The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, which they must win to advance to the promotion-relegation match. This follows their recent defeat to Papua New Guinea Kumuls, where they lost 22-10 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The Pacific Bowl Championship winner will compete against the third-ranked team from the Pacific Cup, with the victor earning a place in the Cup championship next season.
Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata acknowledged that his team’s performance fell short of expectations. The Kumuls established a commanding 16-0 lead by halftime. Kativerata pointed out several critical mistakes made by his players, including giving away four consecutive seven-tackle sets, which proved detrimental against a strong opponent like Papua New Guinea.
He noted that the Kumuls had played an additional game recently, meaning many of their players were in better form. While the Bati created scoring opportunities, they failed to exploit them, with issues such as delayed passes impacting their performance. Kativerata emphasized the need to improve their kicking game to achieve better field positions.
Looking ahead, Kativerata has shifted focus to preparing for their match against the Aitu men. He stressed the importance of regrouping and developing a strategic plan, especially since many of the Aitu players are associated with various NRL clubs.
Kativerata also commended the efforts of his forwards during the challenging match against the Kumuls.