By David Williams
John Kear insists Wales have delivered their best Rugby League World Cup performance for years – even though their campaign began with a 18-12 defeat to the Cook Islands on Wednesday night.
“I think we have earned the respect of a lot of people,” said Wales head coach Kear.
“I think that is the best Wales rugby league performance for a long, long time. I am immensely proud of the players and the effort they have put in.
“We are one of the lower-ranked teams and we have got a lot of part-time players. But we’ve demonstrated being part-time isn’t simply about ability sometimes, it is about life circumstance.
“I certainly think anyone who has watched that will come away having had full value for money and with a lot of admiration for the fellas who wore red. The pride comes through, but it is disappointing as well.”
Tries from Rhodri Lloyd and Ollie Olds either side of an Anthony Gelling effort gave the predominantly part-time Welsh side a 12-8 interval lead in the Group D clash on a chilly evening at Leigh Sports Village.
The result breaks your heart, but the pride in the performance puts it back together again.
It’s home. It’s family. It’s hiraeth.#CymruRL | #RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/zeshkuWZSg
— Wales Rugby League (@WalesRugbyL) October 20, 2022
The tide began to turn after the break and back-to-back scores from Davvy Moale and Steve Marsters snatched victory for a Cook Islands side boasting plenty of top-level experience in the UK and Australia.
Wales – without a win at a World Cup tournament since reaching the semi-finals 2000 and with just one Betfred Super League player in their matchday squad in Salford Red Devils winger Rhys Williams – had always known they were clear underdogs.
Yet, well-drilled by two-time Challenge Cup-winning head coach John Kear, they produced a stirring display and almost grabbed a potentially game-levelling try in the last minute.
Wales almost produced a dramatic finish after Lloyd charged down a kick, but Caleb Aekins could not get the pass away cleanly with a try seemingly for the taking out wide and the chance was lost.
“A lot of players emptied the tank out there,” Kear said. “The effort to charge down, which gave us the opportunity we almost got – it’s that that needs applauding.”
“We’ll now get ready for Tonga in five days’ time, so good fun!”
https://twitter.com/MikeBubbins/status/1582815495119511552
Cook Islands head coach Tony Iro said: “Wales for the most part of the game stuck it to us and I thought they played really well.
“I was really proud of our boys for sticking to their guns too, because I thought there was the opportunity there a couple of times that they could have let things go against them but they kept turning up.
“I didn’t think we’d had a lot going our way (in the first half), I thought effectively Wales had beaten us up at the play-the-ball… they came with a decent plan that upset us a bit.”
Wales started energetically and, after twice stretching the Cook Islands, made the pressure count in the 13th minute when Swinton Lions’ Lloyd scooped up a well-weighted kick from Josh Ralph to touch down.
The Kukis responded with Kayal Iro, Zane Tetevano and Steve Marsters all threatening before Tepai Moeroa barged over, only to lose possession.
They levelled the scores when Huddersfield Giants-bound Esan Marsters burst through to send former Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves centre Gelling racing clear under the posts.
Another one – total run metres from Round 1 w/ split for post contact. Anthony Gelling & Kayal Iro both ran for over 240m in the Cook Islands win over Wales.
Italy's Jake Maizen was #1 for post contact metres w/ 134 v Scotland, the only player to top 100m in Round 1 #RLWC2021 pic.twitter.com/viy9QTlkiq
— The Rugby League Eye Test (@LeagueEyeTest) October 20, 2022
Wales reclaimed the lead with a fine individual try from Olds. The Bridgend-born half-back, who is now playing semi-professionally in Australia for Fortitude Valley Diehards after coming out of retirement, created space with a dummy and powered to the line.
Matty Fozard landed his second conversion but a penalty from Steve Marsters, adding to an earlier goal, cut the deficit to 12-8 at the break.
The Cook Islands looked to step up the tempo after the break but Wales initially held firm with Dominique Peyroux defusing one dangerous attack with an interception.
Wales could not hold out indefinitely and, after the Cook Islands had a try disallowed for a knock-on, the game turned with two scores in quick succession.
South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Moale grabbed the first of them from close range from a Johnathon Ford pass before Steve Marsters rose in the corner to claim a high kick and touch down. Marsters landed one of the conversions as well to put his side in sight of victory.