Red and Black Report: Edition No.9

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 9:

NRL

Riccarton Knights’ favourite son Lewis Brown played 23 minutes in the back-row during Manly’s sizzling 46-8 rout of South Sydney, making three runs and seven tackles. It was the former Warriors and Panthers utility’s 183rd NRL appearance.

Halswell product Matt McIlwrick played 41 minutes in two stints at hooker during injury-hit Wests Tigers’ gutsy loss to Cronulla. Playing against the club he turned out for last season, McIlwrick made three runs and racked up 31 tackles in another high-quality performance. The match was the 38th of McIlwrick’s NRL career, but represented the first time the former Raiders, Roosters and Sharks rake had made nine first-grade appearances in a season.

Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima continues to shine in his role as Ben Hunt’s No.7 replacement in the Brisbane line-up, scoring a try, running for 70 metres and reeling off 29 tackles in another polished display as the Broncos thumped Penrith 28-12 on Thursday.

Ironically, Nikorima ousted Kiwis incumbent Brown for a utility spot in New Zealand’s squad for Friday’s Anzac Test in Canberra. 

INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP 

Fa’amanu Brown kicked two goals as his Newtown Jets side went down 20-12 to Wentworthville Magpies, but the Hornby junior will no doubt be buoyed by his selection in Toa Samoa’s squad to take on England this weekend.

Christchurch-born Pita Godinet featured at five-eighth for Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles as they went down 28-12 to Penrith on Sunday.

INTRUST SUPER CUP 

Rockcote Canterbury Bulls rep Ken Tofilau was on the wing for Central Queensland Capras as they went down to Easts Tigers 36-24 on Saturday.

The Setaimata Sa-led Mackay Cutters were humbled 34-10 by Norths Devils, but 2016 Rockcote Canterbury Bulls star Nathan Saumalu’s strong season continued with a try for the beaten Cutters.

Rulon Nutira and Sheldon Pitama both came off the bench for Redcliffe Dolphins as they put the cleaners through Souths Logan Magpies 52-12.