RLWC 2026, Cook Islands, World Cup, Aitu, Karmichael Hunt, inspiration

Author: Brett Keeble NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Wed 21 Oct 2026, 10:01 AM

Competing, challenging, improving and inspiring.

These are more realistic and relevant goals for Cook Islands this IRL Rugby League World Cup, and coach Karmichael Hunt believes they can achieve these despite their difficult draw.

After a first-up 40-12 loss to Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium last Sunday, the Kukis face even tougher assignments against New Zealand at Christchurch on Sunday and Australia at Townsville on October 31.

Fiji v Cook Islands – Round 1, 2026

New Zealand are the 2008 champions, Australia are chasing a fourth straight RLWC, and they played an all-time classic – won by Australia 24-22 – when they kicked off this year’s tournament at a sold-out Allianz Stadium last Thursday.

“That Aussie-Kiwi game that opened the tournament was a cracker – probably one of the best games of footy I’ve seen in a long time,” Hunt said.

“I think everyone saw the passion for their culture but also saw the stars of the game just stand up and take the bull by the horns, so to speak.”

Round 2 - Round 2 - Sunday 25 Oct

5:05 am

New Zealand

Cook Islands

Venue: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch

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Cook Islands will receive a major boost this weekend with star back Valentine Holmes named at fullback after overcoming an ankle injury that kept him out of last Sunday's clash.

A two-time World Cup winner with the Kangaroos, Holmes has long spoken of his desire to represent his heritage and he will finally get the chance in Christchurch on Sunday afternoon.

Hunt kept expectations low in the Kukis’ build-up to the Fiji game and said he would take a similar approach leading into their next two clashes against the Kiwis and Kangaroos.

“We knew coming into the tournament who we were going to be facing – the two biggest teams in the world, the Aussies and the Kiwis,” Hunt said.

“But Fiji aren’t too far behind them as well, when you look at the talent they’ve got in their jersey, and plenty of NRL experience.

“We weren’t coming into this camp expecting or even talking about winning.

“Winning hasn’t been spoken about once all week.

“What has been spoken about is trying to inspire our people.

“You can do that when you’re losing, and you can do that when you win.”

After trailing 28-0 at half-time in Newcastle last Sunday, Cook Islands held Fiji to 12-all in the second half after Hunt challenged his players to win the battles within the game.

Maui Winitana-Patelesio Try

Five-eighth Maui Winitana-Patelesio and prop Davvy Moale scored tries in a four-minute burst midway through the second half. Winitana-Patelesio converted both tries to cut the deficit to 34-12, giving Kukis fans in the crowd of 10,604 something to cheer about.

“The second half, we showed some inspiration out there through our actions. The boys kept playing while they were down and were able to find some points,” Hunt said.

“I think we can take a lot away from that, and it’s going to be the same challenge next week for us, to go out there and inspire through our actions.

“We’ll obviously clean some stuff up that hopefully can help us do that a whole lot better against the Kiwis, because obviously it’s a step up in class as well, but the focus remains the same.

“It’s an opportunity for us to go out there and represent our people and inspire the next generation coming through.”

Hunt praised 20-year-old Winitana-Patelesio, 19-year-old bench forward Chaev Kolone, who replaced back-rower Rueben Porter, and Moale for pushing back against Fiji’s pack.

Responding to a half-time rev-up, the Storm and former Rabbitohs front-rower scored a try, ran for a team-high 155 metres and made 32 tackles without a miss.

Davvy Moale Try

“Big Davvy Moale was fantastic for us, but we challenged him at half-time around accepting what Fiji were doing to our pack,” Hunt said.

“He went out in the second half and stood up and changed the momentum for us, so I thought he was outstanding.”

Kukis captain KL Iro wants his players to pick up where they left off from the Fiji game when they kick off against the Kiwis on Sunday.

“In the second half, there was a 20-minute period where we showed what we’re made of, we showed what we spoke about all year and trained all week for,” Iro said.

“That’s the positive I’ll take out of it. At the end of the day, after a tough loss like that, you’ve always got to take out the positives to build on, and we go again next week.”