New knee Naividi stepping up with confidence for Roosters

“I knew immediately what had happened.”

In that moment, Taina Naividi knew that she would not only miss the 2025 NRLW grand final, but also potentially the whole next season with the Roosters after tearing her ACL in the captain's run.

“(We were) 10 minutes in ... and I tore it," Naividi said.

"I've torn my other ACL before, so I knew immediately what had happened and I was honestly still just super shocked.

“They obviously said to get scans and everything, but having done my other ACL, I knew immediately.

"But for some reason, my spirits were still high.”

Having been described by her captain Isabel Kelly, as “the ultimate character”, Naividi - although injured - was still buzzing to be around her teammates throughout the whole rehab process.

“I never lost my energy," Naividi said.

I was there for the girls and I was just happy to be there to support them.

“It was really tough 10 months. I genuinely didn't have any time off.

"It was just straight ‘go time’ from doing my ACL. I got discharged from the hospital and then got straight into rehab.

“It was super tough, super grinding, but I think it just made me better as a player, as a person too, because on the days that I didn't feel like doing it, it just really pushed me to keep on going.

"It was really good discipline at the end of the day, but without my family and friends, and my club I would not be here today.”

Coach John Strange gave testament to Naividi and teammate Tarryn Aiken who also suffered the season ending injury just weeks apart, for the way they conducted themselves throughout their recovery.

“Her [Naividi] and Taz [Atkin] both ruptured their ACLs at a similar time end of last year, so they were both working incredibly hard," Strange said.

"Day and night to be honest, more than I’ve ever seen girls do that rehab with the ACL."

Naividi, who has since resumed her role within the playing squad and even scored a try in her most recent match against the Broncos, is playing with a confidence her coach said ‘she should have’.

“She’s a pretty lively character Tines, but she should be confident," Strange said.

"The skill set she has; she’s quick, she’s got strength and her passing game is great.

"She should be confident and she should play like that, because of what she has.

“She can literally play 1-13 and be brilliant in every single position, so for me as a coach to just have someone like that in our squad is a real luxury.”

Reflecting on her time away from the field, Naividi believes it really cemented that playing in the NRLW is something she will never take for granted.

“It feels so freaking good (to be playing)," Naividi said.

"I think being injured, when you have that opportunity taken away from you, it's just really good to remember your roots.

"I think I just want to take the opportunity to get back on the field with both hands.

“Doing my ACL, it really made me reflect on how good it can get and I never want to miss an opportunity like that again.

"So just giving them 110 percent at all times is my main goal.”

Whilst discussing goals Naividi exclaimed her desire to take the field this year if her side makes the grand final again, whilst she also has one eye on the upcoming World Cup.

“Obviously making it to the grand final and winning the premiership would be amazing, given my situation that happened last year," Naividi said.

"But definitely playing for Fiji in the World Cup would be unreal.

“I love representing my country.

"I was able to represent them back in 2024 so, yeah, I would love to go out and play in the World Cup at the end of the year.”

Fiji Bulikula will start their RLWC campaign against New Zealand at McDonald Jones Stadium in October.