3 minute read

Penrith star Viliame Kikau says it would be a highlight of his career if he got to play a finals game against Sonny Bill Williams.

He's long been labelled the next Sonny Bill Williams but for Penrith's Viliame Kikau it would be a lifelong dream to even play an NRL final against the man.

Williams is set to make his NRL return for the Sydney Roosters in Saturday night's grand final rematch against Canberra, but won't face the Panthers until at least the finals.

Before his return the dual international said he enjoyed watching Kikau's devastating form at the Panthers - a mindblowing acknowledgement for the quiet Fijian who idolises him.

"He's the one that I always looked up to growing up back in the islands," Kikau said on Tuesday.

"He's one of my rugby league heroes. That's crazy."

Both second-rowers have size and freakish skill on the paddock, but Kikau said that's where the similarities stop.

"(The comparisons are) a good thing but for me personally I'm nowhere near Sonny Bill,' he said.

"First of all I don't even have a rig like Sonny Bill Williams.

"I've got a one pack and he's got an eight pack."

The Panthers could go a step further towards wrapping up the minor premiership on Thursday night against Brisbane, and will face Parramatta, North Queensland and Canterbury to round off the season.

It means should the Panthers face the Roosters again this season, it will be at some point in the finals.

"For me personally that would be a dream come true," Kikau said.

"That would be one of the biggest highlight of my career to play against him, someone that I looked up to since my childhood, I reckon it would be crazy."

Kikau returns from a week of suspension against the Broncos and said he is feeling fresh from the rest and ready to attack the last four rounds.

The Panthers have now won 11 straight games but Kikau said the team is wary of letting their guard drop over the next month as they face only one top eight side, the Eels.