Experienced side for Cooks

The Cook Islands’ national rugby league team will be at full strength to play Lebanon in Sydney on Sunday October 7 at the Crest Stadium in Bankstown.

Lebanon narrowly missed out in the World Cup qualifying to Italy last year.

The large Lebanese and Italian communities in Australia are very staunch supporters of rugby league hence their strong interest and representation of the game at an international level.

The Cook Islands last played Lebanon at the World Cup 2000 resulting in a draw so it will be interesting to see how much each country has progressed when they meet on Sunday.

The match is a build up to the World Cup 2013 but Cook Islands is not taking any chances fielding eight regular NRL players in the squad with the rest of the players coming from within the NRL system playing Toyota Cup (U20s) or the NSW/Queensland Cup which are feeder teams to NRL sides.

Former Kiwi international Zeb Taia of the Newcastle Knights is making himself available for this game with Sydney Roosters Tinirau Arona pairing off with rising star Tyrone Viiga of Cronulla Sharks (U20s) in the front row.

Geoff Daniella of the Penrith Panthers and Dominique Peroux (Titans) will be pairing off in the outside backs along Drury Low now playing for the Bulldogs.

Former New Zealand Warrior Isaac John, who plays for Wakefield in the English Super League, will be controlling the game from the half along with another young rising star Chris Taripo of the Sydney Roosters U20s.

Tupapa’s Sam Mataora, who plies his trade with the Canberra Raiders, and Zane Tetevano of Newcastle Knights will miss the game due to an operation as well as Alex Glenn of the Brisbane Broncos.

Warriors centre Ben Henry has been selected for the New Zealand train-on squad while Keith Lulia, Anthony Gelling and Karl Temata are all playing in the English Super League.

Tupou Sopoaga from the Junior Bulldogs made the Junior Kiwis with local star Eric Newbigging selected for the New Zealand schoolboys playing against the Australian schoolboys.

CIRL president Charles Carlson and former Kiwi international Kevin Iro strongly believe the key to success at the international level is to get as many Cook Islands players playing at the highest level possible.

“Unless we develop a pathway for our Cook Islands players to play professionally we will continue to struggle playing internationally,” says Carlson.

“What we need to do is identify those individual talents and then provide them with the opportunity to go as far as they could go in reaching their dream.”

The surprise selection to the squad is Avatiu player Adam Tangata after being picked up by the junior Canberra Raiders last year and plays in the NSW Cup competition.

Cook Islands: Zeb Taia (Knights), Tinirau Arona and Chris Taripo (Roosters), Neccrom Areaiiti (Rabbitohs), Geoff Daniela (Panthers), Isaac John (Wakefield), Drury Low (Bulldogs), Lulia Lulia (Illawarra Cutters), Aaron Nootai (Auckland Vulcans), Joe Matapuku (Norths) Jeremiah Nia, Dominique Peroux (Titans), Adam Tangata (Raiders), Monokura Tikinau (Redcliff), Tyrone Viiga (Sharks), Daniel Fepuleai (Mounties).