Defending champions 1134 Igam Crocs have opened their 2026 Commander’s Cup campaign with a convincing 47–10 win over Goldie Warriors.

The Crocs showed their experience and composure in their first match of the tournament but the captain, Corporal Butler Lokora, says the team still has areas to improve as they prepare for their next outing.

Lokora says the squad will use the coming days to work on mistakes identified from their opening match.

“We have some little areas to work on. Maybe later on, tomorrow and onwards, we're going to polish up on some of our areas, some of the mistakes we need to polish up and get ready for the next game,” he said.

While the Crocs are pleased with the opening result, Lokora says the defending champions are not taking their next opponents lightly.

The captain says the team is looking forward to their next challenge and will use the time between matches to prepare.

The Crocs have also brought back some of the players from their previous championship-winning side, while introducing a number of new faces to strengthen the squad.

Lokora says the combination of experienced players and newcomers has given the team confidence heading into the tournament.

“We have some of our old players back from 2023 when we won the championship, and we are still defending this cup. We have a few new boys coming up and they are really boosting this team,” he said.

He says the players have built confidence in one another and are determined to make another strong push for the title.

The Crocs are also adapting to the change from rugby 10s to 15s, with Lokora explaining that the transition provides an opportunity to select more players to represent the team.

With two more games expected in the coming weeks, Lokora says the Crocs know there is still plenty of work ahead.

“We have more games coming up in two weeks' time, so we have to humble ourselves and defend this cup, and win it with a lot of the boys,” he said.

Lokora also thanked the Crocs supporters for continuing to stand behind the team, particularly those who have travelled to support the defending champions.

For the Crocs, the opening win provides an early boost, but the focus now turns to correcting their mistakes and preparing for the next stage of their title defence.