The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, needing a victory to qualify for the promotion-relegation game. This necessity follows their defeat to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, who claimed a 22-10 victory at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last Saturday night.
The champion of the Pacific Bowl Championship will earn the opportunity to compete against the third-ranked team in the Pacific Cup, with the eventual winner securing a place in the Cup championship next season. Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata admitted that his players did not execute their game plan effectively during the match.
The Kumuls controlled the game and held a significant 16-0 lead at halftime. Kativerata noted, “We didn’t play to our standard.” He emphasized crucial moments in the first half where they committed four consecutive seven-tackle sets, which changed the game dynamics. He added, “When you play against a team like Papua New Guinea, you can’t afford to do that.”
He pointed out that the Kumuls had the advantage of playing an additional game prior to this matchup, with almost 80 percent of their team having faced the Australia PM’s XIII. Despite creating opportunities, the Bati struggled to capitalize due to timing issues and execution errors, particularly in their kicking game.
Moving forward, Kativerata stated that the team must regroup quickly, as they have only a week to prepare for their next game against the Aitu men. He mentioned the diverse experience in the ranks, with players participating in various NRL clubs, and plans to meet with his coaching staff to devise a strategy.
The coaching team includes notable figures like John Sutton of the Rabbitohs, whose mother is from Rotuma, and former player Jarryd Hayne, who also contributes as a mentor. Kativerata commended the forwards for their resilience during the match against the Kumuls.