Lami Steelers captain Naomi Tegu has undertaken an inspiring journey to secure her place in the Fiji Bulikula squad for the upcoming Pacific Bowl Championship match against the Cook Islands on Saturday.
The 18-year-old student from Richmond Methodist High School left her home in Kadavu to join the rugby league academy led by Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata.
Reflecting on her initial experience, Tegu shared, “I was in Kadavu last year and we didn’t expect coach Kativerata and his team to come to our school for rugby league clinics.” At the time, she was serving as the deputy head girl and had little knowledge about rugby league.
Tegu recounted how Kativerata encouraged her to register for the Fiji women’s national rugby league team. He invited her to attend a training camp during the two-week holiday. She arrived with a teacher in the first week and began her rugby league journey.
Despite her limited experience, she committed to training diligently. “I only knew how to pass, and after the camp ended, the rest of the academy players left, but I stayed at Kativerata’s house,” she said. Tegu continued her daily training and soon joined the Lami Steelers for the local women’s competition.
Under her leadership, the team reached the semi-finals of the Fiji National Rugby League Women’s premiership tournament. “I did not expect to be selected for the Fiji Bulikula squad or to play in the centre position,” she remarked.
Expressing her joy at being part of the squad, Tegu noted that their captain, Holmes, has encouraged the team to bond and work cohesively. She emphasized the importance of maintaining strong defensive strategies against the Cook Islands.
“Every player must fulfill their role, ensuring that the defensive line is solid with no gaps,” she added.