Fetu Samoa win Pacific Bowl title and secure world cup spot

It was a cat and mouse game, but eventually the better of the two sides came out on top as Fetu Samoa defeated Fiji Bulikula 16-12 and secured their berth at the 2025 women's Rugby League World Cup.

A try two minutes from the end by inspirational captain Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala saw the Samoans steal the game from the Bulikula, who had led 12-10 with three minutes to go, in the women's Pacific Bowls final.

Samoan fans, among the 2000-odd crowd celebrated as the 2024 women's Pacific Bowls final came to an end.

Nu'uausala claimed two tries in the clash, and led her troops from upfront, ramming into the Fijians everytime she had ball in hand.

She also claimed the Player of the Match with her winning performance.

"I thank Fiji for giving us a fight and they gave us that until the last minute," she said.

"To our fans we felt you.

"To our girls and management, it was a really hard week coming into this game.

"We got the win for our nation and this is for us."

Fiji's Talei said Samoa proved the winner in the end.

"You played very well until the end," she said.

"It was a great match. I am proud of the team and thanks everyone."

Fiji had led 12-4 at halftime.

The Bulikula sang their team hymn while Fetu Samoa threw down the challenge with their own version of the siva tau.

Waiting for no invitation the Fijians completed their first set of six after receiving the Samoan kick from kick-off and when the Samoans turned the ball over, Bulikula claimed the first penalty of the game.

With their third set of six the Fijians attacked again but met strong Samoan resistance at the same time.

The Samoans claimed a penalty on the halfway mark as they attacked upfield, getting deep into the Fijian half with their forwards driving hard.

Samoan number eight and captain Annetta-ClaudiaNu'uausalathen spilled the ball under the crossbar as she drove towards the line, with Fijian tacklers hanging on to her, in the third minute.

As the game sea-sawed the Samoans saw a gap outwide on the flank and winger Jessica Patea dived over in the corner in the 19th minute. Pauline Pilliae-Rasabale failed with her conversion attempt as Samoa led 4-0.

Fiji lost the ball twice with loose passes as they struggled to make headways into the Samoan half but strong defense at the same time thwarted what could have been disastrous for the Bulikula.

Fijian number 3 Sieena Laing touched down after she plucked the ball from in front of a Samoan player, following through from Taina Naividi's chip kick, and the conversion from Vitaline Naikore gave Bulikula a slender 6-4 lead in the 32nd minute.

Then just when the Samoans were on attack Abigayle Sekitonga picked up a loose ball after a Samoan player was hit kard in a tackle, close to the Fijian line.

Sekitonga raced over 60 metres to score close to the post. Naikore converted from close range as Fiji extended their lead to 12-4 at the halftime mark.

Fiji restarted the game with their tails up.

Both sides defended well as the game progressed but loose balls on the ground and forward passes saw the balls change hands a few times.

Samoa won a penalty for a high tackle and attacked insider the Fijian half, but a wayward pass in the 14th minute of the half saw Fiji regain possession 10 metres from their line.

A phase of Samoan attack saw captain Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala crash over for the team's second try, and Rasabale's close range conversion saw the scoreline at Fiji 12 Samoa 10, with 12 minutes to go.

Fijian Teagan Hartigan was tackled centimetres from the line as Fiji attacked, with eight minutes to go.

Then Samoan winger MercedezTaulelei-Siala touched the sideline as she dived for the corner.

With two minutes to go Samoan captain Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala claimed her second try and the one that mattered the most, with two minutes to go.

That was a result of a good counter-attack.

Rasabale converted and the Samoans were up 16-12.