Penrith Panthers rugby league team hitman Viliame Kikau has been rated as the National Rugby League 2021 best second rower of the year.
Fiji Bati rep Kikau won the award with Isaiah Papali’I of Parramatta Eels and former New Zealand Warriors back-rower Isaiah Papali’i during the Dally M Medal awards ceremony on Monday night in Australia.
Among the first to congratulate Kikau was Fiji national Rugby League acting chief executive officer Don Natabe.
“This is such a good news for us in this difficult time, especially for the Fijian rugby league community and our supporters,” Natabe said.
“It is encouraging for everyone, especially for school children to hear that one of our own sons has been awarded the best second rower of the year award in Bill Kikau in the NRL. We congratulate him for his achievement. He has grown in his career in the past five years he has been with the Panthers.
“Kikau is a humble worker. He is always in the background supporting the leadership roles and it is no surprise that he has been able to come this far and consistently perform since his debut with the panthers in 2017.
“We celebrate his achievement with our community, his family, his school Marist Brothers High and every Fijian in terms of this highest award in the second row in the NRL.”
Meanwhile, Manly Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic won the 2021 Dally M Medal.
