FIJI National Rugby League has named a 42-member extended Bulikula squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia, blending local talent with a strong Australian-based contingent.
Fifteen players, more than a third of the squad, are drawn straight from the domestic competition at home, among them USP Raiders pair Naomi Tegu and Reape Diege Matai and Police Sharks trio Temalesi Bui Natuituba, Adi Soakula and Laisa Takayawa.
The remaining 27 come from three Australian competitions.
Fourteen ply their trade in the National Rugby League Women’s Premiership (NRLW), including Cronulla Sharks pair Cassie Staples and Talei Holmes and Canberra Raiders duo Isabella Waterman and Sereana Naitokatoka.
Four are drawn from the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL), among them Wentworthville Magpies’ Siniva Sa’anga, while nine come from the Queensland Rugby League’s BMD Premiership (QRL), including Burleigh Bears pair Teaghan Hartigan and Ebony Laing.
Twenty of the 42 were part of the 25-strong squad that sealed Fiji’s maiden World Cup berth with a 62-4 win over Nigeria in the World Series final in Brampton, Ontario, last October.
Captain Cassie Staples, who scored four tries in that final, leads the returning core alongside Talei Holmes, Latisha Smythe, Losana Lutu, Isabella Waterman, Sereana Naitokatoka and Maria Paseka.
Rise Rookie graduate Tegu, who scored in the World Series semi-final win over Canada, is also retained, a sign of the pathway from Fiji’s domestic and development ranks bearing fruit ahead of Fiji’s first-ever World Cup appearance.
Newly appointed Fiji Bulikula head coach Jone Wesele understands the magnitude of the task ahead – with so much expectation in their Rugby League World Cup debut players will need to step up for a place in the final 23.
“We are not just going there to participate we are going there to establish the Fiji Bulikua and we are going there to win,” Wesele said.
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be played across Australia and Papua New Guinea from October 16 till November 15.
Fiji domestic competition (15 players)
1. Naomi Tegu (USP Raiders Fiji) – Edge/Middle
2. Salote Vuniwaqa (Namoli Tigers Fiji) – Centre
3. Vitorina Toga (Namoli Tigers Fiji) – Hooker
4. Mereseini Tareguci (Lami Steelers Fiji) – Edge/Middle
5. Kinisalote Vusawa (Vusu Raiders Fiji) – Halves
6. Reape Diege Matai (USP Raiders Fiji) – Middle
7. Temalesi Bui Natuituba (Police Sharks Fiji) – Edge/Middle
8. Pearl Grace (Lami Steelers Fiji) – Middle/Edge
9. Adi Soakula (Police Sharks Fiji) – Halves
10. Adi Taina Delailovu (Army Bears Fiji) – Edge
11. Luisa Nasiqa (Laselase Cowboys Fiji) – Edge/Middle
12. Amalaini Navatu (Laselase Cowboys Fiji) – Wing/Fullback
13. Laisa Takayawa (Police Sharks Fiji) – Middle
14. Emi Bulouvere (Yasawa Saints Fiji) – DH/Fullback
15. Matelita Baleisuva Maikali (Serua Dragons Fiji) – Centre/Wing
NRLW (14 players)
1. Cassie Staples (Cronulla Sharks) – FB/Wing
2. Isabella Waterman (Canberra Raiders) – Wing/Centre
3. Tanina Naividi (Sydney City Roosters) – FB/Wing/Centre
4. Maria Paseka (St George Illawarra Dragons) – Wing
5. Losana Lutu (West Tigers) – Halves
6. Sereana Naitokatoka (Canberra Raiders) – Halves
7. Latisha Smythe (Canterbury Bulldogs) – Middle/Edge
8. Talei Holmes (Cronulla Sharks) – Lock
9. Tamika Jones (Canterbury Bulldogs) – Middle/Edge
10. Leilani Ahsam (Cronulla Sharks) – Lock
11. Luisa Yaranamu (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – Five Eighth
12. Rory Muller (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – Hooker
13. Jezebel Georgia Navusolo (St George Dragons) – Centre
14. Nanise Vakacavu (Cronulla Sharks) – Edge
NSWRL (4 players)
1. Siniva Sa’anga (Wentworthville Magpies) – Halves
2. Alofa (Rosie) Schuster (Wentworthville Magpies) – Wing
3. Aliti Namoce (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – Middle
4. Keilani Manu (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – Edge
QRL BMD Premiership (9 players)
1. Teaghan Hartigan (Burleigh Bears) – Middle/Hooker
2. Ebony Laing (Burleigh Bears) – Middle
3. Tanika Newton (Easts Tigers) – Edge/Centre/Hooker
4. Elizabeth Naleba (Burleigh Bears) – Middle/Edge
5. Tahlia Marshall (Easts Tigers) – FB/Wing
6. Abigayle Sekitoga (Burleigh Bears) – Centre/Wing
7. Ema Masi (Norths Devils) – Edge/Middle
8. Sienna Laing (Burleigh Bears) – FB/Centre/Halves
9. Lorren Leli (Easts Tigers) – Middle/Edge
