Koroi, Milner Scudder join Highlanders
Penrith Panthers and Vodafone Fijian Bati front-rower Viliame ‘Bill’ Kikau could lead the team to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Yesterday, Fiji Bati coach Brandon Costin spoke highly of Kikau’s leadership qualities.
The Bau, Tailevu native is highly favoured to replace Kevin Naiqama.
“Bill has the full quality of leading the team. When he is in camp everyone are on their toes because when he speaks, the boys listen,” he said. “He has been groomed as the captain on the field and around the ball, that is around the organization in the game plan that we have.
“He is an absolute leader in everything that he does for the Fiji Bati team and in his actions on the field and on the training pitch and in the gym.”
Costin shared his experience with Kikau as a humble leader.
“My experience with Bill is that he likes to be a little bit more understated, his actions do the talking. His been out in Australia consistently for a few years now so he is a perfect leader,” he said.
“He is one of the best attacking edge back rowers in the NRL. He has got speed for a big man and the way he move’s laterally like side to side and catch defenders off-guard is just so brilliant.
“He has got great off-load passes, good speed, size so he’s exactly what any NRL side would want.
“He is one of the best players in the NRL and every club wants him. We
Viliame Kikau
are lucky to have Bill as part of our team and being the leader that he is.” Kikau has appeared 54 times and scored 15 tries for the Panthers and played six times for the Fiji Bati side scoring five tries.
Dunedin: The Highlanders have confirmed that All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder will join them when the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season starts.
And Fijian Vilimoni Koroi will also assemble with the team now that his Olympic All Blacks Sevens duties have been suspended.
Milner-Skudder (29) will join the squad as he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder with a view to getting back on the field this year.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger is excited by the prospect of working with the 2015 Rugby World Cup winner.
“This was a great opportunity to include a player with his experience into our squad,” he said. “His style of play suits the way the Highlanders play the game, especially under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and we look forward to welcoming him into the team.”
Milner-Skudder has played 50 games for Manawatu and 35 for the Hurricanes and was set to join Toulon in 2019 until a shoulder injury scarpered those plans.
The 29-year-old will join fellow Manawatu team-mates Aaron
Smith and Rob Thompson at the Highlanders.
“I’ve heard some unreal things about the club and the culture at the Highlanders,” said MilnerSkudder.
“I’m really looking forward to the move to Dunedin and embracing everything it has to offer. I’m excited for this new opportunity and can’t wait to get into some mahi with the boys and lace up the boots for the Highlanders.”Planet five teams, probably not in the best decisions of Australian rugby and that helped loosen the club competition,” he said.
“There’s no doubt about that. Everyone loves a winner.
“We’ve seen it with the Australian cricket team, finding their new culture under Justin Langer now everyone loves cricket in Australia, 12 months ago it was a disaster.”