With any luck, Sydney Roosters utility Taina Naividi is about to experience two firsts: a maiden NRLW grand final appearance and a World Cup outing with the Fiji Bulikula. Few would be considered more deserving.
In recent years, the 25-year-old has endured two ACL tears, the loss of her father and the disappointment of being omitted from the 2024 Roosters' grand final-winning team.
In between those personal hits, she's been a key member of a Roosters side that is now playing their sixth grand final in nine years.
“It means everything to me to be part of the Roosters,” Naividi said following their 20-10 preliminary final win over the Raiders.
“It’s such a warm, family environment from head to toe.
"Everyone is humble and kind and that helps us individuals thrive because we can be ourselves, whether we’re a player or staff.
“I never want to leave.”
Naividi’s first knee reconstruction was in 2022 at Parramatta – the same year she lost her father.
She joined the Roosters in 2023, and her second ACL tear came during the captain’s run 12 months ago, on the eve of the 2025 decider against Brisbane.
She headed into rehabilitation with even more determination.
“It made me more hungry this year to just do well in our (club) round games and make sure we made the finals," she said.
“The next goal is to take out the grand final – that’s been a personal one for me, especially after what happened last year. “
Naividi has no thoughts of sitting out the captain’s run ahead of Sunday's grand final against the Broncos.
“Not so far. This week I felt really good and Strangey (coach John Strange) is really good at calming me down, so at the moment I don’t (have demons) but we’ll see when we get there.”
Naividi is a jack of all trades, playing No.14, starting at wing or coming off the bench to jump into hooker, or pop out to centre or even into the back row.
“It’s wherever the team needs me really," she said.
"We did start doing the rotations last year which prepped me well for this year.
“I’m just grateful to be able to play after such a big injury. But I love defending in the middle, I find it exciting to be in the thick of tackling.”
Her two Tests for Fiji were at centre.
Naividi hopes versatility helps propel her into Fiji's final World Cup squad after making the initial 40-woman group.
Fiji’s first game is against New Zealand at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on October 18.
