Cook Islands national rugby league team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Cook Islands women's national rugby league team.

Cook Islands
Team information
NicknameAitu, Kuki's
Governing bodyCook Islands Rugby League Association
RegionAsia-Pacific
Head coachKarmichael Hunt
CaptainEsan Marsters
IRL ranking10th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
  22-8 Niue 
(Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986)
Biggest win
  66-6 South Africa 
(Sydney, Australia; 2019)
Biggest defeat
 Tonga 92-10  
(Middlesbrough, England; 31 October 2022)
World Cup
Appearances3 (first time in 2000)
Best resultGroup stage, 2000; 2013; 2021.

The Cook Islands national rugby league team have represented the Cook Islands in international rugby league football since 1986. Administered by the Cook Islands Rugby League Association (CIRLA), the team has competed at three Rugby League World Cups, in 2000, 2013 and 2021, and are coached by Karmichael Hunt.

History

1990s

Before 1995, the Cooks' international experience was limited to participation in the Pacific Cup, and hosting the touring British Amateur Rugby League Association Great Britain Amateur teams. Nonetheless, the sizeable number of expatriate Cook Islanders living and playing in New Zealand has ensured that they have never been short of players with rugby league experience.

They won the 1995 Emerging Nations tournament, defeating United States, Russia and Scotland before beating Ireland in the final.

In 1996 and 1997 the Cook Islands competed in the Super League World Nines. They also played several full internationals against other South Pacific nations, most notably as part of the Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Tournament in October 1998. 2000 saw the Cook Islands competing in the World Cup for the first time. They finished third in their pool after losing to Wales[1] and the Kiwis and only managing a draw against Lebanon.

2000s

The Cook Islands successfully toured New Zealand in 2005 with a three test series against the New Zealand Māori ending in a draw after the first test was drawn 26–26 and the second and third tests were split between both sides.

The Cook Islands played Fiji,[2] Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji and Tonga qualified, and Samoa earned a second chance in the repecharge round. The Cook Islands, having lost to all three teams, were eliminated.

The Cook Islands participated in the 2009 Pacific Cup. Having beaten Samoa to earn a place in the tournament, they went on to defeat favourites Fiji and earn a place in the final of the competition.[3]

2010s

The Cook Islands were given automatic entry into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup they were placed in Pool D alongside Wales and the United States before playing an Inter-Group match against Tonga. Going into the Tournament, 'the Kukis' had never won a World Cup match. The team lost to the USA and to Tonga, but they won their last match against the Tournament co-hosts Wales, making history for the sport of rugby league in the Cook Islands. This is the Cook Islands' best Rugby League World Cup result to date.

In October 2015 the Cook Islands took on Tonga in the Asia-Pacific elimination play-off to determine which of the two Asia-Pacific nations would qualify for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. After a tight first half, the Tongans would go on win the match scoring 16 points within the last 20 minutes of the game.

In June 2019, Cook Islands took on South Africa at Ringrose Park in Wentworthville, winning 66–6. They then went on to play the United States at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville in November. They won 38–16, qualifying them into the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. At the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, the Cook Islands narrowly beat part timers Wales 18-12 before losing their second group stage match against Papua New Guinea. In their final group stage match, the Cook Islands suffered their worst ever defeat as they were beaten 92-10 by Tonga at the Riverside Stadium.[4]

Players

Current squad

The Cook Islands squad for the 2024 Pacific Championships. The squad was announced on 9 October 2024.[5][6]
Statistics in this table are compiled from the website, Rugby League Project.

J# Player Age Position(s) Cook Islands Club
Dbt M T G F P
7 Esan Marsters 28 Fullback, Halfback 2015 10 2 0 0 8 Huddersfield Giants
2 Steven Marsters 25 Wing 2019 10 5 29 0 78 Thirroul Butchers
3 Reubenn Rennie 29 Centre 2016 9 3 0 0 12 Toulouse Olympique
4 Delahia Wigmore — Centre, Lock 2024 2 0 0 0 0 Canberra Raiders
1 Esom Ioka 21 Wing, Fullback 2023 4 3 1 0 14 Western Clydesdales
6 Brad Takairangi 35 Five-eighth, Centre 2009 14 1 3 0 10 South West Goannas
15 Mason Teague 21 Halfback, Lock 2024 2 0 0 0 0 Dolphins
8 Tepai Moeroa 29 Prop 2019 6 0 0 0 0 Melbourne Storm
9 Rua Ngatikaura 24 Hooker 2022 6 1 0 0 4 North Sydney Bears
10 Davvy Moale 21 Prop 2022 8 3 0 0 12 South Sydney Rabbitohs
21 Alex Glenn 36 Second-row 2017 3 1 0 0 4
12 Reuben Porter 27 Second-row 2017 8 0 0 0 0 Wests Tigers
13 Pride Petterson-Robati 29 Lock, Prop 2019 7 0 0 0 0 Souths Logan Magpies
11 Zane Tetevano 33 Second-row, Prop 2009 12 0 0 0 0 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
16 Rhys Dakin — Prop 2023 3 0 0 0 0 Newtown Jets
18 Junior Teroi — Hooker, Second-row 2024 2 0 0 0 0 Bulimba Valley Bulldogs
20 Makahesi Makatoa 31 Prop 2015 9 1 0 0 4 Parramatta Eels
5 Rixson Andrew — Wing, Fullback 2024 1 0 0 0 0 Souths Logan Magpies
17 Justin Makirere — Prop 2023 3 0 0 0 0 Ipswich Jets
14 Kobe Tararo 25 Second-row 2017 2 0 0 0 0 Souths Logan Magpies
19 Malachi Morgan — Wing 2023 2 0 0 0 0 Helensvale Hornets
– Xavier Willison 22 Prop 2022 1 0 0 0 0 Brisbane Broncos

