KL Iro was inspired by his famous father Kevin and now the star centre has become a role model for other young Cook Islanders, with players from his Arorangi Bears junior club set to travel to Christchurch to support the Aitu in their World Cup match against the Kiwis.

Iro, who grew up in Raratonga, will spearhead Cook Islands’ RLWC26 campaign, which begins in Newcastle against Fiji on October 18 and includes the clash with the Kiwis at OneNZ Stadium on October 24 before meeting the Kangaroos for the first time in Townsville on October 31.

The Sharks star revealed that he could have been playing for the Kiwis after moving to New Zealand to finish high school but turned down the opportunity because he wants to give youngsters in the Cook Islands someone to look up to.

“I'm a proud Cook Islands man, so I wouldn't want to represent anyone else because all of my love and pride is for Cook Islands,” Iro said. “It’s where I grew up so I can’t really see myself in another jersey.

“I played for the Junior Kiwis and that was special too but I just feel like the most special thing to me and the closest to my heart is Cook Islands.

“My junior club is coming over for the game in Christchurch. They're fundraising right now to get all the kids there, and the coaches and staff, to come and support not just me but our whole squad.

“They know that I was a young kid that grew up there and I'm here now, so they can see that it's possible, and hopefully I can pave the way for these kids and others.”

Photo: KL Iro celebrates after scoring a try for Cook Islands against Fiji in last year's Pacific Championships. @NRL Photos

Remarkably, for a country in which rugby league is the national sport, NRL matches were not broadcast regularly in Cook Islands when Iro was growing up – and as recently as 2022 when he made his NRL debut for Cronulla.

Instead, Iro watched Home and Away and Shortland Street on TV, along with video footage of his father, who played 293 matches in England for Wigan, Leeds and St Helens, as well as stints with Manly (1991-92), Hunter Mariners (1997) and the Warriors (1998).

Kevin Iro also played 34 Tests for the Kiwis before captaining Cook Islands in their first World Cup in 2000. After retiring from playing, Iro – nicknamed ‘The Beast’ during his playing days - returned home to Cook Islands and is a leading figure in the campaign to protect the nation’s marine environment.

“He's a massive inspiration. I think I’ve said a lot how much I look up to him, not just as a footy player but as a man and just how he presents himself,” he said.

“He's a huge role model to me and my brothers and sisters, and to our nephews and nieces, as well. We all look up to him, and I don't think I'd be where I am today if it wasn't for him.

“He made me do a lot of hard training and stuff when I was a kid and just drove that into me since a young age. It helped me to work hard and I'm still doing that today.”

Photo: Kevin Iro presents KL with his debut jersey for the Sharks in 2022. @NRL Photos

The 26 year-old made his international debut three years before his NRL debut in a qualifier for the last World Cup in 2022 against South Africa at Wentworthville’s Ringrose Park.

After beating Wales 18-12 in their opening match, the Aitu suffered a 32-16 loss to Papua New Guinea before crashing 92-12 to Tonga in their final pool game.

“I remember that game clearly, it just shattered me and all the coaching staff,” Iro said. “I wasn't really myself for a while after that game, so I don't want that to happen to us again. I think we'll come out firing.

“We haven’t won too many matches but as a whole, we've come a long way since that South Africa game - my first game.”

After again beating South Africa at CommBank Stadium last November to qualify for RLWC26, Cook Islands are set to field their strongest team yet with Val Holmes joining the likes of Iro, Brendan Piakura, Marata Niukore, Davvy Moale and Mason Teague.

Iro said that more NRL stars were considering pledging their allegiance to Cook Islands.

“We're pretty excited to obviously get Valentine back and I know we're going to get a couple more big names over as well,” he said.

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