Will Jarryd Hayne play for Fiji?

[adamkungl]

What's the Battle of the Bati?

 

[morningstar]

What's the Battle of the Bati?

Fiji residents vs Fiji overseas players played in Suva. They did it before RLWC2013 as a final selection trial for the world cup. Pretty sure the residents won last time too.

 

[adamkungl]

Fiji residents vs Fiji overseas players played in Suva. They did it before RLWC2013 as a final selection trial for the world cup. Pretty sure the residents won last time too.

Awesome. I think more nations should do this if they have significant numbers in overseas comps. Can almost be their 'Origin'

 

[morningstar]

Agreed. It's fine to run with a heritage team if that's what the national governing body want, but it's criminal to ignore domestic players completely when they are the only reason that qualifies you to play in the tournament in the first place. (Excluding Scotland).

A residents vs lower grade probables like the Battle of the Bati is a good way to decide the final fringe squad places and at least give the local guys a fair shot. Money, logistics and willingness put a dampener on things so much kudos to Fiji.

 

[milton]

Plenty of Players to choose from who play regular NRL/ SL games:
Fullbacks: Hayne (Titans) Phillips (Bulldogs)
Wingers: Vunivalu (Storm) Uate (Manly) Montoya (Bulldogs) Radradra (Eels)
Centres: Blake (Panthers) Naiqama (Tigers) Williame (Catalans)
Halves: Sutton (Rabbits) Mocendreke (Rabbits)
Hookers: Koroisau (Manly)
Front Rowers: Evans (Roosters) J.Saifiti (Knights) Campbell- GIllard (Panthers) A.Simms (Warrington) K.Simms (Broncos) Kikau (Panthers) Vunakece (Roosters) Kamikamica (Storm)
Back Rowers: Bukuya (Sharks) T.Simms (Dragons) D.Saifiti (Knights)

Team I would go with would be:
1. Hayne
2. Vunivalua
3. Blake
4. Williame
5. Uate (Radradra if available)
6. Sutton
7. Mocendreke (or switch with Hayne)
8. A.Simms
9. Koroisau
10. Campbell- Gillard
11. T. Simms
12. Bukuya
13. K.Simms

14. Naiqama
15. Evans
16. Kikau
17. Saifiti

 

[stormbati]

If Radradra does play he will be at centre as he's done in the past.
Sutton is the big probable. Probably not unfortunately and surely Meninga has better options than Hayne.

 

[Clarkent]

Plenty of Players to choose from who play regular NRL/ SL games:
Fullbacks: Hayne (Titans) Phillips (Bulldogs)
Wingers: Vunivalu (Storm) Uate (Manly) Montoya (Bulldogs) Radradra (Eels)
Centres: Blake (Panthers) Naiqama (Tigers) Williame (Catalans)
Halves: Sutton (Rabbits) Mocendreke (Rabbits)
Hookers: Koroisau (Manly)
Front Rowers: Evans (Roosters) J.Saifiti (Knights) Campbell- GIllard (Panthers) A.Simms (Warrington) K.Simms (Broncos) Kikau (Panthers) Vunakece (Roosters) Kamikamica (Storm)
Back Rowers: Bukuya (Sharks) T.Simms (Dragons) D.Saifiti (Knights)

Team I would go with would be:
1. Hayne
2. Vunivalua
3. Blake
4. Williame
5. Uate (Radradra if available)
6. Sutton
7. Mocendreke (or switch with Hayne)
8. A.Simms
9. Koroisau
10. Campbell- Gillard
11. T. Simms
12. Bukuya
13. K.Simms

14. Naiqama
15. Evans
16. Kikau
17. Saifiti

That willaime must be a good player to make it over naiqama

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

Radradra is signed to French rugby union from October at the latest so he won't be selected for the RLWC.
Korisau has to play scrum half because that position, which he has played before, is more important than hooker, and there is no quality alternative scrum half.

The best team is:

J. Hayne
S. Vunivalu, W. Blake, K. Naiqama, A. Uate,

J. Sutton,
A. Korisau

J. Bukuya
T. Simms, K, Simms
A. Simms, J. Storer, R. Campbell-Gillard.

Interchange: K. Evans, J. Saifiti, D. Saifiti, E. Vunakece,
18th man. B. Williame

That team should come 4th, unless there is an upset by either PNG or France.

 

[Clarkent]

Radradra is signed to French rugby union from October at the latest so he won't be selected for the RLWC.
Korisau has to play scrum half because that position, which he has played before, is more important than hooker, and there is no quality alternative scrum half.

The best team is:

J. Hayne
S. Vunivalu, W. Blake, K. Naiqama, A. Uate,

J. Sutton,
A. Korisau

J. Bukuya
T. Simms, K, Simms
A. Simms, J. Storer, R. Campbell-Gillard.

Interchange: K. Evans, J. Saifiti, D. Saifiti, E. Vunakece,
18th man. B. Williame

That team should come 4th, unless there is an upset by either PNG or France.

That is one strong fijian team... Uate has a lot of competition with Montoya and few wingers in the NRL coming up now

 

[Albert Rosenfeld]

That is one strong fijian team... Uate has a lot of competition with Montoya and few wingers in the NRL coming up now

Montoya is eligible to play for Chile. If only we could recruit another 16 Chilean players to play along side him.

 

[Irish-bulldog]

Semi trailer won't be in the Fijian team , it's a disgrace when guys like semi play for Australia just because he gets paid. The guy can barely speak English, I support the 2 tier country's rule. But Australia, nz and England shouldn't be allowed to poach players otherwise the others will never bridge the gap.