The Vodafone Fiji Bati has ramped up their training intensity this week as they gear up for a crucial match against the Cook Islands at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva tomorrow. This was confirmed by head coach Wise Kativerata.
Kativerata emphasized that this week’s focus is on successfully completing their sets and executing their kicks correctly. He acknowledged their ability to score from any position but stressed that they cannot achieve this if they are continuously on the back foot.
He urged the team to learn from the mistakes made in last Saturday’s match against Papua New Guinea. “This is an important game for us, and we aim to finish the Pacific Bowl Championship on a positive note. While we give credit to Papua New Guinea, our players must be fully prepared for the Cook Islands,” he said.
Kativerata expressed his enthusiasm that international rugby league has finally come to Fiji. “I greatly appreciate the support from the crowd, and we are building towards the Rugby League World Cup. We have future Fiji Bati players emerging as we look ahead to the next World Cup,” he noted.
He also mentioned that the players’ communication during training has improved, stating, “They are talking more and enjoying it, which is encouraging and makes me happy.” He highlighted that James Valevatu has been performing well for Wests in the reserve grade, indicating that they will evaluate him this week.
Kativerata plans to assess the players’ performance at the conclusion of the tournament. He also noted that several Bati players in the NRL missed the championship due to suspensions and injuries, including Api Koroisau, Mika Ravalawa, Daniel Safaiti, Jacob Safaiti, Marcelo Montoya, and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
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