It's not just John Bateman's job, it'll take the whole Canberra Raiders team to stop a rampaging Viliame Kikau.
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Raiders co-captain Josh Hodgson said they all needed to be on defensively to ensure the Penrith Panthers second-rower doesn't tear them apart at Wagga Wagga on Saturday.
![Raiders co-captain Josh Hodgson says it will take the whole team to stop Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt Raiders co-captain Josh Hodgson says it will take the whole team to stop Panthers second-rower Viliame Kikau. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc74w0ncqih861fgsmokn3.jpg/r0_0_1575_2084_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Kikau was back to his brilliant best against South Sydney last weekend, scoring a try and running for 169 metres.
He'll be up against Bateman and the Raiders' right edge, but Hodgson said the job didn't fall down to just one man. Or one edge.
"Like all back rowers and all big men they're going to try and isolate smaller men so as a team we've got to be good, we've got to be getting off our line and getting in people's faces," Hodgson said.
"They've got a good team across the board so we're not going to worry about one player, but he's obviously one of many that have been going very well for them in the past few weeks."
Hodgson said the Panthers were on the improve and were unlucky not to beat the Rabbitohs last week.
He was expecting another close encounter, given four of the past six encounters have been decided by four points or less.
Raiders prop Josh Papalii was expecting a desperate Panthers side since they're sitting 14th on the NRL ladder and were on a three-game losing streak.
They also come into the game with four straight wins against the Green Machine.
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Penrith have also been embroiled in turmoil this season, with former Panthers supremo Phil Gould leaving the club last week.
New coach Ivan Cleary has also been under the pump following their poor start, having made a messy switch from Wests Tigers during the off-season.
Cleary left the Tigers to coach his son Nathan, the Panthers halfback.
Both Nathan Cleary and fellow playmaker James Maloney have also been in the spotlight for the team's performance.
"They're desperate for a win and in the past a win can fix a lot of things, especially when there's a lot of drama off field," Papalii said.
"We've just got to be worried about ourselves and turn up and hopefully get the two points and go back home."
NRL ROUND EIGHT
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Bailey Simonsson, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Hudson Young, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Emre Guler.
Panthers squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6. James Maloney (c), 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Tim Grant, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Isaah Yeo, 13. James Fisher-Harris. Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa, 15. Liam Martin, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Reserves: 18. Jarome Luai, 19. Kaide Ellis.