LEIGH are hot on the trail of one of the Cook Islands top stars.

Coach Ian Lucas was so impressed with the performance of the player in last night's Emerging Nations World Cup game at Hilton Park, that he immediately opened negotiations.

Lucas confirmed that the player has shown an interest in joining the Division Two leaders and the two plan further talks today at the team's hotel in Liverpool.

The Hilton Park boss refuses to name his top target but admits to having drawn up a 'hit-list' of players who have shone in the Emerging World Cup.

Lucas was at the Ireland v Moldova game at Rochdale on Monday, saw the Cook Islands hammer Russian 58-20 at Leigh last night and will be at Warrington to watch Scotland tomorrow.

"There is some exciting talent coming out of these smaller nations and if they're available, then we're interested," he says.

A crowd of over 1900 last night saw the Cook Islands confirm their standing as tournament favourites by running in 12 tries against the physical, if technically lacking, Russians.

The Islanders scrum-base trio of Craig Bowen, Ali Davys and Meti Noovao orchestrated the rout in which winger Ngre Tariu touched down four times.

The Russians became the first nation in either the senior or secondary World Cup competitions to have a player sent off when second rower Andri Koryabin was dismissed by New Zealand referee Dennis Hale for a second high tackle.

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