Warriors-PNG raise curtains

Fiji Times - Saturday, May 17, 2008 1:26 PM

PLAYERS who do not make the Flying Fijians side for the first Pacific Nations Cup match against Samoa will still have a chance to get into the team for the remaining games.

Apart from naming a 26-member Fiji side for first game, the selectors will name a Warriors oufit which will play Papua New Guinea in the curtain raiser at the Samoa match.

Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit manager Peter Murphy said the Warriors will have an opportunity to show their worth and keep match fit.

"Who knows what could happen in terms of injuries and form of players selected for the Flying Fijians for the Samoa game," Murphy said.

"This is why it is important for the players in the Warriors to play well against PNG and they could force their way into the team for the next match against the Maori."

Fiji is trying to play the role of leader in the Pacific region and help minnows like PNG.

"This will help PNG and create more excitement in the game," Murphy said.

PNG chief executive Graeme Osborne says the aim is to gain entry to the second tier rugby competition.

"We hope to get into that Pacific Cup in 2009, and to win against Niue and win the Oceania Cup," he said.

"Having the opportunity to play this team is good for us. We must win or play well to show we deserve to be in this category."