'We always knew she'd be a star': Lutu's emotional Fijian reunion

Losana Lutu had just finished telling the Fijian media what it meant to be playing at home for the first time when she was greeted by family members in an emotional reunion after 12 years.

Lutu, who lit up the NRLW this season with Wests Tigers, moved to Sydney when she was three years old but her aunt, Litiana Naqatalevu, always knew she would be a star.

Naqatalevu and other family members travelled by boat from the island of Beqa and then road to Suva to meet Lutu and they will wear t-shirts bearing her face when she debuts for Fiji on Saturday night against Cook Islands.

“Back in our village of Naceva in Beqa we’re preparing our banners for this Saturday’s name,” a teary Naqatalevu told reporters in Fijian.

“We’re all coming to the stadium to support Losana and the girls as they play the Cook Islands.

“It’s after 12 years that I was able to see her again. Losana’s dad is my brother. When Losana was growing up I always knew that she would make it big in sports because she was good at it.”

Reporters watched video of Lutu’s stepping masterclass against the Titans in Round 2 and other highlights of her breakout NRLW season with Wests Tigers as they prepared to interview the emerging superstar.

Unaware that her family were waiting nearby to reunite with her, Lutu spoke about how much she was looking forward to seeing them again.

“It has just been good to come here and see our families, it is going to be really exciting. I can’t wait,” she said.

“I have some of my family coming out, I haven’t seen them in a long time as well, so it is good to re-connected.

“It’s been a long time since I have been back, so there are some familiar faces and unfamiliar faces. I am just glad that we are able to play at home and I get to see everyone again.”

Lutu has previously represented Fiji in the NSWRL Harmony 9, but Saturday night’s 2026 World Cup qualifier will be her Test debut and there is more at stake than just pride.

The winner will meet Fetu Samoa in Auckland on November 2 for a place at the World Cup, to be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and Lutu will be a key player if the Bulikula are to create history by qualifying.

“It is a privilege to play for Fiji. Any opportunity I get to play I am going to take it,” she said.

“It will mean a lot to represent my village, my family at home and my family here. They are all proud of me, and it is an honour to play for them.”

A NSW U19s representative in 2022, Lutu began playing for Campbelltown Collegians before being selected in Wests Tigers pathways teams and helped the club to the 2022 NSWRL Harvey Norman Cup women's premiership.

After being restricted to just three NRLW appearances last season due to injury, Lutu played every match for Wests Tigers this season.

One of eight NRLW players in the Bulikula squad, Lutu said Saturday night’s Test would inspire more Fijian girls to play rugby league.

“I think it brings more awareness to us as women and we just want to pave the way for younger girls, and especially Fijian girls,” she said.

“There's a lot of young girls that look up to you, and you just want to be there for them.

“Rugby league is still developing but Fijian people have a lot of passion when it comes to rugby league and rugby union. Everyone just gets behind Fijian plays and they just get excited.

“It obviously means a lot to us as, as Fijians and for the country as well. I think everyone is just going to get behind us and it's going to give us more confidence as well.”