Peta Hiku: Another former Warrior doing great things.

Peta Hiku, the kid from Gisborne who can play any position in an NRL backline has decided to head west after being told that his services were no longer needed by the Manly Sea Eagles. Imagine that; coming back from international duties, a job only a select few get to enjoy and being told that you're not required. This is why upon Hiku's arrival back into Australia he instantly became one of the prized scalps in the summer-player-market-mayhem.

Mayhem? Yes this is all mayhem as Hiku, Tim Lafai, Dylan Walker, Will Hopoate and James Roberts all had contracts keeping at their former NRL club only a month or two ago. Instead of confining all of this to a couple of weeks with a simple 'Transfer Window' or something similar, we've now got this December free-for-all which is a bit dumb.

Any way, Hiku the Panther. There's a strong Kiwis contingent in Penrith as Hiku joins Dean Whare, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Tupou Sopoaga and the talented group of Junior Kiwis who are pushing for an NRL start: Zach Dockar-Clay, Sione Katoa, James Fisher-Harris and Te Maire Martin. This makes it a bit of a homecoming for Hiku as he'll be able to quickly bond, forge playing relationships and drop plenty of 'churs' around Panthers training.

It makes sense that Hiku has been signed as a replacement for Jamal Idris, with Hiku's best position so far being centre. The Panthers already have a gun fullback in Matt Moylan and they already have a suitable replacement should Moylan go down injured or move to the halves in Watene-Zelezniak. Hiku is also unlikely to play in the halves as Moylan's earmarked to be a future NRL half and the Panthers have the Junior Kiwis halves combo (Martin and Dockar-Clay) on their books. Coach Anthony Griffin will however know that Hiku's utility value is an asset and given the Panthers recent injury woes, Hiku is the perfect man to plug a hole.

With Whare on one edge (probably right centre) and Hiku on the other, the Panthers have quickly got themselves one of the best centre combinations in the NRL. When you also consider that Moylan will be fullback while Josh Mansour and Watene-Zelezniak fill the wing positions, it's hard to argue that this is a very dangerous backline.

There's also the fact that the Panthers have Hiku and Trent Merrin as their big signings for the 2016 season. Neither Hiku nor Merrin are players who immediately make a team NRL Premiership contenders, although they both ooze class and when they are added to the right team the vast number of little things or 'one percenters' that they do help push good teams into that contenders bracket.

What can we, as Kiwis fans expect from Hiku and the Panthers? Well first and foremost it's hard to see Hiku being a dud signing (see above) as he's more likely to quietly settle into his work and simply get the job done. That's all the Panthers need as Idris was rarely sighted in the NRL and Hiku's mere presence (consistently) gives the Panthers attacking weapons on either edge to work with. With Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace - halves who do the simple things well - having options is the key, plus Hiku is strong defensively which in combination with Whare's work on the other edge will help make the Panthers a tough team to score against.

If you're unsure about Hiku's move to Penrith (from either a Kiwis or Panthers perspective), just remind yourself that the Panthers suddenly have an all-international centre pair. There aren't too many NRL teams that boast such levels of talent; the Roosters have Michael Jennings and Blake Ferguson ... and that's about it.

Kudos to Phil Gould and the Panthers for snatching Hiku away from the Parramatta Eels. The Panthers now have the best roster for success in the next five years and Hiku's arrival will give the Panthers and coach Griffin that extra bit of class needed to keep them hovering around the NRL's top four if they aren't pushing for the top spot.