The rebuild at Belmore continues, with news being reported today that the Bulldogs have signed coveted Panthers forward Viliame Kikau.
The signing is yet to be confirmed by the club but is already raising eyebrows online, after a photo of Kikau in Bulldogs gear alongside general manager Phil Gould and coach Trent Barrett was leaked.
https://twitter.com/fainty6/status/1461503808102539272
It’s highly unusual for a player to be photographed in a new team’s colours while still being contracted elsewhere. Souths drew ire from rivals way back in 2007, when Craig Wing was paraded in front of banners saying ‘Welcome Home’ and posed for pictures with Russell Crowe after re-joining his boyhood club halfway through the season while still a Roosters player.
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“When Mark O’Meley left or Roy Asotasi left none of that sort of thing happened,” Wille Mason said on The Footy Show at the time.
“I would be filthy if Ogre (O’Meley) paraded himself like that around. If Ogre had of done that and gone through all that kind of garbage it would have caused a rift with the players.”
Kikau will reportedly join the Bulldogs from 2023 onwards.
After the photo was leaked, Nine’s Danny Weidler reported that the club has immediately launched an investigation.
https://twitter.com/Danny_Weidler/status/1461518590142660609
The 26-year-old has been one of the most damaging runners in the competition in recent years, and is fresh off premership success with Penrith.
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He’s the latest star signing through the doors at Canterbury over the past 12 months, following on from Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Jr and plenty of others.
The timing of the leaked photo couldn’t be much worse, with the premiers due to participate in a street parade through Penrith tomorrow, with a fan event at their home stadium to follow.