Nene Macdonald and Robert Derby starred as Papua New Guinea stunned Fiji Bati in a 22-10 boilover in their Pacific Championships clash at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Cowboys young gun winger Derby finished with a whopping 273 run metres to go with four tackle busts, a linebreak, a try assist and a try in a stunning display, which also produced two intercepts.
Former Dragons player Macdonald finished with 233 run metres, 10 tackle busts, four offloads, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, a try assist and a try.
MATCH CENTRE: Fiji vs Papua New Guinea teams, scores, videos, updates
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It was a frustrating night for Fiji, whose halves struggled with their last tackle options, while Viliame Kikau was guilty of two intercept passes to a runaway Derby.
The Bati produced a spine tingling pre-match war cry with Maika Sivo reduced to tears during the anthems.
Derby produced a brilliant pick up off his bootlaces, but he was denied a try by some excellent scrambling defence from Fiji.
Fiji halfback Kurt Donoghoe produced a pinpoint 40/20 to put the hosts in prime field position, but they blew the last tackle play and kicked it dead to let PNG off the hook.
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Derby produced a brilliant intercept to race away and score an 80-minute stunner, despite a spirited chase from Kevin Naiqama as the Kumuls took an early lead.
Macdonald came up with a brilliant solo run to put replacement hooker Judah Rimbu over and extend the Kumuls’ lead.
Sylvester Namo charged over from close range with some fancy footwork as Papua New Guinea took a commanding 16-0 lead into the break.
Fiji started the stronger in the second half, with Kevin Naiqama producing a perfect cut-out pass for Semi Valemei to dive over in the corner as the hosts finally got on the board.
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Derby again produced another intercept of Kikau’s offload to race away against the run of play and put Macdonald over for a long-range epic.
Maika Sivo scored a consolation try, but it was too little too late as the Kumuls secured a convincing victory on Fiji soil to keep their chances of advancing to the Pacific Championships Cup alive.
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MATCH PREVIEW
Fiji Bati host Papua New Guinea Kumuls in a blockbuster clash to kick off the Pacific Championships Bowl tournament at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
For Fiji Taane Milne is set to shift from the bench to the second-row with Kitione Kautoga moving to the pine.
Nathan Kegg-King has also been promoted in place of Manly rookie Kylan Mafoa.
For Papua New Guinea Liam Horne starts at hooker, with Judah Rimbu switching to the bench, while Ila Alu and Sylvester Namo comes onto the bench.
With promotion and relegation added to the mix in 2024 there is more than just national pride at stake – the winner of the Pacific Bowl playing off against the third-placed Pacific Cup nation for a place in the 2025 Pacific Cup pool.
The Bati get to play a Test on home soil for the first time since 2000 with skipper and Storm star Tui Kamikamica leading the charge.
The Kumuls are captained by Rhyse Martin with Dragons star Jack de Belin at lock, Lachlan Lam at halfback and Nene Macdonald at fullback.
Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt plays his 12th Test match and will form a dangerous scrumbase combination with Lam in his 10th game for his country.
Star hooker Edwin Ipape is sidelined due to injury, with cult hero Judah Rimbu taking over at No.9.
With the short nature of the tournament both sides will be desperate for a first up victory to keep their promotion bids alive.
TEAMS
Fiji team: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Semi Valemei 6. Kevin Naiqama 7. Kurt Donoghue 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Penioni Tagituimua 10. Ben Nakubuwai 11. Viliame Kikau 15. Taane Milne 13. Caleb Navale 12. Kitione Kautoga 14. Joe Lovodua 17. Jordan Miller 20. Nathan Kegg-King. Reserve player: 16. Kylan Mafoa
PNG team: 1. Nene Macdonald 2. Elijah Roltinga 3. Robert Mathias 4. Rodrick Tai 5. Robert Derby 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Lachlan Lam 8. Valentine Richard 14. Liam Horne 10. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 11. Rhyse Martin 12. Jeremiah Simbiken 13. Jack de Belin 9. Judah Rimbu 15. Koso 22. Ila Alu 23. Sylvester Namo. Reserve player: 18. Dan Russell
