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Mon 20 Oct, 2025
Bulikula players and staff travelled from Australia and New Zealand to Fiji to meet their local team-mates amid emotional scenes as family members turned out to farewell the side before their flight to Canada for the Women's World Series.
The Bulikula face Canada on October 21 at Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Ontario, with the winner to take on the victor of the Ireland-Nigeria semi-final in a World Cup play-off on October 26.
If they win both matches, the Bulikula will qualify for the World Cup for the first time and become the eighth women’s team at RLWC2026 in Australia and Papua New Guinea at the end of next season.
“They are not used to the cold so it will be interesting to see how they handle that, but it is going to be such a good experience for them, it is really cool,” said Cronulla Sharks coach Tony Herman, who is helping to prepare the Bulikula for the World Series.
“They were at the airport with their families, taking photos and stuff like that, so it is going to be such a good experience for them.”
The Bulikula have lost four key players since the provisional squad was named due to injuries or personal reasons – captain Talei Holmes, halfback Losana Lutu, winger Taina Naividi and forward Nanise Vakacavu.
However, Fiji head coach Joe Dakutoga said that has created more opportunities for local players to step up against the Ravens.
“We have got a good young side. There are three young girls from the Rise Rookie program and one from our Fiji Residents team. The three younger girls played for the Rise Rookie team and the Fiji Residents against Canada on their recent tour, just for long term development.
“They are 18 or 19 years old, and these girls are just looking for opportunities so hopefully an NRLW club picks them up.
"For them to come and meet all of these NRLW girls and girls from the state leagues is a good experience for them. For some of the girls that we are bringing it is their first time flying by plane and we are going to be playing in bloody freezing conditions in Canada.
“The goal for them is to blend, learn from the others girls and go back to Fiji and share their experience.”
The Bulikula will have a strong backline, with Cass Staples expected to play fullback, while St George Illawarra rookie Maria Paseka – a NSW Under 19s representative - will be one wing and Canberra’s Isabella Waterman the other.
The loss of Lutu means that another Raiders star, Sereana Naitokatoka, will partner South Sydney’s Luisa Yaranamu in the halves, with Teaghan Hartigan to play hooker.
“We are blessed to have players like Cass Staples, Teaghan Hartigan and Sereana Naitokatoka around and teaching the young girls,” Dakutoga said. “It will be a big boost for our World Cup campaign next year but firstly we need to focus on this game against Canada and then worry about the next game.
“Imagine if those four players come back it will be a big headache to pick the squad for the World Cup. It is the first time we have had so many girls want to put their hand up for Fiji. It is so humbling to see these young girls want to represent their culture and heritage.”
The local Fijian players are Josiliva Vere Moceinacagi (Police Sharks), Naomi Tegu, Kinisalote Vusawa (USP Raiders) and Nunia Kawa (Yasawa Saints).
Another promising local talent, Asenaca Diranuve, was ruled out after suffering a concussion in the recent FNRL grand final, won by her Police Sharks team against USP Raiders.
Parramatta Eels rookie Rory Mueller has also been called into the squad as an injury replacement – as she was for last year’s World Cup qualifier against Samoa for the Pacific berth at RLWC2026.
“There are some really good players there and it has been good development for them - the team is going good, the local footy is going good and the girls particularly when we were over there last year were just awesome,” Herman said.
“The girls would take you to their village, introduce you to their family and run some coaching clinics. I really enjoyed that side of it, to see the girls so excited in their own villages and the villagers excited for footy was cool. It's experiences like that made me want to be involved."
Tahila Marshall (Brisbane Tigers), Teaghan Hartigan, Ebony Laing, Sienna Laing (Burleigh Bears), Sereana Naitokatoka, Isabella Waterman (Canberra Raiders), Latisha Smythe (Canterbury Bulldogs), Cassie Staples (Cronulla Sharks), Elizabeth Naleba, Tanika Newton (Ipswich Jets), Asham Leilani (Newcastle Knights), Rory Muller (Paramatta Eels), Josiliva Vere Moceinacagi (Police Sharks), Kelilani Manu, Luisa Yaranamu (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Maria Paseka (St George Illawarra Dragons), Naomi Tegu, Kinisalote Vusawa (USP Raiders), Joy Levy, (Wests Tigers), Nunia Kawa (Yasawa Saints).