VODAFONE Fiji Bati head coach Mick Potter has made three changes to his starting 13 that will face the New Zealand Warriors this Saturday in a do-or-die clash to extend their 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
The three changes from last week’s line-up against the Australian Kangaroos are Bayleigh Bentley-Hape moving to reserve and Sunia Turuva replacing him at full-back, Ronald Philitoga taking Turuva’s place at right wing and Emosi Ravosai standing in as prop after Mitchell Prest, who featured in the number 10 jersey last week, might face World Cup suspension.
Meanwhile, the Kiwis have made six changes to their starting 13 from last week’s clash against the Cook Islands.
The six include Dane Gagai stepping in at right centre, Casey McLean for left centre, Moses Leota as prop, Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora as second row forwards and Joseph Tapine as loose forward.
After the Bati had given the Kangaroos a resounding scare they overcame with a 22-36 victory in front of an anxious Brisbane home crowd, the Kiwis have upped the ante this week by adding some of their best players into the mix that faced the ‘Roos in round one.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Bati were back in the groove with a training session at the Coomera Anglican College ground in Upper Coomera, Queensland, Australia yesterday.
The college ground is a 36-minute car ride away from the Cbus Super Stadium where the Bati face the Kiwis this Saturday.
Head coach Mick Potter shared after Sunday’s near-slaughter of the ‘Roos that even with a short turnaround before they face the Kiwis, his men were ready for what they would bring.
“They showed courage, they showed they can play footy and we’re still in it,” Potter said on Sunday.
“And we’ve got New Zealand coming up and that will be a massive challenge and I’m sure the players, even with a short turnaround, will be ready for it.”
The Bati have entered this year’s World Cup as underdogs and have even been labelled by Australian media outlets as a “lowly-funded, tier Two test nation.”
They and their female counterparts, the Bulikula, brought two formidable rugby league sides to their knees over the weekend; the Bulikula beat the PNG Orchids 40-4 on their home turf in Port Moresby last Saturday.
The Bati and Bulikula fixtures for round three are a double header: the Bulikula meet France at 2.20pm and the Bati face the Kiwis after at 4.30pm.
Bati starting XIII: 1. Sunia Turuva, 2. Ronald Philitoga, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Solomone Saukuru, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Kurt Donoghoe, 7. Brandon Wakeham, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Apisai Koroisau (captain), 10. Emosi Ravosai, 11. Taane Milne, 12. Kitione Kautoga, 13. Caleb Navale.
Bati interchange: 14. Josese Lanyon, 15, Elijah Leung, 16. Jordan Miller, 17. Joseph Litidamu, 18. Jordin Leiu, 19. Apenisa Driti.
Bati reserves: Zion Johnson, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Kylan Mafoa.
