As the Bulikula prepare to take on the Papua New Guinea Orchids in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup today, the Fiji side will be chasing its first win after pushing the Kiwi Ferns close in their opening match last week.
Fiji suffered an 18–12 defeat to the Kiwi Ferns at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia, while PNG opened their campaign with a commanding 58–4 victory over France in front of their home crowd.
Despite the loss, Bulikula captain Sereana Naitokatoka says the team was encouraged by its performance against one of the tournament’s top sides.
Naitokatoka says going up against the second best in the world and losing only by one try is crazy.
She says the team would have been smashed by probably 30-plus, but for the girls to turn up every single time and lose by one try is amazing.
However, Fiji will be without Tamika Jones for the remainder of the World Cup after she suffered a shoulder injury against the Kiwi Ferns.
The 23-year-old Australia-based player will return home for surgery rather than travel with the team to Papua New Guinea.
Bulikula coach Jone Wesele says the opening match had given the team valuable experience and a benchmark to build on for the rest of the tournament.
The Bulikula will face the PNG Orchids at 3.15pm today at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Source: pmn.co.nz
