League
Crunch time for league title aspirants
Friday 19 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
It’s crunch time this weekend for teams in contention for a place in the domestic rugby league finals to be played next Saturday.
Sopoaga set for a Super return
Wednesday 17 May 2017 | Published in League
Broken nose and all, it’s not hard to imagine Marty Banks feeling cheated if he were to lose his starting gig now that Lima Sopoaga is back.
Kukis climb spot in league ranks
Tuesday 16 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
Cook Islands’ strong performance against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the Pacific Test earlier this month has helped improve the ranking of the national rugby league side by a spot.
Naqitawa try puts Panthers into semi
Monday 15 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
A last-minute try from Jovilisi Naqitawa ensured Tupapa Panthers kept their hopes of making the national rugby league competition final alive after a come from behind 22-17 win against Arorangi Bears in the playoffs over the weekend.
Dogs battle into grand final
Monday 15 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
A clever dropkick from the Titikaveka Bulldogs against defending champions Avatiu Nikao Eels saw the side earn a direct entry to the Cook Islands rugby league domestic competition grand final.
No chances left for either Bears or the Panthers
Monday 15 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
Either the Tupapa Panthers or the Arorangi Bears will finish the domestic rugby league season after the premier match today at the BCI Stadium.
Sea Eagles lose review bid
Monday 15 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
Ngatangiia Matavera Sea Eagles’ application for a judicial review against a Cook Islands Rugby League Association ruling has been quashed by the High Court yesterday.
Chelsea win Premier League
Monday 15 May 2017 | Published in League
Chelsea need to win the FA Cup to turn a “great season” into a “fantastic” one after clinching the Premier League title, says manager Antonio Conte.
Fans get ready for clash of the titans
Friday 12 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
It will be a clash of the titans affair this afternoon when the top two teams from the domestic rugby league competition go head on head in a battle for a direct spot in the final.
Skipper eyes game 100
Wednesday 10 May 2017 | Published in League
Twin milestones are in store for captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and prop Sam Lisone while Solomone Kata returns from injury for the Warriors’ encounter with the Panthers at Pepper Stadium in Penrith on Friday (CI time).
Iro content with performance despite loss
Tuesday 9 May 2017 | Published in League
Cook Islands rugby league coach Tony Iro is content with the performance of the national side despite the 22-32 loss to Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the Pacific Rugby League Test on Friday in Sydney.
Glenn loves Kukis experience
Tuesday 9 May 2017 | Published in League
Cook Islands skipper Alex Glenn has played in some big matches over the years, but none compared to the cultural significance of Friday night’s Pacific Test against Papua New Guinea.
Eels win minor premiership title
Monday 8 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
One down, one to go.
Kukis outclassed by PNG Kumuls
Monday 8 May 2017 | Published in League
A double to PNG fullback Stargroth Amean proved the difference as the Kumuls edged a spirited Cook Islands side 32-22 in the opening match of the Pacific Test triple-header at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday.
Five pointers from Pacific Test
Monday 8 May 2017 | Published in League
England send an early World Cup warning with a strong performance, a veteran turns back the clock, while a trio of fullbacks light up Campbelltown Stadium.
Do-or-die in league final round
Monday 8 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
Explosive battles are expected in the premier grade at The Swamp and Teimurimotia Park today.
A win for captain courageous
Monday 8 May 2017 | Published in League
The Kangaroos have celebrated Cameron Smith’s 50th match in green and gold with a crushing 30-12 win over a Kiwis side that had been described pre-game as one of the best New Zealand squads of all time. Australia’s methodical dismantling of the second-best team on the planet is an ominous warning to their rivals ahead of this year’s World Cup. The win – their 100th over New Zealand – might have come at a cost with centre Josh Dugan taken to hospital for scans on a possible facial fracture after a sickening head clash with Russell Packer midway through the second half. It was a night of missed opportunities for the Kiwis who ran for more metres than their opposition but were left to rue several poor options in attack on a chilly night in the nation’s capital. New Zealand had all the early running and had several opportunities to pin the Kangaroos deep in their own end, but Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and then Jordan Rapana sent two attacking kicks dead in the first seven minutes to let Australia off the hook. It’s those minor mistakes that have hurt the Kiwis on the international stage and Australia showed them how it’s done with Cooper Cronk and Valentine Holmes procuring repeat sets, before Johnathan Thurston’s pinpoint kick found a flying Dugan for the first points of the night. An Andrew Fifita error from the kick-off opened the door for an immediate reply, and while Shaun Johnson managed to force a line dropout with an angled grubber, the Kiwis halfback went from hero to villain in the space of 60 seconds as his cut-out pass was intercepted by Blake Ferguson who raced 95 metres to extend the lead. Despite the early setbacks, the visitors maintained their territorial dominance but were denied twice on consecutive plays when Tuivasa-Sheck was held up and then Rapana had his effort rubbed out for a forward pass. They would prove to be costly misses as the Kangaroos marched downfield on the back of a big break by Sam Thaiday whose bullocking run allowed Will Chambers to take advantage of a scattered defensive line to score a simple try out of dummy-half. A fourth try looked imminent when Matt Gillett broke through some flimsy defence and found a seemingly unmarked Ferguson on his outside in support, but some desperate defence forced the winger into touch. There would be no denying the Aussies however as the Kangaroos extended the margin four minutes before the break when Tyson Frizell reacted first to a Thurston grubber that ricocheted off the posts and sat up for the big man to score. The Kangaroos picked up from where they left off with tackling machine Jake Trbojevic crashing over four minutes into the second half to push the lead out to 30. Australia’s brick wall defensive line was finally breached in the 56th minute when veteran Simon Mannering marked his return to the national side with a try to get his side on the board. A typically tireless tackle by Mannering then forced Ferguson into touch five metres out from his own line, and from the ensuing scrum, Tuivasa-Sheck showed enough speed to get on the outside of Thurston to cross for his 10th Test try. - NRL.com Kangaroos 30 (Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Will Chambers, Tyson Frizell, Jake Trbojevic tries; Johnathan Thurston 5 goals) def. Kiwis 12 (Simon Mannering, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tries; Jordan Kahu 2 goals) at GIO Stadium. Half-time: 24-0. Crowd: 18,535.
Kukis all set to face PNG
Friday 5 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in League
The Cook Islands rugby league side is all set to battle the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the Pacific Test tonight at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
PNG expect fired up Kukis
Friday 5 May 2017 | Published in League
Papua New Guinea back-rower Rhyse Martin expects a fired-up Cook Islands outfit after the minnow nation missed qualification for the upcoming 2017 Rugby League World Cup in October last year.
