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.
Samuela and Sione Latu, pictured with brother Latu, are set to play for Fiji at the Pacific Championships.
©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
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.
Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, the NRL’s 2025 top tryscorer, 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 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.
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Fiji’s Top Tries from the Pacific Championships
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:
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
The Kumuls will be aiming to retain the Pacific Bowl for a third consecutive year but with the World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea at the end of next season there is no promotion-relegation match.
Alex Johnston, who needs just two more tries to surpass Ken Irvine (212 tries) as the greatest tryscorer in premiership history, is set to return for PNG after missing last year’s tournament due to an Achilles injury.
Jacob Allick-Wienke celebrates PNG’s win over Fiji Bati in the 2023 Pacific Bowl.
©Scott Davis/NRL Photos
Lachlan Lam, Edwin Ipape (Leigh) and Rhyse Martin (Hull KR) are involved in Super League finals series, while Nene Macdonald (Salford) and Liam Horne (Castleford) will also be returning from England to play for PNG.
Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou will be looking to find a replacement for veteran five-eighth Kyle Laybutt, who has retired, with PNG Hunters young guns Finlay Glare and Gairo Voro among the leading contenders.
Cooper Bai, who made his NRL debut for the Titans in Round 27, is set to join his legendary father Marcus as PNG international after graduating from the Junior Kumuls and Queensland Under 19s.
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Cooper Bai Try
Cook Islands, who will also play a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against South Africa at CommBank Stadium on November 9 as a curtain raiser to the men’s and women’s Pacific Cup finals, hope to have Broncos grand final forwards Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison in their squad.
Sharks centre KL Iro, Rabbitohs prop Davvy Moale and Knights utility Mason Teague will bring NRL experience, along with Cook Islands stalwarts Esan Marsters, Brad Taikarangi and Tepai Moeria.
Possible teams:
Fiji Bati
Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers)
Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers)
Semi Valemai (Cowboys)
Waqa Blake (Bradford Bulls)
Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters)/Jethro Rinakima (Bulldogs)
Joese Lanyon (Wests Tigers)
Brandon Wakeham (Sea Eagles)
Tui Kamikamica (Storm)
Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins)
Sione Fainu (Wests Tigers)
Samuela Fainu (Wests Tigers)
Kitione Kautoga (Eels)
Caleb Navale (Sea Eagles)
Taane Milne (Huddersfield Giants)
Ben Nakubuwai (Brisbane Norths)
Kylan Mafoa (Sea Eagles)
Michael Waqa (Broncos)
PNG Kumuls
Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)
Nene Macdonald (Salford Reds)
Alex Max (PNG Hunters)
Zac Laybutt (Cowboys)
Robert Derby (Cowboys)
Finlay Glare (PNG Hunters)
Lachlan Lam (Leigh Leopards)
Valentine Richard (Capras)
Edwin Ipape (Leigh Leopards)
Epel Kapianis (PNG Hunters)
Nixon Putt (Capras)
Rhyse Martin (Hull KR)
Jack De Belin (Dragons)
Liam Horne (Castleford)
Jacob Alick-Wienke (Titans)
Cooper Bai (Titans)
Sylvester Namo (Brisbane Tigers)
Cook Islands
Esom Ioka (Northern Pride)
Reubenn Rennie (Toulouse Olympique)
KL Iro (Sharks)
Delahia Wigmore (Panthers)
Paul Ulberg (Toulouse Olympique)
Esan Marsters (Salford Reds)
Brad Taikarangi (South-West Goannas)
Davvy Moale (Rabbitohs)
Mason Teague (Knights)
Xavier Willison (Broncos)
Brendan Piakura (Broncos)
Marata Niukore (Warriors)
Pride Petterson-Robati (Souths Logan Magpies)
Rua Ngatikaura (Rabbitohs)
Makahesi Makatoa (Roosters)
Tepai Moeroa (Wests Devils)
Reuben Porter (Wests Tigers)