Red and Black Report: Edition No.12

Each week we’ll be keeping you up to date with how our Canterbury Rugby League products are performing in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.

Here’s how they went in Round 12:

NRL

Hornby Panthers product Fa’amanu Brown made his 18th NRL appearance – and his first since Round 2 this year – in Cronulla’s tense 9-8 win over Canterbury, the club he is set to join in 2018. Filling in for NSW five-eighth James Maloney, Brown made six runs, 15 tackles and a line-break in a polished display that further underlined his status as a genuine first grade-quality perfomer.

Despite Anthony Milford’s call-up to the Queensland Origin side and Andrew McCullough’s concussion absence, Kodi Nikorima was demoted to the bench for Brisbane’s clash with the Warriors on Saturday night, with Ben Hunt and Benji Marshall returning from injury layoffs in the halves and Travis Waddell picked at hooker. Nikorima spent 53 minutes at dummy-half, however, making 21 tackles, four runs and a line-break in the 28-10 loss.

INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP

Penani Manumalealii stepped into Newtown Jets’ halfback role in the absence of fellow Hornby product Fa’amanu Brown, featuring prominently in a 26-all draw with Canterbury.

Jayden Nikorima again pulled the strings for Wyong Roos as they edged out Mounties 22-20.

Linwood Keas and Rockcote Canterbury Bulls star Matt Sauni had his first ISP start on the wing as the high-flying Warriors earned a tough 18-10 win over North Sydney Bears at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

INTRUST SUPER CUP

Nathan Saumalu scored two tries for the Setaimata Sa-led Mackay Cutters in their 34-28 loss to Burleigh Bears.

Central Queensland Capras grabbed a much-needed win over Tweed Heads Seagulls, and unsurprisingly Ken Tofilau scored one of the winning side’s two tries in a 10-4 result. Fellow Rockcote Canterbury Bulls rep Phil Nati came off the bench for the Capras.