Bring it on!
On a night that the PNG Kumuls sent their retiring skipper David Mead out on a high, the Fiji Bati weren’t completely in a game fans hoped they would win.
We succumbed 14-24 at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night, but did a number of things to sound a warning heading into the Rugby League World Cup in England later this year.
Fiji looked good in the early proceedings, with lockforward Taane Milne crashing over for what would turn out to be a disallowed try in the 10th minute.
The Bati kept the pressure and co-captain Kevin Naiqama opened the scoring for us.
From the opposite end, Kumuls’ Test debutant McKenzie Lei went past four defenders on a 15-metre charge to the line to put his team up 12-6 at the break.
With their backs to the wall, the Bati rode on a weighted grubber by Milne to see exciting fullback Sunia Turuva touch down for a four-pointer.
Turuva scored a consolation try in the dying stages of the game for the final scoreline.
All eyes will now shift to the RLWC scheduled for October 15 to November 19.
The Bati are in Pool B with giants Australia, Italy and Scotland. So how are we faring right now, given the fact that much like rugby union, we were confined to sitting out the 2021 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic? There was great interest in Saturday night’s hit-out. It was our first international in a while, and showed us where we stand. It showed the standards we have to attain to be suitably prepared for the World Cup.
Saturday night’s test showed gaps we have to address, especially among our halves combination, a critically important part of the game.
It will be interesting to see how we can dominate at 6 and 7, and ride on the back of momentum built up by our pack on both edges of the field. We have the quality at midfield on both edges, and some of the best wingers in the business. It will be interesting to see how we can be a bit more assertive in directing play though.
In saying that, it was good to see high profile secondrower Viliame Kikau coming off with a number of important runs in the early tackle counts, and in defence. It was also good to see frontrower Tui Kamikamica muscle his way through heavy traffic, and Milne was an important feature in the middle, coming off with that grubber for Turuva’s wonderful touchdown.
Hooker Penioni Tagituimua also came off with a number of strong runs from the fringes of the ruck, gaining important territory that we unfortunately did not build on. So national coach Joe Dakuitoga certainly has his work cut for the RLWC.
That game against the Kangaroos, scheduled for October 16 is a big one. All eyes will be focused on that and the Bati will be carrying the hopes and aspirations of an expectant nation. It is good to note though that we do have a host of big names who have already put up their hands for selection. A key factor would have to be forwards like New South Wales State of Origin hooker Apisai Koroisau, the Saifiti twins Daniel and Jacob and the rugged Sims brothers of Korbin and Tariq. Then there’s the 116kg powerhouse frontrower for Hull in Super League, Kane Evans who has declared his interest to play for the Bati in his third RLWC.
The loss to the Kumuls showed us where we stand right now. Our challenge is to prepare like we have never done before, and face the Kangaroos with a power-packed Bati side, ready to cause some damage at the highest level of the sport. We say bring it on!
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