Herman brings NRLW experience to Fiji's World Cup campaign

Fiji coach Joe Dakuitoga has welcomed Sharks NRLW mentor Tony Herman into the Bulikula camp as they prepare for the most important women’s game in the Pacific nation’s history.

The Bulikula host Cook Islands at Suva’s HFC Stadium on Saturday night in a World Cup qualifier, with the winner to meet Samoa in Auckland next weekend for a place in RLWC2026.

A win against the Moana will ensure Fiji a place in the 2025 World Series and a second shot at a RLWC2026 berth.

“This is the most important game for us, to qualify for the World Cup,” Dakuitoga said. “It would be the first time we have qualified for the women’s World Cup.”

With Cronulla stars Talei Holmes and Cassie Staples among eight NRLW players in the Fiji squad, Herman jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the World Cup campaign.

Dakuitoga said the big match experience provided by Herman after taking Cronulla to this year’s NRLW grand final would be invaluable in the sudden-death match.

“We are so blessed that Tony wants to come out and help with this campaign,” Dakuitoga said.

“To be able to bring him to Fiji to try to help our team with his experience, his advice and his involvement in the NRLW competition, is a blessing for our Bulikula team, especially for the local girls who are part of this squad.

“With his experience as a grand final coach we can learn a lot from having him here.”

Holmes will captain the team and play lock, with Staples at fullback, Raiders livewire Sereana Naitokatoka at hooker and Wests Tigers playmaker Losana Lutu steering the team around at halfback.

Rookie five-eighth Luisa Taranamua also plays for the Sharks but is yet to make her NRLW debut.

Interchange forward Teaghan Hartigan has been a member of the Bulikula squad since 2019 and she said there was greater confidence within the team this year.

“We have always been a tight knit group and our culture is something that brings us together, but having Tony come in and actually knuckle down on the strategic side of things and on-field stuff, we have just got a different feel about us this year,” Hartigan said.

“It is hard to get to a grand final, let alone in the second year of the NRLW for the Cronulla Sharks, so what Tony did this year is really special.

“We are lucky enough to have Talei and Cassie with us who did it with him, so it has been a very smooth transition for us to add Tony to the group, and for them to be able to continue it on the field.

"We are really pumped, he has added heaps to us.”