Naiqama bows out confident Bati are on path to World Cup success

Kevin Naiqama predicted the Bati would challenge for a place in the final of the 2026 World Cup as the most capped Bati player reflected on the end of his 15-year international career.

An emotional Naiqama played what is expected to be his final game in Saturday night’s 56-6 defeat of Cook Islands and Fiji team-mates were determined to send him off in style before a large family contingent at Suva’s HFC Stadium.

After their 22-10 loss to the Kumuls in the opening Pacific Championships round the Bati must now rely on the Aitu upsetting Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday to play in the promotion-relegation play-off against the third placed Cup team.

Naiqama, who is the most capped Fijian international, prepared for his 26th Test as if it was his last and said he would leave knowing that the future of the Bati was in good hands through the development of young talent in the NRL.

“In 2009, when I made my debut, there was only two NRL players that played - my brother [Wes Naiqama] and Akuila Uate,” Naiqama said.

“To see the trajectory and how rugby league has grown ... we’ve got a pool of players, and players are now missing out with NRL experience. I feel like it's only going to get better, and it has.

"I debuted 15 years ago and in the World Cup we tend to play our best footy, so I know we're only going to get better and hopefully we can push to make the final in the next World Cup. That's what this is all about.”

Bati captain Tui Kamikamica, who succeed Naiqama in the role after the last World Cup in 2022, said the players had made a pact to ensure Naiqama received the farewell he deserved in his final game in Fiji.

“Every time he has pulled on the Bati jersey he has always given it his all. The boys talked about that,” Kamikamica said.

“He's been our captain for the previous World Cup, and he was very emotional talking to us before the game.

“I always looked up to Kevin. I remember coming in as a young player, he was the one being like a mentor on how to be a professional athlete.

"Now I’m the senior in the team, so he has pretty much passed the baton down.”

The 36-year-old former Dragons, Knights, Tigers and Roosters star was in tears before and after the match as he addressed team-mates and met with family members wearing his name on T-shirts.

“I'm just really honoured and privileged to represent our country and it was just so fitting to have my last game in Fiji,” Naiqama said.

“I just talked about what an honour and a privilege it is to represent our families and the people of Fiji. There's a commonality and a thread that ties us together.

“As opposed to rugby league clubs, where you sign and you can sort of move clubs, here you only qualify through blood and that's through your parents and your grandparents.

"That's what makes this so special and unique. We have a bond and it's for our family.

“You need no motivation to get up and represent your country, it's a real easy step to representing your nation.”

Naiqama said he wasn’t expecting so many family members to travel across Fiji to be at the game and was shocked when he saw them in the crowd.

“I didn't even know, so when I went out that was probably the biggest surprise for me,” he said.

“I went outside and I had all my family printed with my name. I was quite taken aback. I didn't expect them to come out. They made trip here. I shed tears when I was with them, so it was pretty emotional.”