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Penrith wrecking ball Viliame Kikau has declared he has “no regrets at all” with his decision to quit the premiers for last-placed Canterbury next season, and there will be no backing out of his $3.2m mega deal.
Coach Trent Barrett’s decision to part way with the Bulldogs on Sunday night immediately raised questions about what that would mean for incoming recruits Kikau and Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney.
Kikau inked a four-year deal while Mahoney’s contract was reportedly worth $2.4m over three years.
The Dogs confirmed on Tuesday there were no clauses linked to Barrett with Kikau and Mahoney, nor any other players on the current roster.
Kikau spent time with Barrett at Penrith, and has always been a huge fan of football manager Phil Gould. A grainy photo of Kikau posing with Barrett and Gould after he had signed late last year caused plenty of negative headlines.
The 27-year-old had interest from St George Illawarra and North Queensland, where he started out in the lower grades, before opting for Canterbury.
While Kikau had not been in contact with Barrett, he remains determined to help turn the Belmore club’s fortunes around.
Speaking to the Herald after his barnstorming effort against Melbourne late Saturday - and 24 hours before Barrett officially parted ways with Canterbury, Kikau said: “I’ve got no regrets at all.
“I’m really happy with my decision, and that’s the main thing. At the end of the day if I’m happy, that’s all that matters to me. When I’m happy, that’s when I play my best football.
“I haven’t spoken to Baz. I haven’t spoken to him in a while. All I’m focused on right now is Penrith.”
Gould will meet with the club’s assistant coaches today to establish who will be elevated to interim coach for the remainder of the season, with the logical choices Dave Furner or Craig Sandercock. They will then take a breath and work out who steps into the hot seat from 2023.
Prime candidate Cameron Ciraldo will not cut and run on Penrith and is determined to see out the year in the hope the Panthers can win back-to-back titles. Cronulla premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan is seen as the favourite in clubland, and has plenty of the experience that Gould wants in Barrett’s successor.
Coach Trent Barrett’s decision to part way with the Bulldogs on Sunday night immediately raised questions about what that would mean for incoming recruits Kikau and Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney.
Kikau inked a four-year deal while Mahoney’s contract was reportedly worth $2.4m over three years.
The Dogs confirmed on Tuesday there were no clauses linked to Barrett with Kikau and Mahoney, nor any other players on the current roster.
Kikau spent time with Barrett at Penrith, and has always been a huge fan of football manager Phil Gould. A grainy photo of Kikau posing with Barrett and Gould after he had signed late last year caused plenty of negative headlines.
The 27-year-old had interest from St George Illawarra and North Queensland, where he started out in the lower grades, before opting for Canterbury.
While Kikau had not been in contact with Barrett, he remains determined to help turn the Belmore club’s fortunes around.
Speaking to the Herald after his barnstorming effort against Melbourne late Saturday - and 24 hours before Barrett officially parted ways with Canterbury, Kikau said: “I’ve got no regrets at all.
“I’m really happy with my decision, and that’s the main thing. At the end of the day if I’m happy, that’s all that matters to me. When I’m happy, that’s when I play my best football.
“I haven’t spoken to Baz. I haven’t spoken to him in a while. All I’m focused on right now is Penrith.”
Gould will meet with the club’s assistant coaches today to establish who will be elevated to interim coach for the remainder of the season, with the logical choices Dave Furner or Craig Sandercock. They will then take a breath and work out who steps into the hot seat from 2023.
Prime candidate Cameron Ciraldo will not cut and run on Penrith and is determined to see out the year in the hope the Panthers can win back-to-back titles. Cronulla premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan is seen as the favourite in clubland, and has plenty of the experience that Gould wants in Barrett’s successor.