Rabele picks best available team against PNG
VODAFONE Fiji Bati coach Joe Rabele says he has picked his best available team to face the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in a Pacific test match at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney tonight.
Sydney Roosters veteran Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati in his 20th Test match and he’ll play five-eighth alongside Nautu’a Masima from Wests Magpies.
Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau has the honour of co-captaining the side in his 12th Test match. Wingers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa, centres Semi Valemei and Waqa Blake and young Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva make up a powerful back five.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and Kikau lead the pack along wth Taane Milne at lock while Penioni Tagituimua from the Mounties club is the No.9 and Townsville Blackhawks powerhouse Taniela Sadrugu packs into the second row.
“We’ve picked the best team that is available to play against the Kumuls,” Rabele said.
“For this game we would have liked to try out our new kids like Ilaitia Moceidreke, Iosefo Masi, Vuata Nakarawalevu. But all our senior players have shown interest to be part of this program because they haven’t been playing Test matches for the past two years.
“That’s why they want to come and play this game so as to prepare themselves for the World Cup. So we selected the best players that will be part of this game against the Kumuls.”
Rabele said he saw the Bati’s strengths in the backline with big NRL name players.
“As you can see we have a good backline combination in the likes of Maika Sivo, Mika Ravalawa, Waqa Blake, Semi Valemei and Suni Turuva. These are some of the top profiled NRL players that will be part of this campaign on Saturday,” Rabele said.
“In the forwards we have the likes of Viliame Kikau, Tui Kamikamica, and our captain Kevin Naiqama. So these are the players we will rely on to lead this young pack into the game this Saturday. At the moment we do not know anything regarding the Kumuls. Today (Thursday) we will discuss what kind of game they play so we can prepare ourselves for the game against PNG.
“We are looking forward to the game because it’s been two years without a test match. This is a good testing ground for us to the Rugby League World Cup.” The match kicks off at 9.30pm and will air live on Mai TV.
Fiji Bati (1-13): Sunia Turuva, Mikaele Ravalawa, Semi Valemei, Waqa Blake, Maika Sivo, Kevin Naiqama, Nautu’a Masima, Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu, Penioni Tagituimua, Tui Kamikamica, Viliame Kikau, Taniela Sadrugu, Taane Milne
Interchange (14-17): Isaac Lumelume, Pio Seci, Lamar Manuel-Liolevave, Kaylen Miller.