Naitasiri returning to Naluwai to defend the Inkk Farebrother trophy and having a large turnout of fans that became the team’s 16th man with their support is a feeling unlike any other, according to player Motikiai Murray.
Naitasiri last played in Naluwai in 2022.
Murray was part of the team as it successfully defended the title with a 27-25 win over Suva in their round eight Skipper Cup fixture at the Naitasiri Secondary School grounds.
When asked by Times Sport what it felt like to play in Naluwai, he said it was “another level.”
“Playing up here is another level, it’s like playing home games in Lautoka,” the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player said, referring to the club’s home games in the West during the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition.
“I love the fans, and I love how they support us,” he added.
Murray began the match as a starter and contributed to his team’s pursuit for title defence by scoring a try.
While Murray has been part of the Naitasiri team throughout the 2025 Skipper Cup season, he made a return to the competition after being part of the FIJI Water Flying Fijians squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, which they defended after a 31-26 win against Japan in the United States last month.
Murray’s Drua teammates were on both teams such as Kavaia Tagivetaua and for Suva, Mesulame Dolokoto and Isoa Tuwai.
