Fiji ran 11 tries and a half-century of points on the United States of America in their opening match of the Rugby League World Cup.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Fiji 58
USA 12
Fiji will be out to get their Rugby League World Cup campaign off on the right foot when they take on underdogs the USA in Townsville. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:40pm (AEDT).
The Fijians are bolstered by the return of Jarryd Hayne, who played for the Bati in 2009, before being snapped up by Australia.
Hayne’s journey has since taken him to the NFL and rugby sevens, before returning to the NRL with the Titans, where he wasn’t consistent enough to make the Kangaroos.
Still, he could run rings around the USA here, and his combination with fullback Kevin Naiqama and halves partner Henry Raiwalui will also be key.
The Fijian line-up is further strengthened by the NRL’s top try-scorer Suliasi Vunivalu and exciting youngster Marcelo Montoya, who are in line to have a field day on the edges.
The forward pack isn’t anything to blink at either, with Korbin and Ashton Sims leading the charge, alongside Kane Evans, young lock Tui Kamikamicka and Penrith second-rower Viliame Kikau.
As for the USA, they have built their domestic league to the point most players have been selected from it, with halves combination Matthew Walsh and Kristian Freed both turning out consistent performances for the White Plains Wombats, despite the side missing the finals.
The most recognisable players for an NRL audience though will be Eddy Pettybourne, Junior Vaivai and Bureta Faraimo. London Broncos prop Mark Offerdahl, with eight Tests’ experience, will captain the side.
But if the qualifiers are anything to go by, Wentworthville fullback Corey Makelin will be the key man for the Tomahawks, while Toronto Wolfpack winger Ryan Burroughs will play an important role running his side out of trouble.
Prediction
There’s no underestimating how important every game in Groups C and D are, but Fiji, who are expected to blitz through to the quarter-finals, shouldn’t have too many problems here.
Fiji by 22.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 8:40pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
A lot of pride in that USA jersey.
Andrew
Guest
Remember the sold out crowd you predicted Freddy?? Hahaha you said 25k tickets were sold yet only 22k turned up
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's right. It's no use comparing them to the heritage-strong team of the 2013 World Cup. I thought they did well enough and their tries were good to see.
Pickett
Guest
What Samoa and Tonga would do to get a Hayne. Fiji look v. Good
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol Well, the gulf in quality between the better USARL teams and the lower teams is pretty large. Would be interesting to see if a club challenge series with appropriately matched Oceanic club teams could be staged in Hawaii, perhaps as a precursor to a trial match or even an NRL match.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I think a Wales-based team in the Super League is a must but they have to earn their spot there. I'm of the view that once the Super League features various regions, the RFL will end promotion-relegation in order to protect the media rights of a multinational/region league. Done properly, imagine two French teams, two North American teams, and a Welsh team in Super League. Awesome stuff.
Oto shark
Guest
How good was it after the game , both teams in a huddle together, great game RL.
Fred
Guest
The players from the USARL is key for me. If they had a team of heritage players from Australia and got 58 put on them that would be a different matter. Some people expected with so many USARL players they might get 100 put on them by a team like Fiji.
Scott Pryde
Expert
A full match report will be published on site shortly. Thanks for joining me here on The Roar this evening for our live coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup as Fiji thrashed the United States of America. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We have another three games coming your way tomorrow, all live here on The Roar. It starts at 3pm (AEDT) with Italy versus Ireland - Stuart Thomas will have the call of that one. Then, Nick Kelland will take you through France and Lebanon from 4pm (AEDT), and I'll be back for Tonga and Scotland in a huge Group B clash from 5:15pm (AEDT). Bye for now.
Terry Tavita
Guest
of course..i always enjoy watching good intl rugby league..matches today were..meh..
Fred
Guest
Fiji very strong. I think they will be too good for Italy and they'll top Group D. The US didn't give up though, credit to them. This game will do them good, and they'll come out stronger - but I still don't expect them to win a match.
sham
Guest
So stop watching and stop boring everyone
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Still, it's a good experience for the USA team. They don't have much of a chance to get exposure to higher levels of rugby league so hopefully they can take the experience in this World Cup and use it to good effect back home.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Riley, Agree about Fiji, but have to disagree about the USA - they got blown out early and yeah, sure, they recovered, but leaking 58 points - there's not much to be happy about. Can't see them challenging Italy or PNG... But if there's a positive, it's that 11 of their players are from the USARL. That's great for the competition and their development moving forward.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call Scott, lots of talking points out of this one. Fiji look the goods but the US impressed me, they were a lot better than I was expecting. Very resilient. It will be interesting to see how Group D plays out from here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Into the final 60 seconds. The USA bring it away through Vaivai and Offerdahl, working it out of their red-zone, but there won't be any drama left in this one. Freed puts a kick through the line, regathers, is tackled and that'll do it. A convincing victory by Fiji. 11 tries leading to a 46-point smashing of the USA. Fiji will face tougher opponents coming up, but there's only positives to take out of that match. The USA now have to take on Italy, and if that isn't bad enough for a team just mauled, they face a trip to Papua New Guinea in their final group game. Fiji 58 USA 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Nakubuwai has the opening run of this set, then Kamakamica goes at the posts. Now it's Sims to Raiwalui and Naiqama running around the back, dropping the ball as he is tackled hitting the line. Looked like a good play from Fiji, but that's great defence in the end with Tui Samoa making the tackle on a flying Naiqama. Fiji 58 USA 12
Fred
Guest
Wales has at least two teams to my knowledge in League1, who could in theory be promoted to Super League. US will naturally forge a closer relationship with the RFL once New York and other teams enter.
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Fijians go to the right off the scrum, and they are straight through with Milne eventually stopped cutting back inside. Penalty conceded as well. Fiji 58 USA 12