The Cook Islands Moana have officially 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 expressed that the Fijian team excelled in both offense and defense, acknowledging their superior performance.
“We weren’t good enough, and congratulations to the Bulikula, who were a lot stronger and managed to maintain their momentum,” he stated. He noted the effort shown by the players but admitted that their skills did not meet the standards required for the match.
Matua also mentioned that the Bulikula team outperformed them despite the Moana’s strong preparation for the Pacific Championship. “Fiji showed up and taught us how to play footy, especially in dominating the ruck,” he added.
Captain Kiana Takairangi was appreciative of the support from fans present at the game despite the team’s setback. “I spoke to a couple of our players and expressed my regret, feeling that I let my team down,” she said, reflecting on the disappointment of their loss and uncertainty about future opportunities.
Takairangi highlighted her pride in captaining the Cook Islands Moana alongside her brother, Brad Takairangi, who captained the men’s Cook Islands Aitu team. “We are really proud Cook Islanders, and being able to do this at the same time here in Fiji is truly special,” she mentioned.
Coach Matua expressed gratitude to the Fijian people for their generosity and hospitality as hosts. “We are thankful to the NRL for creating this competition, as it has been both an honor and privilege for us to represent our heritage and Pacific culture. A big thank you to the people of Fiji and the NRL as well,” he concluded.
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