Tonga’s World Cup Nines campaign is in disarray after being stunned 30-7 by the Cook Islands in their tournament opener at Bankwest Stadium.

Considered the most likely of the second-tier nations to go deep in the competition, the star-studded Tongans were barely in the contest against the minnows on Friday night.

Featuring just four players with NRL experience to Tonga’s 11, the Kukis ran in six tries to one in what will likely be the biggest upset of the weekend.

Only the top-ranked team from Pool C will qualify for the semi-finals, and even if Tonga win their next two games against Fiji and Samoa their for-and-against will likely hurt them.

The boilover comes after Tonga’s players boycotted in the lead up to the tournament, with stars Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo leading a public battle against the country’s now-suspended rugby league board.

Junior Kiwi Kayal Iro scored a double for the Cook Islands, including one off a wicked bounce from a Steven Marsters chip kick.

At one point Queensland Cup winger Paul Ulberg fended off Tongan NRL powerhouse Taumalolo to cross in a moment that encapsulated the gravity of the upset.