Sun November 2, 2008 Bulldogs Groom shines for Fiji Bati (Audio Interview) 2008 World Cup - Pool B Fiji Bati halfback and Bulldogs utility Aaron Groom produced his finest performance at senior level last night to take the Jetstar Man of the Match award following Fiji's 42-6 victory against France at Wollongong's Win Stadium. 10:34
The Fiji Bati v France Experience 2008 World Cup - Pool B Rleague.com was very fortunate to gain access to the Fiji Bati v France clash played at Wollongong's Win Stadium last night. 1:43
France fall to rampant Fiji 2008 World Cup - Pool B Fiji have announced their arrival in the 2008 rugby league World Cup, with an entertaining and convincing 42-6 win over France in the second match of pool two at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. 0:34
French on the up despite loss to Fiji 2008 World Cup - Pool B French Rugby League is on the way back to its once dominate force according to France Coach John Monie, despite his sides 42-6 loss to Fiji at WIN Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 0:28
Fri October 31, 2008 Wynne returns to WIN 2008 World Cup - Pool B Former Illawarra Steelers' junior, and current French Hooker James Wynne will play his first match in Wollongong in almost a decade on Saturday afternoon, when France take on Fiji at WIN Stadium. 14:20
Bulldogs Groom shines for Fiji Bati (Audio Interview) Sun November 2, 2008 Fiji Bati halfback and Bulldogs utility Aaron Groom produced his finest performance at senior level last night to take the Jetstar Man of the Match award following Fiji's 42-6 victory against France at Wollongong's Win Stadium.
Groom joined the Bulldogs this season looking for an opportunity to play more first grade, but injuries held back his progress and he was unable to cement a regular position in the top grade despite the Bulldogs finishing with the wooden spoon. He was shifted between halfback and hooker and on occasions got limited game time from the interchange bench.
Groom's first grade debut for the Bulldogs came when Ben Roberts was forced out and he came out of his sick bed to play halfback against the very inform Scott Prince and produced an encouraging debut. Groom wasn't seen for several weeks after that, but later in the year played a lot at hooker.
Rleague.com was fortunate to interview Groom after the match where he spoke about the game against France, his ambitions for the remainder of the World Cup, how proud he is to represent Fiji and how excited he is about returning to Bulldogs pre-season training after the World Cup.
Commenting on winning the Man of the Match, Groom said, "It was a massive bonus to win Man of the Match tonight. I didn't expect it. I just wanted to go out there and do my bit for Fij - for our country and the people back home. It's all over the papers and big news back in Fiji. All the boys here came and we all have the same goal. We don't want to be individuals - we want to be a team."
Groom's defence was an impressive feature in his performance and when asked about his effort in defence he said, "They are a big side. I assume they would have been spotting me out and coming at me with their bigger blokes. I didn't want to let the boys down."
When asked about Bulldogs pre-season training and teaming up with Brett Kimmorley, Groom said, "I'm looking forward to it a lot. Obviously last season wasn't our best and with Brett Kimmorley coming - he's done it all. He's got plenty of experience and hopefully sit back and learn a bit off him."
The five-eighth position is going to be most hotly contested position at the Bulldogs with Groom, Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Barba and Michael Sullivan in a five-way shoot out to partner Kimmorley in the halves and work with hooker Michael Ennis. When asked about wanting to play five-eighth, Groom said, "Anywhere in the 17 I'm happy with. I'll play hooker, five-eighth, halfback - whatever."
Kevin Moore takes over as Bulldogs coach next year and when asked whether he's looking forward to playing under him he said, "A lot. He was obviously our assistant coach this year and he had a lot to do with us at the back end of the year and I'm really looking forward to starting a fresh with the Bulldogs and things should go pretty well next year."
Groom admitted that he didn't get to watch the Tonga v Samoa game as the hotel Fiji stayed at didn't have Fox Sports.
The Pacific Cup has been talked about and Groom said, "That would be great. A lot of these boys back home have got a lot of natural ability it's just that they don't have the right competitions to play in and they don't go through the right sort of training. As you saw tonight they have got the potential and need the right sort of competition."
Groom finished off by saying he would do anything for the players in the Fiji side.
The Fiji Bati v France Experience Sun November 2, 2008 Rleague.com was very fortunate to gain access to the Fiji Bati v France clash played at Wollongong's Win Stadium last night.
A healthy crowd of 9,213 in showery and cold conditions turned up to watch Fiji produce one of the finest displays of the World Cup to date as they demolished the more fancied France side 42-6.
Fiji came into the match as $4.00 outsiders and was certainly worth a punt as the match was always going to be much closer than the odds suggested.
