NAITASIRI are eager to bury their 15-year losing streak on Saturday in their much-anticipated Skipper Cup final against Malolo at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
The last time the Highlanders took the Skipper Cup home was in 2010 when they defeated Nadroga 25-24.
Naitasiri featured in the final four times after that in 2012, 2014, 2020 and 2022 but they lost on all four occassions.
The most recent encounter was in 2022 when the side went down to Nadi 12-14 at Price Charles Park.
As they edge closer to creating history and the Farebrother title already in the bag, the coaches are pulling out all the stops as they anticipate their greatest challenge yet from a team which is now dubbed as the giant slayers.
“Right now, the message to the boys is to forget the Farebrother and last week’s win.
“Come back to reality and let us not underestimate Malolo, they’ve proven themselves throughout the competition. Now it’s the battle of the two best team of the competition,” team manager Pena Qaia said in an interview with this newspaper yesterday.
Last week Naitasiri was taken to the wire by a spirited Tailevu side which dominated the match in the first 60 minutes of play.
Qaia credited the boys experience and composure to win the game in the final quarter.
“At half time the message was clear, with our fans packed at the stadium we asked the boys to raise up at representatives of our proud province and give our fans a victory to celebrate.
“It was tough to get that victory, but the experience has really strengthened us as a team heading into the final,” he said.
Naitasiri will take on Malolo at 3pm. The Marama Championship final will get things rolling on Saturday with title holders Suva battling Namosi at 11am before the Skipper Cup U20 final between Nadi and Naitasiri kicks off at 1pm.
