Bulldogs forward Viliame Kikau is determined to keep his emotions in check as he prepares to face Penrith for the first time since leaving the club.
Kikau claimed back-to-back NRL premierships with the Panthers in 2021 and 2022 before departing to join Canterbury last season. Injuries, however, denied him the opportunity to play Penrith in 2023.
That will change on Friday night when Canterbury take on the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium in what Kikau knows will be an emotional affair.
“It’s weird,” Kikau told NRL.com. “I’ve got to make sure I prepare the way I’ve been preparing and nothing changes. Obviously it’s exciting and there’s definitely going to be a bit of hype.
“I’ve been playing at that stadium for seven years. Me and [Stephen Crichton] are just going to go through the process we normally do with any other game. 
“I’m really looking forward to it, it’s always good to play the best in the comp and we’ve got a big test.”
