Penrith Panthers star second-rower Viliame Kikau set to sign with Canterbury Bulldogs

Penrith officials were fuming after Kikau was posing alongside Gould and Canterbury coach Trent Barrett after agreeing to a four year deal to join Canterbury in 2023.

“I called Penrith to apologise for the inappropriate leaking of images, taken from security cameras, at Canterbury Leagues,” Gould tweeted. ”It was not our doing, nor ever our intention, for such images to become public. Out of our control. Apologies to Panther players, fans.”

The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed the bombshell news on Friday, shortly before a leaked photo of Kikau in a Canterbury polo emerged on social media that has infuriated the Panthers.

It has prompted the Bulldogs to launch an investigation into how the photo surfaced of Kikau, alongside Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould and coach Trent Barrett.

It is understood a Canterbury League Club camera captured the moment the photo was taken that threatens to rain on the Panthers’ premiership parade, which is due to take place along the streets of Penrith on Saturday morning, almost seven weeks after their grand final triumph.

The image, though, highlights the fact the Bulldogs have beaten out the North Queensland Cowboys and St George Illawarra to secure Kikau, one of the game’s most damaging edge forwards.

It is understood the Cowboys offered a four-year deal worth about $800,000 a season while the Dragons offered a three-year contract.

Kikau is expected to see out the final year of his deal at the Panthers before joining Canterbury in 2023.

He has a close relationship with both Gould and Barrett following their respective stints at the Panthers. He is the latest Penrith player to make the switch to their western Sydney rivals, joining half Matt Burton, outside back Brent Naden and former Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai Jr.

The Bulldogs are known to be unhappy with the leaking of the image of Kikau with Gould and Barrett.

During his time with Penrith, Gould was a big believer in not flaunting signings of players while they were still contracted to their existing club.

Their recruitment of James Tamou from the Cowboys was a prime example.

“Penrith Panthers are delighted to confirm James Tamou has decided to join the club on a four-year deal commencing in 2017,” the club said in a statement in June 2016. “Out of respect for James and the North Queensland Cowboys, the Panthers will make no further comment on the matter until the conclusion of the current season.”

Penrith’s premiership squad has already been ravaged with the Panthers losing Burton, Pangai Jr, Naden, Kurt Capewell, Paul Momirovski and Tyrone May for next season.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have undergone a massive overhaul of their playing roster, having already added Burton, Naden, Pangai Jr, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Josh Cook, John Asiata, Max King and Braidon Burns for the 2022 season.

Canterbury are also in the mix to sign Eels hooker Reed Mahoney.

– News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom