Kikau’s negotiation yet to be finalised

Fiji Bati second row forward Viliame Kikau is still negotiating a deal with Penrith Panthers as his contract came to an end this week. 

Kikau’s manager George Christodoulou had put a hefty price tag on the star man in September. 

“For me, I’m saying it has to be upwards of $800,000, but his price could go to $1 million,” Christodoulou told News Corp. 

“If the Titans paid seven figures for David Fifita, someone might fall in love with Kiks and pay that too. He is 26. If someone wants to throw bucketloads, you have to take it. It’s so cutthroat in the NRL these days.”

“Penrith are keen to re-sign him, but whether it’s enough to get him done or not remains to be seen.”

But Panthers’ chief executive Brian Fletcher voiced his confidence in September that an agreement between the club and Kikau would be reached.

The deal would be a three or four-year deal which would see the ball-handling big man stay at the foot of the mountains.

Crucially, however, $250,000 has been freed after the Panthers terminated Tyron May’s contract.

The Cowboys are reportedly in the box seat to sign Panthers premiership hero Kikau.

Brent Read revealed on Triple M that the North Queensland club are set to make a big play for the Fijian with the Panthers unable to get a deal done prior to the November 1 deadline.

By Romeka Romena