PNG, Fiji name squads

IF you like your footy hard, tough and fast then all roads lead to Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night for the showdown between the Kumuls and the Bati (7.50pm kick-off).
After Samoa and the Cook Islands have the set the scene in the earlier game, it’s over to PNG and Fiji to light up the stadium with some ferocious defence and flashy attack in their first clash since November, 2019.
On that occasion, it was the Bati prevailing 22-20 in a thriller in Christchurch with Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica among the tryscorers and Maika Sivo running for 214m. Sivo has made a successful return from a knee reconstruction for the Eels and will be keen to add to his tally of two Test caps while Kikau will make his 12th appearance for his country and look to revive the glory days of the 2017 World Cup when Fiji made an emotional charge all the way to the semifinals.
Try-scoring machine Alex Johnston has won his third Test cap for the Kumuls and will play at fullback with Robert Derby (Northern Pride) and Terry Wapi (SP Hunters) taking the wing spots. Brisbane’s David Mead will captain the side and form a powerful centre combination with Melbourne’s Justin Olam.
Townsville Blackhawk Kyle Laybutt and Sydney Rooster Lachlan Lam are the halves.
The pack features two more Hunters players in hooker Wartovo Puara and prop Sylvester Namo as well as Gold Coast Titan Jacob Alick.
The Hunters’ Junior Rop is 18th man. The Kumuls are coached by Stanley Tepend.
Roosters veteran Kevin Naiqama will again captain the Bati in his 20th Test match and he’ll play five-eighth alongside Wests Magpie Nautu’a Masima.
Panthers powerhouse Kikau has the honour of co-captaining his country in his 12th Test match.
Wingers Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa, centres Semi Valemei and Waqa Blake, and young Panthers fullback Sunia Turuva make up a powerful back five.
Storm prop Tui Kamikamica and Kikau lead the pack along wth Rabbitohs’ Taane Milne at lock.
Mounties’ Penioni Tagituimua is the No.9 and Townsville Blackhawk Taniela Sadrugu packs into the second row.
PNG: Alex Johnston, Robert Derby, David Mead, Justin Olam, Terry Wapi, Kyle Laybutt, Lachlan Lam, Epel Kapinias, Wartovo Puara Jr, Sylvester Namo, Dan Russell, Nixon Putt, Jacob Alick; Interchange – Liam Horne, Emmanuel Waine, McKenzie Yei, Dilbert Isaac.
Fiji: Sunia Turuva, Mikaele Ravalawa, Semi Valemei, Waqa Blake, Maika Sivo, Kevin Naiqama, Nautu’a Masima, Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu, Penioni Tagituimua, Tui Kamikamica, Viliame Kikau, Taniela Sadrugu, Taane Milne; Interchange – Isaac Lumelume, Pio Seci, Lamar Manuel-Liolevave, Kaylen Miller.