RED AND BLACK REPORT 2018: EDITION NO.28
Each week the Red and Black Report will keep you up to date with how our Canterbury Rugby League products are performing in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
NRLW
After being named in the No.18 jersey for the third week in a row, Sui Pauaraisa was again a late inclusion in the Warriors’ 17 for their crunch clash with the Brisbane Broncos women’s team.
Pauaraisa came off the bench for the Warriors but their historic campaign ended with a 32-10 loss to a Broncos outfit boasting several Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns stars at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
The versatile Pauaraisa’s standout performances at club (Linwood), representative (Canterbury) and NRLW (Warriors) levels should see her push hard to turn her selection in the Kiwi Ferns wider training squad into a Test debut in coming weeks.
Not the way we wanted to finish our debut #NRLW season but we're so proud of our wahine toa and staff for all their efforts and sacrifices. Trailblazing new territory for women's rugby league in New Zealand ✊
📸 @chukstagram pic.twitter.com/3RY5nvg1Bm
— One NZ Warriors (@NZWarriors) September 21, 2018
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP NSW
Hornby product Fa’amanu Brown has played a key role in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ gripping 18-12 triumph over his old club Newtown Jets in the ISP grand final.
With his side trailing 10-0, Brown scored a vital try to open the Bulldogs’ account just before halftime. The blue-and-whites continued their rally by posting the only two tries of the second half. Brown was a stalwart for the Jets during his time as a Cronulla Sharks-contracted player, before linking with the Bulldogs in 2018.
Canterbury will face Redcliffe Dolphins in Sunday’s InTrust Super State Championship grand final at ANZ Stadium in a curtain-raiser to the NRL grand final (kick-off 5:40pm NZT).
The Dogs are havin' a party!!!! 🏆🎶#proudtobeabulldog #IntrustSuperPremiership pic.twitter.com/HkZfo38D5i
— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) September 23, 2018
Congratulations to our #IntrustSuperPremiership squad, 2018 Premiers 💪🏼 #proudtobeabulldog pic.twitter.com/mFEKUiX3wp
— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) September 23, 2018
JERSEY FLEGG (NSW UNDER-20S)
Cruz Topai-Aveai has tasted Jersey Flegg premiership success after featuring in Cronulla Sharks’ 22-12 grand final win over Penrith Panthers.
The former Shirley Boys High pupil began his Under-20s career with South Sydney in the now-defunct NYC competition, before linking with the Sharks.
His prominent role in Cronulla’s Jersey Flegg success should see him selected in the Junior Kiwis’ line-up for next month’s encounter with the Junior Kangaroos, as well as pushing for an NRL debut in 2019.
Winners#UpUpCronulla#StandAsOne pic.twitter.com/noNqswXgGg
— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) September 23, 2018
Emotional scenes as the @Cronulla_Sharks win their first Jersey Flegg title! pic.twitter.com/VInpyegT51
— NSWBlues (@NSWBlues) September 23, 2018
Sing it boys 🆙🆙#StandAsOne#UpUpCronulla pic.twitter.com/WzAe2cjh5B
— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) September 23, 2018
HASTINGS DEERING COLTS (QLD UNDER-20S)
Boom back-row prospect Jordan Riki helped Norths Devils to 20-16 triumph over Townsville Blackhawks in Sunday’s Hastings Deering Colts Under-20s grand final at Suncorp Stadium.
The former St Thomas of Canterbury College gun had already featured for the Devils in the Mal Meninga Cup Under-18s final this season – a loss to Souths-Logan Magpies – while he also earned a run at InTrust Super Cup level.
Riki is contracted to Brisbane Broncos and is certain to press for an NRL call-up next season.
Congratulations @NorthsDevilsRL on winning the 2018 Hastings Deering Colts U20s in a tight result over the @TsvBlackhawks.
🏉 Scoring Details: https://t.co/X7WVeEkWnQNext Up: #IntrustSuperCupGF pic.twitter.com/fGO8haKyky
— Hostplus Cup (@HostplusCup) September 23, 2018
The Devils win!!! Congrats to our Colts. https://t.co/BXnmrH6yOV
— NorthsDevilsRLFC (@NorthsDevilsRL) September 23, 2018