If you like your footy hard, tough and fast then all roads lead to Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night for the showdown between the Kumuls and the Bati.
After Samoa and Cook Islanads have the set the scene in the earlier game it's over to PNG and Fiji to light up the stadium with some ferocious defence and flashy attack in their first clash since November, 2019.
On that occasion it was the Bati prevailing 22-20 in a thriller in Christchurch with Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica among the tryscorers and Maika Sivo running for 214 metres.
Sivo has made a successful return from a knee reconstruction for the Eels and will be keen to add to his tally of two Test caps while Kikau will make his 12th appearance for his country and look to revive the glory days of the 2017 World Cup when Fiji made an emotional charge all the way to the semi-finals.
Sportsbet Betting preview: PNG v Fiji
Team News
Papua New Guinea
Tryscoring machine Alex Johnston wins his third Test cap for the Kumuls and will play fullback with Robert Derby (Northern Pride) and Solo Wane (PNG Hunters) taking the wing spots. Brisbane's David Mead will captain the side and forms a powerful centre combination with Melbourne's Justin Olam. Townsville Blackhawks star Kyle Laybutt and Rooster Lachlan Lam are the halves.
The forward pack features two more PNG Hunters reps in hooker Wartovo Puara and prop Sylvester Namo as well as Jacob Alick from the Gold Coast Titans. The Hunters' Junior Rop is 18th Man. The Kumuls are coached by Stanley Tepend.
Fiji
Lamar Manuel-Liolevave will start the game and Ralulu Nasoki added to the bench after second-rower Taniela Sadrugu dropped out of the side originally named on Tuesday.
Roosters veteran Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati in his 20th Test match and he'll play five-eighth alongside Nautu'a Masima from Wests Magpies. Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau has the honour of co-captaining his country in his 12th Test match. Wingers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa, centres Semi Valemei and Waqa Blake and young Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva make up a powerful back five.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and Kikau lead the pack along wth Taane Milne at lock while Penioni Tagituimua from the Mounties club is the No.9.
Match: Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Round 1 -
home Team
PNG Kumuls
away Team
Fiji Bati
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Papua New Guinea is number 1 Alex JohnstonFullback for Fiji is number 1 Sunia Turuva
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Winger for Papua New Guinea is number 2 Robert DerbyWinger for Fiji is number 2 Mikaele Ravalawa
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Centre for Papua New Guinea is number 3 David MeadCentre for Fiji is number 3 Semi Valemei
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Centre for Papua New Guinea is number 4 Justin OlamCentre for Fiji is number 4 Waqa Blake
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Winger for Papua New Guinea is number 22 Solo WaneWinger for Fiji is number 5 Maika Sivo
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Five-Eighth for Papua New Guinea is number 6 Kyle LaybuttFive-Eighth for Fiji is number 6 Kevin Naiqama
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Halfback for Papua New Guinea is number 7 Lachlan LamHalfback for Fiji is number 7 Nautu'a Masima
Forwards
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Prop for Papua New Guinea is number 8 Epel KapiniasProp for Fiji is number 8 Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu
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Hooker for Papua New Guinea is number 9 Wartovo PuaraHooker for Fiji is number 9 Penioni Tagituimua
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Prop for Papua New Guinea is number 10 Sylvester NamoProp for Fiji is number 10 Tui Kamikamica
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2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 11 Dan Russell2nd Row for Fiji is number 11 Viliame Kikau
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2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 12 Nixon Putt2nd Row for Fiji is number 16 Lamar Manuel-Liolevave
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Lock for Papua New Guinea is number 13 Jacob AlickLock for Fiji is number 13 Taane Milne
Interchange
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Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 14 Liam HorneInterchange for Fiji is number 14 Isaac Lumelume
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Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 15 Emmanuel WaineInterchange for Fiji is number 15 Pio Seci
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Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 16 McKenzie YeiInterchange for Fiji is number 17 Kaylen Miller
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Interchange for Papua New Guinea is number 17 Dilbert IssacInterchange for Fiji is number 18 Ralulu Nasoki
Reserves
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Replacement for Papua New Guinea is number 18 Junior RopReplacement for Fiji is number 22 Waqasaqa Qiolevu
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Key match-up
Alex Johnston v Mikaele Ravalawa
The Rabbitohs' greatest tryscorer of all time is a silky smooth mover who appears to glide across the turf at times while the Dragons' Fijian flyer favours brute strength as he method of making it to the tryline. Two of the NRL's most potent attacking weapons are ready to light up Campbelltown Stadium if they are given an inch of space. Whether it's Johnston going around his rivals or Ravalawa going over them, expect plenty of highlight reels from these two stars.
Stat attack
The Kumuls have played twice at Campbelltown Stadium for two wins while the Bati are 0-2 at this venue. The four internationals between the two sides have resulted in two wins apiece.
Justin Olam was in the thick of the action in 2018 when the Kumuls got the better of the Bati at this ground, scoring a try in the 26-14 triumph. The Storm star has scored six tries in nine Tests for the Kumuls.
Match: Papua New Guinea v Fiji
Round 1 -
home Team
PNG Kumuls
away Team
Fiji Bati
Venue: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney
