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'Don't want to let brothers down': Hull KR star on playing in New Zealand v Australia

Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com - Peta Hiku playing for New Zealand against Australia
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Hull Kingston Rovers providing a player - Peta Hiku - for the New Zealand against Australia clash on Sunday makes that special rivalry an even more intriguing fixture in the east side of this city. And he has been speaking about not wanting to let "brothers" down.

Hiku will be a valuable experienced head in a depleted Kiwis squad that includes five Test debutants. On the flip side, captain James Fisher-Harris will lead a side that has Shaun Johnson again after he came out of retirement. Johnson will be in the halves in the match at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch - with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was impressive at full back in the 2023 final win over the Kangaroos.

Rovers centre Hiku will be up against a Kangaroos outfit that has named Tom Trbojevic and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as their centres. Mal Meninga's Kangaroos are looking to put last year's 30-0 defeat to the Kiwis in Waikato behind them - and they made a positive start to this year's Pacific Championships by winning 18-0 against Tonga.

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Hiku will be back in the New Zealand team for the first time since the epic World Cup semi-final defeat of 2022. Asked if he thought his time as a Kiwi was up, he replied: "Last time someone from the Super League came over was seven years ago. Going over to Super League, I didn't really think about the Kiwis too much. So when I got the call, I thought 'yeah!'

"Getting over jet lag is probably the worst part. Being away from family so long, coming into camp is probably the next closest thing. Being around the Kiwi humour has been fun, it's like being back home.

"Me coming here from the other side of the world it just feels like everyone here never left. That's a great start for the connection. The young boys come in and they are open. There was laughter, a bit of banter, it's been good.

"When you look at the Australia team, they've got two full backs as their centres and you can't really do too much homework as you've probably only got one game against them. You just get back to what it was like being in the systems over here.

"A bit part of it is the connection that we have within the group. Once you build that, it gives more intent in everything you do. You don't want to let your mate down, your brother down.

"My goal is to go out there and give everything. I don't want to be letting the brothers down."

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