BE consistent and approach this game like any other.
That’s the message from the NRL Affiliated States team assistant coach Duncan MacGillivray to the Fiji Residents players as they strive to make it into the Vodafone Fiji Bati team for next year’s Rugby League World Cup.
The last time an Australian Affiliated State team visited the country was in 2008 when Josaia Rabele was preparing his team for the Rugby League World Cup, today they’re back to help local players make the cut in the requirements from coach Mick Potter to be in the Vodafone Fiji Bati team.
MacGillivray knows that the game would be a tough one and that is exactly what they expect from the Fijians this afternoon.
With at least three local players to join the Fiji Bati team to face Samoa in a test match next week, MacGillivray, said Fiji has been doing well.
“The expectation is that it’s going to be a really tough game, the way Fiji is progressing in rugby league and rugby union, is quite extraordinary and they are getting stronger and stronger every year, so there’s definitely the belief is it’s going to be a really tough challenge,” MacGillivray said.
The team will have another game on Friday at Lawaqa Park and in explaining about the Australian based side, he said the players were selected from the affiliated States, from Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia which are States where the sport may not be the first choice like AFL.
However these are the best players from those Australian states and they would not take the game lightly.
“There’s a few younger guys that are looking at going further in the sports, a young guy that have a trial with Canberra raiders, some guys are a bit older so the opportunity has passed with them, so this is a pretty big deal.”
