Jacob Saifiti Missed Newcastle’s Grand Final, Then Scored His First Test Try as Fiji Beat the Cook Islands 40-12

Fiji scored seven tries to two at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday and led 28-0 at half-time. The 40-12 win puts them top of Pool A on points difference, above Australia, a week before they play the Kangaroos.

The try everyone talked about afterwards came from a prop who missed the grand final.

Saifiti goes up for the ball

Jacob Saifiti missed the Knights’ grand final through a suspension for a high shot on Luke Laulilii late in the season, Nine reported. Back in Newcastle, on his club’s home ground, he chased a kick in the 28th minute, out-jumped Cook Islands fullback Esom Ioka and reached out to score under the posts. It was his first Test try and made it 18-0.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever done that in my life,” he told Seven. “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.”

He also ran 123 metres. Newcastle lost the grand final 19-18 without him.

Wakeham ran the game

Brandon Wakeham had three try assists, two line breaks and four tackle breaks, kicked six goals and was named player of the match. Api Koroisau controlled it from dummy half. Fiji had 62 per cent of the ball, and nrl.com noted the Cook Islands could count their completed sets on two hands.

Fiji scored twice in the first 12 minutes. Taane Milne went over from dummy half five minutes before the break, and Caleb Navale ran 40 metres to the corner off a Wakeham short ball to make it 28-0.

Kitione Kautoga scored early in the second half. The Cook Islands then scored twice, through Maui Winitana-Patelesio and Davvy Moale, before Solomone Saukuru scored his second with ten minutes left to finish it.

Fiji top the pool, and Australia are next

Pool A after one round: Fiji plus 28, Australia plus 2, New Zealand minus 2, Cook Islands minus 28. Only two teams go through, and Fiji have reached the semi-finals at three of the last four World Cups. The live table has the full standings.

Fiji play Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 25 October. Australia will have Sam Walker on debut at halfback and no Mitchell Moses, who is out of the tournament. The Cook Islands face New Zealand in Christchurch the same day.