The Rugby League World Cup quarterfinal game between the Vodafone Fiji Bati and Toa Samoa will be a Newcastle Knights showdown.
Newcastle's Joey Leilua and David Fa’alogo will represent Samoa while Akuila Uate and Kevin Naiqama will put on the Fijian jersey.
Knights Korbin Sims has played for Fiji throughout the competition but has recently been ruled out of the quarterfinal match due to a two week suspension incurred from the previous round.
Knights assistant coach, Rick Stone, will also offer his expertise as the Fijian team coach.
Both international teams have spoken out on social media during the week to say players are looking forward to the challenge of meeting their Pacific Island counterparts on the world stage.
Fiji tweeted that they are meeting their Pacific brothers with gratitude, respect and solidarity.
Their opponent replied that they are looking forward to a mighty challenge against their Pacific brothers.
Fiji won against Ireland in its first match of the tournament, 32-14, but went down to Australia and England in following rounds.
Samoa has won two of its three matches in the tournament.
The Vodafone Fiji Bati will play Samoa in the quarterfinal at 4am Monday.
In other quarterfinals, New Zealand faces Scotland today at 9am, Australia will meet USA at 3am Sunday, England faces France at 9am Sunday.
Story by: Filipe Naikaso
Source: newcastleknights.com
