World Cup Qualification (Women) 2026 Pacific Qualifying Tournament : Pacific Qualifying Tournament

Sat 26th October 2024   - KO  18:00 - HFC Stadium, Suva, Fiji , Fiji
  Attendance: 3216
Official: Peter Gough (Australia)

Cook Islands

6

FT

18

Half Time
6 - 10

Fiji

Tries

Goals

NRLW stars bolster Fiji for home clash with Cook Islands

Fiji Bulikula and Cook Islands Moana kick off their 2024 Pacific Championships campaigns when they face off at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday.

Both teams played in Port Moresby in their only games of the 2023 tournament, with both sides suffering losses.

This year, Bulikula will enjoy the support of the home crowd, while a number of their players have also had more international experience this season, with two members of the side featuring for the Fiji side who appeared in the Harvey Norman Women's National Championships earlier this year.

While nations will field new-look line-ups, both have selected strong squads with considerable NRLW experience, with Fiji’s overall squad featuring seven players with NRLW experience, while Cook Islands have 10. However, only three - Toru Arakua, Kere Matua and Jazmon Tupou-Witchman - played in 2024.

Of those, Arakua still has one match to serve of a two-match ban for a dangerous throw while playing for the Titans in Round 8.

Fiji's Cronulla Sharks duo Talei Holmes and Cassie Staples recently played in the NRLW grand final and their experience will be vital for the Bulikula's chances of a win.

The game will also hold plenty of extra meaning, with a place in the World Cup qualifying final after up for grabs, with the winner to travel to Auckland to play Fetu Samoa at Go Media Stadium on November 2, with a World Cup berth up for grabs.

26 October 2024
Fiji Bulikula within sight of World Cup berth after downing Cook Islands

Fiji Bulikula are within touching distance of a historic first World Cup berth after defeating Cook Islands 18-6 to secure a spot in next Saturday's qualifying final against Fetu Samoa. 

Playing on home soil at Suva's HFC Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Fiji benefitted from a three-try haul by Cowboys powerhouse Vitalina Naikore on the right wing, while 20-year-old halfback Losana Lutu was excellent on the ball in what was her nation's first Test victory since 2019. 

Despite looking the superior side for much of the encounter, Fiji still struggled to shake off their opponents in the face of a high error count and a series of impatient decisions with ball in hand.

But 18 unanswered points from the 18th minute onwards was enough to set up a winner-takes-all clash against Samoa in Auckland on November 2 which doubles as the Pacific Bowl Final and World Cup qualifier. 

While they completely dominated opportunities on the ball through the first 10 minutes – enjoying 73 percent possession at one stage – Bulikula had nothing to show for it bar a disallowed try due to obstruction. 

Instead it was the Cook Islands who turned the scoreboard over first through a Kerehitina Matua try which Charntay Poko converted. 

But the Moana's feeble defence, which saw them rack up 23 missed tackles inside the first 18 minutes, was soon exposed by Fiji, who scored two tries in the space of four minutes to hit the lead. 

The hosts should have added a couple more too, but continuously coughed up handling errors and ended up giving the Moana chances to get back into the game themselves, which they almost did on the stroke of half-time when Crystal Tamarua came up just short. 

Sitting on a 10-6 advantage at the break, it took just five minutes for Fiji to give themselves some added comfort thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Lutu, who kicked across field to send Naikore over for her second. 

By the time her third arrived just after the hour mark the contest was all but over, with the Cook Islands unable to muster up a response through the final 10 minutes. 

26 October 2024