THE McDonald’s Nadi side showed composure in their 19-15 win against Kadavu in the opening round of the 2026 Skipper Cup competition at King Charles Park last Saturday.
Nadi head coach Cohan Politini said his players remained committed to their game plan and displayed the mental strength needed to secure an important first-round win.
“We knew the first game was always going to be the toughest, especially with all the hype surrounding the match against Kadavu,” Politini said.
“There was extra pressure, but we tried to shut that out and stick to our processes. We were rattled a few times by Kadavu, but thanks to the boys’ mental capacity, they came back and managed to hold it together until the end.”
“The impact players made a difference. We managed to bring them on at the right time, and we’re grateful to have a strong bench that came in and made the difference.”
Nadi fielded a youthful outfit featuring seven debutants, with many players graduating from last year’s Under-20 squad. The coach was encouraged by the way the newcomers handled the physicality and pressure of senior provincial rugby.
“They did very well, especially those who came off the bench. We look forward to using them more during the season.”
While pleased with the result, he acknowledged there was plenty of work ahead before Nadi’s second-round clash against Lautoka.
“Our set pieces need improvement. It’s only the first game, so we have to get our systems right, improve our execution and be more accurate with our intentions. If we continue to improve, we should progress gradually throughout the season.”
He also admitted the large contingent of Kadavu supporters created a challenging atmosphere but said his players remained focused.
“They had the majority of the support, but we tried not to let that affect us and just played our game.”
Politini thanked the Nadi supporters for their backing and expressed confidence that the side can continue building momentum throughout the Skipper Cup season.
