Cook Islands national rugby league team

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.

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]

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]

The Cook Islands squad for the 2023 Pacific Rugby League Championships. The squad was announced on 10 October 2023.[5]
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	—	0	0	0	0	0	Western Clydesdales	—	0	0	0
2	Malachi Morgan	—	Wing	—	0	0	0	0	0	Tweed Heads Seagulls	—	0	0	0
3	Kayal Iro	21	Centre, Fullback	2019	6	1	0	0	4	Newtown Jets	—	1	0	0
4	Esan Marsters	27	Centre, Five-eighth	2015	6	1	0	0	4	Huddersfield Giants	—	86	21	21	4 6
5	Steven Marsters	23	Wing	2019	6	3	21	0	54	Thirroul Butchers	—	6	0	0
6	Brad Takairangi	34	Five-eighth	2009	10	1	3	0	10	Dapto Canaries	—	178	0	24	2 4
7	Tevin Arona	28	Halfback	2019	2	1	0	0	4	Hornby Panthers	—	0	0	0
8	Davvy Moale	20	Prop	2022	4	2	0	0	8	South Sydney Rabbitohs	31	31	0	0
9	Ruatapu Ngatikaura	23	Hooker	2022	2	0	0	0	0	Western Suburbs Magpies	—	0	0	0
10	Makahesi Makatoa	30	Prop	2015	7	1	0	0	4	Parramatta Eels	46	46	0	2
11	Zane Tetevano	32	Second-row	2009	8	0	0	0	0	Leeds Rhinos	—	122	47	47	1
12	Reuben Porter	26	Second-row	2017	4	0	0	0	0	North Sydney Bears	—	0	0	0
13	Pride Petterson-Robati	28	Lock	2019	3	0	0	0	0	Burleigh Bears	—	0	0	0
14	William Samuel	26	Prop	—	0	0	0	0	0	Wynnum Manly Seagulls	—	0	0	0
15	Rhys Dakin	—	Prop	—	0	0	0	0	0	Newtown Jets	—	0	0	0
16	Justin Makirere	—	Prop	—	0	0	0	0	0	Norths Devils	—	0	0	0
17	Kadiyae Ioka	—	Five-eighth	—	0	0	0	0	0	Glenora Bears	—	0	0	0
18	Takai Mokohar	25	Second-row	—	0	0	0	0	0	Western Clydesdales	—	0	0	0
19	Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano	28	Second-row	—	0	0	0	0	0	Mackay Cutters	—	0	0	0
20	Alvin Maungatti	—	Centre	—	0	0	0	0	0		—	0	0	0
21	Lucky Pokipoki	—	Prop	—	0	0	0	0	0	Ipswich Jets	—	0	0	0

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)

Below are the previous 5 matches of the national team. For all past match results, see the team's results page.

16 November 2019 17:00

Cook Islands	38–16	United States

Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Attendance: 2,621

21 June 2019 19:00

Cook Islands	66–6	South Africa

Ringrose Park, Sydney Attendance: 2,621

6 May 2017 15:15

Papua New Guinea	32–22	Cook Islands

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 18,271

8 May 2016 15:00

Cook Islands	30–20	Lebanon
	Report

Belmore Oval, Sydney Attendance: 2,000

17 October 2015 20:00

Tonga	28–8	Cook Islands
	Report

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 4,813