RED AND BLACK REPORT 2023: EDITION NO.7

May 30, 2023 / Will Evans

RED AND BLACK REPORT 2023: EDITION NO.7

May 30, 2023 / Will Evans

The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League products featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.

NRL

Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako is dominating the scoreboard and ticking off major milestones in a career-best season for the fledgling Dolphins.

The electric winger notched consecutive doubles in the Dolphins’ 24-16 loss to Melbourne in Round 12 and their 26-12 win over St George Illawarra last Thursday – the latter as part of an 18-point haul in his 100th match in the NRL.

Isaako has already eclipsed his previous highest season try tally with 12 in as many appearances in 2023, while he has kicked 45 goals at over 80 percent to lead the competition with 138 points.

Utility Kodi Nikorima, a former Burnham Chevaliers junior, continues to play a key role in the Dolphins’ remarkable inaugural campaign.

After playing the previous six games at five-eighth – scoring a try in the defeat to the Storm – Nikorima switched to fullback for the clash with the Dragons to cover for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who is on State of Origin duty.

In just his sixth start at fullback in the NRL, the 169-game veteran made a line-break and 139 metres as the Dolphins improved to a 7-5 record and retained sixth spot on the ladder.

Ex-Hornby Panther Jordan Riki has played every match this year for high-flying Brisbane and played a starring role in an Origin-depleted line-up’s gutsy win over the Warriors in Napier on Saturday.

The 23-year-old back-rower scored a crucial try on halftime, ran for over 100 metres and racked up a game-high 41 tackles in the 26-22 upset.

Versatile Aranui Eagles junior Daejarn Asi was 18th man for Parramatta Eels in Round 13 as he edges closer to his first NRL appearance for the club.

NSW CUP

Asi featured at fullback for Parramatta’s NSW Cup side in Round 12, making 11 runs and seven tackles in a 26-16 win over South Sydney.

Hornby Panthers product Fa’amanu Brown played 46 minutes at lock in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 24-22 loss to North Sydney in Round 12, shining with 17 runs for 139 metres and 15 tackles to stay in the frame for an NRL recall. The Bulldogs had a bye last weekend.

Halswell Hornets junior Joseph Taipari started at hooker but played predominantly in the halves in his return to Sydney Roosters’ line-up Round 13, making 10 runs for 88 metres and 12 tackles as the Tricolours won a 24-23 thriller against Newtown.

QLD CUP

Sheldon Pitama’s Redcliffe Dolphins have climbed to fifth in the Queensland Cup and the Northern Bulldogs product has been in great touch.

The experienced hooker/lock had 14 runs for 103 metres, a line-break assist and 18 tackles in the Dolphins’ 52-10 thrashing of Mackay Cutters two weeks ago, while he chewed off 99 metres from 12 runs and chalked up 33 tackles in a 26-12 win over Sunshine Coast Falcons last Saturday.

JERSEY FLEGG

Halswell Hornets winger Montel Lisala scored the opening try in the Bulldogs’ 26-10 victory over the Raiders in Round 12.

Riccarton prop K-Ci Newton Whare – whose father, Vince Whare, was a stalwart for Riccarton and Canterbury – has graduated from the Storm’s SG Ball ranks into their Jersey Flegg line-up, coming off the bench in their Round 13 eclipse of the Eels.

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