KARMICHAEL HUNT | Cook Islands coach ahead of RLWC clash against the Kiwis in Christchurch

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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Scotty (0:15)

I know we're talking Rugby League World Cup, so we'll continue that conversation with Karmichael Hunt, who joins us on the line now. Karmichael, good morning.

Karmichael Hunt (0:22)

Good morning, how are we?

Scotty (0:24)

We're very good, mate. Thanks so much for joining us this morning. What an exciting week to be a part of in Christchurch. But you're Cook Island side, tell us about coaching them, tell us about the team and the mood in the camp as well.

Karmichael Hunt (0:37)

Yeah, look, it's great to be in Christchurch. Obviously, a wonderful opportunity on our hands this weekend to play the Kiwis. Once in a lifetime opportunity, actually. Not many of these boys will get this chance again in their lifetime. So we're really looking forward to the challenge that we face, but also just the chance to represent our culture once again. And yeah, this is my fourth year in charge coaching our national team.

It's been a wonderful journey. Rugby League is sort of the vehicle that we use. So obviously, passing on our culture, teach our culture to the boys that have been raised overseas, playing in NRL, playing in Cup systems in Queensland and New South Wales. So it's been a learning journey amongst obviously us getting on the big stage and competing and flying the flag. So it's been very rewarding.

Sam (1:25)

Yeah, Karmichael, it's Sam here. So, Scotty, everyone, thanks so much for your time. I'm excited about watching the Cookies in action. Obviously on this station, Anthony Gelling, we have on a weekly basis, we give him airtime, which means the Cook Islands take over the airwaves, whether he's on, he's always pumping the tires. So listeners here, very invested in how the Cookies go.

For you, where is Rabie League at with the Cook Islands? We've seen the growth in Samoa, seen it in Tonga, talking about how it's come to take over. But where does, within the Cook Islands itself, where does Rabie League sit right now?

Karmichael Hunt (2:00)

Look, we're still building. We're obviously a step behind other nations like Tonga and Samoa in terms of their top line is sort of switching their allegiance back to their homeland.

We've also got to obviously be realistic as well. Our population size, when you compare us to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, PNG, like we're pale in comparison. And probably the biggest thing for us is less about, I guess, the attraction of NRL players that are playing for the Kiwis or Aussies at the moment. It's more around the eligibility rules that are affecting us. And there are plenty, as I just said, there's 12,000 on the island, 120,000 of us sort of globally. But we've got a lot of great grandparent kids or players that are sort of playing in really high level systems that we can't invite in the camp at the moment because of the eligibility rule. So hopefully, that gets addressed soon so we can widen our net. It's obviously welcoming people that are Cook Islanders but just aren't eligible at the moment for us that can come and help us obviously battle away and keep moving our game forward.

Sam (3:06)

Yeah, how important is someone like Kale Ero in that regard? He is so staunch behind the Cookies. It's not funny. Obviously, he would be a very fair shot if you're not a walk in spot to a center role with the Kiwis. They've been chasing him, but he refused to buckle and stay where he is. How important is he not just as a player, but a leader and a role setter within the squad and the wider Cook fraternity?

Karmichael Hunt (3:30)

Yeah, look, he's a massive asset for us.

To have someone of his caliber whose game is still growing week in, week out and his presence out in the field and obviously in the sharks in our NRL system. What he's able to do definitely attracts other players, but for him just to be steadfast in his belief, in his culture and wanting to represent his culture, speaks volumes of who he is, but also for what we're building as well. And that's something that he's always talking about, is wanting to get us better and wanting to attract other players back to us. And he's a huge linchpin in doing that. Massive part to play and getting Vail over now, which thankfully he's going to be fit and available to go against the Kiwis this week. But yeah, look, slowly by slowly, we're getting the boys that we want to get on the Vukka, but not where we want to be, obviously, in the long run.