BORN in Kokopo, East New Britain, and having represented Papua New Guinea, Jimmy Ngutlik will now carry another part of his family story when he pulls on the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
For the Mackay Cutters winger, the journey from Papua New Guinea to Fiji is not about leaving one identity behind.
It is about embracing another part of who he is.
Ngutlik, 26, was born in Kokopo and has represented the Kumuls, but his maternal grandfather’s roots stretch back to Rewa in Fiji.
His mother’s influence and growing up around many Fijians kept that connection alive, and the opportunity to represent his Fijian heritage on rugby league’s biggest stage was one he could not turn down.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity, so I had a talk with the coach (Mick Potter) and some of his staff and I thought, just to give it a go,” Ngutlik said.
The decision has given Ngutlik the chance to explore a side of his heritage that has always been part of his family story.
And he arrives in the Bati camp with the form to make an impact.
One of the Queensland Cup’s most dangerous attacking wingers, Ngutlik has scored 25 tries in 28 appearances for the Cutters this season, averaging almost a try a match.
He hopes that form follows him into his Fiji debut.
“Some personal goals, I think, just putting on the jersey and wearing the colours and representing my heritage and just doing the best I can for the team,” he said.
But as he prepares to begin a new international chapter, Ngutlik has not forgotten the country where his journey began.
“To all my PNG family, thank you for always supporting me. To my PNG fans, please know that PNG will always have a special place in my heart,” he said.
Now, from the birthplace of Kokopo to the ancestral roots of Rewa, Ngutlik gets to add another chapter to his story.
He and the Bati open their World Cup campaign against Cook Island on Sunday, October 18, in Perth at 8pm Fiji time.
For Ngutlik, it will be more than a World Cup debut.
It will be a chance to wear the colours of a heritage that has always been close to his heart.
