Fiji v Papua New Guinea preview

Both Fiji and Papua New Guinea will be hoping to start to build towards the 2017 Rugby League World Cup with a win when they sides meet on Saturday. 

For Papua New Guinea, the introduction of the PNG Hunters to Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup has exposed a number of their players to a higher level of competition and is working wonders for the international side. 

PNG, who are now ranked 14th in the world, can now boast the likes of David Mead, Nene Macdonald, Luke Page and Kurt Baptiste with NRL experience, whilst Kato Ottio and Rod Griffin now contracted to the Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers respectively.  

2013 World Cup semi finalists Fiji are without Korbin Sims and Jayson Bukuya for this game due to suspension, so will have to look elsewhere to give them go forward in their pack. 

Marika Korobiete, Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau also miss out for Fiji, and therefore will rely on the likes of Kevin Naiqama and Akuila Uate to push them towards victory this weekend.