The Cook Islands secured the 10th and final spot in the Rugby League World Cup in November last year with a dominating 58-6 victory over South Africa.
The Aitu now face the formidable task of coming up against two heavyweights in Australia and New Zealand in the group stages in October. It'll give the island nation great insight into where they're at as a developing rugby league country.
Despite being handed some tough luck in the draw, the Cook Islands are set to welcome prestigious NRL talent in Valentine Holmes, KL Iro, Davvy Moale, Makahesi Makatoa, Marata Niukore, and Brendan Piakura to join the squad in their endeavour into becoming a Pacific powerhouse such as Tonga and Samoa.
Other household names, including Xavier Willison, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and dual-code international Joseph Manu hold Cook Islands eligibility, and could be an outside chance to don Aitu colours down the line if he returns to the code.
For now, it provides the perfect opportunity for young, rising Cook Islander talent to cement their place on the biggest stage.
Here are some names who will be on coach Karmichael Hunt's radar for his World Cup charge.
Delahia Wigmore
Young, powerful prospect Wigmore has already tasted international honours for the Aitu, making his international debut in the Pacific Championships in 2024.
Yet to be given an opportunity to make his mark in the NRL with the Penrith Panthers, Wigmore has shined in the chances he's been given on his three appearances on the international stage, and coming up against NRL-level talent in Australia and New Zealand will give fans a chance to see what he can do.
Damaging back rower with strength and footwork, Wigmore has played 12 matches for the Panthers' NSW Cup side in 2026, scoring a try and recording four line breaks from the edge.
Aitu coach Hunt was full of praise for Wigmore's breakthrough into the international arena, and was selected again in 2025 to represent his country, scoring a breakaway try against the PNG Kumuls.
“There are some exciting young kids coming through like Delahia Wigmore, who is in the Panthers system and made his debut this year. He is full of energy and just wants to compete," Hunt said during the Pacific Championships last year.
“The thing about the Cook Islanders is because we don't have a lot of our topliners committed to playing yet there is opportunities for young guys in the state leagues to put on the jersey.”
Zero Tackle can confirm Hunt has yet to reach out to Wigmore for a place in his squad, but remains excited at the prospect of featuring in a World Cup and wants the island nation to compete with the likes of Pacific Island giants Samoa and Tonga.
Glassie Glassie
A Wests Tigers pathways product, Glassie Glassie is a destructive outside back who starred for the Rugby Australian Schoolboys last year, scoring a hat trick against Fiji, securing the Pacific Cup and player of the tournament honours.
Recently extending with the Tigers until the end of 2028, the joint venture club sees him as a future first-grade star.
Yet to make his international debut, Glassie will come into selection calculations for Hunt for their raid on the World Cup trophy.
It gives the nation a solid outside back option, and up against elite NRL talent, which will only benefit his development as a full-time first grader.
The centre showcases elite strength, power, and is a nightmare to handle close to the line, shown with two tries on Jersey Flegg debut for the Tigers this year.
With KL Iro and Valentine Holmes expected to take the starting centre positions, Glassie could slot onto one wing spot, or take a utility interchange position to come onto the middle of the field and wreak havoc.
Esom Ioka
A household name in the Cook Islands lineup, Ioka has donned the Aitu colours seven times at Test level and has been a consistent and reliable outside back option for Hunt.
Currently playing on the wing for the Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland reserve grade competition, Ioka has notched up 17 appearances in the orange and black with an incredible strike record of 17 tries.
Last week Ioka played his former club, the Northern Pride, where he scored a hat-trick in a 42-12 demolition job, driving them into top four contention.
The Auckland-born rising star has four tries to his name at international level, while also handy off the tee with 12 goals for the Aitu.
Ioka earned a call-up to the North Queensland Cowboys run-on side in the pre-season challenge in 2025, starting on the wing against the Dolphins in the February tournament.
The Cook Islands' stars are all on track to become household names in the NRL, and as the tests get under their belt, the stronger the Aitu will become in the 13-man code.
To hit the heights of Samoa and Tonga as powerhouse rugby league countries, and as players continue to pledge their allegiance to the Aitu, they will help assist the rising stars who are currently representing their country.
When Jason Taumalolo defected to Tonga from New Zealand for the 2017 World Cup, it sparked a massive shift in the international game which resulted in many other high-profile players to follow, leading to Tonga defeating Australia in 2019, the first time the Kangaroos lost to a Tier 2 nation.
With Iro and Holmes laying the foundations, this year's World Cup shapes up as an exciting period for the Cook Islands to stamp their name on the world stage.
