Naomi Tegu, the captain of the Lami Steelers, has impressively secured a spot on the Fiji Bulikula squad for the upcoming Pacific Bowl Championship against the Cook Islands this Saturday. The 18-year-old, who studies at Richmond Methodist High School, journeyed from Kadavu to join the rugby league academy led by Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata.
Reflecting on her path, Tegu shared that last year in Kadavu, she had little knowledge of rugby league until Coach Kativerata and his team held clinics at her school. As the deputy head girl, Tegu initially had no prior experience in the sport.
Tegu recounted how Kativerata encouraged her to pursue a place on the Fiji women’s national rugby league team, inviting her to attend a training camp during her two-week holiday. She traveled to the camp with a teacher and began her journey in rugby league, despite starting with minimal skills, only knowing how to pass the ball.
After the camp, while other academy participants returned home, Tegu stayed with Coach Kativerata and continued her training every day. This dedication led her to join the Lami Steelers for local women’s competitions. Tegu captained her team, guiding them to the semi-finals of the Fiji National Rugby League Women’s premier tournament.
Surprised by her inclusion in the Fiji Bulikula squad and assigned to the centre position, Tegu expressed excitement about the opportunity. She noted the team’s focus on cohesion, as emphasized by their captain, Holmes, and underscored the importance of maintaining strong defensive strategies against the Cook Islands.
Tegu highlighted that each player must effectively execute their roles, ensuring the defensive line is solid without any weaknesses.