AFTER a hard-fought battle against Fetu Samoa in the Pacific Bowl finals, the assistant head coach of Fiji Bulikula, Shane Morris, expressed pride in the team’s effort despite falling short with a 12-16 loss in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.
In a post-match interview, Morris commended the girls for sticking to their game plan and putting in a determined performance.
Reflecting on the game, Morris highlighted the team’s perseverance and dedication over the past 12 months, emphasising their commitment to the game plan.
While they missed out on a win, Morris acknowledged the missed opportunities in the final moments of the game that could have changed the outcome.
“We stuck to our game plan, proud of the girls over the last 12 months, we didn’t get the win but I’m proud of the girls’ effort, in the last two minutes we had opportunities to win the game in certain sections, but we didn’t capitalise on it,” said Morris.
“It’s only our third game, with this young group of girls we are more focused on the players for the future, we are helping the Fiji rugby league with their pathways and making sure we are going forward.”
Morris expressed gratitude to the families, friends, and supporters who have stood behind the team, underscoring the unity and teamwork that drives them forward.
Team captain Talei Holmes shared her thoughts on the game, highlighting the learning experiences both culturally and athletically over the two-week period.
“We had a long two weeks, learning a lot of my culture and learning a lot on and off the field, we got a lot of work to do and that’s in the future,” said Holmes.
She acknowledged the team’s adherence to their game plan, recognising that there were areas for improvement in the execution.
“We did stick to our game plan and that shows a little bit in the end that lost it for us, I believe the girls gave their all and did well and improved for the past 12 months a lot of learning to take out from this game.”
Facing strong opposition from Samoa’s big forwards, Holmes explained the challenges encountered on the field and the team’s efforts to match their opponents.
“There are a lot of big forwards in Samoa, and we also have the same, so we worked hard in the field, it was a tough game out there, it was just the last few moments that we lost.”
Despite the loss, she expressed pride in representing Fiji and the unwavering support from fans back home.
