Nawaqanitawase may play for Bati, Kikau unavailable

Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, the NRL’s 2025 top try-scorer, has told Bati coach Wise Kativerata that he will play for Fiji if he is not selected by the Kangaroos for the end-of-season Ashes series in England. 

Nawaqanitawase’s father Sevuloni Nawaqanitawase who is originally from Nalebaleba, Nadroga moved to Australia to play rugby league for the Balmain Tigers in 1991. 

Since the last Word Cup in England in 2022, the Bati have been undergoing a changing of the guard, with young guns Kurt Donoghoe, Kitione Kautoga, Caleb Navale and Jethro Rinakima now established NRL players. 

Bati captain Tui Kamikamica will play for the Storm in Sunday’s NRL grand final against the Broncos, while Bula, Turuva, Semi Valemai, Waqa Blake and Taane Milne also bring big game experience to the squad. 

Meanwhile, Fiji’s forward stocks are set to be bolstered for the Pacific Championships by the inclusion of the Fainu brothers, Samuela and Sione. 

Samuela and Sione, who are also eligible for Tonga, have elected to play for Fiji and could be joined at next year’s World Cup by a third brother, Latu, who is unavailable due to shoulder surgery. 

The Fainu siblings are among five Wests Tigers players set to feature in the Bati squad for Pacific Bowl matches against Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea, along with Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva and rookie playmaker Joese Lanyon. 

However, Wests Tigers captain and hooker Api Koroisau is unavailable, along with Bulldogs strike forward Viliame Kikau, who is getting married during the Pacific Championships. 

The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) will confirm their squad on Friday. 

The Pacific Bowl is being played at Santos National Stadium in Port Moresby with men’s and women’s double-headers over three consecutive Saturdays. 

Possible team: 

Fiji Bati: 1. Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers), 2. Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers), 3. Semi Valemei (Cowboys), 4. Waqa Blake (Bradford Bulls), 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters)/Jethro Rinakama (Bulldogs), 6. Joese Lanyon (Wests Tigers), 7. Brandon Wakeham (Sea Eagles), 8. Tui Kamikamica (Storm), 9. Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins), 10. Sione Fainu (Wests Tigers), 11. Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers), 12. Kitione Kautoga (Eels), 13. Caleb Navale (Sea Eagles), 14. Taane Milne (Huddersfield Giants), 15. Ben Nakubuwai (Brisbane Norths), 16. Kylan Mafoa (Sea Eagles), 17. Michael Waqa (Broncos) 

MATCHES 

October 18: Fiji Bati v Cook Islands Aitu, PNG Orchids v Cook Islands Moana 

October 25: PNG Kumuls v Cook Islands Aitu, Tonga XIII v Cook Islands Moana 

November 1: PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati, PNG Orchids v Tonga XIII