The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, as they seek to qualify for the promotion-relegation encounter. This follows a disappointing 22-10 defeat to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last Saturday night.
The Pacific Bowl Championship’s winner will play against the third-ranked Pacific Cup team, with the victor advancing to next season’s Cup championship. Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata expressed concern over his team’s execution of the game plan, noting their inability to perform to expectation.
The Kumuls took control of the game, leading 16-0 at halftime. “We didn’t play to our standard,” Kativerata remarked. “In the first half, we gave away four seven-tackle sets in a row, which made the difference. When facing a team like Papua New Guinea, that’s unacceptable.”
He highlighted that the Kumuls had an additional game under their belt, with almost 80 percent of their players having played the previous week against the Australia PM’s XIII. “We created opportunities but didn’t capitalize; our passes were either backward or too late,” he added. “Even when we finished a set, our kicking game failed to meet expectations.”
Moving forward, Kativerata is focused on the upcoming match against the Aitu men. “We have a lot to improve on and need to regroup, as we only have one week until the next game,” he said. He plans to collaborate with the coaching staff to devise a strategic approach, especially since the players come from various NRL clubs.
The Bati’s coaching team includes prominent figures such as John Sutton, the most-capped player for the Rabbitohs, whose mother is from Rotuma, and Jarryd Hayne, who also mentors the team. Kativerata commended the forwards for their determination during the challenge against the Kumuls.