Fiji kick off their Pacific Championship Bowl campaign against Cook Islands in Port Moresby on Sunday and if they cannot win this Test they will not win for a long time.
Best Bet
Fiji are entitled to win this and win it by the Flemington straight if the Cook Islands’ performance against Papua New Guinea is anything to go by.
The Aitu were utterly horrific. Not only were they outmatched in talent but they played about as dumb a brand of Rugby League as one could imagine. They will lose by 50 if they pull that tripe out again.
Cook Islands have been done no favours with injury with halfback Tevin Arona and Makahesi Makatoa out. Esan Masters is playing halfback and that is all one needs to know about the Cook Islands.
This Fiji Bati team has plenty of new faces with seven players without NRL experience but there is an immense amount of talent in the back five and that should prove more than enough,
Same Game Multi
Maika Sivo has six tries in seven games for Fiji and comes off a 20-try season in his 20 games for the Eels.
Mikaele Ravalawa has 64 tries in 86 games for the Dragons.
Sunia Turuva has three tries in five games for Fiji.
Value Bet
Cook Islands conceded four tries to right winger Nene MacDonald last weekend and look extremely vulnerable down that edge. Ravalawa is a far more dangerous proposition and with Fiji expected to score plenty of points, Ravalawa looks a great chance to fill up.
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