South African coach Darryl Fisher admits Cook Islands will be heavy favourites for Sunday’s IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 qualifier at CommBank Stadium but is excited by the talent in the Rhinos squad.
Cook Islands and South Africa will play off for the last spot at next year’s World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea, and the Aitu have a side brimming with NRL and Super League stars, headed by KL Iro, Brendan Piakura and Marata Niukore.
In contrast, the Rhinos have players drawn from state competitions in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, as well as South Africa, including former Storm and Cowboys triallist Niel Beukes, who will make his international debut after playing Super Rugby for the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls.
“The squad is looking pretty good, they have been training really well and they are in good shape,” Fisher said. “We are well aware of the level of opposition we are up against, but it is an opportunity for our players to play guys at that level.
“If they put their best foot forward and play to their capabilities, they will give themselves a chance.
“I certainly can’t ask any more of them in terms of their preparation and effort to get ready for the game. I am impressed by how they are looking and if they can manage the physical pressure.”
Fisher has chosen his side from a large squad, which included nine players who travelled from South Africa to Sydney for a match against Niue on Tuesday and the RLWC26 qualifier.
The Rhinos will be led by Kam Cryer, who is making his seventh international appearance, and he will be partnered in the halves by North Sydney Bears player-of-the-year Coby Thomas.
Hooker Kobe Martin plays for Souths Logan Magpies, while fullback Luke De Vlieg, who moved from Durban to Australia at 18-years-of-age, plays for Runaway Bay Seagulls.
In addition to Beukes, who plays for Harlequins club in Gauteng, the squad includes a second player from the South African domestic competition, Marcell Corneelson, who discovered rugby league as a teenager in 2016 after watching a match between the Rhinos and Niue.
“The guys from South Africa all played really well on Tuesday night and for a lot of them the experience of playing here will have taught them a hell of a lot,” Fisher said.
“The potential there is enormous and for the two we have named in the side, it is awesome that we are able to give them an opportunity to play against the Cook Islands.
“I think the long-term plan is to really build on the connection between the players here and in South Africa, and the way they have integrated this week has really been a positive.”
Despite having watched footage of South Africa’s match against Niue, won 32-28 by the Pacific nation after coming back from 18-6 down at halftime, Cook Islands coach Karmichael Hunt said the Rhinos were an unknown quantity.
“Our main focus is us and how we want to go about playing our footy,” Hunt said. “South Africa will be a challenge like any team that is representing their country but we have had a really good preparation.
“On top of the two weeks in Papua New Guinea (for the Pacific Championships), we had a lovely week and a bit back in Rarotonga just to connect with our families.
“We were welcomed with open arms, we got to meet family we never knew we had and it just really grounded us as a group. It gave us a deeper purpose on who we are playing for and the boys have come back motivated as ever to go out there and do our people proud on Sunday.”
Cook Islands squad
Amare Milford (Melbourne Storm), Brendan Piakura (Brisbane Broncos), Cassius Cowley (Wynnum-Manly Seagulls), Davvy Moale (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Esan Marsters (Salford Red Devils), Esom Ioka (Northern Pride), Justin Makirere (Norths Devils), KL Iro (Cronulla Sharks), Marata Niukore (NZ Warriors), Makahesi Makatoa (Sydney Roosters), Mason Teague (Newcastle Knights), Paul Ulberg (Toulouse Olympique), Pride Petterson-Robati (Souths Logan Magpies), Rhys Dakin (Sydney Roosters), Reuben Porter (Wests Tigers), Reubenn Rennie (Toulouse Olympique), Rua Ngatikaura (Rabbitohs), Teapo Stoltman (Souths Logan Magpies).
South Africa squad
Jason Smith (Central Newcastle, New South Wales), Karyn Cryer (Corrimal Cougars, New South Wales), Keegan Turner (Currumbin Eagles, Queensland), Reilly Canning (Eastwood, New South Wales), Bevan de Vries (Forrestville Ferrets, New South Wales), Marcelle Corneelsen (Grizzles, South Africa), Niel Beukes (Harlequins, South Africa), Ethan Sweet (Mackay Cutters, Queensland), Brynn du Rand (Mackay Magpies, Queensland), Brady McMillan (Moranbah Miners, Queensland), Ashley Bull (Normanby Hounds, Queensland), Shane Mackenzie, Kalum Gulliver-Brown (North Beach Sea Eagles), Coby Thomas (North Sydney Bears, New South Wales), Callum McMenemy (Parramatta Eels, New South Wales), Luke de Vlieg (Runaway Bay, Queensland), Kobe Martin (South Logan Magpies, Queensland), Aden Perry (St Mary’s Saints, New South Wales), Joshua Hill (Valleys Diehards, Queensland).
