Second Chance
■ Lifeline for Fijian Bati players to redeem themselves at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday
Playing in Sunday’s National Rugby League (NRL) grandfinal is an opportune time for three Fijian Bati players to redeem themselves.
Penrith Panthers with hooker Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau are to face South Sydney Rabbitohs who have their Bati team-mate, Taane Milne, on the wing.
Milne, who had been in trouble due to a drug-related incident got his lifeline when Rabbitohs veteran coach, Wayne Bennett, selected him into his 21-member squad for the qualifying finals. He was the only player outside the Rabbitohs squad to be drafted into the final 21.
Bati head coach Josaia Rabele told SUNsports yesterday that Milne has really made progress and is fitting into the wing’s position for the Rabbitohs.
“With the Bati, he usually plays at centre or at second row,” Rabele said.
“He (Milne) has been a bad boy lately but I thank coach, Bennett and the Rabbitohs for giving him a lifeline to be part of their team this season.
“I believe this will be an eye- opener for him (Milne) to leave everything behind him and focus on the biggest game of any rugby league player’s career.
“I’m happy to see his achievements and where patience has taken him to.”
For Panthers, Koroisau and Kikau are again on a mission to win that elusive NRL Premiership title.
Last year, they spearheaded Panther’s campaign only to lose 26-20 to Melbourne Storm in the grandfinal.
The Storm took a 22-0 lead at halftime and managed to hold off Panther’s comeback rally to win.
Rabele said playing in the grandfinal would be a big boost for the players’ careers.
“I’ve been following and monitoring these players throughout the season. Our boys in the Panthers team played in last year’s grandfinal and this year they are blessed to have reached the final again. I believe they will try hard to win this time around but we cannot count Rabbitohs out.”
Rabele said Koroisau who was called up to play for New South Wales Blues in the State of Origin Series only shows the class he has.
“His transition from playing for the Fiji Bati to another level like the State of Origin is amazing and that shows consistency in his performance.”
Koroisau along with Lote Tuqiri played for the Rabbitohs when they won the NRL grandfinal in 2014.
“Kikau has been playing well at back row and a couple of games before the grandfinal he has been starting from the bench.
“I believe that is the game plan coach (Ivan) Cleary has been working on so that he can move the team forward in the crucial dying stages of the game.”
Panthers are doing all they can to re-sign Kikau after earlier indicating that they could not keep the big Fijian. Kikau, is now worth FJ$1.5 million per season and there have been media reports that he could switch to rugby union.
Rabele said the three players were part of his Bati squad for the Rugby League World Cup.
Looking at the grandfinal, Rabele said it would be interesting to see the strategies set by the two head coaches.
“That is the talking point now, the Rabbitohs is coached by Wayne Bennett who has won many NRL grandfinals and we thank God that he is still a coach and has guided another team to the grandfinal this year.
“The Rabbitohs had a slow start, struggled and toward the finals we saw that they are playing as a team and a gelling well.
“For Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and the record he had set last year now we’ve seen how Panthers survived the elimination rounds.
“This is a different ball game because it is the grandfinal so whoever plays their cards right in attack and defence could get the edge in the end,” Rabele added.
The grandfinal kicks off at 8.30pm and is shown live on Sky Pacific.