Sport: Fiji Bati eye rugby league's top table

The Fiji rugby league team are already looking ahead to next year after earning promotion to Pool A of the Oceania Cup.

The Bati came from behind to beat Papua New Guinea 22-20 in Christchurch at the weekend, which secured top spot in Pool B and a place alongside New Zealand and Tonga in the top tier next year.

Coach Brandon Costin wasn't impressed with their final performance but said he was glad they were able to secure the Oceania Shield by winning both of their games.

"We won an ugly sort of contest. I think that was quite an achievement in itself, to get over the top of PNG by not playing at our best but still able to get the result and I think that's a really good progression for our young players," he said.

After thrashing Toa Samoa 44-18 a week earlier, Costin admitted their performance against the Kumuls was disappointing, although he praised the side's ability to win despite not playing well. was disappointing, calling it "the leftover residue from such a good win".

"We discussed the win over Samoa, we discussed the positives and negatives that come from that and one of the negatives was believing that you could just go out against what was supposed to be less opposition and put forwarding points on," he said.

"You can't do that, you got to learn to restart at each contest and build a platform and get into the game."

But he said it was a lesson they needed as they look forward to 2020.

"My mind started ticking over looking forward to playing New Zealand and Tonga the very minute that full-time siren went because out on the field, New Zealand were warming up as we were celebrating the win and you're watching the professionalism and athleticism of that NZ side [and] we can't wait until this time next year to start focusing on that opposition."

Costin said Tonga had shown over the past two years what could be achieved if teams were given the chance to play tier one nations on a regular basis.

"We know the Tonga model works. If we're not trying to follow a similar model, we'd be kicking ourselves in the foot so we've got the opportunity to play against those tier one nations. You can only beat tier one nations by practicing against tier one nations," he said.

With most of the squad playing in the NRL and Super League, Costin said it was difficult to keep that connection and Fiji Bati culture but a proposal has been put in place to visit the players over the course of the year.

"We've got to find a way that they can concentrate on their day-to-day jobs of playing NRL or Super League," he said

"All we're trying to do is bring them back to the Fiji Bati culture."

Costin said a number of front-line players who missed the November tests should also be available to bolster the Bati squad next year.

"Api Koroisau's (wife) was having a baby so didn't leave the country, Jason Bukuya's daughter was ill and in hospital so he didn't travel, the Saifiti brothers (Daniel and Jacob) from Newcastle were carrying injuries, we've got the Sims boys (Tariq and Korbin) from St George that are available to play," he said.

"There's about 8-10 players that we have previously touched base with to play for Bati that were unable (to play) for injury reasons or family reasons so you add 10 to the 20 that we took away and we've got a pretty strong 30-35 man roster."

Fijian Rugby League has plenty to look forward to next year with a locally-based team to join New South Wales Rugby League's Ron Massey Cup competition in 2020 before eventually moving into the Intrust Super Premiership.

"If we go five years into the future or seven years into the future for the 2025 World Cup, Fiji should be a powerhouse because we'll have 30 to 40 potential players just in country," Costin said.

"The more Fijians that are playing NRL, the stronger the Bati will be."

Meanwhile, Fiji captain Kevin Naiqama and team mates Viliame Kikau and Brandon Wakeham have all been recognised for their international performances, picking up nominations for rugby league's 2019 Golden Boot award.

Tongan duo Tui Lolohea and Sio Siua Taukeiaho are also among the ten nominees, off the back of the Kingdom's historic test wins against Great Britain and Australia.

IRL Golden Boot nominees: John Bateman (Great Britain), Damien Cook (Australia), Payne Haas (Australia), Viliame Kikau (Fiji), Tui Lolohea (Tonga), Kevin Naiqama (Fiji), Sio Siua Taukeiaho (Tonga), Roger TuivasaSheck (New Zealand), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (New Zealand), Brandon Wakeham (Fiji).