Cook Islands Secures Spot at 2026 Rugby League World Cup

The Cook Islands have qualified for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup after a decisive victory against South Africa, winning 58-6 in a qualifying match held at CommBank Stadium in Sydney. This victory not only marks a significant achievement for the team but also makes them the 14th nation to secure a spot in the tournament, joining a competitive lineup that includes Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales.

The match showcased the Cook Islands’ dominance, particularly in the second half, where they outscored South Africa significantly. KL Iro, a player for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League, expressed his excitement after the match. “Going to the World Cup, it’s massive for us,” he stated. “It’s massive for our country. We spoke about it over the last four weeks. Really stoked to get this reward.”

Teammate Brendan Piakura also reflected on the team’s preparation, noting that their time spent in Rarotonga following their Pacific Bowl campaign contributed to their success. “We spent 10 days in the Cook Islands just recently and it was an awesome camp. It really gave the boys a bit of purpose,” he said.

Match Highlights and Performance Analysis

The Cook Islands took control early in the game, leading 20-6 at halftime. They achieved this with four tries, including efforts from Paul Ulberg in the eighth minute and Davvy Moale in the 22nd minute. South Africa managed one try during this period through Luke Pereira De Vlieg and had two tries disallowed. Additionally, Aden Perry from South Africa was sin-binned for a shoulder charge, which opened up opportunities for the Cook Islands to score two more tries from Esan Marsters and Marata Niukore.

The second half saw the Cook Islands continue their strong performance, starting with a long-range try by KL Iro in the 51st minute. Additional tries were scored by Piakura, Cassius Cowley, Niukore, Mason Teague, and Rua Ngatikaura. The team displayed impressive kicking skills, with Marsters and Esom Ioka successfully converting three tries each, alongside KL Iro’s contributions to the points tally.

Overall, the Cook Islands dominated possession, holding 53 percent of the ball and achieving a remarkable 71 percent set completion rate, successfully executing 28 of their 39 sets. In contrast, South Africa struggled, failing to make any line breaks throughout the match.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will take place in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and the Cook Islands’ qualification is a significant milestone for the nation, bringing hope and excitement to fans and players alike.