The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league team faces a crucial match against the Cook Islands this Saturday, as they seek to secure a spot in the promotion-relegation match. This comes after the Bati suffered a 22-10 defeat to the strong Papua New Guinea Kumuls at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last Saturday.
The winner of the Pacific Bowl Championship will compete against the third-ranked team from the Pacific Cup, with hopes of advancing to the Cup championship next season. Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata acknowledged that his players did not execute the game plan effectively.
During the match, the Kumuls established a significant 16-0 lead by halftime. Kativerata remarked, “We didn’t play to our standard. In the first half, we gave away four seven-tackle sets in a row, which made a difference. You cannot afford to do that against a team like Papua New Guinea.”
He noted that the Kumuls had a competitive advantage, having played an extra game recently, with nearly 80 percent of their players having experience from a match against the Australia PM’s XIII. Kativerata emphasized the missed opportunities for the Bati, stating that passes were either backward or delayed.
Despite the loss, Kativerata is focusing on their upcoming match against the Aitu men, expressing the need for the team to regroup as they have only one week to prepare. He mentioned that he plans to collaborate with the coaching staff to devise a strategy, highlighting the impressive skill set of the Aitu players, many of whom play in various NRL clubs.
The Bati coaching team includes experienced figures such as John Sutton, the most-capped Rabbitohs player, and Jarryd Hayne, also serving as a mentor. Kativerata expressed appreciation for the resilience shown by the forwards against the Kumuls.