NRL: FIJIAN DUO START FOR PANTHERS TODAY
Vodafone Fijian Bati players are expected to feature prominently when the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights clash at 8pm Fijian time tonight at Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney,
Bau, Tailevu enforcer Viliame Kikau and Saunaka, Nadi native Api Koroisau will start for the Panthers while Saifiti twin brothers Daniel and Jacob will feature for the Knights,
Kikau will start at second row (11) and Koroisau at hooker (9) while Daniel prop (10) and Jacob has been named in the interchange.
The teams were undefeated and surprise package in the first two weeks of the 2020 Telstra
Premiership.
The Panthers upset the Roosters in round one and then came from behind to knock over the Dragons at Kogarah.Under new coach Adam O'Brien, the Knights kicked off their finals campaign with a 20-0 victory over the Warriors and a thumping triumph over the Wests Tigers.
The Panthers have beaten the Knights in seven in their last eight games while the Knights are aiming for a 3-0 start for the first time since 2015.
But Kikau is the player the Knights must contain if they are to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The Knights player in the hot seat with the task of keeping Kikau on a tight leash is Sione Mata'utia, who will come face-to-face with the Panthers giant on Newcastle's right defensive edge. "He's definitely a handful and someone we'll have to watch," Knights prop David Klemmer told Newcastle Herald. "He's a big man who's mobile and skillful with the footy and they'll look to go to him. It's going to be a matter of us doing a job at the ruck and not giving him too much room to get going." Meanwhile, Newcastle resigned twin brothers Daniel and Jacob Saifiti until the end of 2020.
The two forwards were both off contract at the end of next season, meaning the 21-yearolds.
Results: Sydney Roosters 28-12 South Sydney, North Queensland Cowboys 36-6 Gold Coast Titans.