Sunia Turuva, the winner of the premiership, has officially been ruled out of Fiji’s match versus Papua New Guinea due to an injury sustained in the pregame.
The 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year is believed to have worked out alone on Saturday while the captain was running, with coach Wise Kativerata attesting to his calf issue.
“We have slightly changed [the line-up], as you have seen today, because Sunia has got a calf problem and Kitione has got a back problem,” Kativerata told NRL.com.
Although it’s not big, we felt that we should offer other children the same chance.”
The severity of the injury is unknown, but Jason Qarequare, a winger for Castleford Tigers who is making his debut for his country, will take his place.
Additionally sidelined is forward Kitione Kautoga of the Canterbury Bulldogs, who will be replaced by Kaiviti Silktails forward Sirilo Lovokuro.