Pac Champs: Penitani buzzing after session with Bati

A year ago, Natasha Penitani was playing park football and didn’t have an NRLW contract.

Now the Wests Tigers utility is tackling and being tackled by the likes of Viliame Kikau and Tui Kamikamica as the Tongan team she co-captains takes part in an opposed session with the Fiji Bati.

It’s been a rapid rise for Penitani who was signed by Wests Tigers after playing for Tonga in last year’s Pacific Championships and won the club’s NRLW rookie of the year.

The Tongan coach was telling us to go hard, tackle and get some time on the ground.

Viliame Kikau

With her sister Tiana called up by the Jillaroos, 24-year-old Penitani was appointed co-captain for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Samoa at Suva’s HFC Stadium along with Sharks forward Vanessa Foliaki.

“It's a bit of a full circle moment, and I'm really, really grateful to have been given that opportunity. It's not one that I take lightly, and I know it's a big responsibility,” Penitani said.

“I started my journey here, playing for Tonga last year in the Pacific Championships, and off the back of that I was rewarded with an NRLW contract.

“Then I was rookie of the year at Wests Tigers at the end of 2024 I've been awarded again by Tonga with the co captaincy.

“I really want the girls to know that from these campaigns and from these Test matches that opportunity lies ahead so we're fortunate to be given that opportunity by the NRL.

“I'm a great example of that. Last year I was playing local club footy and come 2024 I made my NRLW debut.”

Penitani and Foliaki led the Tongan team in an opposed session on Tuesday against the Fiji Bati, who are preparing to play the Kumuls on Saturday in the first Test on Fiji soil since 2001.

The two teams were training on adjoining grounds when Tonga coach Kelvin Wright, who is again coaching the team after Sydney Roosters mentor John Strange stood down, approached the Bati staff about a scrimmage.

The Tongan women held their own in the 30-minute session after adapting to the speed and physicality of their Fijian male rivals, who included Kikau, Kamikamica, Maika Sivo, Kevin Naiqama, Waqa Blake, Taane Milne and Kurt Donoghoe.

“That came from the coaching staff, which was really amazing for the men to let us have an opposed session against them.” Penitani said.

“To get that physicality and to give us the opportunity to really structure the way we play, and even to defend against them, it was really nice of them to do that for us.

“It was a great experience. We kind of got thrown into the deep, and it was a huge adjustment.

“It doesn't help when they're twice our size, but it all goes towards the preparation and I feel as though it did us well.

“There’s no mercy, no surrender here. You could tell that they started off a little bit cautious, and then Kelvin was kind of telling them to rip in, so they really did.”

Kikau, who joined the Bati camp on Monday night, said both teams had benefitted from the opposed session.

“It’s obviously a bit weird but it was really good,” Kikau said. “The Tongan coach was telling us to go hard, tackle and get some time on the ground.

“They were really good talkers and were loud the whole session. They helped us a little bit and hopefully we helped them in their preparation for this weekend.”