29 November 2023 , 19:07
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It’s been a while since Peta Hiku even played full-back but the Kiwi star’s ready to show new club Hull KR he’s number one.
The New Zealand international has started pre-season training this week after joining from North Queensland Cowboys on a three-year deal. He’s spent much of his career in the centre, wing or at half-back but KR boss Willie Peters has him lined up to play full-back in 2024. Hiku, 30, said: “At the moment, he’s been talking about playing at the back and seeing how I go. Obviously I haven’t been there for a long time.
“In my last year at (New Zealand) Warriors I had a few games there, maybe about ten. But the last two years (at North Queensland) I’ve just been centre. I’ve always been a second in line full-back for whichever team I’ve been at. If someone’s injured, I’ve filled in there. But when I was younger, that was the only position I played. So to get that opportunity again, I’m very excited.”
Robins fans will be excited, too, to see the ex-Manly star in action as they bid to build on this year’s Wembley appearance and top-four finish. Peters has strengthened his squad significantly by also bringing in former NRL forwards Jai Whitbread and Kelepi Tanginoa from Wakefield, ex-England centre Oliver Gildart, Catalans’ Grand Finalist half-back Tyrone May plus Castleford full-back Niall Evalds.
Hiku, who scored ten tries in 11 Warrington games during a brief Super League stint in 2017, said: “After seeing what they’ve been building the last couple of years. I’m looking forward to being a part of it now.
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“I loved my first time over here. You could see then what it means to all the fans and how much passion there is behind the sport in this little part of England. I enjoyed it and that’s why I was looking forward to coming back.”
Hull KR's new signing Peta Hiku starts pre-season training (Tony Foster/Hull KR) (Tony Foster/Hull KR)Hiku, who played full-back in the Kiwis’ famous 2014 Four Nations final win over Australia, clocked up his 200th NRL game earlier this year.
But he’s never reached a Grand Final and admitted: “It makes it even more interesting for me. To win a Grand Final would be great for my own personal achievement. The drive’s still there to get there and being with this club, I don’t want to let them down after what they’ve built these last couple of years and the way they’ve worked.”
KR kick-off the new Super League season with a derby date at fierce rivals Hull on February 15.
Hiku said: “Everyone’s been talking about it in the town - the club, the players, the fans, everyone - about how the whole place gets behind the derby and what it means to the town. I can’t wait to see all this history come together in round one.”