Former Vodafone Fiji Bati captain Kevin Ligani Naiqama received a memorable farewell during the Pacific Bowl championship game last Saturday night, which marked his final match. The Bati team convincingly defeated the Cook Islands with a score of 56-6 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, as part of the second round of the Pacific Bowl Championship.
Naiqama, 35, a native of Nabuna, Koro, in Lomaiviti, shared his plans to spend time with his family and reflect on his rugby league career. Throughout his time in the sport, he represented Fiji in three Rugby League World Cups, captaining the team twice, including during the 2022 World Cup in England, where they were narrowly defeated by New Zealand, 24-18, in the quarter-finals. He earned a total of 24 caps for the Bati and celebrated victories in three NRL Grand Finals and two Super League titles.
Describing the emotional experience of the past two weeks in Fiji, Naiqama expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country. “I’m really honoured and privileged to represent my country – it was just so fitting to have my last game here in Fiji,” he stated. He also mentioned that his next steps would involve exploring plans with his wife, Lily, who has been supportive throughout his career.
He praised his team’s performance, noting that the Bati is well-positioned to claim the Pacific Bowl Championship if the Cook Islands secure a victory over Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Port Moresby. Since returning to the Super League in 2019, Naiqama played in the NRL again in 2022 before joining Huddersfield, where he participated in 52 matches starting in 2023.
Reflecting on the unique bond that comes from representing Fiji, he said, “You sort of need no motivation to get up representing your country. It’s a real easy sort of step to representing your nation.” Naiqama was touched to see his family from Koro wearing T-shirts bearing his name and face. Over his 14-year career, he played for various teams, including the Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers, St Helens RLFC, Sydney Roosters, and most recently, the Huddersfield Giants.
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