Fiji prop’s ‘first and last’ try-scoring feat stuns in big World Cup win
Fiji front-rower Jacob Saifiti marked his return from suspension with a career-first: jumping over a fullback to score, which came in his side’s 40-12 win over the Cook Islands.
Saifiti missed Newcastle’s grand final appearance due to a suspension late in the season for a high shot on New Zealand’s Luke Laulilii.
Jacob Saifiti competes for the ball with Esom Ioka. NRL Imagery
The World Cup opener for Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium marked his return as he finished with a try and ran for 123 metres.
The highlight came in the 28th minute when he jumped over Cook Islands Esom Ioka from a Brandon Wakeham bomb and put the ball down.
Saifiti rose to his feet smiling from ear to ear as he was mobbed by teammates and the Fiji fans celebrated triumphantly.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever done that in my life,” he told Seven post-match.
“I was on the inside of Wakes and Wakes said ‘chase it, chase it’. Normally, I’d let them catch it, slow them up and win the first play the ball, but I thought ‘f this I’m going up for it’.
“That’s the first and last time that will ever happen.”
That try made it 18-0 and effectively signalled game over before the half finished at 28-0.
Fiji was first to score after the break when Kitione Kautoga went over, but Cook Islands did mount a fightback.
Five-eighth Maui Winitana-Patelesio started it all when he danced around multiple defenders to score the first try before Davvy Moale finished off a rampaging run moments later.
Fiji claimed the final points through Solomone Saukuru, who scored a double, with the Bati now set to play Australia on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Api Koroisau was full of praise for his side but wary of the challenge ahead.
“It was great, we knew we had to start fast today which we did, it was a bit scrappy in the second half but a great effort by the boys,” he said.
“They’re (Kangaroos) the top of the food chain for a reason, but we’ll be going out there and leaving everything on the field.”
Jacob Saifiti celebrates a try. Getty Images
In Sunday’s other World Cup action, the Kiwi Ferns had a tough battle against Fiji, winning 18-12.
Fiji led 12-10 at half-time until two penalty goals and a try for Leianne Tufuga stopped a shock result.
