Litiana Naqatalevu departed from Beqa Island early yesterday to join the Fiji Bulikula (national women’s) rugby league team’s morning training session at Albert Park in Suva. Spending $100 on travel was a small price to pay for Naqatalevu, as she finally reunited with her niece, Losana Lutu, after 12 years.
“It’s after 12 years then I was able to see her again,” Naqatalevu shared with SUN-sports. She expressed her pride in Losana, noting that her brother’s daughter always showed promise in sports as she was growing up.
The 20-year-old Lutu is garnering attention as a rising star in the National Rugby League Women (NRLW) in Australia. A standout player for the Wests Tigers, she is expected to be a key player for the Bulikula team as they prepare to face the Cook Islands at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday.
“Our village in Naceva, Beqa is getting ready by making banners for the game,” Naqatalevu said. “We’re all coming to the stadium to support Losana and the girls as they play the Cook Islands.”