Naikore gets first start for Bulikula

Former Fijiana Drua star winger Vitalina Naikore gets her first start for the Fijiana Bulikula rugby league side in their Pacific Championships opener against Fetu Samoa at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Sunday.

Naikore was given the Player of the Final award after scoring a hat-trick of tries when the Drua beat Waratahs to hoist the Super W title in 2022.

She signed up this year with the North Queensland Cowboys and was playing in the NRL Women’s Rugby League competition.

Bulikula head coach Josaia Rabele has also included former Fijiana women’s rugby players of Asenaca Rokomarama and Merewalesi Rokouono in the starting squad.

Rabele has moved Sharks winger Cassie Staples to fullback while Patricia Raikadroka who represented the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII in 2016 and 2019 at centre. Another NRL player in the line-up is Sereana Naitokatoka. The match kicks-off at 4.45pm (Fiji time).

LINE-UPS

Fijian Bulikula- 1. Cassie Staples, 2. Ana Raduva, 3. Patricia Raikadroka, 4. Vitalina Naikore, 5. Asena Rokomarama, 6. Sienna Laing, 7. Sereana Naitokatoka, 8. Patricia Maejiirs, 9. Teaghan Laing, 10. Anastacia Shum-Cottrell, 11. Ema Rainima, 12. Talei Holmes, 13. Aliti Namoce

Fetu Samoa- 1. Destiny Mino-Sinapati, 2. Taylor Mapusua, 3. Petesa Lio, 4. Niall Williams-Guthrie, 5. Linday Tui, 6. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, 7. Sienna Lofipo, 8. Fiona Jahnke, 9. Destiny Brill, 10. Janelle Williams, 12. Malaela Sua, 15. Onjeurlina Hunt, 13. Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala

Interchange

Fijian Bulikula- 14. Siniva Sa’anga, 15. Grace Waqa, 16. Mere Kilawekana, 17. Merewalesi Rokouono

Fetu Samoa- 16. Pihuka Berryman-Duff, 17. Tafao Asana, 19. Tamerah Leafi, 21. Makayla Eli

Reserves

Fijian Bulikula- 18. Asenaca Diranuve, 19. Sokula Waqa, 20. Alesi Kilawekana, 21. Salote Sukakinamena

Fetu Samoa- 20. Avery Rose-Carmont.

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