Red and Black Report: Edition No.22
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 21:
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers juniorJazz Tevaga made his first NRL appearance of the season, earning a late call-up to the Warriors’ side at lock and making 23 tackles and four runs in their disappointing 26-10 loss to Newcastle. It was the 12th top-grade appearance of the utility’s career.
Another former Chevaliers junior,Kodi Nikorima, capitalised on his surprise recall to the halfback role for Brisbane in a 54-0 drubbing of Gold Coast. The livewire scored two tries, produced a try assist and racked up 159 running metres in an outstanding display that could see him keep the Broncos’ No.7 jumper for the rest of the season, particularly after regular halfback Ben Hunt starred at hooker with a hat-trick and two assists.
Hornby product Fa’amanu Brown recovered from a concussion suffered a week earlier against the Warriors to take his place at five-eighth for Cronulla Sharks in their loss to Canberra Raiders. Brown tallied 21 tackles, three runs, a line-break and a try assist in a solid all-round performance.
Riccarton Knights old boy Lewis Brown played 37 minutes off the bench of Manly Sea Eagles’ remarkable comeback win over Sydney Roosters, scoring a try and reeling off 13 tackles in the 36-18 success. The four-pointer was Brown’s first of the season and the 32nd of his 191-game NRL career.
Halswell Hornets junior Matt McIlwrick played 80 minutes in West Tigers’ 28-14 loss to Penrith Panthers, making four runs and a game-high 51 tackles. The consistent hooker was charged with a dangerous throw but will escape suspension with an early guilty plea, allowing him to bring up his 50th NRL appearance in Round 23.
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP
Predominantly playing the halves in 2017,Pita Godinet reverted to fullback and helped second-last Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles to a 28-24 upset over the ladder-leading Wyong Roos.
INTRUST SUPER CUP
Recent Brisbane Broncos debutantJamayne Isaako kicked six goals in Souths Logan Magpies’ 28-24 victory over Northern Pride. The fullback sits fourth in the ISC’s pointscoring stakes with 164.
CentreNathan Saumalu was amongst the try-scorers as his Mackay Cutters side scored a 30-26 upset over Sunshine Coast Falcons.Setaimata Sa, who has played centre or second-row throughout 2017, featured at five-eighth for the Cutters.
Central Queensland Capras went down to Townsville Blackhawks 26-14, but Ken Tofilau’s hot tryscoring form continued. The former Halswell Hornets and Rockcote Canterbury Bulls flyer scored a four-pointer for the Capras to take his season tally to 16, fourth in the ISC.
