BERI SALIHI’S decision not to call time on her career has paid off now she is enjoying a new lease of life at Wigan – which has already included a dream Wembley return in the Women’s Challenge Cup final.
Twelve months ago, Salihi endured a tough afternoon at fullback in a St Helens shirt as the Warriors stormed to a 42-6 victory to wrest the trophy from their old rivals.
She admitted thoughts of hanging up her boots had crossed her mind towards the end of that campaign.
But a switch back to Wigan, where she made her senior debut in 2023 before having two years at Saints, helped reinvigorate her love of the sport and led to her playing a part as they retained the trophy last month with a 54-6 triumph over Saints.
“At the back end of last year, I wasn’t enjoying my rugby and I was thinking about quitting,” said Salihi, who played at Leigh Miners Rangers with Wigan fullback Grace Banks as a junior.
“But I love the sport and the second I stepped onto the pitch in pre-season, I loved it at Wigan.
“The difference twelve months makes is that I’m just loving my rugby again. I grew up with the girls… and that’s when I loved rugby.
“For me to love it again I knew I had to be with my friends who I grew up playing with.”
Even then it has not been plain sailing for Salihi, who suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season and missed all of Wigan’s group-stage and knockout matches in this year’s Challenge Cup prior to the final.
But along with being able to call herself a winner of the competition for the second time, after being part of St Helens’ 2024 win over Leeds, the 20-year-old has achieved an ambition of scoring a try on one of Rugby League’s most iconic stages to help Wigan inch towards retaining all three domestic honours.
“It was hard and physical, but a Wembley try is what I’ve dreamed of for the last three years,” added Salihi.
“I won it the first year with Saints and last year was really hard, but this year was so special because it was with my friends who I’ve grown up with.”