Penrith premiership-winning hero Sunia Turuva and three NRL colleagues have saved Fiji's blushes and sent the Bati into the Plate final of the Pacific Nations rugby league championship.
Minnows the Cook Islands threatened a huge boilover in Port Moresby on Sunday before Turuva bagged the late winning try in a 22-18 escape at Santos National Football Stadium.
The tense comeback victory, after trailing 10-4 at halftime and 18-16 until late, propelled Fiji into the Plate final against Papua New Guinea.
After suffering a 46-10 drubbing at the hands of PNG last week, the Cook Islands needed an upset win over Fiji to have any hope of sneaking into the final.
And that upset looked a real possibility before Parramatta's cult hero winger Maika Sivo crossed in the 24th minute to restrict the Cook Islands' halftime lead to six points.
However, tries to fullback Esom Ioka and replacement Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano threatened again to steal it for the Cook Islands.
But replies from rising Wests Tigers star Jahream Bula, Parramatta's Waqa Blake and Turuva pushed Fiji into the Plate final against PNG on November 4 at New Zealand's Waikato Stadium.
The Plate decider will serve as the precursor to the championship climax between world champions Australia and New Zealand at the same venue.
