Fiji Builkula took to the field at Albert Park yesterday for training as they prepare for their opening match against the Cook Islands Moana in the second week of the 2024 Pacific Championships. Team captain Talei Holmes addressed the press after the training session, highlighting the team’s focus on key improvement areas and the importance of continuing this work throughout the week.
“We all got together and practiced a bit of attack, a bit of defense, and reviewed all our movements that we’ll be using this week,” Holmes commented. “It was nice to gather and handle the ball for a while.”
The young captain recognized the strength of their upcoming opponents, particularly in the middle of the field. “We know we need to tighten our ruck; they have some strong players on their team, and we need to ensure our defense is solid, as that will play a crucial role in winning the game,” she noted.
Holmes, who has ties to Taveuni Island, expressed that team morale is high following their arrival at camp at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Saturday and their Sunday church service at Qauia Methodist Church in Lami.
“We’ve formed a bond off the field already, engaging in devotions and team meetings, which I believe is extremely important,” she said. “We already have a strong connection, which was evident during our practice yesterday, and we’ve been able to nurture that.”