Page 33 - IB OCT 2017

Sports Dictatorship Don’t copy a democracy Strength Power food of the champi-
model that we will regret P35
ons P37

Bati

guns all

out for

World 27 Oct, Melbourne, Aust v

THE FIXTURES

Cup Eng; 28 Oct, Port Moresby, PNG
v Wales; Auckland, NZ v Samoa;
Townsville, Fiji v USA; 29 Oct,
Cairns, Ireland v Italy; Canberra,
France v Lebanon; Cairns, Scot-
land v Tonga; 3 Nov, Canberra,
Aust v France; 4 Nov, Christchurch,
NZ v Scotland; Hamilton, Sa-
moa v Tonga; Sydney, England
v Lebanon;5 Nov, Port Moresby,
PNG v Ireland; Townsville, Italy v
USA; Townsville, Fiji v Wales; 10
Nov,Canberra, Fiji v Italy; 11 Nov,
Hamilton, NZ v Tonga Cairns,
Samoa v Scotland; Sydney, Aust
Suliasi Vunivalu in one of his runs in the NRL that won him the Try Scorer Award at the Dally M medal v Lebanon; 12 Nov, Port Moresby;
awards. Photo: ABC PNG v USA; Perth, Wales v Ireland;
By Ilaitia Turagabeci his progress in the NRL and looked Perth, England v France; Quarter-
forward to his inclusion in the Bati, who finals: 17 Nov, Darwin; 18 Nov,
THE Vodafone Fiji Bati will not be an easy will be without Paramatta Eels star Semi Christchurch, Wellington; 19 Nov,
pushover at the Rugby League World Cup Radradra, who has switched back to rugby Melbourne: Semi-finals:
if the form of Fijian players on the interna- union in France 24 Nov, Brisbane; 25 Nov, Auck-
tional circuit is anything to go by. “Suli has been steadily improving in land. Final:2 Dec, Brisbane
Fiji National Rugby League chief execu- all aspects of the game. Fijians have flair The tournament will be aired
tive officer Timoci Naleba said they wer but as far as positiomnal play goes, we live in the region on Sky Pacific.
impressed with the performance of Fijians will be relying on him.“He has that edge
in the NRL and confident of a good outing in that area and we know the Bati will be joined Vunivalu in the team.Fiji Bati: Su-
come the showdown from October 27 to a major force when we zero down to the liasi Vunivalu, Jarryd Hayne Ashton Sims,
December 2. World Cup.” Korbin Sims, Eloni Vunakece, Akuila Uate,
The standout player in the Bati is Suliasi Players who played more than six Na- Kane Evans, Salesi Faingaa, Tui Kamika-
Vunivalu, the replacement winger for the tional Rugby League (NRL) games did mica, Viliame Kikau, Apisai Koroisau, Joe
Melbourne Storm, who stunned the NRL not play in the Battle of the Bati trials, but Lovodua, Henry Raiwalui, Taine Milne,
since his debut. had to pass medical examinations to be Sitiveni Moceidreke, Macerllo Montoya,
Vunivalu, who hails from the Toorak considered for the World Cup. Kevin Naiqama, Ben Nakubuwai, Mikaele
suburb in Suva, won the Try Scorer award Naleba said they kept selection for the Ravalawa, Junior Roqica, Jacob Saifiti,
during the Dally M Medal award with his 24-member squad open to veteran play- Pio Seci, James Storer, Brayden Williame,
performance this season and played a key ers but were focussed on a new stock of Etuate Bola.
role in Melbourne’s 34-6 win over North players who would make the Bati core World Cup defending defending cham-
Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Grand for the 2021 and 2025 world cups. Jar- pion Australia has named a strong squad
Final at ANZ Stadium on October 1. ryd Hayne, Sisa Waqa and James Storer that will travel to Fiji later this month for
Naleba said they had been studying were among overseas-based players who the Tri-Nations against Fiji and PNG.

Islands Business, October 201733