Fiji Bati ends Cowboys' Southland league dominance
Fijian Bati sparked absolute scenes when it upset the Cowboys to win the 2024 Southland District Rugby League club grand final.
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It was as much a celebration of the Pacific as it was a sporting thriller on Saturday afternoon at Waverley Park in Invercargill.
The Fijian Bati sparked absolute scenes when it upset the Cowboys to win the 2024 Southland District Rugby League club grand final.
The Cowboys were warm favorites given they had won five straight Southland club titles heading into Saturday’s final.
Included in that remarkable five-peat was the 2023 victory when the Cowboys beat Fiji Bati 28-10 in that decider.
But 12 months on it was a role reversal.
A passionate and physical Fijian Bati team led from start to finish in a tense grand final that at one point looked like it was going to golden point extra time.
Fiji Bati went up 6-0 through a Materua Tupou try, although the Cowboys responded late in the first halfback.
Fullback Johnny Vaili - a former Samoan sevens star - caused some havoc to score and make it 6-4 which it remained at halftime.
At that point, there would have been a fair bit of confidence in the Cowboys camp given it trailed by just two but was playing into a strong wind during the first 40 minutes.
But this was a Fijian Bati team - coached by former Fijian rugby international Talemaitoga Tuapati - that very much wanted.
The two teams traded points through the second half and inside the final 10 minutes, Fiji held a 16-14 lead.
The Cowboys had a decision to make when they awarded a penalty right out in front. That decision was to level up the scores at 16-16 or instead push for a potential match-winning try.
The Cowboys opted to take the gift points through the boot of experienced hooker Daniel Low.
At that point - with the scores locked up at 16-16 - golden point appeared likely.
However, a couple of minutes later Fiji Bati was awarded its own kickable penalty, and through captain Napoliani Vula the points were banked as they went in front again 18-16.
That’s what the score remained as the final whistle sounded ensuring the celebrations started as people carrying flags from various Pacific Island nations converged on the field.
It capped off what has been one of Southland’s more special grassroots sporting stories.
Southland District Rugby League was after another team for its senior competition a couple of years ago which led to the Fiji Bati team being formed.
Players have come from throughout the province, and as far as Cromwell, to play for the team.
Many of them had arrived from Fiji to work at the Alliance meatworks with no previous experience playing rugby league.
But they’ve quickly taken to the sport to the point they are now club champions ending the Cowboys dynasty at five straight titles.
Following the game captain Vula said while they carry the name Fiji Bati, and the bulk of the team hails from Fiji, they were proud to have players from other Pacific Island nations line up from the team. Hence the wide range of flags.
While the result would have hurt for the Cowboys it was still a special day for the club.
Saturday marked the 100-game milestone for Cowboys captain Dylan Lovett.
Lovett is one of Southland rugby league’s true warriors. The fact he has made it to 100 games is a remarkable achievement.
During his playing days, Lovett suffered two horrific leg breaks that would have ended most people’s thoughts of playing on.
Year-in-year-out Lovett is one of the best performers in both the club comp and for the Southland Rams.
Meanwhile, it was Fiji Bati’s Vitali Roqica who picked up the man-of-the-match honour in Saturday’s 2024 Southland District Rugby League grand final.
It meant Roqica picked up the Jesse Wharepapa Award.