Peta Hiku to join Penrith on a three-year deal

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Christian NicolussiThe Daily Telegraph

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NEW Zealand international Peta Hiku is believed to have signed a three-year deal with Penrith on Wednesday.

Hiku was also being pursued by Parramatta and St George Illawarra, but opted to head to the foot of the mountains.

The 23-year-old will be a wonderful addition to the Panthers’ backline that also features Matt Moylan and fellow Kiwis Dean Whare and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

That leaves James Roberts and Tim Lafai as the other centres on the open market.

Manly, who told Hiku he was free to look elsewhere, are expected to put out a statement later on Wednesday.

The confirmation of Hiku to Penrith should also allow the Sea Eagles to confirm the signing of Dylan Walker.

Hiku is equally comfortable at fullback, centre and wing and even lined up at five-eighth for the Kiwis in their recent tour of England.

He’s expected to replace Jamal Idris at left centre.

The 23-year old came through the Under 20s ranks with the Warriors before switching to Manly, where he made his NRL debut in 2012.

He’s scored 28 tries in 63 matches, including a career high 17 in 2014.

The finalisation of Hiku’s move will no doubt cause the Eels and Dragons to fight even harder for stud free agents Lafai and Roberts.

Penrith had reportedly been interested in Lafai before settling on Hiku.

"If he had serious Premiership aspirations I'd suggest he'd take less and stay with the dogs.If your talking securing your future I'd be taking those endless Perth millions and quick smart.Get Perth to relocate his family and away he goes for the…"

Replies

The Offside Eel December 9, 2015 at 12:29pm

That ends thst lets move on
- berries > The Offside Eel December 9, 2015 at 12:31pm
  
  x2
aveel December 9, 2015 at 12:36pm

And another confirmed signing on 1eyed proves to be bullshit
- eels93 > aveel December 9, 2015 at 12:41pm
  
  Penrith came in at the last minute and gave him on offer he couldn't refuse. He's not worth that coin and good luck to him. There's still the chance of lafai and even if we don't sign him I am excited to see gutherson play.
- eels93 > aveel December 9, 2015 at 1:12pm
  
  A lot of people on this site who have contacts who ever they be don't come on here to big note themselves. They do it to inform members of this website about things going on which is part of the reason this website is so good.
  
  Im not saying that everyone doesn't try to big note themselves but a lot of them don't.
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst December 9, 2015 at 12:40pm

Most kiwis can sing.....FU Gus
Pork Rind December 9, 2015 at 12:41pm

Gus always had a massive hardon for Hiku.
Monster Eel #38 December 9, 2015 at 12:47pm

http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/panthers-swoop-for-hiku-19937/#QjYT2g...
Leith Holding December 9, 2015 at 12:48pm

No doubt we will make a significant play at Roberts but it does not seem we have much of a chance though.
Looking to sign Lafai would be desperation IMO.
- ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER > Leith Holding December 9, 2015 at 12:54pm
  
  we need Roberts not Lafai but Roberts will go to the Broncos