Tuqiri won the 1999 Brisbane Broncos season's rookie of the year award. In 2000, he secured his regular spot in the first grade line-up at the club. At the end of the season Tuqiri played for the Broncos on the wing, scoring one try in their 2000 NRL Grand Final victory over the Sydney Roosters. After that he travelled to England as captain of the Fiji national team for the 2000 World Cup. The Bati failed to advance past the group stage, winning one of their three matches, but Tuqiri was his team's top try and goal scorer for the tournament.