Naiqama has been playing in the Super League since 2019; went back to NRL in 2022 before he returned to the Super League for Huddersfield where he played 52 matches since 2023.
Former Vodafone Fiji
Bati captain Kevin
Naiqama. Photo: NRL
There was no better way to send-off former Vodafone Fiji Bati captain Kevin Ligani Naiqama when Saturday night’s Pacific Bowl championship game was his swansong.
Bati thrashed Cook Islands, 56-6, at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva last Saturday in the second round of the Pacific Bowl Championship.
The 35-year-old Nabuna, Koro, Lomaiviti native indicated that his next plan was to spend quality time with his family and reflect on his rugby league career.
Naiqama represented Fiji in three Rugby League World Cup (RLWC); captained two including the 2022 World Cup in England where they lost to New Zealand, 24-18, in the quarter-final.
He earned 24 caps for the Bati.
He also won three NRL Grand Finals and two Super League titles.
He described the last two weeks experience in Fiji has been like no other; he said it has been an emotional one.
“I’m really honoured and privileged to represent my country – it was just so fitting to have my last game here in Fiji,” Naiqama said.
“The next step will be sort of look into what my wife, Lily, wants to do. She’s followed me most of my career, so it’s trying to follow in her plans and see what she wants to do, I’m not quite sure yet,” he added.
He applauded the team’s performance; the Bati side is in a good position to win the Pacific Bowl Championship if Cook Islands beat the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Naiqama has been playing in the Super League since 2019; went back to NRL in 2022 before he returned to the Super League for Huddersfield where he played 52 matches since 2023.
“What an experience it is, to represent Fiji Bati, there’s a commonality and a thread that tied us together,” he said.
“I guess, as opposed to like rugby league clubs, you sign and you can sort of move clouds, but here, you only qualify through blood, that’s through parents and grandparents and that’s what makes this so special and we have a bond and it’s for our family that just hits a different.
“You sort of need no motivation to get up representing your country. It’s a real easy sort of step to representing your nation.”
He was taken aback to see his family from Koro wearing Tshirts with his name and face printed on it.
His 14-year career saw him play for the Newcastle Knights (2010-13), Penrith Panthers (2014), Wests Tigers (2015-18), St Helens RLFC (2019-21), Sydney Roosters (2022) and most recently the Huddersfield Giants (2023- 24).
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