The Cook Islands Moana have been eliminated from contention for a World Cup spot following a 6-18 defeat to the Fiji Bulikula at HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday. Head coach Rusty Matua remarked that the Fijian team outperformed them in both attack and defense.
“We weren’t good enough, and congratulations to the Bulikula who were much stronger and managed to halt our momentum,” he stated. Matua added that despite a solid preparation for the Pacific Championship, they were overwhelmed by the Bulikula’s play. “Fiji showed up and taught us how to play footy, particularly in how they dominated the ruck,” he noted.
Captain Kiana Takairangi expressed gratitude for the support from fans despite the team’s loss. “I went around to a couple of our players and said sorry; I feel like I let my team down,” she explained. She described the defeat as disappointing for both the team and their nation, acknowledging uncertainty about future opportunities.
Takairangi emphasized the pride she felt in captaining the Cook Islands Moana alongside her brother, Brad Takairangi, who led the Cook Islands Aitu men’s team. “We’re really proud Cook Islanders, and being able to do it at the same time here in Fiji is really special,” she remarked.
Coach Matua also expressed appreciation for the welcoming nature of the Fijian people. “We’re thankful to the NRL for creating this competition, as it has been both an honor and a privilege for all of us to represent our heritage and Pacific culture,” he said, extending gratitude to the Fijian people and the NRL for their support.
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