The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, as they strive for a spot in the promotion-relegation playoff. This urgency follows their recent defeat to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, losing 22-10 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last Saturday night.
The winner of the Pacific Bowl Championship will compete against the third-ranked team from the Pacific Cup, with hopes of securing a place in the Cup championship for the upcoming season.
Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata expressed disappointment in his team’s performance, noting they did not adhere to their game plan. The Kumuls took control of the match, leading 16-0 at half-time.
“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 a significant impact. Against a team like Papua New Guinea, that’s unacceptable.”
He pointed out that the Kumuls had a competitive edge, having played an additional game the previous week against the Australia PM’s XIII, with most of their players already in form.
“We created opportunities but failed to capitalize, with passes going backward or being late from dummy half,” Kativerata explained. “Even when we completed a set, our kicking game didn’t meet our expectations.”
Looking ahead, Kativerata emphasized putting the loss behind them and focusing on the upcoming match against the Cook Islands. “We have a lot to improve; we need to regroup with only one week until our next game,” he noted.
The coaching staff, which includes John Sutton of the Rabbitohs and Jarryd Hayne, will collaborate to develop a strategy for the challenge ahead. Kativerata praised the forwards for their effort against the Kumuls and is determined to get the team back on track.