Nonetheless, the sizeable number of expatriate Cook Islanders living and playing in New Zealand has ensured that they have never been short of players with rugby league experience.

The Cook Islands played Fiji,[2] Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific pool of Qualifying for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

[3] The Cook Islands were given automatic entry into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup they were placed in Pool D alongside Wales and the United States before playing an Inter-Group match against Tonga.

The team lost to the USA and to Tonga, but they won their last match against the Tournament co-hosts Wales, making history for the sport of rugby league in the Cook Islands.

At the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, the Cook Islands narrowly beat part timers Wales 18-12 before losing their second group stage match against Papua New Guinea.

Notes Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Cook Islands national XIII at test level up until 6 November 2023.