Cooks end world cup on a high

The Cook Islands rugby league team and supporters are still celebrating their historic first ever win at a Rugby League World Cup after six attempts.

The Cook Islands triumphed over Wales in their last pool match on Monday 28-24, and not only registered the nation’s first-ever game at the tournament but also avoided the wooden spoon in Pool D.

“That was great,” declared Cooks’ head coach David Fairleigh of his team’s performance.

“It was Cook Islands first World Cup victory and it was great to finish on a high note."

The Cook Islands began their world cup campaign with a warm-up match against the Kiwis that ended in a 50-0 score line to the New Zealanders who are tipped to make the grand finals of the event.

The Cooks faced the USA Tomahawks in their first world cup match in Pool D where the local lads were favoured to win with more international experience than their American opponents.

However USA defeated the Cooks 32-20 to register their first-ever win at a world cup.

A disappointed Cook Islands team then faced the tough men of Tonga and despite a great performance by the Cooks – they were unable to contain their Pacific brothers and went down to Tonga 22-16 in the pool cross over match.

Cooks’ sole point scorer in the match Christopher Taripo was named man of the match for his individual brilliance.

The side’s final match against Wales was an entertaining affair with the Cooks holding of a resurgent Welsh team to win 28-24.

The world cup is now in the quarter final stages with New Zealand set to face Scotland, Australia to meet USA, England going up against France and the all-Pacific quarter final between Fiji and Samoa.

The Rugby League World Cup grand final is set to be played on November 30.