They’re best mates. But Liam Martin will ‘go after’ Viliame Kikau’s fractured eye socket

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Penrith enforcer Liam Martin admits he will be tempted to put Viliame Kikau’s fractured eye socket under further duress if he gets the chance during Sunday’s semi-final clash with Canterbury at Accor Stadium.

Kikau is expected to line up for his third consecutive game while carrying a facial injury he has reportedly refused to have X-rayed.

The towering Fijian was sporting a swollen right eye after last week’s loss to Melbourne in the opening round of the play-offs, having copped another knock to the area he initially damaged playing against Cronulla in the last round of the regular season.

Martin is great mates with Kikau, who was his back-row partner in Penrith’s 2021 and 2022 grand final triumphs before the latter joined Canterbury in 2023. But when asked if Kikau’s battered head could expect some extra attention, he suggested their friendship would be on hold for 80 minutes on Sunday.

“I’ll try to, but I don’t know, he’ll still give it his all,” Martin said. “His toughness can’t be underestimated. I’ll still go out there after him, but I’m sure he’ll give it everything he’s got.”

Martin admitted his plan was not without risk, given that Kikau stands 12 centimetres taller than him and outweighs him by 13 kilograms.

Viliame Kikau is treated during Friday night’s clash with Melbourne.

“There’s a fair bit of a size match-up, but I’ll throw everything I’ve got at him,” Martin said. “I can’t wait … once you cross that field, it’s a game of footy. Once it’s done, you’re back to mates.”

While Kikau will be squarely in his sights on Sunday, the respect Martin has for Canterbury’s main strike weapon is obvious.

“I absolutely loved playing with ‘Kiks’,” Martin said. “He’s a generational freak and one of the best back-rowers of all time.

“I enjoyed playing with him and learning off him. I also enjoy those match-ups against him. I really can’t wait for the weekend.”

Viliame Kikau is nursing a swollen right eye but is expected to play against Penrith.

Martin and Kikau have clashed twice previously, and the former holds bragging rights after a 16-10 win last year and an 8-6 victory in round 17 this season which proved pivotal for Penrith.

Until that win, the reigning four-time champions were playing catch-up in the race for the finals, having slumped to five consecutive losses between rounds two and six. Beating Canterbury lifted them into the top eight, and they ultimately qualified seventh in the play-offs, before eliminating the Warriors 24-8 last Saturday in week one of the finals.

“That was a tough match-up,” Martin recalled of the last clash with Canterbury. “It was one of the best games of footy I’ve played in a long time.

“Both teams just going at it, and I guess you can expect the same this weekend. It was enjoyable, that match-up, and I’m sure it’ll be the same.”

Liam Martin is renowned for getting under the skin of his opponents.

Canterbury’s ex-Penrith contingent will be reduced by the absence of skipper Stephen Crichton, who suffered an ankle injury in the loss to Melbourne. But Kikau, Matt Burton and Jaeman Salmon will be facing their former club, as will Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo.

Ciraldo served his apprenticeship under Ivan Cleary at Penrith and was instrumental in their premiership wins of 2021-22.

“I’ve had a long history with him since under-20s and I knew just how good he was,” Martin said of Ciraldo.

“He’s an incredible coach and I knew he would have been able to transform that club. I’m happy to see him doing well.”

Martin said the Panthers are full of confidence as they chase a fifth successive premiership, but warned that they are yet to play their best football.

“We still need to keep improving and keep getting better,” he said. “That’s the exciting thing. We’ve still got improvement in us.”

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