By Steve Mascord

FOUR  2022 NSW State of Origin players are members of a 31-man Fiji Bati World Cup squad.

Coach Joe Rabele has taken the novel approach of naming seven more than the regulation 24-member list and then writing to players and asking their intentions.

The four Blues - Api Koroisau, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Jacob Saifiti and Tariq Sims - will all be in contention for Australia while Newcastle’s Daniel Saifiti said in July: “I’m not going to play either way. I want to have a good preseason for the Knights”.

Rebele has named Kevin Naiqama and Viliame Kikau as co-captains and his squad includes 17 NRL players.

Rabele told a media conference: “I know that he has some interest to play for the Kangaroos, but the door is still open for Api Koroisau," Rabele told a press conference in Fiji.

“If they are not selected by Australia they are still available to come and play for Fiji.

“Hopefully he will get back to me because we will send invitation letters to all the clubs for all the players that we select [to confirm] if they want to be part of this program, so we are waiting for them to respond.

“We are departing for England on September 25 so before we depart we need to select our best team that we can for the World Cup."

Of the 33 players, 13 played in the 2017 World Cup. Hull prop Kane Evans has been ruled out with a knee injury. North Queensland’s Iosefo Masi has been dropped after returning to rugby union.

• Waqa Blake (Parramatta Eels)
• Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta Eels)
• Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne Storm)
• Vuate Karawalevu (Sydney Roosters)
• Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)
• Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers)
• Lamar Manuel Liolevave (Tweed Seagulls)
• Joe Lovodua (Hull FC)
• Isaac Lumelume (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Netane Masima (Wests Magpies)
• Laitia Moceidreke (NQ Cowboys)
• Sitiveni Moceidreke (London Broncos)  
• Taane Milne (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Marcelo Montoya (NZ Warriors)
• Kevin Naiqama (Sydney Roosters)
• Ben Nakubuwai (Leigh Centurions)
• Jason Qareqare (Castleford Tigers)
• Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Taniela Sadrugu (NQ Cowboys)
• Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
• Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
• Pio Seci (Manly Sea Eagles)
• Korbin Sims (Hull KR)
• Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
• Maika Sivo (Parramatta Eels)
• Penioni Tagituimua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers)
• Joseph Vakacereivalu (Redcliffe Dolphins)
• Semi Valemei (Canberra Raiders)
• King Vuniyayawa (Salford Reds)
• Ratu Inoke Vasuturaga (Kinoya Eagles)
• Brandon Wakeham (Canterbury Bulldogs)
• Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)

See Fiji in action at RLWC2021 as they play Australia, Italy and Scotland – rlwc2021.com/tickets