Peta Hiku on Warrington Wolves return with Hull KR

Just over six years since lighting up The Halliwell Jones Stadium during a short but fruitful spell at Warrington Wolves, he is getting ready to return to the place he credits with restoring his love for rugby league.

That is where the sentiment has to end, however, as he does so aiming to help his new club Hull KR send out another statement of intent.

Hiku was a marquee signing for the Robins when he was brought over for 2024 from North Queensland Cowboys, but his first taste of Super League came in a Warrington shirt back in 2017.

Having arrived from Penrith Panthers midway through what was a tortuous campaign for The Wire, the New Zealander contributed to some of its better days as he dominated the club’s ultimately comfortable run to survival in the Middle Eights by scoring 10 tries in 11 games.

It was a spell that would end prematurely as he returned to the NRL to join New Zealand Warriors, but he insists he will always hold a special place in his heart for Warrington.

“I’d come over off a knee reconstruction – I was training but not playing so I was losing the love for the game,” said Hiku, who first returned to the HJ during the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 while playing for New Zealand.

“My time at Warrington brought that back that love and I started enjoying it again.

“Tony Smith gave me a bit of free reign to almost do what I wanted. He gave me that enjoyment back and that’s the one thing I take away from my time at the club.

“I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Peta Hiku scored 10 tries in 11 appearances for Warrington, including this one against neighbours Widnes Vikings (Image: Mike Boden)

Ironically, Hiku’s last game for Warrington came against the club he would later join after another five seasons in the Australian competition.

And Rovers will be out for revenge on the only side to inflict a home defeat upon them this season, with The Wire having won 22-20 at Craven Park in Round Four, by returning the favour on Thursday.

“That was one of the worst games in terms of how we started,” Hiku said.

“We let them get ahead on the scoreboard and it felt like we were chasing points.

“If we can start well and control their middle and back five with the carries out of yardage, the rest will fall into place.

“They’re obviously an in-form team and they’ve been awesome at the start of the season all around the park.

“Paul Vaughan’s there doing an outstanding job in the middle then Matt Dufty running around the back making it look easy.

“Their whole team is in good form but if we turn up as a team with everyone doing their job, we should be alright.”

Hiku has enjoyed a fine start to life in East Hull, scoring eight tries in his first 10 Super League games for the Robins (Image: SWPix.com)