Cook Islands women's national rugby league team

Last updated

Cook Islands
Team information
NicknameThe Moana
Governing body Cook Islands Rugby League Association
Region Asia-Pacific
Head coachIan Bourke
Home stadiumAvarua National Stadium
IRL ranking 10th
Uniforms
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm yellow hoops.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
First international
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands 0-68 New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg
(North Harbour Stadium, Albany, New Zealand)
28 September 2003
Biggest win
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands 30-16 Tokelau Flag of Tokelau.svg
(North Harbour Stadium, Albany, New Zealand)
30 September 2003
Biggest defeat
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands 0–76 New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg
(Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney)
19 November 2017
World Cup
Appearances2 (first time in 2003 )
Best resultRound Robin,2017

The Cook Islands women's national rugby league team, also known as the Cook Islands Moana represents Cook Islands in Women's rugby league. The Cook Islands have competed in three Women's Rugby League World Cup tournaments.

Contents

In 2003, the Cook Islands played six matches, for two wins (both over Tokelau), a draw (with Great Britain), and three losses. In 2017 the Cook Islands lost their first two matches by large margins, before registering a surprise win over England in their third and last match. [1] [2] The Cook Islands participated in the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup which, after a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was played in November 2022. Again, the Cook Islands lost their first two matches before winning their third and last match, on this occasion beating France women's national rugby league team.

The Cook Islands had prequalified for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. [3] The withdrawal of intended hosts France, in August 2023, prompted a review by the governing body, which resulted in a reduction in the number of teams, from sixteen to eight. The number of pre-qualified teams was also reduced from eight to four, impacting the Cook Islands. Consequently, the Cook Islands will now need to qualify for the next World Cup, which was pushed back to 2026.

History

Cook Islands women's teams participated in the mid 1990s Oceania Cup tournaments in New Zealand. After appearing in the 1996 Oceania Cup, there was a gap in participation by Moana teams for several years until a revival in 2002 ahead of the 2003 World Cup. Invitational games were played against Maori and Niue teams. The squad for 2003 tournament were selected from New Zealand clubs. [4]

Cook Islands first World Cup appearance was at the 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup. [5] After a loss by a large margin in their opening fixture against New Zealand, Cook Islands won their second game against Tokelau. Fresh off byes in the last round of the first phase, and first round of the second phase, the Cook Islands held Great Britain to a 20-all draw. [6]

Cook Islands qualified for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup by default after Fiji, Samoa and Tonga withdrew from the Pacific qualifying tournament due to a lack of players. [7] After losses by large margins to New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands team had an upset victory over England.

Head to head records

OpponentFMMRMWDLWin%PFPAShare
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2003202230030.00%41782.20%
Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau 200320032200100.00%482863.16%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 20032003101050.00%202050.00%
Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg Māori 2003200310010.00%0460.00%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 2003200310010.00%182839.13%
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2017202220020.00%41322.94%
Flag of England.svg  England 201720171100100.00%221657.89%
Flag of France.svg  France 202220221100100.00%261859.09%
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 2023202310010.00%202841.67%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 2024202410010.00%61825.00%
Totals20032024144190.00%16851224.71%

Note:

Current squad

The Moana squad for the 2024 Pacific Championships was announced on 9 October 2024. [8] [9]

J#PlayerAgePosition(s)MoanaClubNRLWOther Reps
DbtMTGFPtsCMTMTGFPts
1 Kiana Takairangi 32 Fullback , Centre 201761004 South Sydney colours.svg Rabbitohs 01360024Flag of New Zealand.svg 2 Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 1 City colours.svg 3
2Chantelle Holloway-Samuels25 Wing , Centre 202321004 Tweedheadscolours.png Seagulls 000000
3 Tyler Birch 28 Centre 202410000 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Bears 020000Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 1
4Kaiyah Atai Centre , Second-row 202320000 Mackay Cutters colours.svg Roses 000000
5Kiarah Siauane19 Wing , Centre 202410000 Souths-Logan Magpies Colours.svg Magpies 000000
6 Charntay Poko 28 Five-eighth , Lock 202410102 Balmain colours.svg Papanui081208Flag of New Zealand.svg 2
7Lydia Turua-Quedley25 Halfback 201750000 Mackay Cutters colours.svg Roses 000000
8 Crystal Tamarua 29 Prop , Second-row 201740000 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Seagulls 090000Flag of New Zealand.svg 5 Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 1
9Chelsea Makira20 Hooker 202321004 Parramatta colours.svg Eels 000000
10 April Ngatupuna 21 Prop , Lock 2022100000111004
11 Jazmon Tupou-Witchman 20 Second-row , Prop 202250000 North Queensland colours.svg Cowboys 130000
12Kerehitina Matua25 Second-row 2022513010 Canberra colours.svg Raiders 16162008Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg 3
13 Anneka Stephens 35 Lock 202250000 Country colours.svg Joondalup 030000
14Jodeci Joseph Centre 202320000 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Papakura 000000
15Lavinia Kitai20 Prop 202250000 Cronulla colours.svg Sharks 000000
18Tahleisha Maeva21 Second-row 202410000 Parramatta colours.svg Eels 000000
19Ryvrr-Lee Alo18 Lock 202410000 Parramatta colours.svg Eels 000000
21Chazmin Holloway-Samuels Centre 00000 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Seagulls 000000
16 Elianna Walton 39 Prop 202220000 Wellington colours.svg Mounties 040000Flag of Australia (converted).svg 11 Flag of Samoa.svg 1 New South Wales colours.svg 7 Queanbeyan United Colours.png 2 City colours.svg 6 Australian colours.svg 1
17Wanita Leatherby19 Second-row 00000 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Sea Eagles 000000
Ngatokotoru Arakua 27 Prop 202310000 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Titans 31330012Flag of New Zealand.svg 9

