Tetevano trains to keep Kikau on track

Operation keep Viliame Kikau fit.

It's the secret challenge Panthers recruit Zane Tetevano has set himself as the pair train together in isolation to prepare for the NRL season's proposed resumption on May 28.

If the 119kg giant can return to the club's training base next month looking as healthy as when he left, Tetevano will have proved to have been a reliable training partner and Penrith will be the big beneficiaries.  

"I pick him up and we go down for a training session and do everything that we're supposed to," Tetevano told NRL.com.

"Last week we had a week of testing and the results that have been coming into the coaches they've been pretty happy with us so, after that, we just wanted to stay on top of it.

"He's been humming and has been going really well. I need to keep him fit and that keeps me pushing as well.

"Speaking to some boys at other clubs they've been doing 2-3 sessions a week. We have been rolling in with 4-5, sometimes six a week."

Tetevano's decision to move from the Central Coast, where he lived during his stint at the Roosters, to Sydney's west in the pre-season has also paid dividends during the pandemic.

However, a fortnight into isolation, he gave in and returned to the Central Coast for a brief visit before stricter measures were put in place.

"It became a bit hard after 2-3 weeks, I know it was bending the rules a little bit to see some family," Tetevano said.

"We went back for a couple of hours to visit my partner's grandparents to make sure they were OK and help out in any way we could.

"Having that bit of time for the kids too helped us come back with some peace of mind."

Tetevano has also been busy visiting his local dentist in a bid to cure an ongoing pain after booking in to have his wisdom teeth taken out before non-essential surgeries were suspended indefinitely.

"I started to get pain but within the first week of isolation I thought I might as well get it done while I've got some time off," Tetevano said.

"At the top of my crown, the tooth was facing towards my teeth rather than poking up.

"There's a dry socket so if the blood clots don't cover it over it's an open wound, it's been like that for god knows how long and it became frustrating to eat.

"I don't think it will be fully healed for a while so it's uncomfortable knowing a bit of food can get stuck there so I'll keep visiting to get it cleaned.

"Hopefully it won't be an issue later on and is all sorted."