The Cook Islands Moana are no longer in contention for a spot in the World Cup following their 6-18 defeat against the Fiji Bulikula at HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday.
Head coach Rusty Matua expressed that the Bulikula team outperformed them in both offense and defense, stating, “We weren’t good enough and congratulations to the Bulikula who were a lot stronger and were able to stop the flow of their momentum.” He acknowledged the effort from his players but noted that their skills did not meet the necessary standards.
Matua remarked that the Moana were caught off guard by the Bulikula despite having a solid preparation for the Pacific Championship. He noted, “Fiji showed up and taught us how to play footy, especially regarding their dominance in the ruck.”
Team captain Kiana Takairangi expressed gratitude for the supporters present at the match, even amid the disappointment. “I got around to a couple of our players and said sorry; I feel like I let my team down,” she reflected. “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 felt honored to captain 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 stated.
Coach Matua also took the opportunity to thank the Fijian community for their warmth and hospitality. “We’re thankful to the NRL (National Rugby League) for creating this competition, as it’s been both an honor and privilege for all of us to represent our heritage and Pacific culture,” he said, extending gratitude to the people of Fiji and the NRL for their support.
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