The Kaiviti Silktails wrapped up their Jersey Flegg Cup season with a spirited 22-22 draw against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Churchill Park on Saturday.
It was a fitting finish for the Fijian side, who showed resilience to fight back from a 22-10 deficit and secure a share of the points. The result means the Silktails conclude their 24-match campaign with four wins, one draw, and 19 losses an improvement from last year’s winless run.
Head coach Timoci Duve praised his players’ effort but admitted they were hoping for more.
“I’m proud of the boys’ effort. To come back from 22-10 and level it at 22-all shows great character. Of course, we would have loved to finish with a win, but we accept the draw. We will now focus on next season.”
Duve confirmed that five senior players will move on, while the rest remain in the programme. Recruitment has already started, with talent identification completed in Sigatoka and Lautoka, targeting young prospects from Fiji Secondary School rugby league and Deans competitions.
Pre-season training is scheduled to begin in November and run through February before the 2026 Jersey Flegg campaign kicks off in March.
Nineteen-year-old second-rower Sisa Vuniwaqa, who hails from Tavualevu village in Tavua, was grateful to finish the season on a positive note.
“I thank the Lord for the good game. We had some injuries, but no one was badly hurt. I thank the boys for their effort and our supporters as well. For next season, we need to work on a lot of errors, especially our communication.
“I’m looking forward to pre-season in November,” Vuniwaqa said.
The Silktails may not have had the results they hoped for this year, but their late-season fightback and commitment to developing young players signal brighter days ahead.