France had form on the board with a 36-18 victory against Scotland last week.
Fiji though continued on the Pacific Nations momentum gained on Friday night when Samoa won an emotional encounter and passionate against Tonga.
The crowd was 95% in support of Fiji Bati, but the noise in the first half was pretty tame and it got going in the second half with the Fiji chant going up many times.
France never looked in the contest and the loss of hooker James Wynne disrputed their rotation. Their attack had no options and Fiji had too much flair, speed and size for their opponents.
Many brave souls braved the conditions and at World Cup matches there has always been plenty of colour and variety. Last night saw the Newtown Jets flag fly high on one of the flag poles on the Win Stadium hill and it was very visable for all to see. The Jets are currently in the NSW Cup and played in the premier Sydney competition from 1908 to 1983.
One of the highlights for myself covering the game came at half-time when Barry Ross walked into the room. Ross was Rex Mossop's sideline expert for 10 years in the Channel 7 days and whilst I was too young to hear his comments live, I have watched many videos of matches from the 1970's and early 1980's to know Ross is a legend of the TV game. He spoke fondly of Mossop, we spoke about two of my favourite all-time players and he is still a great supporter of the game in his work for the Men of League foundation.
After the game ended in the walkway under the Western Stand were two fine centres that opposed each other in two grand finals in discussion with each other and mixing with supporters that remembered them - Parramatta's Michael Cronin and Canterbury's Andrew Farrar. Cronin's standing in the game is second to none, was this year named as one of the top 100 Australian players, inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame last year and is regarded as the ultimate gentleman to play the game. Cronin these days still runs the Pub in Gerringong, which has been part of the Cronin family for generations. Farrar was an outstanding player during the 1980's in the Bulldogs greatest era and his only International for Australia was ironically the 1988 World Cup Final. Farrar is a successful businessman on the South Coast and is currently a Director at the Bulldogs. Cronin and Farrar locked horns against each other in the 1984 and 1986 Grand Finals and it was obvious the respect was there for each other.
At the press conference France coach did the majority of talking for his side with fullback Jarrod Taylor offering some comments. Monie offered no exuses and was disappointed with his sides enthusiasm. He said having two hookers in two games didn't help and the injury to James Wynne made the situation worse. Monie said that the game in France needs more pools of resources to draw players from than just the Catalans Dragons. He pointed out they had a good season, but ultimately finished behind Leeds, St Helens and Wigan in the Super League competition.
Taylor said the game in France is improving with the arrival of the Catalans into the Super League competition and the Elite 1 competition he plays in has improved out of sight. He says though that France need two sides. Taylor mentioned that the side trained good, but just didn't come off for them. He also said that Fiji were hard to stop outwide and setup a strong platform for them to throw it wide to their athletes.
Fiji coach thanked God for giving the players strength and power. He also said that the World Cup was very important for Fiji and also thanked the NRL players for the guidance and experience they have provided.
Much of the talking for Fiji at the press conference was done by Wes Naiqama. He said it was a massive effort by the coaching staff to achieve the 42-6 result. He mentioned that the experienced NRL players had helped with providing guidance on the technical side of the game. Naiqama also said that there's a lot of expectations for Fiji to do well and it's the best World Cup side put together. Naiqama produced the usual 'game by game' cliche for Fiji's World Cup game and said their performanes are a showcase for the game back in Fiji.
Naiqama praised Newcastle Knights team-mate Akuila Uate following his impressive three try performance including a brilliant 85m effort. He said that Uate has been waiting for his chance to showcase his talent and it was a massive stepping stone for him.
All up it was a great experience to just see what the World Cup means to nations such as Fiji and France and how such a tournament is helping Rugby League grow into the sport that it deserves to be. The general feeling amongst all the sides Rleague.com has talked too is that more meaningful International tournaments have to be played. The Pacific Cup has been mentioned a lot by Tonga coach Jim Dymock and its one competition that has to be looked at along with other competitions to help the development of nations such as France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Russia.
Rleague.com thanks the media managers of both sides and the RLWC organisers for the opportunity to get closer to the World Cup and help us promote the game on a higher and more positive level.
Privacy Policy | Legals | Terminology | Credits Recommended Screen Resolution 1024 x 768 or higher | All times are Australian Eastern time unless otherwise specified Rleague.com PTY LTD, operated by Rugby League fans James Stewart (Content, Technical development and implementation), Matthew O'Neill (Content) & Chris Riediger (Content) Rleague powered by Sacked coaches
Pool B
Fiji 42 d. France 6
rleague UK Edition
rleague RSS Feed