Jone Wesele Says Fiji’s Bulikula Have Earned Their Place on the World Stage

Fiji’s Bulikula may have fallen short of a place in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final, but coach Jone Wesele says the team has shown it belongs among the sport’s leading sides. After the 30–14 semi-final defeat to Australia’s Jillaroos, Wesele praised the players for their performance and belief in one another. Speaking after the match, Wesele said the team’s approach rested on three key qualities: staying connected, playing with skill and putting the team ahead of individual interests. He felt the players brought those values to the field against opponents capable of changing a game from almost anywhere. The coach said he was proud of the way the Bulikula performed, pointing to the trust between the players as a defining feature of their campaign. His comments framed the semi-final loss not as a sign that Fiji had merely filled a spot in the competition, but as evidence that the team had made a genuine impression. The Jillaroos are set to meet New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns in the women’s final on Sunday. For Wesele and the Bulikula, the tournament ends at the semi-final stage, but the coach’s message was clear: Fiji’s players have demonstrated that they can compete with the best and are capable of making their presence felt on the world stage.