Fiji boasts sets of brothers

 APART from numerous specialities, there is something unique about this Vodafone Fiji Bati team for the Rugby League World Cup which starts at the end of the month in England.

It has a “band of brothers” that has joined forces to bolster the national team’s campaign in the World Cup.

The Simms — Ashton, Tariq and Korbin; the Naiqamas — Wes and Kevin; the Millards — Darryl and Ryan; and the Tanis — Alipate and Kaliova — are part of history.

Fiji is the only team in the World Cup that will feature four sets of brothers.

For the younger Naiqama, Kevin, being one of the four brothers is a “real humbling” experience.

The 24-year-old Newcastle Knights winger is ready to play his first World Cup and hopes the “brotherly bond” will help the side achieve its goal.

“It’s a great honour. I guess it’s a good thing for Fiji and good thing for rugby league and I’m pretty sure all of us are excited to play. It will be a great experience,” Kevin said.

Kevin said his elder brother, Wes, who skippered the national team to a top four finish in the 2008 tournament, was quite inspirational.

“It’s definitely exciting. I’m really privileged to represent my country. This is my first World Cup and its really humbling, players at the last World Cup have set good standards and from that I think rugby league is growing little bit more in Fiji which is good.

“It’s good to see more NRL players (from Fiji) now in Australia,”he said.

Kevin believes this year’s team is much better than the one that lost in the semi-finals to the Kangaroos in 2008.