Skipper Cup Final: Naitasiri’s Four 2022 Finalists Lead the Way

As the Naitasiri side prepares to face a formidable Malolo team in the 2025 Skipper Cup Finals this Saturday, their campaign is fueled by a burning desire for redemption, led by a small core of players who remember the heartbreak of their last final appearance.

When the teams clash at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium at 3pm, only four members of the current Naitasiri squad will have experienced the pinnacle of the local competition before. The quartet consisting of Jone Naqiri (Hooker and Captain),Etonia Rokotuisawa (Fullback), Maciu Vakacabeqoli (Flanker), and outside back Viliame Kanatabua are the remaining veterans from the 2022 finals, where Naitasiri fell short against Nadi.

This means the majority of the squad is tasting the intense pressure of a Skipper Cup final for the very first time.

Naitasiri Head Coach, Dr. Ilaitia Tuisese, has highlighted the invaluable role these senior players are performing within the camp. He emphasized that their experience is crucial in guiding the final’s debutants.

“Only four boys played in the last grand finals. They’re very excited, looking forward to the game on Saturday. Like most of them, it’s the first time to taste the finals,” Coach Tuisese said.

The weight of history adds another layer to the challenge. Naitasiri has been chasing this title for 15 long years, a fact not lost on the team.

“We haven’t won the local comp for 15 years now. So the challenge has been placed on them, and I told them, everyone’s input is vital for a win,” Tuisese stated.

He expressed immense pride in the squad’s journey to the final, attributing their success to a collective effort.

“For them to come this far, it’s all hard work from the coaching staff, management, and the players. So everybody is eager for the match this weekend.”

The road to the trophy has been fiercely contested in recent years. Naitasiri’s last final was in 2022, where they lost 16-11 to Nadi. Suva then seized the cup in 2023, defeating Nadi 16-3, only for Nadroga to claim victory in a thrilling 22-17 final against Suva last year.

Now, Naitasiri stands on the cusp of ending their long drought. Coach Tuisese is calling on the province’s famed supporters to pack the HFC Bank Stadium and become the 16th player on the field.

He has issued a rallying cry for all supporters from the Vanua to come out in force and back the team as they face a Malolo side beaming with confidence and hoping to cause an upset in what promises to be a spectacular finale to the Skipper Cup season.