Cook Islands Clinch 2026 Rugby League World Cup Spot with Dominant Win

The Cook Islands secured their place in the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 by defeating South Africa 58-6 in a qualifying match on March 12, 2023. The match took place at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, marking a significant achievement for the Aitu as they join nine other nations in the upcoming tournament, which will be held in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Cook Islands became the 14th nation to qualify for the World Cup, showcasing a strong performance, particularly in the second half. With this victory, they join teams such as Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales in the prestigious tournament.

Key Players Shine in Dominant Performance

Cook Islands’ players expressed their joy following the significant win. KL Iro, who plays for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League, highlighted the importance of this achievement for both the team and their country. “Going to the World Cup, it’s massive for us,” Iro stated after the match. “We spoke about it over the last four weeks. Really stoked to get this reward.”

Teammate Brendan Piakura echoed Iro’s sentiments, emphasizing the impact of their recent training camp in Rarotonga. “We spent 10 days in the Cook Islands just recently and it was an awesome camp,” he said. “It really gave the boys a bit of purpose.”

The match itself saw the Cook Islands take an early lead, ending the first half at 20-6. Paul Ulberg opened the scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Davvy Moale 14 minutes later. South Africa managed to score through Luke Pereira De Vlieg, but had two tries disallowed. The Cook Islands capitalized on South Africa’s struggles, with Esan Marsters and Marata Niukore finding the try line before halftime.

Second Half Surge Secures Victory

After the break, the South Africans started strong, but the Cook Islands quickly regained momentum. Iro scored a long-range try in the 51st minute, reigniting his team’s dominance. Additional tries from Piakura, Cassius Cowley, Niukore, Mason Teague, and Rua Ngatikaura sealed the decisive victory.

The Cook Islands showcased their offensive prowess, completing 71 percent of their set plays successfully, with 28 out of 39 sets converting into effective plays. They also recorded 16 line breaks, a striking contrast to South Africa’s performance, which saw them fail to register any.

With this convincing win, the Cook Islands not only demonstrated their potential but also set a positive tone for their journey to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. The team will now focus on preparations as they look forward to competing on the world stage.