KL Iro commits to Cook Islands World Cup bid, calls for more eligible NRL stars to join
Cronulla Sharks centre KL Iro has reaffirmed his pledge to the Cook Islands’ campaign to reach next year’s World Cup, urging other NRL players with Aitu heritage to consider representing the nation. Iro, who can also play for England and New Zealand, is focused on returning from a pectoral injury ahead of Cronulla’s clash with Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Cook Islands will face South Africa in a World Cup qualifier at CommBank Stadium on November 9, a match set to be part of a triple-header that also features the Pacific Championships finals for men and women. Iro first wore the Cook Islands jersey in 2019 and represented the nation at the 2022 World Cup in England. The next edition, staged across Australia and Papua New Guinea, is a pivotal step, he says, in growing rugby league back home.
“It was a tough decision last year, but this year I’m focused on getting Cook Islands into the World Cup,” Iro told NRL.com. “As a nation we need to win that qualifier against South Africa so we can get back on the world stage.” He added that qualifying would be enormous for sponsorship and growth, with several big-name players already committed and expected to come aboard later in the year.
Iro is part of a rugby league lineage, the son of former Kiwis star Kevin Iro, who spent much of his childhood in Arorangi before moving to Auckland as a teenager to chase his rugby league dream. While his pathway is well trodden, there is a broader pool of players with Cook Islands heritage who are eligible to represent the Aitu, including rising talent Isaiya Katoa and Raiders veteran Josh Papalii, as well as Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Xavier Willison and Brendan Piakura. Papalii recently stated his desire to play in next year’s World Cup and indicated he would represent Cook Islands if not selected for Samoa. Other eligible players such as Val Holmes and Davvy Moale have also been in the mix but have been sidelined by season-ending injuries this year.
Across the Atlantic, former Raider Jordan Rapana has also spoken about wearing the Aitu jersey and encouraged players in both the NRL and Super League to follow suit. Iro has watched the rise of Pacific nations with interest and hopes Cook Islands can emulate the breakthroughs seen by Tonga and Samoa after 2017, driven by key players committing early and creating a compelling pathway for others to join.
“All it takes is a couple of bigger names to commit for the others to see the potential,” Iro said. “Then they want to be part of making history for our nation and they’ll start bringing more boys back. It’s like what Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo did for Tonga. Once they started then everyone came back, and it was the same with Samoa and the Penrith boys playing for them. All we need is a strong spine, and then we can challenge those nations. There are players out there at that level who are Cook Islander or have Tongan links, and if we had them we would kill it.”
The Cook Islands will also compete in the Pacific Bowl before their World Cup qualifier, facing Papua New Guinea and Fiji in a hub-based tournament in Port Moresby.
Iro has been out since suffering a pectoral tear in Cronulla’s Round 14 loss to the Warriors. He underwent surgery and is eyeing a return in the Sharks’ clash with Newcastle on Sunday. The centre missed last year’s Pacific Championships due to a hamstring injury, and his push to regain match fitness has been a major motivator as he targets a strong finish to the year and a firing run into the Pacific Championships.
“I hated missing last year… These games at the end of the year are a big motivator. I wanted to come back early so I could play some games before the internationals, so I’m not going in there and blowing my first game,” Iro said. “Hopefully I have a good run into the finals with the Sharks, then I’ll be going into the Pacific Champs firing.”
Context and outlook for readers:
– The World Cup qualifier against South Africa is a crucial stepping stone for the Cook Islands as they push to re-enter the world stage.
– A strong showing could unlock more sponsorship and attract additional Cook Islands players who may be currently eligible for other nations.
– The broader Pacific Nations trend suggests a growing pool of talent ready to bolster smaller rugby league nations, a development Iro hopes will continue through continued exposure and pathway opportunities.
Summary:
KL Iro’s renewed commitment to the Cook Islands aligns with a broader push to grow rugby league in the Aitu, leveraging a rising pool of eligible players and support from the NRL and Super League communities. If the nation can secure World Cup qualification, it could accelerate investment, development, and the emergence of more Cook Islands stars on the world stage.
Notes for editors:
– Keywords to emphasize: KL Iro, Cook Islands Aitu, World Cup qualification, South Africa, CommBank Stadium, Pacific Championships, Isaiya Katoa, Josh Papalii, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Xavier Willison, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Rapana, Pacific growth, spine players.
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