International rugby league returns this Saturday with a number of games, but most importantly is the PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati match on Saturday.
These Pacific Tests are a welcome return after a Covid enforced break, and the perfect entrée to the big State of Origin Game 2 clash.
The PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati match features some big NRL names like Viliame Kikau and Alex Johnston and Justin Olam, but there’s a good sprinkling of lesser known players to follow and enjoy, which is half the point to these games.
Both sides haven’t gone for a big NRL name to coach them either. For PNG Kumuls Stanley Tepend is the new head coach after taking over from the very successful Michael Marum who took the Kumuls to new heights (and world ranking) and led the PNG Hunters to the Queensland Cup Premiership. Tepend is a former PNG International.
Fiji coach Joe Dakuitoga is starting his third stint in charge of the national side he has also played for.
This is an important hit out with a World Cup at the end of the year, and not many opportunities to get in some game time before then.
Either way the result goes, it is great to see the Pacific Tests back, and the glorious yellow and red jersey back in action. Let’s hope the NRL looks at expanding the standalone State of Origin on a Sunday which could mean more Pacific Tests.
Our full PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati match preview awaits, with teams, stats and thoughts on the big game on Saturday.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI BATI MATCH STATS
SATURDAY 7:50pm @ Campbelltown
LIVE ON FOX LEAGUE
PNG KUMULS v FIJI BATI MATCH TEAMS
PNG KUMULS
1. Alex Johnston 2. Robert Derby 3. David Mead 4. Justin Olam 5. Terry Wapi 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Epel Kapinias 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Sylvester Namo 11. Dan Russell 12. Nixon Putt 13. Jacob Alick 14. Liam Horne 15. Emmanuel Waine 16. McKenzie Yei 17. Dilbert Issac 18. Junior Rop 19. Sherwin Tanabi 20. Solo Wane
FIJI BATI
1. Sunia Turuva 2. Mikaele Ravalawa 3. Semi Valemei 4. Waqa Blake 5. Maika Sivo 6. Kevin Naiqama 7. Nautu’a Masima 8. Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu 9. Penioni Tagituimua 10. Tui Kamikamica 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Taniela Sadrugu 13. Taane Milne 14. Isaac Lumelume 15. Pio Seci 16. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave 17. Kaylen Miller 18. Ralulu Nasoki 19. Waqasaqa Qiolevu 20. Mesake Kurukitoga
TEAMS THOUGHTS
PNG KUMULS
Rumours of Jack de Belin playing for the Kumuls didn’t eventuate, with the Dragons forward stating that he didn’t want to take away places from other PNG players. Certainly honourable, but the selfish PNG fan inside thinks it would have been great to see him for the Kumuls. Maybe he changes his mind for a World Cup later in the season.
Alex Johnston continues his Kumuls career, and his experience was one of the main reasons the Kumuls were so strong in their last start win over Great Britain in 2019. That and they were simply fantastic and too good for the Brits.
Justin Olam too has been carrying the weight of the PNG nation as his stocks in the NRL have risen since the Kumuls last played, so this Saturday is a great way of proving how far he has come by leading the Kumuls to victory.
There’s some lesser known names in the side for those who don’t follow the Kumuls or Queensland Cup, but every time we see Kyle Laybutt in the Kumuls jersey he hasn’t disappointed and believe at minimum he’ll match the efforts of his NRL opposite number Kevin Naiqama. Terry Wapi is also a livewire, scored four tries and has seven line breaks in his eight games in the Queensland Cup this season.
Glad to see the exciting prospect Epel Kapinias getting a starting spot. He was one of the Hunters best in a disappointing 2021 Queensland Cup season, but was dropped from the Hunters for 2022 for non playing reasons. But he has since joined Wynnum Manly mid season, and gets a chance to shine again. He was one player being looked at for potential NRL last season and now has a good stage to make claims again.
Nixon Putt has been a regular in the Kumuls forward pack in recent campaigns, and will no doubt lead from the front again. He moved to the perennial under achievers Central Capras a few seasons ago from 2021 premiers Norths, but the move is working out for both, with the Capras enjoying their best ever season and Putt driving them forward. He has the second highest score for average Post Contact Metres per game in the Queensland Cup this season. He is second for offloads this season and rates highly in a lot of other key measures. He’s also one that should be being looked at for NRL.
Some say the Kumuls lack size, and while that is true they should be excited at the inclusion of 192 cm – 105kg Jacob Alick who is currently playing for competition leaders Burleigh and is in the top ten for running metres in the Queensland Cup this season.
Good coverage in the hooking role with tried and trusted Wartovo Puara likely to share with Norths Devils Liam Horne.
Of course the side doesn’t quite look the same without Luke Page who retired at the end of 2021.
There’s not quite as many PNG Hunters in the team as previous, and the team (and us) will miss not seeing the name Willie Minoga named, but the Hunters are going through a rebuilding phase so are not expected to fill the side like in previous seasons.
FIJI BATI
Obviously Viliame Kikau is the big name, and there’s not much that needs to be added to his NRL feats. At his best he will tear the game apart, but he can be kept quiet, and if the Kumuls can do so they will go a long way to winning the game.
Tui Kamikamica is only just returning for Melbourne, but his NRL experience will be vital to power the Fiji team forward.
One area of excitement for Fiji lies in the wingers. If the attack is going well then having Mikaele Ravalawa and Maika Sivo on either side is going to give them a big advantage of the Kumuls.
As with the Kumuls, there are names that some won’t recognise if only considering NRL players, but that’s the joy of these games, is finding a new talent just waitngto explode onto the international scene.
