IRL World Series 2025: NRLW grand finalist lured to league by Fijian Facebook post

A social media post from the mother of Fijian props Daniel and Jacob Saifiti was the catalyst for Bulikula star Taina Naividi’s journey to Sunday’s NRLW grand final with Sydney Roosters.

Naividi, who is set to play for Fiji in the IRL Women’s Rugby League World Series 2025 in Canada later this month, will line-up on the wing in the premiership decider against the Broncos but she could play hooker or secondrow for the Bulikula after proving her utility value in recent weeks.

Fiji play Canada in a sudden-death semi-final on October 21 at Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Ontario and if they win will then meet the victor of the Ireland-Nigeria semi-final on October 26 for the final berth at next year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.   

Roosters team-mates say Naividi is capable of playing any position, but she may have been lost to a rival code if not for Beverley Saifiti urging her to represent Fiji in rugby league.

The Fijian community on the NSW Central Coast is tight knit and Beverley knew Naividi’s parents, who had met in Australia after moving from Fiji.

Daniel and Jacob Saifiti have played a combined 10 Tests for the Bati, and Beverley was aware of Naividi's sporting talent.   

“The Saifiti brothers, their mum, actually tagged me on a story about the Fiji team playing in the Harmony Cup,” Naividi said.

“I went to a trial for that competition for Fiji, and that is where it all started. I met my closest mates in that team, and it all went from there.”

After forming a close bond with Fijian playmaker Sereana Naitokatoka, Naividi followed her to the Dragons for Tarsha Gale Cup and Mounties in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.

Naitokatoka, who plays for Canberra Raiders, and Naividi were reunited for the first leg of last year's World Cup qualifying campaign in which the Bulikula beat Cook Islands but lost to Samoa, forcing them to play off in the World Series for a berth at RLWC26.

Photo: Fiji team-mates Taina Naividi and Sereana Naitokatoka have been best friends since playing together in the Harmony Cup.

“It was my first time playing for Fiji and I was speechless; the whole experience was surreal. I literally had no words, I was just super grateful to put on that jersey,” Naividi said.

“My parents are both from Fiji, they came over to Australia when they were quite young, in their early 20s. Dad is from the Coral Coast and mum is from Suva. They met on the Central Coast and that is where I was born and raised.

“I am very fortunate to go to Fiji every year to see my family. They are always watching me on the TV and I think for me going over there and them having the opportunity to see me play in real life was so surreal.

“They were very supportive, and they came to the hotel every day to see me. It was so nice seeing them. I was really emotional, but it was so cool.”

Naividi is in her second season with the Roosters after being thrown an NRLW lifeline by coach John Strange last year following a long layoff with an ACL injury.

The 24-year-old played for the Eels in 2021 but missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons before receiving a late call-up by the Roosters when Corban Baxter ruptured her ACL in a pre-season match.

Strange was knew of Naividi's talent from watching her play Australian Rules against his daughter Jasmin, a key member of the Roosters team, while they were at school on the Central Coast. 

After playing six matches last year, Naivida has featured in all but one game this season, scoring 11 tries on the wing and also spending time at dummy half after Tarryn Aiken was injured and in the secondrow for the suspended Aliyah Nasio.

“I was definitely thinking I was not going to get a run last year and because it was such a late call up, I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t really prepared fitness wise,” Naividi said.

“This year I have gone through a pre-season and through that I have gotten really fit so I was physically ready and mentally ready for this year."

Photo: Taina Naividi has scored 11 tries in 11 games this season for Sydney Roosters (NRL Photos).

As the only Bulikula star in the NRLW grand final, Naividi is proud of the positive influence she is having on young players in Fiji.

Emerging forward Naomi Tegu, who is a member of the squad chosen for the World Series in Canada, said: "Women's rugby league is getting stronger in Fiji and it is my dream to play in the NRLW like Taina Naividi at the Roosters and Cassie Staples and Talei Holmes at the Sharks. They are my role models".

Told about Tegu's comments, Naividi said: “It is so good to know that we can have that impact. It will be cool if I get the chance to play with her". 

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)