Viliame Kikau, the standout player for Fiji Bati and a key contributor for the Bulldogs during the 2024 NRL season, has been honored with the 2024 Dr. George Peponis Medallist. After a challenging previous year where he played only nine games, the 30-year-old had one of his most impressive seasons to date in the NRL. He participated in 22 matches, scoring four tries, assisting on another four, providing 41 offloads, and breaking through defensive lines 10 times. Kikau first represented Fiji internationally in 2015, making his debut against Papua New Guinea during the Melanesian Cup, where he came off the bench in a 22-10 victory at Robina Stadium.