Notes

Competitive record

Main article: List of Cook Islands national rugby league team results

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Cook Islands national XIII at test level up until 6 November 2023.[7]

Opponent Matches Won Drawn Lost Win % For Aga Diff
 American Samoa 1 1 0 0 100% 22 20 +2
 Fiji 13 5 1 7 38.46% 219 349 –130
 Ireland 1 1 0 0 100% 22 6 +16
 Lebanon 3 2 1 0 66.67% 80 66 +14
 New Zealand 2 0 0 2 0% 10 134 –124
New Zealand Maori 12 4 1 7 33.33% 216 312 –96
New Zealand 2 0 0 2 0% 10 134 –124
New Zealand Residents 2 0 0 2 0% 6 62 –56
 Niue 3 2 0 1 66.67% 67 74 –7
 Papua New Guinea 7 0 0 7 0% 94 270 –176
Rotuma 1 0 0 1 0% 10 17 –17
 Russia 1 1 0 0 100% 58 20 +38
 Samoa 9 2 0 7 22.22% 128 386 –258
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 100% 21 10 +11
 South Africa 1 1 0 0 100% 66 6 +60
 Tokelau 1 1 0 0 100% 19 10 +9
 Tonga 12 1 0 11 8.33% 151 425 –274
 United States 3 2 0 1 66.67% 122 56 +66
 Wales 3 2 0 1 66.67% 52 74 –22
Total 78 26 3 49 33.33% 1373 2431 –1058

Rugby League World Cup

Further information: Cook Islands at the Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L PF PA
1954 did not participate
1957
1960
1968
1970
1972
1975
1977
1985–88
1989–92
1995 did not qualify
2000 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 38 144
2008 did not qualify
2013 Group stage 9th 3 1 0 2 64 78
2017 did not qualify
2021 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 44 136
Total – – 9 2 1 6 146 358

Other competitions

The Cook Islands have also participated in:

IRL Rankings

IRL Men's World Rankings
Official rankings as of December 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1  Australia 100
2  New Zealand 86
3  England 84
4 1  Tonga 63
5 1  Samoa 54
6 1  Papua New Guinea 53
7 1  Fiji 44
8  France 30
9 2  Serbia 23
10   22
11 1  Netherlands 22
12 5  Wales 18
13 2  Malta 17
14 6  Ukraine 13
15 1  Greece 12
16 7  Lebanon 12
17 4  Italy 11
18 2  Ireland 9
19 1  Jamaica 8
20 1  Czech Republic 8
21 2  Chile 8
22 3  Scotland 7
23 4  Philippines 7
24 7  United States 7
25 1  Poland 5
26 2  South Africa 5
27 5  Germany 5
28 3  Norway 5
29 4  Brazil 4
30 4  Kenya 4
31 10  Canada 4
32  Montenegro 4
33 2  North Macedonia 3
34 15  Argentina 3
35 5  Albania 2
36  Bulgaria 2
37 7  Ghana 2
38 9  Nigeria 2
39 5  Turkey 1
40 3  Cameroon 1
41 2  Japan 1
42 4  Spain 1
43 1  Colombia 1
44 1  El Salvador 0
45  Russia 0
46 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
47 3  Hong Kong 0
48 3  Solomon Islands 0
49 8  Vanuatu 0
50  Niue 0
51 1  Latvia 0
52 2  Denmark 0
53 2  Belgium 0
54 4  Estonia 0
55 9  Sweden 0
56 12  Morocco 0
57 9  Hungary 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wales vs. Cook Islands". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Fiji thrash the Cook Islands in league world cup qualifier". RNZ. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Cook Islands book place in Pacific Cup with impressive win". RNZ. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ "Cook Islands Squad List". facebook. NRL. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 Pacific Championships: Full squad lists". NRL. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Head to Head". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
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