The Vodafone Fiji Bati rugby league side is in a must-win game against the Cook Islands this Saturday if they want to make it through to the promotion-relegation match.

This was after they lost, 22-10, to a formidable Papua New Guinea Kumuls side at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, last Saturday night.

The winner of the Pacific Bowl Championship will take on the third-ranked Pacific Cup team where the winner will play in the Cup championship next season.

Bati head coach Waisake Kativerata admitted that his players failed to perform according to their game plan.

Kumuls dominated the match with a comfortable 16-0 lead at half-time.

“We didn’t play to our standard,” he said.

“In the first half we gave away four seven-tackle sets in a row that made the difference.

“When you play against a team like Papua New Guinea you can’t afford to do that.

“They’d already played one game extra compared to us, nearly 80 per cent of their boys played last week (against the Australia PM’s XIII).

“We created opportunity, but we did not capitalise; pass was backwards or two seconds late from the dummy half.

“It was the difference because they already played one game last week, nearly 80 per cent of the boys play last week, we didn’t complete on high.

“Even if we finished a set, our kicking game didn’t reach the point where we wanted it.”

Kativerata added that the loss is behind them and has set their focus on hosting the Aitu men.

“We got a lot to work on; we need to regroup because we only got one week (until the next game)

“We’ve all seen their boys, they all play in different clubs in the NRL- I need to sit with the coaching staff and come up with a plan.”

The Bati’s coaching staff includes most-capped Rabbitohs John Sutton whose mother hails from Rotuma and Jarryd Hayne who is also a mentor for the side.

Kativerata acknowledged the forwards for not giving up against the Kumuls.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj