The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, as they aim to secure a spot in the promotion-relegation game. Their last outing ended in defeat, with a score of 22-10 against a strong Papua New Guinea Kumuls team at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last Saturday night.
The victor of the Pacific Bowl Championship will advance to face the third-ranked team from the Pacific Cup, with the winner claiming a position in next season’s Cup championship. Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata expressed disappointment in his team’s execution of their game plan.
During the match, the Kumuls built an impressive 16-0 lead by halftime. Kativerata noted, “We didn’t play to our standard. In the first half, we allowed four seven-tackle sets in quick succession, which made a significant impact. Against a team like Papua New Guinea, that’s simply unacceptable.”
He emphasized that the opposition had already played an additional game, with nearly 80 percent of their squad having faced Australia PM’s XIII the previous week. “While we did create opportunities, our timing was off; passes were either backward or slightly delayed from the dummy half. Our kick game also didn’t meet our expectations,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Kativerata urged his team to put the loss behind them and focus on their next challenge against the Aitu men. “We have a lot of adjustments to make and must regroup quickly since there’s only a week before our next match. Their players compete for various clubs in the NRL, so I need to collaborate with the coaching staff to devise a strategy.”
The Bati’s coaching team includes the most-capped Rabbitohs player John Sutton, whose mother is from Rotuma, and Jarryd Hayne, who also serves as a mentor. Kativerata acknowledged the appreciation for the forwards’ resilience during the game against the Kumuls.