'He's our leader': Bati hoping for Tui boost as Navale returns

Viliame Kikau remains hopeful that inspirational Bati captain Tui Kamikamica will be cleared to lead Fiji at RLWC26, while secondrower Caleb Navale is also set to play after making a rapid recovery from an ACL injury.

Kamikamica has not played since the Storm’s Round 4 NRL match against the Cowboys on March 28 after suffering a stroke that left him left him temporarily unable to speak or move.

The Fijian prop underwent brain and heart surgery but he has recovered and is currently touring the Papua New Guinea Highlands with former Storm team-mate and Kumuls great Justin Olam.

Kamikamica initially hoped to be back mid-season but suffered a set-back and has not played match this year.

However, the 32-year-old is still aiming to play at the World Cup and Navale is set to join him after making his comeback in Manly’s 18-12 NSW Cup loss to the Warriors on Saturday.

Returning just six months and three days after rupturing his ACL at pre-season training on February 11, Navale's recovery is believed to be the quickest in NRL history.

Kikau said Bati players are hoping for the chance to play alongside Kamikamica in Fiji’s matches against Cook Islands in Newcastle on October 18, Australia in Townsville on October 25 and New Zealand on Gold Coast on October 31.

“He means a lot, he's captained the side and if he plays he’s probably going to be the captain again,” said Kikau, the Bulldogs strike secondrower.

“The boys love how he leads - he leads with his actions - and he's one of probably only two or three of us who were born and bred and raised in Fiji and didn’t come to Australia until we were 18 or 19.

“It is obviously unfortunate what happened to him this year but if he is fit and ready I’d love to see him play at the World Cup.”

Hooker Api Koroisau, who is one of up to seven Wests Tigers players with Fijian heritage, recently told Nine’s Freddy and the Eighth show: “There is a chance that Tui might play at the end of the year and Caleb Navale as well. He is coming back from an ACL in record time so we’re very excited”.

Wests Tigers team-mates Sunia Turuva and Jahream Bula said the Bati players remain in close contact during the season and were in shock when they learned that Kamikamica had suffered a stroke.