Viliame is too pricey

PENRITH has admitted the club will almost certainly lose star forward Viliame Kikau after next season because of a top-heavy playing roster.

“It will be hard for us to keep him,” Panthers chairman Dave O’neill said.

Kikau, 26, can be approached by rival clubs from November 1 this year because he comes off contract after the 2022 season.

While the Panthers want to retain the 119kg Fijian giant, O’neill conceded his club simply could not match the $900,000-a-year offers being prepared for Kikau.

Penrith is facing tight salary cap pressures because of a starstudded playing roster, and the forward’s loss would cruel them of a genuine weapon.