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Hull KR star involved in ‘freak’ New Year’s Eve injury

A Hull KR star has revealed the ‘freak’ injury that he suffered on New Year’s Eve and outlined how it’s affected his pre-season so far.

Kiwi centre Peta Hiku told the Hull Daily Mail how he managed to injure his thumb on New Year’s Eve when a firework unexpectedly went off whilst he was still holding it.

Hiku signed for Hull KR ahead of the 2024 Super League season and despite a difficult start at full-back, he established himself as one of the best in the competition when he reverted to his more natural position of centre.

His performances for the Robins were so strong that he earned a call-up to represent New Zealand in the Pacific Championships, becoming the first Super League player to earn a call-up for the Kiwis since Wigan’s Tommy Leuluai.

He’s since revealed to the Hull Daily Mail how he was forced to attend the hospital following a New Year’s Eve accident involving a firework, something that left him with a painful injury to his thumb.

Hull KR star reveals firework injury

Hull KR peta Hiku

Credit: John Clifton/SWpix.com

The centre was involved in the action at Hull KR’s warm-weather training camp although he reportedly had to adorn protective strapping as a result of his firework incident.

“I went to light up a firework and it just didn’t quite go to plan, it was still in my hand,” he told the Hull Daily Mail as he recalled the incident.

“At the time, it didn’t hurt so much, it was more of a shock. Then five minutes later, I came to and it was killing.”

The injury to his right thumb led to a nail removal and also some major stress for the Kiwi centre as he feared having to tell Hull KR head coach about the incident.

He explained: “I had to have the nail removed. I had to go to the hospital. It was split, they had to clear all the residue and stitch it back up.”

“When you say you’ve been injured by a firework, you know it’s not going to sound too great to the coaches. Willie, at first he seemed worried. But he started joking not too long after.

“But I’m not going to lie I was stressing the night before about how I was going to tell him. Two nights in a row, I couldn’t sleep for thinking how I was going to tell him. Once I had, I slept like a baby, for like eleven hours, I think that was my body starting to relax!”

Despite having to wear strapping, Hiku was back into the pre-season action and confirmed a vast improvement in his ability to grip.

He said: “There’s much more strength in it now. In the first week, I couldn’t touch a thing with it.

“For something so stupid too. I couldn’t really grip anything at first. I could catch and pass but I couldn’t do the wrestle or contact things. But I’m getting back into it now.”

Hull KR will head to Amsterdam for their upcoming friendly against York Knights although Hiku and most first teamers are not expected to feature.

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