Pacific Nations Test rugby league continues this weekend with our interest rising for the PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati test match.
It is the first meeting of these sides since the Kumuls took a convincing win in 2018 in the mid season Pacific Nations test series. Our review on that game is here for your interest.
The PNG Kumuls v Fiji match kicks off in Christchurch at 2:20pm Australian time, and is thankfully broadcast in Australia via the tremendous Fox League coverage.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI TEAMS
PNG KUMULS
1 Alex Johnston
2 Edene Gebbie
3 Dan Russell
4 Justin Olam
5 Terry Wapi
6 Kyle Laybutt
7 Watson Boas
8 Wellington Albert
9 Wartovo Puara
10 Luke Page
11 Nixon Putt
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Moses Meninga
14 Edwin Ipape
15 Stanton Albert
16 Enock Maki
17 Stargroth Amean
FIJI BATI
1 Siti Moceidreke
2 Maika Sivo
3 Taane Milne
4 Brayden Wiliame
5 Suliasi Vunivalu
6 Kevin Naiqama
7 Brandon Wakeham
8 Kane Evans
9 Joe Lovodua
10 Tui Kamikamica
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Ben Nakubuwai
13 D’Rhys Miller
12 Ben Nakubuwai
13 D’Rhys Miller
14 Lamar Liolevave
15 Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu
16 King Vuniyayawa
16 King Vuniyayawa
17 Penioni Tagituimua
PNG KUMULS v FIJI – TEAM NEWS
There has been talk of Alex Johnston joining up with the Kumuls for years now, and for this test against Fiji it has finally happened. It gives the PNG Kumuls a real touch of NRL class that they are usually lacking when taking on the rest of the Pacific.
Edwin Ipape was a real unknown heading into the mid season test against Samoa, but the man who was only playing reserve grade for Wynnum was a revelation at five eighth, and on that performance deserved another go for the Kumuls.
The PNG Hunters don’t dominate the Kumuls Test line up for a change, and that is a good thing for PNG rugby league as it means their players are furthering their careers. The group coming back from England look sharper than ever.
Maika Sivo is a most welcome inclusion for Fiji, and not a bad addition to a side who scored 44 points against Samoa last weekend. He is the only change from the successful side.
The Bulldogs’ Brandon Wakeham remains in the number seven jersey, and was a player that Brad Fittler himself said to keep an eye on for the 2019 season. Didn’t quite crack the NRL but has a golden chance here to show his skills again.
Sadly, no place for Garry Lo, which is a real shame. He is an excitement machine who has the ability to tear up the game.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI – POINTS OF INTEREST
Two of the breakout stars from the 2019 NRL season are playing in this fixture, with leading try scorer Eel Maika Sivo representing Fiji on the wing, and Melbourne Storm’s Justin Olam hoping to cap a great 2019 with a test match victory over Fiji.
PNG Kumuls style in the recent World Nines was impressive, going back to the days where they were a little more cavalier. It worked too, as they flogged USA and pushed New Zealand very close. As a PNG Hunters fan who misses their early days of exciting football with unbelievable offloads and smashing tackles, we hope the 13 man version repeats a lot of the nine man style.
Sadly there is no Willie Minoga, and we firmly believe any team from PNG is the poorer for his exclusion.
Michael Marum stood down from the PNG Hunters to concentrate on the national side, so after a decent showing in the Nines, this will be the first big test for his new lease of life for the Intrust Super Cup winning coach.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI – KEY BATTLES
HALVES
Interesting battle here, and hard not to say Fiji have the advantage after a big win last weekend, and in Kevin Naiqama a player with loads of NRL experience. But Watson Boas is a very lively player, and has done quite well over in England for Featherstone this season, and looked sharp at the World Nines. Kyle Laybutt is a solid operator in the number six, and the Kumuls may also turn to Edwin Ipape who did a good job against Samoa earlier in the year.
KIKAU v PUTT
Two guns in the second row, Kikau is talked of more below as one of our X Factors, but he has the ability to smash open the game for Fiji.
Nixon Putt is on the rise, leaving the PNG Hunters for Norths Devils he went up a gear in 2019 for Norths, and was the Kumuls best against Samoa earlier in the year. Not only his runs, but stinging defence will have a lot of wannabe line breakers shut down in their tracks.
Seeing these two on the flanks will be great value for all Pacific rugby league fans.
PROPS
The starting props for both sides look really strong, with NRL experience of Kane Evans and Tui Kamikamica for Fiji, and England based Wellington Albert and Burleigh’s Intrust Super Cup winning captain Luke Page.
Kane Evans is quite the fiery individual, so looking for a little bit of fireworks in the middle, and Tui Kamikamica is large and so is his output in the middle of the park.
Luke Page is one of our favourite Kumuls, and he is a big time performer as seen in the two recent premierships for Burleigh. Nothing sums up Page more than in the 2019 Grand Final with 10 seconds to play and the Grand Final won, he hit the ball up with as much velocity as the first. He brings that to his game with the Kumuls.
The early battle of the props will go some way to giving either side the advantage.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI – X FACTOR
VILIAME KIKAU
At the height of his powers, there would hardly be a bigger X Factor in rugby league than Viliame Kikau. Injuries have interrupted his 2019 season, and one hopes that he can remain injury free as he is a joy to watch. One remembers how badly he tore up the PNG Hunters defence in the 2017 NRL State Championship. Although the Kumuls should have a little more concrete now.
EDENE GEBBIE
The PNG speedstar tore up the Intrust Super Cup for Wynnum this season, and although he has shifted from his regular fullback position to accommodate Alex Johnston, he should still be a real X Factor. The only worry was he was relatively quiet in big games this season – the earlier Test against Samoa and the Intrust Super Cup Grand Final, but being surrounded by a little more NRL experience, he may well produce his very best and show to all those Rabbitohs fans what they have to look forward to in 2020.
RHYSE MARTIN
Somehow it all went pear shaped for Martin at the Bulldogs, their loss really as Martin seems to be a player who can make magic happen. And a decent goal kicker as well for the tight games. He has excelled for the Kumuls since being given a go, and will no doubt do so again this Saturday.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI – PREDICTION
It should be easy to pick – PNG lost to Samoa earlier in the year, and Fiji just beat Samoa which means Fiji should win easily. On paper.
The Kumuls have a decent record against Fiji recently, they easily beat them last season in a NRL star packed side that included one Jarryd Hayne.
If anything, aside from the lack of Minoga, PNG look even stronger this year.
But it is hard to look past the way Fiji beat Samoa last weekend.
In saying that, we will look past all of that with our Kumul tinted glasses and go for another upset for PNG over Fiji. Just the way we like it.
Prediction: PNG Kumuls 20 Fiji 18