PNG KUMULS v FIJI BATI H2H STATS AND FORM
Here’s the H2H stats ahead of the big PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati game on Saturday night.
Results courtesy of the internet’s greatest rugby league resource – Rugby League Project.
| Year | Date | Team | Result | Score | Opponent | Venue |
| 1993 | Jun 19th | Papua New Guinea | W | 35 – 24 | Fiji | Port Moresby |
| 1998 | Jul 18th | Papua New Guinea | W | 16 – 14 | Fiji | Nadi |
| 1998 | Jul 22nd | Papua New Guinea | W | 34 – 12 | Fiji | Goroka |
| 1998 | Jul 26th | Papua New Guinea | L | 10 – 14 | Fiji | Port Moresby |
| 2009 | Jul 22nd | Papua New Guinea | W | 54 – 10 | Fiji | Port Moresby |
| 2009 | Jul 25th | Papua New Guinea | W | 14 – 2 | Fiji | Port Moresby |
| 2011 | Oct 26th | Papua New Guinea | L | 10 – 26 | Fiji | Mount Hagen |
| 2011 | Nov 5th | Papua New Guinea | W | 26 – 0 | Fiji | Port Moresby |
| 2015 | May 2nd | Papua New Guinea | L | 10 – 22 | Fiji | Gold Coast |
| 2016 | May 7th | Papua New Guinea | W | 24 – 22 | Fiji | Sydney |
| 2018 | Jun 23rd | Papua New Guinea | W | 26 – 14 | Fiji | Campbelltown |
| 2019 | Nov 9th | Papua New Guinea | L | 20 – 22 | Fiji | Christchurch |
PNG Kumuls lead Fiji 8-4 in the H2H for this fixture.
The H2H in Australia is 2-2, however the Kumuls are undefeated against Fiji at Campbelltown.
PNG KUMULS FORM SINCE 2017
It’s been a while since the Kumuls (or anyone) has played international rugby leage, so here is the Kumuls recent form record from 2017 onwards, which includes the 2017 World Cup.
You should notice their last start win over not just England but Great Britain in one of their best performances ever.
| Year | Date | Team | Result | Score | Opponent | Venue |
| 2017 | May 6th | PNG | W | 32 – 22 | Cook Islands | Campbelltown |
| 2017 | Oct 28th | PNG | W | 50 – 6 | Wales | Port Moresby |
| 2017 | Nov 5th | PNG | W | 14 – 6 | Ireland | Port Moresby |
| 2017 | Nov 12th | PNG | W | 64 – 0 | USA | Port Moresby |
| 2017 | Nov 19th | PNG | L | 6 – 36 | England | Melbourne |
| 2018 | Jun 23rd | PNG | W | 26 – 14 | Fiji | Campbelltown |
| 2019 | Jun 22nd | PNG | L | 6 – 24 | Samoa | Sydney |
| 2019 | Nov 9th | PNG | L | 20 – 22 | Fiji | Christchurch |
| 2019 | Nov 16th | PNG | W | 28 – 10 | Great Britain | Port Moresby |
FIJI BATI FORM SINCE 2017
A good World Cup for Fiji in 2017, but hot and cold form since. A win and a loss v PNG and Lebanon, but a good win over Samoa.
| Year | Date | Team | Result | Score | Opponent | Venue |
| 2017 | May 6th | Fiji | L | 24 – 26 | Tonga | Campbelltown |
| 2017 | Oct 28th | Fiji | W | 58 – 12 | USA | Townsville |
| 2017 | Nov 5th | Fiji | W | 72 – 6 | Wales | Townsville |
| 2017 | Nov 10th | Fiji | W | 38 – 10 | Italy | Canberra |
| 2017 | Nov 18th | Fiji | W | 4 – 2 | New Zealand | Wellington |
| 2017 | Nov 24th | Fiji | L | 6 – 54 | Australia | Brisbane |
| 2018 | Jun 23rd | Fiji | L | 14 – 26 | PNG | Campbelltown |
| 2019 | Jun 22nd | Fiji | W | 58 – 14 | Lebanon | Sydney |
| 2019 | Sep 29th | Fiji | L | 16 – 42 | Lebanon | Sydney |
| 2019 | Nov 2nd | Fiji | W | 44 – 18 | Samoa | Auckland |
| 2019 | Nov 9th | Fiji | W | 22 – 20 | PNG | Christchurch |
PNG KUMULS v FIJI BATI PREDICTIONS
Fiji certainly have a few big name players in Viliame Kikau and Maika Sivo, but back in 2018 PNG easily beat Fiji who had one Jarryd Hayne in their side.
PNG have some NRL firepower of their own with try scoring machine Alex Johnston and arguably one of the NRL’s top five centres in the past few seasons in Justin Olam.
Another area where the Kumuls have an advantage in our opinion is the halves. Lachlan Lam and the underrated Kyle Laybutt are a very good pairing for the Kumuls and have the edge on Fiji.
Of course the forwards will have a big say in the game, and Fiji having Viliame Kikau is a massive advantage, David Mead may be in for a tough night. Tui Kamikamica and Tanne Milne are also be a big plus for Fiji.
The Kumuls forwards should be able to match it with the Fiji forwards to a degree, but as ever it comes down to discipline with the ball and penalty count. Three of the players named from the Hunters feature in the top five for missed tackles in the Queensland Cup this season.
If they get the discipline right and keep Kikau quiet, the Kumuls look like they have some points in them, so may be able just to sneak a win.
PREDICTION
PNG KUMULS by 2
