IRL Men's Rugby League World Cup : Pool A

Sun 18th October 2026   - KO  16:05 - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle , Australia

Fiji

40

FT

12

Half Time
28 - 0

Cook Islands

Tries

Goals

Match Preview | Fiji & Cook Islands meet in their first game of 2026 IRL Men's World Cup group stage

Fiji & Cook Islands meet in their first game of 2026 IRL Men's World Cup group stage on Sunday, 18th October, at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle (4:05pm KO local time).

Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau will captain the Fiji Bati in their tournament opener against Cook Islands in Newcastle on Sunday as he lines up at a fourth World Cup.

Knights prop Jacob Saifiti has served his four-game suspension and will play his eighth Test for the Bati while Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe and Sea Eagle Brandon Wakeham combine in the halves.

Sharks centre KL Iro captains the Cook Islands side that also includes fellow NRL stars Davvy Moale, Mason Teague and Makahesi Makatoa. The backline features Toulouse flyers Paul Ulberg and Reubenn Rennie.

Experienced playmaker Esan Marsters wears the No.7 jersey at his second World Cup while 37-year-old Brad Takairangi comes off the bench as he lines up at a fourth World Cup.

Fiji (squad): Tito (Sunia) Turuva, Solomone Saukuru, Kurt Donoghoe, Taane Milne, Kitione Kautoga, Caleb Navale, Josese Lanyon, Ronald Philitoga, Joseph Litidamu, Kylan Mafoa, Bayleigh BENTLEY-HAPE, Waqa Blake, Semi Valemei, Brandon WAKEHAM, Jacob Saifiti, Apisai Koroisau, Mitch PREST, Emosi RAVOSAI, Elijah KEUNG, Apensia DRITI, Jordan LEIU, Zion JOHNSON

Cook Islands (squad): Esom IOKA, Kayal IRO, Reubenn RENNIE, Cameron BROWN, Maui WINITANA-PATELESIO, Esan MARSTERS, Davvy MOALE, Mason TEAGUE, Makahesi MAKATOA, Del (Delahia) WIGMORE, Reuben PORTER, Pride PETTERSON-ROBATI, K-Ci NEWTON-WHARE, Rhys DAKIN, Glassie GLASSIE, Chaev KOLONE, Brody TAMARUA, David Tuariki, Paul ULBERG, Rua NGATIKAURA, Bradley TAKAIRANGI

13 October 2026
Full Back
Esom IOKA 1
Right Wing
Right Centre
Left Centre
Left Wing
Stand Off
Scrum Half
Esan MARSTERS 7
Prop
Hooker
Mason TEAGUE 9
Prop
Makahesi MAKATOA 10
Second Row
Reuben PORTER 11

A first-half blitz led by Brandon Wakeham and Apisau Koroisau on the back of a destructive forward pack has helped Fiji romp to a 40-12 win in their World Cup opener against Cook Islands.

Wakeham had three try assists, two line breaks and four tackle breaks to go alongside his astute kicking game and six goals off the tee, while Koroisau was at his instrumental best from dummy half.

The Bati were on song from the opening stages, scoring two tries in the opening 12 minutes as the starting middles dominated through the ruck and created second phase play to further stretch the Aitu defence.

Cook Islands settled into the game and demonstrated their resilience despite a mountain of possession for Fiji, but couldn’t take advantage of their attacking opportunities.

The Aitu simply couldn’t find a way through in the attacking zone and struggled to get boot to ball on last tackle under the pressure of the Bati defence.

A mid-half lull in scoring came to an end in the 28th minute with a first Test try to Jacob Saifiti, who was first to an aerial contest and leapt high to take the ball over Cook Island fullback Esom Ioka before reaching out to plant the ball under the posts.

Worse was to come for Cook Islands as Taane Milne burrowed over from dummy half five minutes from half-time, before Caleb Navale burst through off a Brandon Wakeham short ball and ran 40m on his passage to the corner.

The 28-0 lead for Fiji was a symbol of their dominance enjoying a 62% share of possession as Cook Islands counted their completed sets on two hands.

Fiji continued with the points in the second half as Kitione Kautoga added his name to the score sheet, before the Aitu had some joy when a show-and-go from Maui Winitana-Patelesio had the five-eighth crashing over under the posts.

It sparked energy into the Cook Islands and they went back-to-back when interchange hooker Rua Ngatikaura found Davvy Moale with a short ball, allowing him to crash over.

The Bati quickly ended any thought of a Cook Islands comeback when centre Solomone Saukuru flew through the line a second time off a Kurt Donoghoe short ball to put the result beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining.

Both Pool A sides have tough asks in the next round, as Fiji prepare to take on the Kangaroos and Cook Islands face New Zealand.

18 October 2026