Cooks ready for the World Cup

The Cook Islands national rugby league team has been named to compete at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in England and Wales with excitement starting to brew over this much anticipated sporting spectacle.

Former Parramatta Eels assistant coach and Cook Islands league coach David Fairleigh, who led the team through the qualification tournament for the World Cup in 2009, has a 23-man strong squad ready to fly the Cook Islands flag at the World Cup.

The team will assemble in Sydney on October 12 and fly out to England the next day for final preparations ahead of the tournament that starts on October 26.

The Cook Islands will play the New Zealand Kiwi team at Doncaster in a World Cup warm-up match on October 20.

Cook Island Rugby League Association president Charles Carlson says that while this will be the first time the team assembles together before the World Cup – they are no last minute throw-together team.

“The core team has been together since 2009 and are not a last minute throw-together team,” says Carlson.

The match against the Kiwi’s pre World Cup will give the Cooks a good indication on where they will need to polish up their game before they step out onto the field.

Kiwi manager Tony Iro said they want a decent hit-out before their own World Cup campaign.

"We wanted a decent hit-out under English conditions before the World Cup. There’s a chance some of our guys won’t have played for 6 to 7 weeks and we don’t want to be underdone going into a tough first World Cup match against Samoa,” said Tony Iro.

"We know that our boys, especially those that miss finals football, will want the opportunity to impress and I’m sure the Cooks guys will be in the same boat."

The Cooks have been drawn in Pool D along with Wales and the USA plus they will play an extra ‘inter group’ match against Polynesian brothers from Tonga.

The Cook Islands national rugby squad includes – Tinirau Arona (middle) Roosters (NRL), Sam Brunton (hooker) Mounties (NSW), Geoff Daniela (outside back) Panthers (NRL), Daniel Fepuleai (hooker) Bears (NSW), Jonathon Ford (halves) Toulouse (France), Anthony Gelling (centre) Wigan (England), Isaac John (halves) Panthers (NRL), Drury Low (fullback, outside back) Bulldogs (NRL), Keith Lulia (outside back) Bradford (England), Joey Matapuku (front row) North Sydney Bears (NSW), Hikule’o Malu (halves, hooker) Warriors (NRL), Sam Mataora (middle) Raiders (NRL), Dylan Napa (middle) Roosters (NRL), Dominique Peyroux (outside back) Warriors (NRL), Jordan Rapana (wing, centre) Raiders (NRL), Tupou Sopoaga (centre) Sharks (NRL), John Zebelon Taia (middle) Catalans (France), Brad Takairangi (centre, 5/8) Titans (NRL), Adam Tangata (middle) Raiders (NSW), Chris Taripo (outside back) Newtown (NSW), Zane Tetavano (middle) Knights (NRL), Tyrone Viiga (Middle) Eels (NSW), Lulia Lulia (outside back) Shell Harbour (NSW).