“I didn’t want any doubt lingering around the team to disturb the boys’ preparation. I was sweet through the week, I just had to be comfortable at training.
“It’s just all about looking after it. I have a fair few games under my belt now, I’m not 21 again like I used to be, I’m turning 30 this year, so I have to look after my body well.
“It’s been good, it pulled up a bit sore during pre-season. Credit to our physio team, they worked really well around the clock trying to get me back on the field. I was happy to get the amount of minutes that I got.”
Asked if surgery may be required to rectify the issue, Kikau said: “I’m hoping that is not going to be [required].
“I’m not thinking about that option at all. The onus is on me, I need to be on top of it with how I recover and look after myself when I’m not training.
“Hopefully, I can still play week in, week out, with the boys … I can only control what I can control at the moment.”
Pie thrower to face court over alleged incident, NRL issue intention to ban
A 26-year-old Dragons fan will face court next month after he allegedly threw a meat pie at Bulldogs fans during the round one fixture at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday.
The fan was issued a “field court attendance notice for common assault and behave in an offensive manner in a public place” by NSW police after video of the incident began circulating on social media on Sunday.
He is due to attend Sutherland local court on Tuesday, April 15.
Police officers at the stadium were alerted to the incident, and no arrests were made on the day. No injuries were reported. Parts of the pie are believed to have struck several people.
Police officers speak to a Dragons fan after a pie was thrown at Canterbury supporters.Credit: Twitter
The NRL has also issued the fan with a notice of intention to ban, which would prevent him from attending future matches.
A St George Illawarra statement condemned the “anti-social behaviour from a Dragons fan” after a social media video of the incident circulated on Sunday.
A TikTok video of the incident showed the fan buying a meat pie before skipping to a man in a Dragons jersey throwing it into a group of Canterbury fans.
A Bulldogs fan then approaches the camera asking “what are you taking a video of?” before showing the stains on his jersey and asking “me getting hit?”
The video also shows police officers talking to a Dragons fan afterwards.
“The Dragons condemn any such behaviour in the strongest terms and will assist the NRL in relation to any breaches of the NRL Spectator Code of Conduct,” a club statement read.
“The Dragons would like to sincerely apologise to the Bulldogs fan impacted by the incident. We will work with the Bulldogs to contact the fan and pass on our apologies directly.
“As a club, we want all fans, both home and away, to always feel safe at our games. Any behaviour that causes others not to feel safe will be acted upon.
“The Dragons would also like to stress that the behaviour of one individual should not detract from what was overall a very respectful sellout crowd with fans of both clubs supporting the match in a great spirit.”
South Sydney’s depth is being tested. This try will give fans hope
The weekend highlights from the NSW Cup will have South Sydney fans excited about what Bayleigh Bentley-Hape could do in his NRL debut this weekend.
The 25-year-old New Zealander is expected to be given the nod by coach Wayne Bennett to start on the left wing in place of the injured Tyrone Munro against St George Illawarra on Saturday.
Souths are still awaiting approval from the NRL to play Bentley-Hape, given he is only on a NSW Cup contract and is not part of the club’s top-30 roster.
The Rabbitohs’ depth on the left is being severely tested. Munro has suffered another collarbone injury, while long-term winger Alex Johnston is still on the comeback trail from a ruptured Achilles tendon and Haizyn Mellars has just returned from his own injury setback.
Bentley-Hape trained on the left wing at Heffron Park on Monday with Isaiah Tass moving to left centre for the suspended Jack Wighton. Campbell Graham and Fletcher Myers trained on the right, while Jamie Humphreys retained the halfback role ahead of English import Lewis Dodd.
Bentley-Hape scored a stunning 85-metre try against Manly on Saturday afternoon in South Sydney’s 22-20 NSW Cup win.
Bayleigh Bentley-Hape is set to make his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Souths fullback Jye Gray had seen Bentley-Hape’s individual brilliance.
“He caught the ball, put in a grubber for himself and scored a length-of-the-field try,” Gray said. “It was some crazy stuff. He’s a great fella to go with it.”
Back-rower Keaon Koloamatangi was excellent in the win over the Dolphins on Friday when starting on the left edge and knows he will need to be on top of his game with Tass and Bentley-Hape combining on his outside for the first time.
Bentley-Hape spent several years in the Sydney Roosters’ junior system, including SG Ball, before being handed a contract with bitter rivals Souths for the 2023 season.
“If I don’t do my job, my whole edge crumbles – I need to make sure I do my job and help whoever is outside me,” Koloamatangi said.
“Me and ‘Codes’ [Cody Walker] are still there, and we’ll try to be that voice and physical presence on that left edge.”
Humphries has done more than enough to retain the No.7 jersey, while Dodd, who was brought to the club on a big-money deal from England, is set to return from suspension in reserve grade. Dodd wore a pink bib at the start of Monday’s session to protect his hand.
Latrell Mitchell hovered around training to help Gray at fullback, with the current No.1 unsure what happens once Mitchell returns from a hamstring injury.
“I’ll keep working hard and see what happens,” Gray said. “If I play reserve grade, I play reserve grade. I just need to take my opportunities with both hands and give it all I can.”
Crichton dodges ban for knee contact as teammate cops a shiner
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton will be free to lead his side at Belmore Oval after being served with an $1800 fine for collecting Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu with his knees as he tried to save a try on Saturday.
Crichton and Canterbury back-rowers Jacob Preston and Jaeman Salmon were all put on report in the Bulldogs fiery 28-20 derby victory at Jubilee Stadium, though only Crichton and Preston were issued grade 1 dangerous contact charges by the Match Review Committee.
Both players will be free to play against the Titans next Sunday by paying monetary fines. Preston was charged for hitting Valentine Holmes off the ball in the first half.
Crichton’s slide into Tuipulotu resulted in a penalty try being awarded given the St George Illawarra flyer dropped the ball after Crichton’s illegal contact, which prompted a spray from Tuipulotu afterwards.
Crichton raised eyebrows as well when he left the field in the 71st minute due to severe cramps, but is not expected to be in any doubt for Canterbury’s round 2 return to Belmore.
“He was cramping up. He was camping in his calves, glutes and groin I think,” Ciraldo said in his post-match press conference.
“He was doing his best but we were better off getting him off and sort of adjusting to it.”
Kurt Mann’s black eye.
Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann is also sporting an impressive black eye courtesy of incidental contact from Tuipulotu, which Mann provided an update on via social media on Sunday.
Dragons Emre Guler (hip drop) and Mat Feagai (dangerous contact) will not miss Saturday’s clash against South Sydney after they were issued $1800 and $1000 fines respectively out of the Bulldogs loss.
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