Fiji Bati

Coming back from the breather, Fiji began pounding at the Samoan front line, leading to their first three tries, before the halftime hooter.

The score remained 16 to 18 until the final 10 minutes when a crucial error at the Fijian goal line, led to Apisai Koroisau sprinting the length of the field for the apparent winning try.

Toa Samoa have called up six new caps: New Zealand Warriors quartet Mason Lino, Ken Maumalo, James Gavet and Bunty Afoa, Castleford Tigers back Denny Solomona and David Nofoaluma from Wests Tigers.

Meanwhile, Sam Lisone and Tim Lafai are back in blue after last representing the Toa in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

New Zealand Warriors quartet Mason Lino, Ken Maumalo, James Gavet and Bunty Afoa have all been selected in the Toa Samoa squad for the first time.

Rugby League Samoa President Tagaloa Faafouina Su'a said interest in the match was high.

Two of the players are playmaker Kevin Naiqama and Kane Evans.

West Tigers centre Naiqama has been representing Fiji in all the seven years of his rugby league career starting in 2009.

This weekend he will be leading the Fiji Bati onto the field against Toa Samoa in Apia.

“I was born in Australia, but mum and dad are both full Fijian and being from Fijian descent is a privilege for me and I value that,” he said.

“It isn’t just about the money for me. I’m here to represent my country and I take pride in that as well,” he said.

“We’ve got mostly pretty young guys here playing this week with about six of them putting this blue jersey on this week for Toa for the first time. The focus is on putting development players out there for experience looking at the future of the sport here in Samoa,” Parish said.

He says his team to take on Fiji may be lacking in size but result will depend mostly on the performance of the players.

“Well we just have to play well and if the boys put on a good performance we can seal the win this week,” he said.

Wests Tigers speedster Kevin Naiqama is set to play his 10th test for the Bati after missing the Melanesian Cup defeat to Papua New Guinea in May.

Manly hooker Apoisai Koroisau and Knights forward Korbin Sims are also poised to pull on the Fiji jersey for the first time in 2016, while Lautoka-born Panthers centre Waqa Blake is in line to make his test debut at Apia Park.

Etuate Qionimacawa, who starred with a hat-trick in the May test against the Kumuls, is absent from the 18-strong squad, with Pio Seci and Saimoni Lomaloma are the only locally based players included.

The 28 year old is back in the NRL after stints with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and the Fiji sevens team.

He represented Fiji at the 2008 World Cup and lifted the trophy in with the Australian team in 2013.

Bati coach Mick Potter said Jarryd Hayne told him he was very keen to represent at next year's World Cup.

Coach Matt Parish has been scanning through the list of players this past week to come up a formidable side for the test match.

Parish says he has a larger pool of athletes to select from thanks to NRL Secretariat and new Rugby League World Cup CEO, Andrew Hill.

He says most of the players are currently in NRL or Super League.

Parish adds many players are excited about the prospect of playing for Toa Samoa since the test match was announced in May.

Naiqama was disappointed to have to sit out the Bati's 

FRU chief executive officer Radrodro Tabualevu, while applauding former Fiji Bati fullback Hayne's selection, said it was the best news ahead of the Flying Fijians tricky opener against home team England at Twickenham.

Radrodro said the FRU was confident that Hayne's transition from professional rugby league to American Football together with all his achievements as a professional sportsman was an inspiration for the Vodafone Flying Fijians.

"His achievement thus far is remarkable and manifests a nothing is impossible attitude," he said in a media statement.

The Fijian 9s rugby league team finished fourth after losing to Samoa 12-20 in the semi-finals then missing out on the a bronze medal finish losing to Tonga 14-16.

Speaking to SUNsports, the 39 year-old urged local players to remain positive as a lot of exciting developments lay ahead for Fijian rugby league.

“Obviously, to remain positive. It’s an exciting time for Fiji Rugby League. I know that for myself, now that I’m retired, I’ll be working closely with the Fiji National Rugby League in developing programs around elite programming for our local boys.