Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau will miss the opening rounds of the 2019 NRL season with scans confirming the star second-rower has suffered a high grade two MCL injury.
Kikau limped from the field in the opening minutes of Saturday's trial against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with his right knee appearing to give way as he was bent backwards in a three-man tackle.
Penrith boss Phil Gould revealed the bulldozing forward will spend the next six weeks rehabilitating the injury, keeping him sidelined until at least round four.
PANTHER FANS: Viliame Kikau has scans today. He has suffered a high grade 2 MCL injury. He will be missing from action for approx 6 weeks. It’s part of what we do. He will rehab strongly and come back better than ever.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) February 25, 2019
Penrith doctor Norm Southern added: ''I'm hopeful for 6 weeks. It's not mid substance, but toward the insertion, so they tend to heal a little quicker.''
Well done to our Doctor Norm Southern and Head Physio Krystal Sharpe. They both diagnosed this so accurately for us on Saturday as soon as they examined Viliame in the dressing room. It’s great to know our players are looked after by such caring and knowledgeable professionals.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) February 25, 2019
Kikau's injury puts a delay on Ivan Cleary's defensive experiment after the Panthers coach opted to swap halves Nathan Cleary and James Maloney to tighten up their left edge, partnering son Nathan with his injured big man.
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Having lost Trent Merrin (Leeds) and Corey Harawira-Naera (Bulldogs) in the off-season, and now Kikau to injury, the Panthers' starting pack will have stark differences to their round one line-up from last year.
Cleary can push lock James Fisher-Harris to the edge and Dragons recruit Hame Sele to the No.13 jersey, or lean on a vast number of quality options in Jed Cartwright, Tyrell Fuimaono, Jack Hetherington and Liam Martin.
While replacements are aplenty, Kikau's talents are a unique asset.
The Fijian international rose to fame last year, emerging as one of the club's most lethal attacking weapons in his first opportunity as a starting back-rower.
On top of an impressive 129 running metres per game, Kikau averaged 4.2 tackle breaks and 1.9 offloads.
Penrith take on the Eels at Panthers Stadium on Sunday 17 March to open their 2019 campaign.
