Cook Islands national rugby league team
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Team information | ||||||
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Nickname | Aitu, Kuki's | |||||
Governing body | Asia-Pacific | |||||
Head coach | Karmichael Hunt | |||||
Captain | Esan Marsters | |||||
IRL ranking | 10th | |||||
Uniforms | ||||||
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Team results | ||||||
First international | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 1986) | ||||||
Biggest win | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Sydney, Australia; 2019) | ||||||
Biggest defeat | ||||||
![]() ![]() (Middlesbrough, England; 31 October 2022) | ||||||
World Cup | ||||||
Appearances | 3 (first time in 2000) | |||||
Best result | Group 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
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
In October 2015 the Cook Islands took on
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
Statistics in this table are compiled from the website, Rugby League Project.
J# | Player | Age | Position(s) | Cook Islands | Club | NRL | SL | Other Reps | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dbt | M | T | G | F | P | CM | TM | CM | TM | ||||||
1 | Esom Ioka | — | Fullback, Centre | 2023 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2 | Malachi Morgan | — | Wing | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | Kayal Iro | 21 | Centre, Fullback | 2019 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | Alvin Maungatti | — | Centre | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
5 | Steven Marsters | 24 | Wing | 2019 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 64 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
6 | Brad Takairangi | 34 | Five-eighth | 2009 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 178 | 0 | 24 | ![]() ![]() |
7 | Esan Marsters | 27 | Halfback, Centre | 2015 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 86 | 21 | 21 | ![]() ![]() |
8 | Davvy Moale | 20 | Prop | 2022 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ![]() ![]() |
31 | 31 | 0 | 0 | |
9 | Ruatapu Ngatikaura |
23 | Hooker | 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
17 | Takai Mokohar | 25 | Second-row | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
11 | Zane Tetevano | 33 | Second-row | 2009 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 122 | 47 | 47 | ![]() ![]() |
12 | Reuben Porter | 26 | Second-row | 2017 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
13 | Pride Petterson-Robati | 28 | Lock | 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
14 | Kadiyae Ioka | — | Five-eighth | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
15 | Rhys Dakin | — | Prop | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
16 | Justin Makirere | — | Prop | 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
10 | William Samuel | 26 | Prop | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
18 | Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano | 28 | Second-row | 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
19 | Lucky Pokipoki | — | Prop | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
– | Tevin Arona | 28 | Halfback | 2019 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ![]() ![]() |
— | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
– | Makahesi Makatoa | 30 | Prop | 2015 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ![]() ![]() |
46 | 46 | 0 | 2 |
Notes
- Clubs outside the NRL and Super League are shaded in the above table.
- Esan Marsters, Brad Takairangi, and Zane Tetevano had previously played for New Zealand and the Māori All Stars.
Competitive record
Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Cook Islands national XIII at test level up until 6 November 2023.[6]
Opponent | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | For | Aga | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 22 | 20 | +2 |
![]() |
13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 38.46% | 219 | 349 | –130 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 22 | 6 | +16 |
![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | 80 | 66 | +14 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 10 | 134 | –124 |
![]() |
12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 33.33% | 216 | 312 | –96 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 10 | 134 | –124 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 6 | 62 | –56 |
![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | 67 | 74 | –7 |
![]() |
7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0% | 94 | 270 | –176 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 10 | 17 | –17 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 58 | 20 | +38 |
![]() |
9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 22.22% | 128 | 386 | –258 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 21 | 10 | +11 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 66 | 6 | +60 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 19 | 10 | +9 |
![]() |
12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8.33% | 151 | 425 | –274 |
![]() United States |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | 122 | 56 | +66 |
![]() |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | 52 | 74 | –22 |
Total | 78 | 26 | 3 | 49 | 33.33% | 1373 | 2431 | –1058 |
Rugby League World Cup
Rugby League World Cup record | ||||||||
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Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA |
![]() |
did not participate | |||||||
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![]() ![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||||
![]() ![]() | ||||||||
1985–88 | ||||||||
1989–92 | ||||||||
![]() |
did not qualify | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 38 | 144 |
![]() |
did not qualify | |||||||
![]() ![]() |
Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 64 | 78 |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
did not qualify | |||||||
![]() |
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:
- Pacific Cup(since 1986)
- Super League World Nines (1996, 1997)
- Super League Oceania Tournament(1997)
- Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Tournament (1998)
- Pacific Rim Competition(2004)
See also
References
- ^ "Wales vs. Cook Islands". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Fiji thrash the Cook Islands in league world cup qualifier". RNZ. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Cook Islands book place in Pacific Cup with impressive win". RNZ. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1". National Rugby League. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Head to Head". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
External links
- Google-Video
- Cook Islands national rugby league team on Facebook