PNG stalwart Nene Macdonald insists the top tier nations hold no fear for the Kumuls as they aim to win qualification for next year’s Pacific Cup under a new promotion-relegation format.
Macdonald, who has played 16 Tests for his native Papua New Guinea, said the players were embracing the opportunity to take on the third placed Pacific Cup team – Australia, New Zealand or Tonga – in a play-off if they retain the Pacific Cup.
The Kumuls will begin their title defence at Suva’s HFC Stadium on Saturday night against Fiji and host Cook Islands on 02 November, with wins in both Tests assuring them of a place in the finals at CommBank Stadium on 10 November.
“We have to win the next few weeks, and so do Fiji. We want to play for a place in the main Cup,” Macdonald said.
“It’s what you play for. You want to play Australia and New Zealand, you want to play those top teams.
“We believe in ourselves, we believe that we can do it. I don’t think that anyone should be in the team if they don’t aspire to reach those limits, so it is what we want to do.
“I think we’re going to have a strong battle this weekend but it’s going to be an exciting one.”
With 18 members of the playing and coaching staff arriving in Suva on Monday night after the Prime Minister’s XIII in Port Moresby on Sunday, the Kumuls were able to train as a full squad for the first time on Tuesday.
Leigh hooker Edwin Ipape and PNG Hunters centre Alex Max have been ruled out by injury and replaced boom fullback Morea Morea, the 2023 Queensland Cup rookie of the year, and second-rower Robert Mathias.
Queensland Cup player of the year Judah Rimbu, who captained the PNG PM’s XIII, is set to start at hooker in place of Ipape, who was injured in Leigh’s 38-0 semi-final loss to back-to-back Super League premiers Wigan.
Sutton making up for lost chance with Bati
John Sutton accepts that he can’t change the past, but the Rabbitohs great is changing the future – for himself and the Fiji Bati.
Sutton captained South Sydney to their drought breaking 2014 grand final win and is the most capped player in the history of the NRL’s oldest club, but his one burning regret has been that he never represented his Fijian heritage.
“I had a couple of opportunities but my body at the end of the NRL season just wasn’t right,” said Sutton, who qualifies for the Bati through his Rotuma-born mother, Elena.
“I regret not playing and I know it made my mum very upset that I didn’t get the chance to run out for the Fiji Bati.”
The former Rabbitohs star is now doing the next best thing after accepting an invitation from Bati mentor Wise Kativerata to join his coaching team as attack coach for the Pacific Championships.
Sutton, who played most of his 336-match career for Souths at five-eighth, has been working closely with halves Kevin Naiqama and Kurt Donoghoe as the Bati prepare for Saturday’s match at Suva’s HFC Stadium against Papua New Guinea.
While in camp with the Bati, he has also taken the opportunity to reconnect with his mother’s side of the family in Fiji.
“When Wise called me up to give me an opportunity to be part of the team I jumped at it,” Sutton said.
“I wanted to give back, I wanted to show my mum’s side of the family that it does mean something to me to be here, so I was very grateful that Wise gave me a call.
“My mum was very, very happy. I got to visit her sisters and they’re very excited for me to be here. All of my family are excited, so I’m just looking forward to these next couple of weeks with the team.”
Penitani buzzing after opposed session with Bati
A year ago, Natasha Penitani was playing park football and didn’t have an NRLW contract.
Now the Wests Tigers utility is tackling and being tackled by the likes of Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica as the Tongan team she co-captains takes part in an opposed session with the Fiji Bati.
It’s been a rapid rise for Penitani who was signed by Wests Tigers after playing for Tonga in last year’s Pacific Championships and won the club’s NRLW rookie of the year.
With her sister Tiana called up by the Jillaroos, 24-year-old Penitani was appointed co-captain for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Samoa at Suva’s HFC Stadium along with Sharks forward Vanessa Foliaki.
“It’s a bit of a full circle moment, and I’m really, really grateful to have been given that opportunity. It’s not one that I take lightly, and I know it’s a big responsibility,” Penitani said.
“I started my journey here, playing for Tonga last year in the Pacific Championships, and off the back of that I was rewarded with an NRLW contract.
“Then I was rookie of the year at Wests Tigers at the end of 2024 I’ve been awarded again by Tonga with the co captaincy.
“I really want the girls to know that from these campaigns and from these Test matches that opportunity lies ahead so we’re fortunate to be given that opportunity by the NRL.
“I’m a great example of that. Last year I was playing local club footy and come 2024 I made my NRLW debut.”
Penitani and Foliaki led the Tongan team in an opposed session on Tuesday against the Fiji Bati, who are preparing to play the Kumuls on Saturday in the first Test on Fiji soil since 2001.
‘We don’t fear them’: Kangaroos and Tonga ahead of huge clash
Meanwhile, a war of words has erupted between Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and Tonga star Jason Taumalolo ahead of their Pacific Championships clash on Friday night.
Australia haven’t played since their biggest defeat in history, a 30-0 shellacking by New Zealand last November, and they also lost their last Test against Tonga.
That was back in 2019 when the Tongans pulled off a 16-12 upset in Auckland, but this Friday at Suncorp Stadium will be the first time the nations play on Australian soil.
The Kangaroos have historically dominated international rugby league, but Taumalolo suggested the Aussies no longer carry an aurora.
“Not really, to be honest,” Taumalolo said when asked if Tonga feared the Kangaroos.
“They’ve got a great team but so do we.
“It’s what we do on Friday night that matters the most.
“Competition at international level, not just from Australia and Tonga, but also the other nations has definitely improved over the last few years.
“It makes for a greater game of footy.”
Meninga has named six debutants against Tonga, with Tom Dearden, Mitchell Moses, Zac Lomax, Xavier Coates, Mitchell Barnett and Hudson Young all picked.
The veteran coach fired back at Taumalolo when told of his comments.
“That doesn’t worry us – we don’t fear them either,” Meninga said.
“It’s a game of footy. It is a battle. It’s international status.
“The last time we played against the Tongans they beat us, way back in 2019.
“It’s been a long time since the World Cup in 2017 when we last played at Suncorp.
“We’re coming ready to play and we’ll worry about ourselves.
“That’s pretty smart that they don’t fear us but we’re coming and we want to play our best footy,” he said.