Lions maul tough Panthers

RODNEY DUTHIE
Sunday, February 17, 2008

VODAFONE Fiji Bati elite squad member Josaia Cikaitoga led his MH Suva Grammar Lions team to a 16-12 win over a game Nasinu Secondary School Panthers outfit.

The win put Lion's defence of the Vodafone Secondary Schools Rugby League Competition title on track at Bidesi Park in Suva yesterday.

Newcomers Ratu Sukuna Dragons made a grand debut with an 8-0 win over the Nabua Secondary Broncos. The Grammarians scored three tries to Nasinu's two after taking a 12-6 lead at the breather.

However, the Lions did not have it all their way after Nasinu put up a strong defence in the opening minutes.

Cikaitoga, who stunned rugby league trainers after squatting 240 kilograms, led the hit-ups for the Lions. Converted tries to Beni Raisele in the 11th minute and Lose Cakau in the 19th put the Lions in the lead while Nasinu tough man Lemeki Koroi crossed over in the 14th.

A 36th minute try to Solomoni Railumu put the Lions further in front at 16-6. Waisea Maka scored a consolation try for the Panthers at the final hooter.

Cikaitoga said while the boys from Veiuto were happy with the win, there were a lot of areas that needed to be polished.

"It's the first game of the season and we really haven't had time to prepare a combination.

"We've only been together for the three days," Cikaitoga said.

"There are a lot of new boys in the team and we have fast tracked some of the under-17 players into the senior squad."

Results: Bidesi Park: U15: Ratu Sukuna Dragons 8-18 MH Suva Grammar Lions (U15); Ink Mobile Laucala Bay Sharks 10-10 Nabua Secondary Broncos; U16: Ink Mobile Laucala Bay Sharks 14-11 Nabua Secondary Broncos, Ratu Sukuna Dragons 0-19 MH Suva Grammar Lions; U17: Nasinu Secondary Panthers 8-10 Ink Mobile Laucala Bay Sharks, Nabua Sec Broncos 0-14 MH Suva Grammar Lions; U18: Ratu Sukuna Dragons 12-28 Nasinu Sec Panthers, MH Suva Grammar Lions 16-14 Ink Mobile Laucala Bay Sharks; U19: MH Suva Grammar Lions 16-12 Nasinu Secondary Panthers, Ratu Sukuna Dragons 8-0 Nabua Sec Broncos.

Rugby league spreads wing

Monday, February 18, 2008

THE Fiji National Rugby League hopes to spread the gospel to more schools as the Vodafone Secondary Schools competition got underway over the weekend.

"We're hoping to have a similar competition in the Western Division and include schools from Nadroga, Nadi, Lautoka and other areas," FNRL chairman Peni Musunamasi said.

"Our development officers have been able to identify some schools that have shown an interest in starting the competition next year. "We were suppose to begin this year but because we have the Rugby League World Cup later on, we're tied up on finances.

"But we will definitely try to start next year."

Interest in the competition is on the rise after the Under-15 and Under-16 grades were added to this year's event.

Ratu Sukuna Memorial School are the new kids on the block and made an impressive start at the Post Fiji Stadium complex.

Musunamasi said he was happy with the standard of competition.

"It has really grown and we're only into the second year," he said.

Members of the Vodafone Fiji Bati elite squad acted as officials while some were part of the coaching panel.

Aussie Fijians take offence

ZANZEER SINGH
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

THE Australian Fijian Rugby League will not stop any of its players from vying for a spot in the Fiji Bati team despite severing its ties with the Fiji National Rugby League.

The AFRL distanced itself from the FNRL after Australian coach Arthur Kitinas and trainer Steve Driscoll were relieved of their Fiji Bati duties last year.

The contracts of Kitinas and Driscoll were not renewed by the FNRL board after the Tongan tour in October.

This is after the duo were cited for differences in protocol during the Fiji Bati- Ikale Tahi one-off Test match in Nuku'alofa.

AFRL president James Pickering said they took offence to the accusations labelled against the Australian duo.

The former Fiji Bati said as a result they do not have any official engagements with the FNRL.

"We will continue developing our local talents here," Pickering said from Sydney.

"There are a lot of upcoming players. We will also look after the welfare of the players coming in from Fiji on club contracts."

Several Australia-based players are vying for a spot in the Fiji Bati team for the Rugby League World Cup in October.

Star NRL players like Wes Naiqama (Dragons), Aston Simms (Broncos), Stanley Waqa (Roosters), Daryl Millard (Bulldogs) and Ryan Millard (Bulldogs) are among the Aussie boys expected to feature for the Fiji Bati in the RLWC.

