Red and Black Report: Edition No.26

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 26 of the NRL and the first week of the ISP and ISC finals series:

NRL

Kodi Nikorima had a first-half blinder at halfback for Brisbane in a tough 20-10 win over North Queensland in Townsville, setting up James Roberts’ try with a line-break and a kick ahead, before putting up the bomb for Jordan Kahu’s follow-up four-pointer. He was switched to fullback after Darius Boyd pulled a hamstring on halftime, however, and looks set to wear the No.1 in the first week of the finals.

Fresh from his visit to Christchurch to announce Manly will bring a game to the city for at least the next two seasons, Lewis Brown made a 15-minute cameo in the back-row in the Sea Eagles’ emphatic 28-12 win over Penrith that sealed the club’s place in the finals.

After playing all 23 games leading into the final round, Matt McIlwrick missed Wests Tigers’ win over the Warriors due to suspension. Jazz Tevaga was typically industrious off the bench for the Warriors in a 28-16 defeat, racking up 11 carries and 31 tackles in his fourth NRL appearance of 2017.

INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP

Jayden Nikorima featured at five-eighth as Wyong Roos advanced to the preliminary final with a 34-26 win over Canterbury in extra-time.

Required by the NRL side on Sunday, Jazz Tevaga will be available for the Warriors’ ISP outfit again in Sunday’s must-win semi-final against Newcastle this weekend after they went down to Penrith 36-20 in week one.

INTRUST SUPER CUP

Jamayne Isaako kicked three goals and had a hand in a try as Souths Logan Magpies’ second-half comeback fell just short in a 26-18 loss to Sunshine Coast Falcons, ending the Magpies’ season. Isaako, who made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos earlier this season, passed the 200-point barrier for the season with his three-goal haul.