If you like your footy hard, tough and fast then all roads lead to Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night for the showdown between the Kumuls and the Bati.
After Samoa and Cook Islanads have the set the scene in the earlier game it’s over to PNG and Fiji to light up the stadium with some ferocious defence and flashy attack in their first clash since November, 2019.
On that occasion it was the Bati prevailing 22-20 in a thriller in Christchurch with Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica among the tryscorers and Maika Sivo running for 214 metres.
Sivo has made a successful return from a knee reconstruction for the Eels and will be keen to add to his tally of two Test caps while Kikau will make his 12th appearance for his country and look to revive the glory days of the 2017 World Cup when Fiji made an emotional charge all the way to the semi-finals.
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Team News
Papua New Guinea
Tryscoring machine Alex Johnston wins his third Test cap for the Kumuls and will play fullback with Robert Derby (Northern Pride) and Solo Wane (PNG Hunters) taking the wing spots. Brisbane’s David Mead will captain the side and forms a powerful centre combination with Melbourne’s Justin Olam. Townsville Blackhawks star Kyle Laybutt and Rooster Lachlan Lam are the halves.
The forward pack features two more PNG Hunters reps in hooker Wartovo Puara and prop Sylvester Namo as well as Jacob Alick from the Gold Coast Titans. The Hunters’ Junior Rop is 18th Man. The Kumuls are coached by Stanley Tepend.
Fiji
Lamar Manuel-Liolevave will start the game and Ralulu Nasoki added to the bench after second-rower Taniela Sadrugu dropped out of the side originally named on Tuesday.
Roosters veteran Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati in his 20th Test match and he’ll play five-eighth alongside Nautu’a Masima from Wests Magpies. Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau has the honour of co-captaining his country in his 12th Test match. Wingers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa, centres Semi Valemei and Waqa Blake and young Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva make up a powerful back five.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and Kikau lead the pack along wth Taane Milne at lock while Penioni Tagituimua from the Mounties club is the No.9.
