Peta Hiku

[ozbash]

The Warriors are set to sign Peta Hiku to play centre next year, with the Kiwis international getting a release from his Warrington Wolves contract.

The 24-year-old switched to the Super League club from the Panthers earlier this season and had two more years on his contract with the club.

However the Warriors showed interest in signing the player who was with them as a junior and Hiku is keen to return to New Zealand.

Stuff.co.nz

 

[Blair]

Good pick-up. Kata was becoming unteneble at centre in the latter half of the season and I'd like to think Hiku would directly challenge him for that spot next year.

 

[JJ]

You would but it'll be Ayshford for the arse

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Then Beale can take Kata's spot. Either way either Kata or Maumalo won't be in the backline come round 1 and that's an improvement.

 

[Schuster86]

Could be a little bit too optimistic here but that's nothing new. With the 4 players recruited so far (Blair, Beale, Pulu & Hiku) I'm actually starting to like the makeup of this team. I know it only early and I'm sure there will be more signings but I'm going to have a crack at the 2018 starting side. Let me know what y'all think.

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitu'a
3. Peta Hiku
4. Gerrard Beale
5. Charnze Nicoll-Kolkdtad
6. Ata Hingano
7. Shaun Johnson
8. James Gavet
9. Issac Luke
10. Adam Blair
11. Isahiah Papali'i
12. Tohu Harris
13. Simon Mannering
14. Nathaniel Roache
15. Albert Vete
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Leivaha Pulu

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

I'm pretty happy with this signing. I rate him as a pretty decent centre and a good back up full back. Will definately be an improvement on what we have at the moment.
I'm actually quite happy with what we have in the backs, if we keep Lillyman and then get a good mid range prop, or get rid of him and use his money to get a top tier prop then I think we'll look in decent shape.
Use next year to give Roache more experience and phase out Luke and not resign him, then we'll have a pretty good team for 2019 with some experience.
RTS
Fusitua
Hiku
Beale
Kata/Maulalo
SJ
Hinago
Mannering
Storm boy
Bunty
Lillyman
Luke
Blair

Roache
Pulu
Prop2
Lisone/Ayshford

That's not the worst team running around

 

[Schuster86]

I'm pretty happy with this signing. I rate him as a pretty decent centre and a good back up full back. Will definately be an improvement on what we have at the moment.
I'm actually quite happy with what we have in the backs, if we keep Lillyman and then get a good mid range prop, or get rid of him and use his money to get a top tier prop then I think we'll look in decent shape.
Use next year to give Roache more experience and phase out Luke and not resign him, then we'll have a pretty good team for 2019 with some experience.
RTS
Fusitua
Hiku
Beale
Kata/Maulalo
SJ
Hinago
Mannering
Storm boy
Bunty
Lillyman
Luke
Blair

Roache
Pulu
Prop2
Lisone/Ayshford

That's not the worst team running around

No Gavet?

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Remember the Warriors (let's call it)"Bro" factor.

Luke and RTS where great signings.
Foran was the saviour!
Hoffman a premiership winner and great Storm player.

Anyway.....
We need 2 big f**ken props!!!

 

[WellsNZ]

As long as this doesn't compromise the ability to sign a prop money wise then I like this.

There is a lot of competition for 4 back spots now. Kata is going to have to work to hold a spot. Maumalo is surely gone unless he really elevates himself. You've got 7 or 8 guys now vying for 4 spots.That's a positive for the Warriors for sure.

That is of course assuming Kearney doesn't f**k it up and just keep picking Maumalo and Kata regardless. If this is a genuine battle out of camp, those who work hardest and perform the best get the spots, then it's a very good thing.

 

[Big Marn]

Heres a crazy idea. RTS to centre to feed the Fus. Hiku to fullback.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Considering Hiku has no business at fullback, yes that is indeed crazy.

Maumalo to the bench as impact second rower for me. Or at least that role in ISP to see if he can adapt.

 

[Blair]

No Gavet?

The same coach? That side named above needs a good coach to bring the best out of them, making up for any shortfalls, etc. Mooks aint the man. There's no finals footy in 2018 with him. No, I don't have a crystal ball and would love to be wrong.

However, any 'new coach vibe' has gone just a wee bit flat over the last week or so. I think most fans are resigned to the fact Kearney's back for 2018. They can't do him over now, as new players are being signed and plans are in place for the new season. I'd love to be wrong on that too.

 

[Big Marn]

Considering Hiku has no business at fullback, yes that is indeed crazy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peta_Hiku

played fullback quite a bit for Manly and NZ . why does he have no business there?

 

[Mr Angry]

Got to buy that farm back.....

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

So Mix reckons he chased us and we didnt chase him, hope hes on minimum wage then

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peta_Hiku

played fullback quite a bit for Manly and NZ . why does he have no business there?

He's not a fullback. He doesn't have the speed to be a running fullback nor the ball skills to be a playmaking fullback.

He didn't play quite a bit of fullback at Manly, he filled in when Stewart was injured because they had nobody else. The majority of his time was spent on the wing outside Matai.

Same for the Kiwis, only ever a fill in when the first choice was unavailable and in both Manly and NZ the attack suffered because of it.

I would take RTS, Fusitua, CNK and Santo at fullback ahead of Hiku.

 

[Blair]

...I would take RTS, Fusitua, CNK and Santo at fullback ahead of Hiku.

Interesting, and nice to hear Santo's name mentioned as a potential first grader.

As for Hiku, like our other recent signings, the elephant in the room is how he'll go with a poor coach. Who's he had so far? Toovey, Griffin and Tony Smith. He's gone pretty good under them.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Santo's problem isn't talent. He's got more heart, speed, skills than a large portion of the NRL.

His problem has always been clubs reluctance to take a chance on small guys in the modern era.

 

[vvvrulz]

I can just see him fading away here, and again I don't know who will bite the bullet between Beale, CNK, Hiku, Ayshford and the immortal Kata.

It's setting itself up for more selection woes.

 

[Big Marn]

"Hiku played superbly at fullback in the Kiwi 30-12 defeat of Australia on 25 October 2014 in the first game of the Four Nations tournament, helping the Kiwis to a 30-12 win over Australia, as well as their first win over Australia since the 2010 Four Nations final.[15] Hiku went on to feature in every tournament game for the Kiwis, playing every minute of every game at fullback. Hiku played in the Kiwis 22-18 Four Nations final win over Australia at Westpac Stadium."


so against the best possible opposition, you rate him a fill in option. Considering RTS uncertainty under the high ball, positioning issues, and front on revolving door defence, i think we should be looking at all options rather than dismissing them outright as an option