Small island, big ticker: Fiji aims to repeat history

Nine years after they turned the international game on its head by beating New Zealand in a World Cup quarter-final in Wellington, Bati captain Api Koroisau is adamant his young squad can repeat the dose in 2026.

Coming off the back of a morale-boosting 36-22 loss to the Kangaroos in Brisbane, the Bati head to the Gold Coast full of belief ahead of the do-or-die clash with the Kiwis.

“I thought we were actually on top of that first half and had some really good field position and the confidence is really high,” Koroisau told NRL.com.  

“I think it's just really driven that belief into the boys knowing that they can do it, and we have so many young guys who really stood up.” 

In what is expected to be a stirring forward battle, Jacob Saifiti and his men will look to channel Viliame Kikau, Tui Kamikamica and Ashton Sims, who took the Kiwis on and took them down on November 18, 2017 - a day that is etched in Fiji folklore.

The stunning 4-2 upset in a tryless contest was a triumph for courage and camaraderie and remains Fiji's only win over a tier-one nation to date.  

“Honestly, it didn't matter who we were coming up against that day, we just sort of wanted to play our style of footy,” Koroisau told NRL.com. 

“We focused on ourselves and I think we did that for the most part with that game. 
 

“No tries were scored and when that final buzzer went they kicked the ball and Kevin Naiqama caught it and that was history.

“To be able to pull something like that off and get into the semi-finals again in such a hard pool would be incredible.

"Doing something like that against New Zealand again, especially with the team they have this year, it would mean the world to the boys and all the fans.  

“The support's been an incredible too, so we’d love to pay them back.”  

Despite losing fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape to injury on the half-hour mark, the Bati refused to yield, with 33-year-old Koroisau saying the closeness of the contest revealed the advantage of bringing fresh talent into a high-pressure game.

“There's something about not being traumatised, I guess, by big scores," he said.

"When it's your first time coming up against players you’ve watched on TV you really want to prove yourself against those guys and I think that's sort of what it is.

“Honestly, a lot of these guys like Mitch (Prest) who started for us, and Mossy (Emosi Ravosai) he is really young.  

“Ronnie (Philitoga) who ended up on the wing, had an incredible game, so honestly it's just these young guys and they bring that energy."

Now playing at his fourth World Cup, Koroisau is a huge advocate for the international game and wants to see it nurtured at every opportunity.

“It’s a special brand of people that get together from one island and they all get together and support you," he said.

"They show their love and they come out, they make a huge effort out of it. So it's one of the most incredible things. 

“Fiji is such a small island nation and the way they get behind us is amazing. They have so much faith and that's something that we' try and carry into our footy.  

“You see the jersey presentations and how much it means to the families and these young guys have worked so hard.

"Some of them haven't cracked NRL but they get a chance to represent their country on the world stage, so it just makes it even more special.”