Two proud and passionate rugby league nations are set to square off in a monster clash in Suva as the Bati and Kumuls kick off their Pacific Bowl campaign.
With promotion and relegation added to the mix in 2024 there is more than just national pride at stake - the winner of the Pacific Bowl playing off against the third-placed Pacific Cup nation for a place in the 2025 Pacific Cup pool.
That makes a first-up win even more crucial in front of a heaving crowd at Suva's HFC Bank Stadium, with free-flowing football sure to be the order of the day.
The Bati and Kumuls met twice during last year's Pacific Championships with the results shared, but both of those games were in Port Moresby, now the Bati get to play a Test on home soil for the first time since 2000 and Tui Kamikamica will have his men primed for the occasion.
Expect a torrid forward battle as Kamikamica and Ben Nakubuwai look to lay the foundations for Bulldogs superstar Viliame Kikau to run riot out wide, while the Kumuls' NRL pairing of Jacob Alick and Jack de Belin will fight for every metre in the middle.
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Team News
Fiji Bati: Storm big man Tui Kamikamica will captain a vastly experienced Bati outfit that includes former skipper Kevin Naiqama, who lines up for his 25th Test match, as well as blockbusting winger Maika Sivo in his 11th Test for Fiji and Viliame Kikau in his 17th Test. Panthers premiership winner Sunia Turuva is the fullback while Dolphins playmaker Kurt Donoghoe wears the No.7. Emerging NRL forwards Caleb Navale (Sea Eagles) and Kitione Kautoga (Bulldogs) are back in the pack after featuring in last year's Pacific Championships.
PNG Kumuls: Rhyse Martin skippers a Kumuls side that includes Jack de Belin at lock, Lachlan Lam at halfback and Nene Macdonald at fullback. With star hooker Edwin Ipape sidelined by injury, cult figure Judah Rimbu takes over in the No.9 on the back of a classy display for the PM's XIII. Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt plays his 12th Test match and will form a dangerous combination with Lam, who has 10 Tests to his name. Titans forward Jacob Alick will show the way up front after representing the Kumuls at the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Pac Champs.
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Stat Attack
- Fiji play their first Test match on home soil since a 10-6 win over Tonga in June, 2000.
- The Kumuls have won four of their past six Tests against Fiji Bati.
- Fiji winger Maika Sivo has scored nine tries in 10 Test appearances.
- The Kumuls have eight players with NRL experience but only two who played in 2024.
- Bati captain Tui Kamikamica (Storm) and winger Sunia Turuva (Panthers) played in the NRL grand final on October 6.
- The Kumuls averaged 31 points per game in winning last year’s Pacific Bowl.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.