LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
Four NZ Warriors players, including the club's NRLW Players' Player of the Year, Kaiyah Atai, have been selected by the Cook Islands for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
Kaiyah Atai, a 23-year-old second-rower and Warrior #61, made her NRLW debut this season after transitioning from local rugby league. She played in all 11 matches as the team returned to the competition, making a significant impact. Her exceptional performance earned her the title of Player of the Year as voted by her teammates, along with a contract extension through the end of the 2027 season.
Joining Atai in the Cook Islands squad are fellow NRLW rookies Lydia Turua-Quedley, Lavinia Kitai, and Ashlee Matapo. Turua-Quedley, Warrior #65 at age 26, and Kitai, Warrior #59 at age 21, also participated in all 11 NRLW games this season. Matapo, who signed as a development player, became Warrior #66 at just 18 years old and played in eight matches this year.
The Cook Islands will compete in the second-tier Pacific Bowl, which is set to take place in Port Moresby. Their campaign begins against the PNG Orchids on October 18, followed by a match against Tonga on October 25, as they aim for a spot in the final scheduled in Sydney on November 9.
Of the Warriors quartet, three players have prior international experience. Atai has represented the Cook Islands in two Tests this year, Turua-Quedley has five Tests under her belt, having debuted at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and Kitai began her five-Test career during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.