IRL World Series 2025: Fiji Bulikula name extended squad

Fiji Bulikula coach Joe Dakuitoga admits he has faced a genuine selection headache for the first time as more players put their hand up to help the Pacific nation qualify for next year’s World Cup at the IRL Women’s Rugby League World Series in Canada.

Dakuitoga has picked a 25-strong extended squad, which includes 12 players from NRLW clubs, ahead of the trip to Ontario to play the Canada Ravens on October 21 at Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton.

The winner advances to a play-off on October 26 against the victor of the Ireland-Nigeria semi-final for the eighth and final berth at the 2026 IRL Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The inaugural IRL Women's World Series champions will join Australia, New Zealand, England, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, France and Wales in the World Cup to be played in October and November 2026.

“All the best players have been selected based on their performance through this year,” Dakuitoga said.

Photo: Canberra Raiders winger Isabella Waterman is set to make her international debut for Fiji at the World Series (NRL Photos).

“We want to be in the 2026 World Cup but Canada also wants to qualify, Nigeria wants to qualify and Ireland wants to qualify, so we are looking forward to these games.

“In 2023 we struggled to get players to come and play for Fiji and last year it was easy to select the team but this year it has been a headache because there are now a lot of players who are playing in Australia who want to represent Fiji, especially in these World Cup qualifiers.

“I am so blessed that I have coaches in the NRLW system, and they have been watching all of the girls that are playing in the NRLW and the NSW Harvey Norman and Queensland Cup competitions.”

The Fiji squad will again be headed by Cronulla Sharks pair Talei Holmes and Cassie Staples, whose coach Tony Herman is assisting Dakuitoga prepare the Bulikula for the World Series.

Wests Tigers halfback Losana Lutu has been named despite missing most of the NRLW season, while Canberra Raiders back Isabella Waterman and St George Illawarra Dragons winger Maria Paseka are among the new faces in the Fijian squad.

Photo: NSW U19s star Maria Paseka is among the new faces in the Fiji Bulikula squad for the trip to Canada (NRL Photos). 

The Bulikula squad also features Teaghan Hartigan, Ebony Laing and Sienna Laing – daughters of Fiji Bati international Aseri Laing, who moved to Australia to play for Western Suburbs Magpies (1993-98) and Melbourne Storm (1999).

There are four players from the growing Fiji National Rugby League Women’s competition, three of whom were members of the RISE Rookie team which last month won 30-8 against the touring Canada Residents team.

NRL Fiji manager Ema Levaci said the FNRL women’s competition had grown from eight teams in 2023 to 10 teams in 2024 and this year has 13 teams.

There are eight teams in the Eastern Conference – Lami Steelers, Nabua Broncos, Nadera Panthers, Nadonumai Steelers Development, Namosi Highlanders, Police Sharks, USP Raiders and Veiyasana Knights.

Laselase Cowboys, Namole West Tigers, Namuaniwaqa Eagles, Saru Dragons and Yasawa Saints play in the Western Conference.

The top five teams from the Eastern Conference and top three teams from the Western Conference play an eight team finals series.

Photo: The FNRL Women's competition is growing as players can see the opportunity to represent Fiji or play in the NRLW (Fiji NRL).  

The competition is supported by a thriving secondary schools competition, with 16 schools entering girls teams in an 11-week competition.

The most promising players from the schools and club competitions are selected for the RISE Rookie program, which has an Eastern and Western Academy comprising of 20 players each.

“The standard has maintained even with the increase of teams because of the influx of players who have come through from high school,” Levaci said.

“A lot of the new girls who have come through are from the secondary schools competition so there are a lot who are new to the sport and they are still picking the game up but there is some good talent.”

Exciting backrower Naomi Tegu was one of five players from the RISE Rookie program chosen to attend the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational in Newcastle ahead of August’s NRLW Magic Round.

Tegu has been selected among the 25 players in Fiji’s extended World Series squad.

“Naomi is a good prospect,” Dakuitoga said. “The RISE Rookie program is very important to us to give players opportunities if they can go and be part of the NRLW or Harvey Norman Cup, or Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s).

“We have some girls who are only 15 years old or 16 years old who played against Canada in the Rise Rookie team, so it is really good that there are openings for young athletes to play and train in Australia.

“We are so blessed that we could send five players this year and we will select another five players next year to go to the NRLW training camp.”

Photo: 19-year-old Naomi Tegu is one of the rising stars for Fiji (FNRL).

As for the World Series in Ontario, Dakuitoga will draw on his experience as coach of the Fiji Bati Residents that played in Canada in 2016.

“We have been hearing it will be bloody freezing,” he said. “They are telling us it’s going to be snowing, but we will be alright. We have a good squad.”

Fiji Bulikula squad

Teaghan Hartigan, Ebony Laing, Sienna Laing (Burleigh Bears), Sereana Naitokatoka, Isabella Waterman (Canberra Raiders), Ilisapeci Bari, Latisha Smythe (Canterbury Bulldogs), Talei Holmes, Cassie Staples (Cronulla Sharks), Tahlia Marshall (Easts Tigers), Elizabeth Naleba, Tanika Newton (Ipswich Jets), Asham Leilani (Newcastle Knights), Rory Muller (Parramatta Eels), Josiliva Vere Moceinacagi (Police Sharks), Kelilani Manu, Luisa Yaranamu (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Maria Paseka (St George Illawarra Dragons), Taina Naividi (Sydney Roosters), Mere Kilawekana, Naomi Tegu, Kinisalote Vusawa (USP Raiders), Joy Levy, Losana Lutu (Wests Tigers), Nunia Kawa (Yasawa Saints).

IRL Women's World Series 2025

Venue: Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton, Ontario

Tuesday, October 21
Semi-final: Ireland v Nigeria (3.30pm)
Semi-final: Canada v Fiji (6pm)

Sunday, October 26
Third-place play-off: Semi-final losers (1pm)
Final: Semi-final winners (3.30pm)