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Viliame Kikau was paired with James Fisher-Harris to train during the NRL's COVID-19 break and learned just how dedicated the Penrith prop is to fitness.

By his own admission, Penrith's Viliame Kikau expects to be put into the 'fat club' at the start of every NRL season but a smart ploy had him in peak condition after the COVID-19 shutdown.

The Panthers squad was separated into pairs for training, with training staff matching up some of the hardest trainers with guys who need more help with motivation.

And Kikau, at risk of another stint in the 'fat club' after a long break from structured NRL training, was paired with Panthers workhorse James Fisher-Harris.

"I thought I knew him until I trained with him for those six weeks and I was like, far out," Kikau said in the lead-up to Sunday's NRL grand final.

"I trained with him in the COVID break and learned a lot about him.

"He's built different mentally, he's all footy. He's up there professional."

Those sessions with Fisher-Harris helped Kikau return from the break in better shape than ever.

He learned a lot about the quietest member of the Panthers side who is a relentless worker.

Panthers prop Fisher-Harris is ferocious on the field averaging 180 metres a game - his best season to date.

Kikau said there are only a few players around the team Fisher-Harris opens up to, which significantly heightens his intimidation factor around Penrith.

"Some of the boys don't talk to him because they're scared of him," Kikau said.

"It's not that he's putting it on, he's normally just like that.

"In videos he doesn't say much.

"But when he's on the training paddock or on the field that's where he does it talking.

"Everyone just respects him."

And while teammates barely hear a peep from Fisher-Harris off the field, on the field the 24-year-old has increased his talk over the past few seasons to become one of the loudest voices.

It's a difficult task considering the work he does in the middle.

"Last year and this year the coaches have seen a big change in him because he's been chatting heaps, which is good for us," Kikau said.

"He's one of the loud middles which is pretty hard to be talking that much if you're a middle.

"We're really lucky to have him."