Former Vodafone Fiji Bati captain Kevin Ligani Naiqama received a fitting farewell during Saturday night’s Pacific Bowl championship game, which marked his final match. The Bati team delivered an impressive performance, defeating the Cook Islands 56-6 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva during the second round of the tournament.
The 35-year-old Naiqama, originally from Nabuna, Koro in Lomaiviti, plans to take some time to reflect on his rugby league career and enjoy quality time with his family. Over the course of his career, he represented Fiji in three Rugby League World Cups, captaining the side in two of them, including the 2022 World Cup in England, where they faced New Zealand in the quarter-finals, losing 24-18. Naiqama earned a total of 24 caps for the Bati and achieved significant success, including three NRL Grand Finals and two Super League titles.
Reflecting on his recent experiences in Fiji, Naiqama described the emotional journey. “I’m really honoured and privileged to represent my country – it was just so fitting to have my last game here in Fiji,” he said. He also mentioned the importance of considering his wife, Lily’s aspirations moving forward since she has been a constant presence throughout his career.
Naiqama praised his teammates’ performance, noting that the Bati are in a good position to secure the Pacific Bowl Championship, depending on the outcome of the Cook Islands’ match against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Port Moresby.
Having played in the Super League since 2019, Naiqama briefly returned to the NRL in 2022 before rejoining the Super League with Huddersfield, where he has played 52 matches since 2023. “What an experience it is to represent Fiji Bati; there’s a commonality and a thread that ties us together,” he reflected.
He expressed that representing his nation comes with a unique motivation, emphasizing that the connection stems from familial ties, which enhances the sense of pride. Naiqama was particularly moved to see his family from Koro wearing T-shirts emblazoned with his name and face.
Over a 14-year period, he played for multiple teams, including the Newcastle Knights (2010-2013), Penrith Panthers (2014), Wests Tigers (2015-2018), St Helens RLFC (2019-2021), Sydney Roosters (2022), and most recently, the Huddersfield Giants (2023-2024).
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