FORMER Tonga and Australia rugby league star Michael Jennings had a standout performance in the Pacific Bowl Championship match over the weekend, scoring a hat-trick as the Fiji Bati dominated Cook Islands with a 56-6 victory on home soil.
The match saw a total of 10 tries scored by the Bati, showcasing the team’s impressive performance on the field.
Reflecting on his hat-trick performance, Jennings expressed his satisfaction with the win and hoped for continued success for the Cook Islands in their upcoming match.
“It’s good to get a hat-trick and it’s good to get the win to finish up here (Fiji), we hope the Cook Islands wins next week against Papua New Guinea to get us in the game,” said Jennings.
“To finish a game like this in Fiji is a privilege and an honour, it’s good to do that performance to the Fijian people here.”
Looking ahead, Jennings believed the future looks bright for the Fiji Bati as they continue to build a strong team for the World Cup.
“The future for Fiji Bati is looking good I think this campaign, I guess we are still building this team, and we are building for the World Cup, you can see the crowd, the number of kids, we got a lot of young players who get to experience this camp, it’s looking good for the Fiji Bati.”
He noted the strong faith and camaraderie within the team, emphasising the importance of belief and unity in achieving success on the field.
“We are big on faith, I have been touched by the faith these boys have in God, and that’s the biggest difference I have found here other than playing with Australia, and Tongan team, and I’m grateful to be a part of this team and for playing for my country.”
Jennings also commended his teammates, including Viliame Kikau, Tui Kamikamica, and others, who have been representing Fiji with pride.
He emphasised the importance of developing more players and ultimately competing on the same level as Tier One nations in rugby league.
By being role models for the next generation, Jennings and his teammates aim to strengthen the sport in Fiji and continue to attract talented players to the national team.
The Fiji Bati will await the results of the PNG Kumuls and Cook Islands match this week to determine their path to the final of the 2024 Pacific Championships.
