THE Fijian Drua women thrashed the Queensland Reds 31–5 at the Churchill Park in Lautoka to guarantee their spot in the 2026 Super W Grand Final.
The Drua women came into the semi-final with three out of four wins in the pool stages and were switched on right from the get-go to score after 10 minutes in the game.
The forwards ran their lines hard up the middle to suck in the scrambling Reds, and good support also played a critical role in building their attacking momentum. Kolora Lomani was swift and delivered superbly from the base of the rucks to ensure the fast-paced offloading game was maintained for the Drua.
Mereoni Nakesa, Sulita Waisega, and Karalaini Naisewa made a lot of big carries and ran right through the weak Reds defense.
Openside flanker Salaseini Railumu was very mobile and covered the field effectively in both attacks and defense.
The set pieces were exceptional for the Drua. They packed down in the scrums and dominated in the lineouts. In this crucial game, hooker Keleni Marawa was pinpoint with her throw-ins while Carletta Yee and Nunia Daunimoala soared high to win balls in the aerial battle.
Reds fly-half Lori Cramer tried her best to get her team back in the game. She combined well with outside centre and Australia Sevens star Alysia Lefau-Fakausolea.
But Josivini Naihamu and Merewairita Neivoha were solid with their tackles and did not allow Lefau-Fakausolea any room to move. And with the ball at hand, Naihamu and Neivoha shredded the Reds defense with their powerful, evasive runs.
At half-time, the Drua led 19–5.
Blindside flanker Nunia Daunimoala was sin-binned before the break for a high tackle but her absence did not affect the Drua’s onslaught on the Reds.
The Drua conceded a number of penalties but their defence held up like a brick wall. Every time the Reds decided to run it straight, they were met with a wave of huge tackles.
By the 60th minute, the Queensland Reds looked to have lost all hope for a comeback and huge gaps started to open around the fringes of the rucks. And like every smart half-back, Kolora Lomani seized her opportunities and sniped her way for two easy run-away tries.
In the end, the Drua were hungrier and more scored a total of five tries with three successful conversions to seal the win 31-5 and secure a historic first-ever Super W Grand Final in Fiji.
