Cowboys young gun, former star Dragon shine in PNG’s rout of Fiji

Papua New Guinea has shocked heavy favourite Fiji with a stunning performance in their Pacific Championships clash in Suva.

Nene Macdonald and Robert Derby starred as Papua New Guinea stunned Fiji Bagti in a 22-10 boilover in their Pacific Championships clash at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Cowboys young gun Derby finished with a whopping 273 run metres to go with four tackle busts, a linebreak, a try assist and a try in a stunning display, which also produced two intercepts.

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Former Dragon Macdonald finished with 233 run metres, 10 tackle busts, four offloads, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist, a try assist and a try.

It was a frustrating night for Fiji, whose halves struggled with their last tackle options, while Viliame Kikau was guilty of two intercept passes to a runaway Derby.

The Bati produced a spine tingling pre-match war cry with Maika Sivo reduced to tears during the anthems.

PNG proved far too strong for the Fijians.

Once the game got underway, PNG winger Derby produced a brilliant pick up off his bootlaces, but he was denied a try by some excellent scrambling defence from Fiji.

Fiji halfback Kurt Donoghoe produced a pinpoint 40/20 to put the hosts in prime field position but they blew the last tackle play and kicked it dead to let PNG off the hook.

Derby produced a brilliant intercept to race away and score an 80-minute stunner despite a spirited chase from Kevin Naiqama as the Kumuls took an early lead.

Macdonald then came up with a brilliant solo run to put replacement hooker Judah Rimbu over and extend the Kumuls’ lead.

Incredible pre-game scenes as the Fiji team sings Noqu Masu 🙏

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Sylvester Namo charged over from close range with some fancy footwork as Papua New Guinea took a commanding 16-0 lead into the break.

Fiji started the stronger in the second half with Naiqama producing a perfect cut-out pass for Semi Valemei to dive over in the corner as the hosts finally got on the board.

Derby again produced an intercept off Kikau’s offload to race away against the run of play and put Macdonald over for a long-range epic.

Sivo scored a consolation try, but it was too little too late as the Kumuls secured a convincing victory on Fiji soil.

Fiji get their first try of the night with Valemei going wide 🙌

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The match kicked off the Pacific Championships Bowl tournament, which is being held alongside the Pacific Cup, featuring Australia, New Zealand and Tonga.

The Kangaroos opened that tournament with an 18-0 win over a spirited Tongan side on Friday night.

With promotion and relegation added to the mix in 2024 there is more than just national pride at stake.

The winner of the Pacific Bowl plays off against the third-placed Pacific Cup nation for a place in the 2025 Pacific Cup pool.

The Bati played a Test on home soil for the first time since 2000, with skipper and Storm star Tui Kamikamica leading the charge.

The Kumuls were captained by Rhyse Martin with Dragons star Jack de Belin at lock, Lachlan Lam at halfback and Macdonald at fullback.

Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt played his 12th Test match, while star hooker Edwin Ipape was sidelined due to injury, with cult hero Judah Rimbu taking over at No. 9.

With the short nature of the tournament both sides were desperate for a first up victory to keep their promotion bids alive, with PNG proving far too good to shock the home fans.

Originally published as Cowboys young gun, former star Dragon shine in PNG’s rout of Fiji