The Cook Islands Moana have been eliminated from contention for a spot in the World Cup. This follows their defeat against the Fiji Bulikula, who won 18-6 at HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday.
Head coach Rusty Matua expressed that the Fijian team excelled in both attack and defense, stating, “We weren’t good enough and congratulations to the Bulikula, who were much stronger and effectively halted our momentum.” He noted that while the players put in effort, their skills were lacking.
Matua reflected on the match, indicating that they were caught off guard by the Bulikula despite having a solid preparation for the Pacific Championship. He said, “Fiji showed up and taught us how to play footy, especially in terms of their ruck dominance.”
Captain Kiana Takairangi acknowledged the support from fans in the stands despite the loss. She shared her personal disappointment, saying, “I spoke to a couple of our players and apologized, feeling like I let my team down. It’s a disappointing loss for our team and our nation; we don’t know if we’ll get another chance, so we’ll wait and see what happens.”
Takairangi expressed pride in representing the Cook Islands alongside her brother, Brad Takairangi, who captains the men’s team, calling it a special experience to do so simultaneously in Fiji.
Coach Matua expressed gratitude to the Fijian people for their hospitality and praised the National Rugby League (NRL) for facilitating the competition. “It has been an honor and a privilege for all of us to represent our heritage and Pacific culture and to share this experience with our Pacific cousins,” he commented, extending thanks to both the people of Fiji and the NRL.
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