Pickering said they will not stop any player wishing to represent Fiji in the RLWC in Queensland.

He said plans are in the pipeline for the Australia Fijians team to tour Fiji after the RLWC.

Meanwhile, FNRL chairman Peni Musunamasi said they have no problems with AFRL heading its own way.

He said FNRL will continue its development work in the country. "They have severed ties with us," Musunamasi said.

"I have no personal grudges against the AFRL. It was a board decision to remove Arthur and Steve.

"AFRL is looking after its own affairs. Likewise we will do ours. I'm happy with the development work in the country.

"We will continue to build our players for the world cup.

"Any overseas player who wishes to put his hand up for the world cup is most welcome to attend the trials."

Musunamasi said AFRL is looking to send two junior teams to play in the country in the next few months.

In the 2008 RLWC Fiji is grouped with France and Scotland in Pool B.

The Fiji Bati face France on November 1 at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Its second pool match against Scotland will be played at the Bluetongue Stadium in Central Coast on November 5.

Lions ready to roar into finals

AARON KOLINISAU
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Suva Grammar School has secured semi-final berths in all five grades (under-15 to U-19) in the Vodafone Rugby League secondary schools competition.

The MH-sponsored sides are optimistic of a cleansweep to end the season on a high note.

"We have being preparing well and we hope to win all our matches in the semi's and finals," said under-19 skipper Josaia Cikaitoga.

The Naruwai villager from Bua, Vanua Levu is tipped to makes the Fiji secondary schools squad to play against visiting Australian and Kiwi teams in September.

"So far Grammar's Josiaia Cikaitoga has really been impressive," said league administrator Rusiate Ratakele.

In U-15 matches Ratu Sukuna Dragons accounted for Nabua Broncos 12-4.

New comers Lelean Blues thumped Phonology Laucala Bay Sharks 20-0.

The boys from Davuilevu beat the Lions 17-14 in the U-17 grade while Nasinu Panthers thrashed Nabua Broncos 17-0.

Ratu Sukuna Dragons U-18 edged Phonology Laucala Bay Sharks 18-16 and Nasinu Panthers registered a 6-0 victory over the Lions.

In the U-19 grade Nasinu Panthers brushed aside Ratu Sukuna Dragons 14-6 and Phonology Laucala Bay Sharks thumped Lelean Blues 19-0.

The semi-finals will be held next Saturday at the SGS grounds in Nasese.

FNRL offers incentive

Friday, March 21, 2008

PLANS are being made for the Vodafone Fiji National Rugby League to select a national under-19 side to play at the World Cup in October in Australia.

If all goes according to plan, a Fiji U19 side will play against an Australian side in the curtain raiser for the Fiji-France pool match.

This means school players will not only have a chance to vie for a place in the Fiji U-18 side to play the visiting Australia and New Zealand sides in September but also eye an U19 jumper.

FNRL chairman Peni Musunamasi said there have been talks held and he was optimistic.

"This will give the young players a great level of exposure and being part of the World Cup atmosphere will be an added advantage," Musunamasi said.

"We are working very hard to get all done."

The level of competition at age group level has impressed Musunamasi.

The battle for supremacy in the Vodafone Secondary Schools rugby league competition will enter the semi-final stages on Saturday week in Suva.

Ratu Sukuna Memorial School and Suva Grammar School has secured semi-final berths in all five grades (U15-19).

The other schools in contention are Nabua Secondary, Laucala Bay Secondary and Nasinu Secondary.

"The level of skills and play has impressed us a lot," Musunamasi said.

"One only has to come down to the grounds and see for themselves what the young players have to offer."

Junior Bati to face Aussies

RODNEY DUTHIE
Saturday, April 12, 2008

PLANS are being made to have the Junior Fiji Bati side face their Australian counterparts during the Rugby League World Cup in Sydney later this year.

The two sides will play in the curtain raiser for the Vodafone Fiji Bati and France match on November 1 at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

Fiji National Rugby League executive member Rusiate Ratakele said the parties were now awaiting the green light from the International Rugby League Federation.

"We have already selected a squad from the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools competition," said Ratakele.

He said players selected for the squad would be given training programs to follow.

"It will be a good experience for the young players to be exposed at the world stage before a world cup match," he said.

Ratakele added there were also plans to have the other schoolboy grades exposed to international competition.

"The U15s will play against a touring New Zealand Fijians side while the U16s face the Camerdon Rams in Suva," he said.

"The U18s will compete in a Vodafone Cup tournament against three teams from the New South Wales Academy."

Meanwhile, the FNRL Vodafone Club Championships enters its second round of games in Lautoka and Suva today.