Despite his tender years, Hiku was a dominant contributor in the Kiwis' first-up win over the Kangaroos in Brisbane. He made the most territory of any player with the ball in hand, carving out 162 metres from 17 runs, and broke six tackles in a confident display.
However, last week's outing in Whangarei was not so assured, with Hiku throwing a poorly timed pass which Tautau Moga intercepted for a 90-metre try.
Another two errors followed before fulltime, confirming the fact that Hiku's development remains a work in progress, but he credits the influence of the Kiwis' senior players, in particular his wing-partner and roommate Manu Vatuvei, for helping him put those set-backs behind him.
"Just having all the senior players around, with Issac Luke and Manu Vatuvei coming back in has helped me out a little bit more. If things don't go our way we just try not to worry about it too much and just focus on the next job and try to make sure we can do everything better.
"I've been rooming with Manu and it's been really good. It's the first time I've roomed with him and he's a really funny fella."
Having Sea Eagles teammate Kieran Foran on hand in camp has also been a positive, although Hiku admits to having concerns about rumours that the five-eighth is contemplating a switch to the Warriors.
"He's a big part of the Manly team so it would mean a lot for the club for him to stay. I've learned a lot off him so hopefully everything that's going around are just rumours and he does stay." Despite his worries, Hiku admits there have been plenty of jokes flying around the Kiwis camp, in the wake of Warriors co-owner Eric Watson's controversial tweet on Sunday, which welcomed Foran's signing with the Auckland-based club.
"The boys have been joking around about it. Everyone was just having a laugh about it so I hope it was all just a joke."
The Manurewa product has retained the faith of Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney throughout the tournament and done enough to fend off the challenges of rival fullback contenders Josh Hoffman and Gerard Beale.
Hiku is grateful to be given regular game time and feels the whole side is benefiting from the consistency of Kearney's selections. "Stephen Kearney is just picking his best team and it's getting better. The more games we play the more we get along and gel together and that's the way he is looking at it as well."
He expects England to provide the Kiwis with another strong challenge up-front through the forwards while he says the attacking threat posed by his opposite, Sam Tomkins, is among their biggest defensive concerns.
"Their middle is pretty strong and they can play with the ball as well. We're just going to have to match them in the middle and hopefully we can control the ruck and come up with some effective play.
"The ball always happens to be where Sam Tomkins is so he's someone we'll have to keep an eye on. I hope to maybe get some good tips from them [the Kiwis Warriors contingent] about him."
