RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.5
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
Several Canterbury products featured in the fifth round of the NSWRL’s junior competitions – the SG Ball Cup (under-19s), Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (women’s under-18s) – and the fourth round of the QRL’s Cyril Connell Cup (under-16s).
Meanwhile, two Canterbury juniors were part of the historic NRL double-header in Las Vegas.
NRL
Hornby Panthers product Jordan Riki and Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong were opposing back-rowers in the second match of the NRL’s season-opening double bill at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (NZT).
The 20-year-old Wong, making just his 11th top-grade appearance after surging to prominence for Sydney Roosters in the second half of 2023, racked up 37 tackles and six runs for 55 metres in the Tricolours’ absorbing 20-10 victory.
Riki played the full 80 minutes in his 68th NRL appearance for Brisbane Broncos and got through a mountain of work, reeling off a game-high 51 tackles along with 12 runs for 99 metres.
SG BALL CUP
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs bounced back via a 32-16 win over Parramatta Eels, with Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini returning to the starting side and scoring a first-half try, and Linwood winger Chelden Hayward featuring on the wing.
Papanui’s Jason Salalilo has been a mainstay in the front-row for the Warriors’ improving SG Ball side and helped them to a 20-6 defeat of Balmain Tigers in Pukekohe on Sunday.
Watch highlights of the Bulldogs’ (from 6:40) and Warriors’ (from 11:40) matches here.
Linwood Keas CRL premiership winner Te Kaio Cranwell came off the bench as Newcastle Knights carved out a 54-14 demolition of Manly Sea Eagles at Kurri Kurri. Watch the highlights here.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
The Warriors backed up their historic, heart-stopping win over South Sydney in Round 4 with their maiden home victory on Sunday – a 16-4 defeat of Balmain.
The two-try match-winner at Redfern Oval a week earlier, Linwood forward Lennox Tuiloma again posted the last try of the match, powering over off the back of a scrum.
Defending champs Canterbury Bankstown-Bulldogs, coached by Halswell stalwart Shannon Rushworth with ex-Canterbury Bulls rep Kyle Reuben as his assistant, came off the bye to remain unbeaten courtesy of a 20-all draw with Parramatta Eels.
Watch highlights of the Bulldogs’ (from 3:50) and Warriors’ (from 7:30) matches here.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Papanui second-rower Jaydika Tafua’s outstanding campaign for Cronulla Sharks continued, scoring her second try of the season in a 36-12 thrashing of South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
Watch highlights of the match here.
CYRIL CONNELL CUP
Hornby and St Thomas’ outside back Donte Tahuhu-Wilson made his third appearance on the wing for Brisbane Tigers in a 30-8 loss to Norths Devils.
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Image credit: Cronulla Sharks
