2 weeks Ago By Joel Gould
Fiji are through to a women's Rugby League World Cup qualifier against Samoa after winger Vitalina Naikore scored a hat-trick in the 18-6 Pacific Championships victory over Cook Islands in Suva. The Bulikula have never played in a women's World Cup and next week's Pacific Bowl final winner in Auckland will gain automatic entry into the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by Australia. The visitors took the lead when back-rower Kerehitina Matua ran a superb line and stepped her way over for a 6-0 lead.
Fiji continued to throw the ball around with fullback Cassie Staples dangerous. Her Cronulla teammate Talei Holmes, also the captain of the Bulikula, stormed over to level the scores after crafty work by bench hooker Teaghan Hartigan. Hartigan, formerly with the Warriors in the NRLW, lifted the tempo when she came off the bench.
Fiji had named Losana Lutu on the wing but she started at halfback as she has for Wests Tigers in 2024. The 20-year-old rising star threw a slick ball for speedy North Queensland winger Naikore to dance over in the corner for a 10-6 lead. The hosts only completed eight of 17 sets in the first half and were far from their best, but their skill level was too high for the Moana.
Lutu and Naikore combined again after the break with a try of dazzling skill. The playmaker lobbed a 10m short kick into space for Naikore to catch and step her opposite number to score her second in the corner. Hartigan and Lotu linked up and Naikore was just too fast and elusive as she notched her third.
Fiji were too strong in the forwards with lock forward Holmes and back-rower Nanise Vakacavu outstanding..
