Stalwart Ben Navosailagi is excited that Wests are standing tall at finals time again with a shot at playing a fourth grand final in five seasons.
One step at a time. Sunday’s opponents Norths having the same fervour to advance from the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup preliminary final at Sunnybank Rugby Club.
For Navosailagi, last weekend’s 36-19 win over Easts at Bottomley Park in the minor semi-final was a show of everything he loves about the Bulldogs.
“We stuck at it. No, it wasn’t a perfect first half but we learnt a lot from it to play our best rugby in the second 40 minutes,” Navosailagi said.
“Physically, we turned up. We held them out but we also flew up in defence to get some big shots on to disrupt Easts.
“I loved that big crowd at Easts and the chirp and cheekiness we got from their fans.”
It certainly buried the ghost of 2025 and that inglorious 34-0 semi-final exit to Bond University.
“Embarrassed. It was complacency more than anything that day I would say. We’ve forgotten about last year and didn’t really talk about it,” Navosailagi said.
Navosailagi, 27, played his 100th first grade game for the Bulldogs earlier this season, a measure of his loyalty to a club he has played with since Under-16s.
“I’m a one-club man. I played Colts in 2017 after leaving school (at St Peters Lutheran College) and been at Wests ever since,” he said.
He’s proud of the teammates who have gone all the way to Wallabies selection.
“I made my debut with Filipo (Daugunu) in 2018. I’ve been lucky enough to play with Carter (Gordon) and Isaac (Henry) as well,” Navosailagi said.
“One hundred per cent I knew they were going to play for the Reds and Wallabies one day.”
As a proud 2022 premiership winner, Navosailagi is switched on to repeat that feat.
“Norths, Brothers…we have challenges ahead.” Navosailagi said.
“On their day, Norths can beat anyone so we have to be prepared.
“We’re a side that knows what we are capable of. Finals is the reason you play the game.”
Navosailagi’s presence at fullback adds calmness to a sometimes flighty backline just as having Harry McLaughlin-Phillips at flyhalf does.
Navosailagi has scored five tries this season and been a part of plenty more with wing weapon Joji Nasova and centre Maika Tuitubou.
Nasova is a big moments guy. His fending sideline run late in the game against Brothers in the second last round generated a fine try.
Equally, against Easts. He dropped a first half high kick but he caught another on his fingertips, hustled into the clear and put flanker Luke Masirewa over for a key try.
“It’s easy to play off a player of Harry’s calibre. He’s a cool head and we get a lot of leadership from Connor (Anderson), who is Wests through and through,” Navosailagi said.
Everything is on the line on Sunday with the winner to face Brothers in the grand final on Sunday, August 30.
