in 2017 with the Penrith Panthers against the Wests Tigers, scoring a try in a 36–2 win.
Kativerata noted the unexpected success of the Bulldogs this season, adding that Kikau’s award came as a surprise to many. Currently, Kikau is under a $3.2 million contract with the Bulldogs, signed for four years starting in 2023. He also celebrated his 150-game milestone with the team’s victory over the Dragons, 28-10, in Round 23.
Looking ahead, Kativerata is set to announce a competitive squad for the Pacific Nations Challenge, incorporating both experienced and new players. Discussions are ongoing with players like Mark Nawaqanitawase and young star James Valevatu.
The selection is expected to include promising young talents such as Wests Tigers’ 19-year-old prop Jordan Miller, Dolphin’s Michael Waqa, and young forward Kylan Mafoa.
Kativerata also plans to include local players in the extended squad, including comeback player of the year Keresi Maya, along with names like Taane Milne, Waqa Blake, and Semi Valemei for a potential center partnership.