Joey Manu has helped deliver a parting gift for rugby league, with the Sydney Roosters partnering with Cook Islands Rugby League to provide free-to-air coverage of their matches in the Pacific nation for the remainder of the season.
Despite rugby league being the No.1 sport of the Cook Islands, most residents have been unable to watch NRL matches and Kevin Iro – arguably the country’s greatest player – could only follow via Facebook as son Kayal scored his first try for the Sharks a few weeks ago.
However, that is set to change after the Roosters offered to sponsor one match per week on Cook Islands TV in honour of Manu and other players of Cook Islands heritage to represent the club, including Tony Iro, Zane Tetevano, Dylan Napa, Tinirau Arona and siblings Brad and Kiana Takairangi.
Starting with Thursday’s annual Anzac Day clash with the Dragons, Cook Islanders will have access via CITV to Roosters matches, including NRLW matches, which commence on July 25.
The talk is that Joey would like to play for the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands Rugby League Chairman Charles Carlson
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said the club was thrilled to help inspire the next generation of Cook Islands boys and girls who’ll be able to watch their heroes live on TV, including Manu – the 2022 IRL Golden Boot winner, who is departing at the end of the season for a stint in Japanese rugby union.
“Our club has a rich history of supporting the growth of our great game both domestically and internationally through our League of Roosters Program,” Kelly said.
“We look forward to supporting Cook Islands Rugby League to bring our great game into the households of Cook Islanders for the remainder of the 2024 NRL and NRLW premiership seasons.”
The sponsorship deal, in which the Roosters are effectively paying the costs for CITV to broadcast matches, came about after 1985 Dragons grand final coach and renowned journalist Roy Masters, who also coached the Western Suburbs Magpies, visited the Cook Islands in March.
Masters, who attended local matches at which the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas acted as the ground announcer, spoke with Roosters Chairman Nick Politis and Kelly about the coverage of NRL and NRLW matches in the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands Rugby League Chairman Charles Carlson said the support of the Roosters was a massive boost for the game in the island nation.
“It was great to catch up with Roy Masters and for him to help tee up the support of the Roosters,” Carlson said.
“Joe Kelly rang me up and said he had been having a chat with Roy and how Roy had mentioned that we don’t get any NRL games over here, so it is good news for us that the Roosters are coming on board.
“Normally we try to get sponsors, but we only have a small private sector over here, so it has been quite difficult to sustain, and we haven’t been getting any games.
“This is a fantastic gesture by the Roosters to sponsor their games, including the NRL finals, free to air in the Cook Islands.
“We are also thankful to Cook Islands TV for making it possible to air the games live on the local channel to all the homes on Raratonga, the main island of the Cook Islands.
“We are by far the No.1 code in the Cook Islands, but it was a real concern for us, not getting any games, so with the Roosters coming on board every weekend that will be excellent for us, and they will definitely get a few more supporters too.”
The local competition comprises five clubs - the Panthers, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Eels and Bears – but Carlson said it was unlikely to be long before a new team, known as the Roosters, was established.
“No doubt this will be on the discussion table in the near future,” he said.
Carlson also remains hopeful that 27-year-old Manu, who has played 17 Tests for the Kiwis, will represent Cook Islands if he returns from rugby union and inspire the likes of Val Holmes, Jordan Rapana and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to follow suit.
“Hopefully we can entice Joey to play for us, the talk is that he would like to play for the Cook Islands,” he said. “If we could get him and Valentine Holmes, other boys will follow.”
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