Lami Steelers captain Naomi Tegu has made an impressive journey to join the Fiji Bulikula squad for the Pacific Bowl Championship match against the Cook Islands on Saturday. The 18-year-old student from Richmond Methodist High School moved from Kadavu to participate in a rugby league academy led by Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata.
Reflecting on her experience, Tegu shared that she was unaware of the clinic being held at her school last year. At the time, she was serving as the deputy head girl and knew little about rugby league. Following the clinic, Kativerata encouraged her to consider joining the Fiji women’s national rugby league team.
After expressing her interest, Tegu attended a training camp during her two-week holiday break. She arrived in the first week accompanied by a teacher and began her rugby journey despite her limited knowledge of the sport. Initially, she was only familiar with basic passing techniques. After the camp ended, while most participants returned home, Tegu chose to stay at Kativerata’s residence where she committed to daily training.
Eventually, Tegu became a captain of the Lami Steelers in the local women’s competition, leading her team to the semi-finals of the Fiji National Rugby League Women’s (FNRLW) premiership tournament. Surprised by her selection for the Fiji Bulikula squad and the centre position, she expressed her excitement and noted the importance of teamwork as advised by the captain, Holmes.
Ahead of the game against the Cook Islands, Tegu emphasized the need for strong defense. She noted that every player must fulfill their role effectively, maintaining formation and avoiding any defensive gaps.