Head coach Karmichael Hunt has named the 23 players who will carry the Cook Islands into Rugby League World Cup 2026, and former Kangaroos centre Valentine Holmes is set to pull on the Aitu jersey for the first time.
Holmes, who has played 21 Tests for Australia and 22 games for Queensland, qualifies through his mother Lucy, who was born in the Cook Islands. He travelled with the squad as a mentor for last year’s qualifier while recovering from a shoulder injury, and has now committed to playing.
Cronulla centre KL Iro and Warriors forward Marata Niukore will lead the side as co-captains. The NRL contingent includes Makahesi Makatoa and Rhys Dakin (Roosters), Davvy Moale, Amare Milford, K-CI Newton-Whare and David Tuariki (Storm), Reuben Porter (Dragons), Delahia Wigmore (Panthers), Glassie Glassie (Wests Tigers), Chaev Kolone (Raiders) and Maui Winitana-Patelesio (Warriors).
Super League experience comes from Esan Marsters (Bradford), Mason Teague (Wakefield) and Toulouse pair Reubenn Rennie and Paul Ulberg. Brad Takairangi, Pride Petterson-Robati, Esom Ioka, Cameron Brown and Rua Ngatikaura complete the group.
The one notable absence is Broncos second-rower Brendan Piakura, who scored in the qualifier against South Africa but is unavailable after concussion problems kept him out for the back half of the NRL season.
The draw
Aitu open against Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Sunday 18 October (7.05pm Saturday in Rarotonga). They then meet New Zealand in Christchurch and Australia in Townsville. The top two teams in Group A go through to the semi-finals.
