BROOKVALE DEBUT – 22-year- old Fijian-Australian, Brayden Wiliame made his debut under Manly Sea Eagles colours after previously playing six games with Parramatta Eels in 2013, scoring three tries. The Manly fringe centre had a late call up on Friday night after former Kangaroos centre Jamie Lyon pulled out with injury. He had the difficult task of marking two of the best centres in the game in Tim Lafai and Josh Morris; he ran 79 metres from 12 runs, made one tackle break and 11 tackles in the Sea Eagles loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

BATI BATTLE – SISA WAQA v ETO NABULI

Contrasting performances from the Raiders and Dragons backlines, meant Sisa Waqa did not see too much ball so was kept quiet, while Eto Nabuli made plenty of metres in the Dragons 22 to 20 win. Waqa ran 67 metres from eight runs on the wing, while Nabuli made almost double with 120 metres from 13 runs.

BATI BATTLE TAKE TWO

Young Fiji Bati props Kane Evans and Reagan Campbell-Gillard faced off with the Roosters battling Panthers. Evans had a limited 19 minutes, but was still able to provide an impact with 13 tackles and 47 metres from 5 hit-ups. While, RCG had 24 tackles from 30 minutes and 64 metres gained form 6 hit-ups. Both expected to be confirmed for the Fiji Bati’s clash against PNG Kumuls on May 2.

MARIKA MAGIC

Fiji Bati Marika Koroibete was again superb for Melbourne Storm in their 36-18 thumping of Cronulla Sharks. He was almost unstoppable with speed to burn after having the second highest metres for the match with 157 metres from 14 runs, six tackle breaks and two line breaks, which allowed him to set up a try and also scored one himself at the 44 minute mark.

BUKUYA: Fiji Bati backrower Jayson Bukuya again provided a solid workhorse performance for the Sharks with 20 tackles from 48 minutes and 57 metres from seven runs.

NAIQAMA: The Tigers were up against the Rabbitohs who seem almost unstoppable at the moment, so the Tigers were expected to be restricted in attack. However, in a tough affair Kevin Naiqama managed to be one of only two Tigers backs to gain over 100 metres with statistics of 109 metres and 12 runs on the wing. The younger Naiqama brothers could well line-up at fullback for the Bati on May 2, as he has done so in the past.

BATI BOYS: The Bati combination of returning Newcastle Knights head coach (promoted from assistant coach) Rick Stone, Akuila Uate and Korbin Sims is playing a part in the Knights resurgence in 2015. After their third win from three NRL rounds on the weekend with a 20-18 win on the Gold Coast, the Knights now sit in second place on the NRL ladder. Uate contributed 120 metres (12 runs) and 3 tackle breaks, while Korbin Sims was again damaging at prop with 109 metres, 20 tackles and two tackle breaks from 49 minutes, although he will now miss the next two NRL rounds after taking the early guilty plea for two dangerous throws.

NRL Second Tier-Intrust Super Cup

Fijian in Focus

Nemani Valekapa again was on the try scorer’s sheet for Ipswich Jets making it three tries from three matches at centre.  He could well have put his hand up for a spot in the Bati side.

VB NSW Cup

Fijian in Focus

Eloni Vunakece is reportedly impressing with Wyong Roos (Sydney Roosters affiliated club) in the NSW Cup, who currently sit third on the ladder after three rounds.

Last weekend’s match report:  “Magnus Stromquist, Eloni Vunakece, Lagi Setu and Jack Seijka were relentless both sides of the ball, and regardless of the fact the Roos struggled at times for cohesion, when Wyong fell back to their default position, the home team was simply a little too strong for the Knights”

Meanwhile, Fiji Bati Aaron Groom played in Asquith Magpies round one Ron Massey Cup (competition below NSW Cup in the NSWRL structure) win over Cabramatta Two Blues last weekend scoring two tries.

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