Head coach Karmichael Hunt named the Cook Islands squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup on 6 October 2026. The 23 players come from the NRL, the English Super League, and the Queensland Cup and NSW Cup competitions.
Captains and coaching staff
Co-captains: KL Iro (Cronulla Sharks) and Marata Niukore (New Zealand Warriors).
Head coach: Karmichael Hunt, former Kangaroos fullback, whose mother Matera is from Rarotonga.
Assistant coach: Alex Glenn, former Brisbane Broncos captain.
Full squad
- Cameron Brown (Brisbane Tigers)
- Rhys Dakin (Sydney Roosters)
- Glassie Glassie (Wests Tigers)
- Valentine Holmes (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Esom Ioka (Brisbane Tigers)
- KL Iro, co-captain (Cronulla Sharks)
- Chaev Kolone (Canberra Raiders)
- Makahesi Makatoa (Sydney Roosters)
- Esan Marsters (Bradford Bulls)
- Amare Milford (Melbourne Storm)
- Davvy Moale (Melbourne Storm)
- K-CI Newton-Whare (Melbourne Storm)
- Rua Ngatikaura (North Sydney Bears)
- Marata Niukore, co-captain (New Zealand Warriors)
- Pride Petterson-Robati (Souths Logan Magpies)
- Reuben Porter (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Reubenn Rennie (Toulouse Olympique)
- Brad Takairangi (Glebe Dirty Reds)
- Mason Teague (Wakefield Trinity)
- David Tuariki (Melbourne Storm)
- Paul Ulberg (Toulouse Olympique)
- Delahia Wigmore (Penrith Panthers)
- Maui Winitana-Patelesio (New Zealand Warriors)
Players to watch
Valentine Holmes
The St George Illawarra centre has played 21 Tests for Australia and 22 State of Origin games for Queensland. He qualifies for the Cook Islands through his mother Lucy, who was born in the Cook Islands, and makes his Aitu debut at this tournament.
KL Iro
The Cronulla centre grew up in Rarotonga and has played 11 Tests for the Cook Islands. His father Kevin Iro played for the Cook Islands at the 2000 World Cup.
Marata Niukore
The Warriors forward played for New Zealand at the last World Cup and has committed to representing his Cook Islands heritage. He scored twice in the 58-6 qualifier win over South Africa.
Notable absence
Brisbane Broncos second-rower Brendan Piakura, who scored in the qualifier, is unavailable for the tournament.
See the squad grid, fixtures and ladder on our World Cup 2026 page.
