The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, as they aim to secure their place in the promotion-relegation contest. This comes on the heels of their recent 22-10 defeat 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 compete against the third-ranked team from the Pacific Cup, with the winner earning a spot in next season’s Cup championship.
Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, noting they did not execute their game plan effectively. The Kumuls established a significant 16-0 lead by half-time.
“We didn’t play to our standard,” Kativerata stated. “In the first half, we gave away four seven-tackle sets in a row, which made a significant difference. When facing a team like Papua New Guinea, we cannot afford such mistakes.”
He highlighted that the Kumuls had an advantage, having played an additional game the previous week, which contributed to their performance. “We created opportunities, but we failed to capitalize; passes were either backwards or came two seconds late from dummy half,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Kativerata emphasized that the team needs to move forward from the loss and focus on their upcoming match against the Aitu men. “We have a lot to work on; we need to regroup since we only have one week until the next game,” he said.
He also pointed out the need for a strategic plan involving his coaching staff, which includes experienced figures like John Sutton from the Rabbitohs, whose mother is from Rotuma, and Jarryd Hayne as a mentor.
Kativerata recognized the efforts of the forwards in the previous match, commending them for their resilience against the Kumuls.