Papua New Guinea Kumuls’ scrum-half Lachlan Lam expressed confidence ahead of their upcoming match against the Vodafone Fiji Bati. Speaking at an interview in Suva, the 26-year-old acknowledged that the Bati are favored to win due to their home-ground advantage. “They (Bati) are a good side,” Lam stated, emphasizing their determination to perform well following past encounters.
The son of rugby league legend Adrian Lam, who enjoyed a successful career with the Sydney Roosters and represented Queensland in the State of Origin, Lachlan made his NRL debut in 2019. He noted that the Kumuls are focused on the ultimate goal of winning this weekend. Despite the presence of star players like Viliame Kikau and Sunia Turuva in the Bati lineup, Lam indicated that this did not alter their preparation.
Lachlan will team up with Kyle Laybutt in the halves as they aim to defend their title at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday. “Kyle is a very good player, and we are looking to create more opportunities for our side during game day,” he remarked. The Kumuls are the defending champions of the Pacific Bowl and are eager to uphold their title.
Lam expressed their collective ambition, stating, “We just want to win… to play a game that we will be proud of.” He highlighted the importance of teamwork, both on and off the field, as they acclimate to the local weather and anticipate the challenge against the Bati.
Joining Lam, full-back Nene Macdonald shared his excitement about playing in Fiji, calling it a dream come true. With 16 Tests under his belt for PNG, Macdonald underscored the need to secure wins in the coming weeks to qualify for next year’s main Cup. “We believe in ourselves; we believe that we can do it,” he added, looking forward to an intense and exciting battle this weekend. The match is set to kick off at 8:10 PM.