Hull KR star Peta Hiku express shock at Kiwis call-up in Grand Final week

has spoken of his shock after earning a New Zealand recall.

The in-form centre is gearing up for against champions Wigan. But he was surprisingly named today in the Kiwis’ squad for their forthcoming Pacific Championships series. Hiku, who joined Rovers from North Queensland Cowboys ahead of this season, becomes the first Super League-based player to be selected for them since Wigan’s Thomas Leuluai in 2017. He hasn’t featured for New Zealand since they lost an epic World Cup semi-final to at Elland Road two years ago and must have felt his international days were over once he'd agreed a three-year deal in the UK.

Rewarded for his stellar form with KR, where he's scored 16 tries in 31 appearances this term, he admitted: “It was a bit surprising when I got the call. It was a bit overwhelming at first. I didn’t really think of it too much [playing for them again] but when it came up, like that, I was happy and excited. I always look forward to putting that black jumper back on.”

He will fly home next week after the Old Trafford decider when he hopes to help Rovers clinch their first league title in 39 years. On facing Wigan, Hiku, 31, added: “It’s exciting. There’s a bit of relief really knowing how hard we worked to get here. But I can’t wait now.”

He never played in a Grand Final during his long NRL career after a series of near-misses. Hiku explained: “We made the GF in my debut year with Manly in 2013 but I didn’t play. I did in the semis but not the final. It was my first year and I made about 12 appearances over the 20-odd so that was enjoyable.

“With the [New Zealand] Warriors we got into the finals but got knocked out early. At Cowboys, we lost to Parra’ right at the end of a semi two years ago so we missed out on the GF, then. Getting here [Old Trafford] makes you look back on it all - and makes you more hungry for what’s coming Saturday.”

Defending champions Wigan are on an impressive run and bidding to complete a quadruple of trophies in 2024. But Rovers had them on the rack at the Brick Community Stadium in their previous meeting last month, leading 20-8 at one point. They eventually fell 24-20, though, after two costly yellow cards saw them lose grip of top spot.

Would they have won if keeping 13 men on the field? Hiku, who has also contributed 13 try assists, replied: “It’s a tough question. You don’t want to say ‘yes.’ “But the stats say they scored 20 points when we were down to 12.

“You can’t go back and change it. But that is a positive for us. We just have to be a bit more disciplined on Saturday. If we can out of our game we should be alright.”

As Hull KR bid for glory, Hiku watched Saturday’s NRL Grand Final between former club Penrith and Melbourne as he started his own build-up. He said: “Well, I caught the first half of it. But then I had to watch the kids play football so I was trying to watch the rest on my phone - and the internet wasn’t the best in this leisure centre we were at!”

Hopefully for Hiku and the Robins, there’ll be no interference on Saturday - and their name is etched on the Super League trophy for the first time.