Asofa vs Kikau
New Zealand rugby league enforcer Nelson Asofa- Solomona is ready to take on the Vodafone Fijian Bati forwards in Sunday’s Rugby League World Cup quarterfinal clash at the MKM Stadium in Hull, England.
The Kiwis are still hurting from their 4-2 loss to the Fijians at the 2017 World Cup in Wellington. The silence from the Bati camp has kept New Zealand guessing.
Asofa-Solomona told NRL.com that he has put his hand up to fulfil the role of Jahrome Hughes’ ‘bodyguard’ and protect the star playmaker from the Bati forward.
After returning from a leg injury in a player-of-the-match performance against Ireland, Hughes will head into Sunday’s quarterfinal.
However, the Kiwis are wary that Bati forward Viliame Kikau is set to mark the star halfback.
Asofa-Solomona has warned the opposition will have to get past him first after his switch from the middle to an edge forward role.
“Whether I’m in the middle, second row or coming off the bench … I’m just going to do my job the best I can,” Asofa-Solomona told the media ahead of the Kiwis’ quarterfinal clash on Sunday.”
“Obviously, I played with Jahrome at the (Melbourne) Storm but whoever is there I like to make sure I protect them.”
Interim Bati head coach Wise Kativerata during a press conference stayed away from talking about Kikau but instead highlighted that Korbin Sims and Taniela Sadrugu were going to start.
“The reason behind it is because Sadrugu and Korbin play very aggressive style of football that’s where we need to counter New Zealand in the first 20 minutes,” Kativerata said.
“We got two big props coming off the bench. That is why we put King Vuniyayawa and Ben Nakubuwai back on the bench. We need to keep the energy up on the next level after the first 20 minutes when we bring in Ben Kubuwai and Vuniyayawa. That’s why we keep them there.”
The match kicks off at 7.30am.
Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj
