Moses’ gigantic task against NRL Panthers

What do you do when you’re giving away 35kg to a 195cm Fijian giant who’s hell-bent on running over the top of you and leaving their boot print in your face?

That’s the task facing Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses ahead of Sunday’s NRL western Sydney derby against Penrith.

Not only is Moses tasked with leading the Eels out of the mire after their 0-4 start, also playing on his mind is the fact he’s sure to be targeted by Panthers tearaway back-rower Viliame Kikau.

This year Kikau has been a rampaging presence down the Panthers’ left side, which will put Moses directly in his path in the defensive line at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

“He’s a very big human,” Moses said.

“I’ve just got to do a good job on him and hopefully stop him.

“I’m not going to hit him one-on-one and flog him, he’s a big human and I’m just going to try to do my best.”

The 119kg Kikau became an overnight sensation when he ran rampant over the Eels in the Panthers’ round one victory, playing a match-turning hand off the bench.

Fast forward four weeks and Kikau has been elevated to the Panthers starting side and turned in a gutsy 80-minute performance in last week’s win over North Queensland.

Kikau has been one of the finds of the year as the Fijian production line of supremely gifted footballers steams ahead.

He said knowing that he was creating a better life for his family back home was spurring him on to bigger and better things.

Each Wednesday he puts money in an envelope and sends it home to his mother, father and brother.

His rise up the ranks has been anything but typical – he was scouted by North Queensland after playing his first game of rugby league, for Marist Brothers’ High in Suva.

“I was at school and it was my very first game,” Kikau told AAP.

“They came over just before the school rugby league season started, they came to do some drills and things with they boys.

“At the captain’s run, they said we’ll be watching you guys. They said they might scout some of the boys to come over.

“Straight after the game our coach pulled me aside and said the Cowboys were talking to my mum and dad and they like how you play.

“They gave me a Cowboys training shirt and said ‘mate put this on, we’re going to take some photos, we’re thinking we might be getting you over’. I was shocked and excited at the same time.”

STATS THAT MATTER

* Penrith has three wins from their opening four matches for the first time since 2006.

* James Maloney is 10 points away from becoming the 11th player to score 1700 career points in what will be his 208th match.

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