“They are all very proud Fijians and whether or not they’ve been brought up in Australia, they still hold on to that legacy,” said Potter.
“When all the guys get together, they’re very humble and very proud of their culture.
“They have such devotion as well as a little bit of singing and a little bit of praying, that happens every single day and brings everyone together and a little closer.”
Potter spent a large part of 2015 coaching the Fijian Under 20s side and in 2016 was announced the new head coach.
After reaching the semi-finals in their last two World Cup tournaments in 2008 and 2013, expectations will be high for this year’s Bati team.
As the 2017 World Cup draws closer, Potter admits they are close to finalising their team.
“Looking at players and seeing what they’ve been doing in the last few weeks including the NRL players in the semis,” he said.
“There is quite a bit of work going on in the background.”
Young Knights forward Jacob Saifiti is shaping up for another run with the international side, despite this time being without brother Daniel, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.
“It is unfortunate for Daniel,” Potter stated.
“Jacob is progressing and he’s had a couple of games for Fiji and he has shown that he is going to be a really good NRL player.
“He is pretty excited about being in the World Cup this year, it is his first and hopefully it won’t be his last.
“He is still very young and has got the world at his feet if he continues to develop.”
In a first for the Fijian team, the Australian Kangaroos will be travelling to Fiji to play in a trial game before the start of World Cup action.
The Bati team will also get to come up against Papua New Guinea in a double header.
“It will be great to play both teams,” Potter said.
“The Papua New Guineans are certainly showing what they can do.
“They won the ISP Queensland Cup and they’ll be playing on grand final day so everyone will get to see how good they are.
“As for Australia, it’ll be a tough trial against the Aussies but I'm looking forward to it.
“We will have our strongest team here and the Fijians are just so excited to have Australians over as well as all the national Bati players from Fiji.”
A week prior to the trial, Fiji will also host a Battle of the Bati match where overseas Bati players will take on Fiji’s local league.
From that game, final selections for the Bati team will be made.
But, Potter is most looking forward to kicking off their World Cup campaign when the Bati encounter the USA.
“It is a slightly different format but we just have to make sure that we win our three games so that will secure us a spot in the quarter finals,” Potter added.
“I’m not looking any further than that so if we do make the quarters we will be playing in Christchurch or in Wellington.
“We want to do the best we possibly can."
All the Details:
Overseas Bati v Fiji Residents
When: October 7
Where: ANZ National Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji
World Cup Trial
Bati v Kangaroos v Kumuls
When: October 14
Where: ANZ National Stadium, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji
Rugby League World Cup 2017 Fixtures
Vs USA
Played: 0
W 0 – D 0 – L 0
Purchase Tickets to USA v Fiji in Townsville on 28/10/2017
Vs Wales
Played: 0
W 0 – D 0 – L 0
Purchase Tickets to Wales v Fiji in Townsville on 05/11/2017
Vs Italy
Played: 0
W 0– D 0 – L 0
Purchase Tickets to Italy v Fiji in Canberra on 10/11/2017
Newcastle Knights | @NRLKnights
Website
