The Tokoroa Pacific Sharks may have finished as runners-up in the Cook Islands Rugby League Nines in Paradise tournament, but the team’s journey to the final was filled with lessons and pride.

Head coach Paniora Daniels expressed mixed emotions after their hard-fought defeat to the Arorangi Bears in the final on Saturday, acknowledging both the team’s achievements and areas for growth.

The New Zealand-based Sharks went down to the Bears 11-15 in a closely contested final held at the National Stadium in Nikao.

“We came here to compete, but our main goal was to bring our senior side to the Cook Islands for the first time,” Daniels said.

“Our fathers and grandfathers left this place and never came back. But they started this rugby league club in 1965, so that’s an honour in itself. In many ways, this is a win for us,” he added.

Tokoroa in New Zealand is home to the largest Cook Islands community outside the islands.

The Sharks topped Pool B with wins over Nikao Roosters 22-4, Titikaveka Bulldogs 18-8 and Tupapa Panthers 14-10. In the semi-final, the side thumped last year’s champions Avatiu Eels 23-4 before going down to the Bears in the final.

Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Daniels emphasised the importance of the experience for his players and the significance of representing their heritage.

The Sharks, hailing from New Zealand, had a strong showing in the tournament, but a lack of discipline and missed opportunities ultimately cost them the championship.

“We weren’t as clinical as we were in the semis,” said Daniels. “Our discipline was the biggest issue. We didn’t adjust to some of the calls that were being made, and that was our fault.”

The loss was a hard pill to swallow for the team, but Daniels remains proud of their overall performance.

The team is a mixture of players, with many from Aitutaki, where their parents and grandparents come from, and others from New Zealand.

“I’d say it’s 50-50, with players from Aitutaki and New Zealand,” said Daniels.

The team also includes a few Māori players who have been part of the club since childhood and are treated like family.

One of the biggest lessons learned from this experience was adapting to the challenging conditions in the Cook Islands.

“The weather has been the biggest challenge for us,” Daniels explained. “Every day has been different. We’ve had storms, we’ve had sunshine. The first day we trained here, some of the boys were struggling with the heat. But you just have to adjust and adapt.”

For the players, particularly those from New Zealand, the tournament provided valuable experience.

“This is the start of our season, so we’re in preseason now. Training for three months leading up to this has put us in good stead. The hits are harder here, and the heat will help condition us for the rest of the season,” Daniels said.

Daniels acknowledged the Cook Islands Rugby League for their warm welcome and the opportunity to compete in the tournament.

“We didn’t get the chips at the end, but we won just by being here,” he said.

The Tokoroa Pacific Sharks began preparing for the tournament two months ago, with training officially kicking off in November 2024.

Daniels and his coaching staff ensured the players were ready for the unique challenges of the tournament, including adapting to the tropical climate.

Despite the setback in the final, the Sharks return home with a wealth of experience and lessons learned as well as memories, having proudly Aitutaki, Maori and Cook Islands heritage at the tournament.

Awards

Team Awards Nines in Paradise 2025: Men’s Placing – 1^st Arorangi Bears, 2^nd Pacific Sharks Rugby League Club, 3^rd Avatiu Eels Sports Club, 4^th Titikaveka Bulldogs Rugby Club; Women’s Placing – 1^st Ngati-Umutahi, 2^nd Lady Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers, 3^rd Raukawa Ki Waikato Sports, 4^th Vaine Toa; U18 Boys Placing – 1^st Avatiu Eels, 2^nd Titikaveka Bulldogs, 3^rd Takuvaine Warriors, 4^th Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles.

MVP awards: Men’s MVP - James Strickland of Arorangi Bears, Women’s MVP - Tyler Birch of Ngati-Umutahi, U18s MVP - Paul Ngaroi of Avatiu Eels.