The Cook Islands Aitu rugby league team held their first training session at Albert Park in Suva yesterday morning as they gear up for their match against the Vodafone Fiji Bati this Saturday. This game marks the second week of the 2024 NRL Pacific Championships.
Team coach Karmichael Hunt reported that the players had a productive training session after arriving in Fiji on Saturday night. They are set to return to the field for another training session at 8 am today.
“We’re really looking forward to getting back on the training track tomorrow, and then finishing our preparation off on Thursday,” Hunt stated.
Hunt expressed his excitement for the upcoming match against the Bati, noting the players’ fitness levels leading into the training. He highlighted the intensity of the session, recognizing that some players had not competed in over a month, while others had just a couple of weeks away from the game.
In 2023, the Bati and Aitu faced each other once, with the Bati emerging victorious in a close match that ended 22-18. Prior to that encounter, the Aitu experienced a challenging game against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls, suffering a 46-10 defeat.
As training continues, Hunt emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against the Bati, particularly in relation to their Rugby League World Cup qualification aspirations. He expressed the pride that the players feel representing their country, highlighting their commitment to honoring their heritage.
“When you play for your country against another country, the stakes are always higher, so the boys are really proud Cook Islanders who want to go out there and do their country and heritage proud,” Hunt remarked.