Results

DateOpponentScoreTournamentVenueVideoReport(s)
28 Sep 2003Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
0–68
2003 World Cup Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [10] [11]
30 Sep 2003Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau
30–16
[12]
6 Oct 2003Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
20–20
[13]
8 Oct 2003 Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg Māori
0–46
[10]
10 Oct 2003Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau
18–12
[10]
12 Oct 2003Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
18–28
[10]
16 Nov 2017Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
4–58
2017 World Cup Flag of Australia (converted).svg Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney [14] [15]
19 Nov 2017Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
0–76
[16] [17]
22 Nov 2017Flag of England.svg  England
22–16
[18] [19] [20]
27 Oct 2022 Flag of England.svg England Knights
26–14
Warm-Up Trial MatchFlag of England.svg Weetwood, Leeds [21] [22]
2 Nov 2022Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
0–74
2021 World Cup Flag of England.svg York Community Stadium, York [23] [24] [25]
6 Nov 2022Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
4–34
[26] [27] [28]
10 Nov 2022Flag of France.svg  France
26–18
[29] [30] [31]
22 Oct 2023Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
20–28
2023 Pacific Champs Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Santos Stadium, Port Moresby [32] [33]
26 Oct 2024Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
6–18
2024 Pacific Champs Flag of Fiji.svg HFC Bank Stadium, Suva [34] [35] [36]


Nines

DateOpponentScoreTournamentVenueVideoReport(s)
23 Feb 2018Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
4–12
2018 Commonwealth Championship Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dolphin Stadium, Brisbane [37]
23 Feb 2018Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
20–12
[38] [39]
24 Feb 2018Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
8–14
[40]
24 Feb 2018Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
20–0
8 Jul 2019Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
16–12
2019 Pacific Games Flag of Samoa.svg Apia Park [41]
8 Jul 2019Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
38–0
9 Jul 2019Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
8–14
9 Jul 2019Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
24–10
[42] [43]
20 Nov 2023Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands
36–0
2023 Pacific Games Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg National Stadium, Honiara [44]
20 Nov 2023Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu
28–6
[44]
20 Nov 2023Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
20–4
[44]
21 Nov 2023Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
18–10
[45] [46]
21 Nov 2023Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
10–12
[46]
22 Nov 2023Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
16–8
[47] [48]

Past squads

2017

Squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup : [49] [50]

2003

Squad for the 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup : [4]

See also

References

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  2. "Women's side off to League World Cup". cookislandsnews.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  3. "International Rugby League Announces Qualification Places For France 2025". IRL. 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 Lion Foundation Woman's Rugby League World Cup 2003. North Harbour, New Zealand: New Zealand Women's Rugby League. 2003.
  5. Matautia-Morgan, Levi (2017-10-26). "Cook Islands women's league team back in the game". Cook Islands women's league team back in the game. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  6. Francis, Payne (2003). New Zealand Rugby League Almanack 2003. New Zealand Rugby Football League Inc.
  7. "Sport: Cook Islands women accept difficult Rugby League World Cup draw". Radio New Zealand . 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  8. "Cook Islands Squad List". facebook. NRLW - National Rugby League Women's. 9 Oct 2024. Retrieved 10 Oct 2024.
  9. "2024 Pacific Championships: Full squad lists". NRL. 16 Oct 2024. Retrieved 17 Oct 2024.
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  11. "Scoreboard". Rugby League Week (1/10/2003). Sydney: Bauer Media Group.
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  13. "Women's Rugby League". Rugby League Review. 1 Nov 2003. p. 8.
  14. "Australia vs Cook Island - Women's 2017 RLWC". YouTube. Pacific Eye. 16 Nov 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. Riccio, David (17 Nov 2017). "Jillaroo dreams come true in a Cup flogging". Daily Telegraph. p. 104.
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  33. Lucantonio, AJ (22 Oct 2023). "Orchids shine bright despite late Moana comeback". League Unlimited. Retrieved 22 Oct 2023.
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