Who would have thought this was even possible? Why would you even downplay a giant of Fijian rugby against minnows?
It just does not make sense at all.
We are talking about years of experience. We are talking about exposure at the highest levels of the game and of seasoned players who have years of tough games under their belts.
So the line of thought that placed Naitasiri as hot favourites to win the final of the Skipper Cup competition was sort of expected.
Going through the motions would have been part of the line of thinking as well.
Then Malolo did the unthinkable!
They defeated Naitasiri. In fact they walloped them 41-26.
How do you even accept that?
The minnows were on top of the world yesterday.
Malolo anchored a great season with that win in front of Naitasiri’s home crowd.
That was special! It was the stuff of dreams.
In doing that, Malolo made a point for the underdogs.
They packed fire in the belly. They packed enthusiasm and a great desire to win on their first try.
In front of a sold-out audience of more than 10,000 people in Suva, they played their hearts out, and won!
This was the kind of story that defines the beauty of sport: that burning belief that anything is possible.
Naitasiri had led 12-10 at halftime, and their supporters filled the stands with the chants and cheers that have long echoed through Fijian rugby history.
But as Malolo began to seize control, the atmosphere shifted. The once-deafening roar of the black-and-red brigade softened, replaced by a growing sense of awe as Malolo’s relentless determination carried them forward.
Head coach Rupeni Nasiga was understandably emotional. Reflecting on the historic victory, he said it marked a new dawn for the vanua of Lawa.
“Today, it is the first time for the team from Lawa to reach the final, and God only knows how happy we all are. We are thankful for His help and guidance,” Nasiga said.
“When we prepared for the final, our aim was clear. Na bilo oqo ena soko wasa ena vanua o Lawa (this Cup will travel across the sea to the vanua o Lawa).”
In his post-match reflections, Nasiga extended heartfelt gratitude to the Momo na Tui Lawa, the paramount chief of Malolo, and to the families and supporters who journeyed from far and wide to witness history being made. Their faith and encouragement, he said, carried the team through every challenge.
Malolo’s fairytale run now stands as one of the most inspiring chapters in the Skipper Cup’s history. Their $20,000 prize money pales in comparison to the pride they have brought to their fans and to Fijian rugby.
This victory reminds us that sport is never just about skill or statistics. It is about belief. It is about heart. It is about communities rallying behind a dream and watching it come alive.
Malolo’s triumph is a testament to what can happen when preparation meets passion, when faith meets focus, and when a team refuses to be defined by others’ expectations. It is a lesson for all of us, in sport, in life, and in every challenge we face.
Greatness does not belong only to the giants. It belongs to those who dare to dream big and work hard.
