The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, needing a win to advance to the promotion-relegation contest. This challenge comes after their recent defeat to Papua New Guinea, where they lost 22-10 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The victor of the Pacific Bowl Championship will compete against the third-ranked team in the Pacific Cup, with the eventual winner earning a spot in the Cup championship for the next season.
Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata expressed disappointment in his team’s failure to execute their game plan effectively. The Kumuls established a significant lead, going into halftime with a 16-0 advantage.
“We didn’t play to our standard,” Kativerata remarked, noting that their errors, including giving away four consecutive seven-tackle sets, were detrimental. “When you face a team like Papua New Guinea, you can’t afford mistakes like that.”
He pointed out the experience of the Kumuls, who had played an additional game the previous week, with almost 80 percent of their players having participated in that match. Despite creating opportunities, the Bati struggled to capitalize, with poor timing in passes and an ineffective kicking game.
Looking ahead, Kativerata stated that they are focusing on the upcoming match against the Aitu men and emphasized the need for the team to regroup quickly. “We have a lot of work to do; we need to regroup because we only have one week until the next game,” he said.
He also acknowledged that many players on the opposing team participate in various NRL clubs, indicating that the coaching staff would need to develop a solid game plan. Kativerata praised his forwards for their resilience during the match against the Kumuls.